A Time to Slow Down, A Place to Reflect

Brigid Day - Nashville
January 4, 2012

Whew. Another year is in the books. The beginning of the new year provides a wonderful opportunity for reflection on the happenings of 2011 and a moment of quiet to recharge for 2012. January is a time to think, ponder, and meditate. While Nashville may be known for its honky tonks, there is no shortage of beautiful venues for quiet thoughtfulness.

Radnor Lake State Park, located in the Oak Hill Community in Davidson County, offers beautiful scenic spots just minutes from metropolitan Nashville. January in Nashville can be the perfect chance to get out and explore nature. Radnor Lake includes six miles of hiking trails for all levels. Turn off the screens and gather the family for some outdoor rejuvenation in one of Nashville's most lovely secluded spaces. The natural habitat of the lake is surrounded by wildlife and many species of plants. Instead of the beeps and rings of your cell phone, listen for the plentiful sounds of nature. Radnor offers wildflower walks, canoe floats, reptile programs, and birds of prey demonstrations.

Love Circle, another hidden treasure, offers an amazing view of downtown Nashville, Vanderbilt University, and the rest of Davidson County. Tucked away near West End Avenue, this grass-covered man-made water storage reservoir has become a lookout for the locals. Bring a blanket and a picnic lunch for your family and take a moment to just be. Or unplug and make a date for a spectacular sunrise or sunset.

Another gem, Fisk University's Carl Van Vechten Gallery at 1000 17th Avenue North in Nashville, features works by Pablo Picasso, Paul Cezanne, Auguste-Pierre Renoir, Henri deToulouse-Lautrec, Georgia O'Keeffe, Charles Demuth, Marsden Hartley, and Arthur Dove. The gallery is named for the man who encouraged American painter Georgia O'Keeffe to donate the amazing collection to Fisk University after her husband's death. Admission is always free for children 18 and under. 

For an afternoon jaunt, stop by Pinkerton Park located on Murfreesboro Road in Franklin,  between the Harpeth River and Fort Granger. The park includes 34 acres of land with playgrounds for the kids and pavilions available for picnics. Take the walking trail to Fort Granger, surrounded by trenches dug by Civil War troops, for a spectacular overlook of Franklin. This is your chance to sit right in the middle of Franklin but feel like you are completely isolated.

The Frist Center for the Visual Arts, located at 919 Broadway in downtown Nashville, is never the same experience twice. With traveling exhibitions that bring new collections to the museum every 6-8 weeks, this family-friendly venue can morph to fit your desires. From educational to hands-on, the Frist offers families a way to explore and create art. Tour the extensive galleries, while teaching the rules of the art museum - "Touch the art with only your eyes, use walking feet in the museum, and never point with pencils or fingers. These rules are to protect the art." Bring a sketch pad and pencil for your children to draw their reactions to the art.

Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art is recognized nationally for its one-of-a-kind experiences for inspiring visitors to explore their connection with art, nature, and the environment. The 55 acre expanse at 1200 Forrest Park Drive includes a Japanese garden, an herb garden, two perennial gardens, a color garden, water garden seasons garden and an award-winning wildflower garden. The 30,000 square foot museum is home to sculptures, paintings, decorative art, and contemporary art, as well as travelling exhibitions. The museum is kept cool to preserve the artwork, so bring a sweater, and wear comfortable shoes.