Axios Nashville readers share their tips for enjoying Tennessee parks

What she's saying: "They're even better if you find yourself on a summit as a light rainstorm comes to an end and fog settles around you."

Why it matters: Readers like Mary Elizabeth steered us toward the best of our public parks this week. Their suggestions shed light on the kaleidoscope of experiences those parks offer.

• There are mountain parks like Rocky Fork, where you can climb cliffs or soar down twisting bike trails.
• And there are also urban parks that offer free concerts, cultural festivals or lunch-break oases.

The big picture: As Mary Elizabeth says, "whatever you're looking for, Tennessee's parks can probably help you find it."

• We've collected some of our favorite responses to build an ultimate parks guide.

🚴 Shelby Park and Bottoms: Several readers singled out one of Nashville's most popular parks, calling it Nashville's answer to Central Park. (As Katie L. noted, the broader footprint of nearly 1,300 acres is actually much larger than Central Park.)

• "The best long bike ride is all the way through Shelby Bottoms Park in East Nashville and over the Cumberland Pedestrian Bridge onto the Stones River Greenway in Donelson," Meg M. says.
• Randy R. suggests the back deck at the nature center as "a great place for yoga and meditation."

🏛️ Centennial Park: When Nashvillians think about parks, this has to be one of the first that comes to mind. It's home to our replica of The Parthenon and is on the National Register for Historic Places.

• The free Musicians Corner concert series in the spring brings together music, food trucks and beer, plus "an annual chance to see the Nashville Symphony for free," Nancy F. says.
• Jennifer A. fits right in with the Axios Nashville team: "My favorite outdoor lunch spot in Centennial Park is sitting among the columns of The Parthenon enjoying a #12 Beach Club from Jimmy Johns."

🌳 Long Hunter State Park: The 2.1‑mile, paved Couchville Lake Loop is one of the most popular walking trails in the state. The Hermitage-area park has a choose-your-own-adventure vibe, says Danielle N.

• "From the same parking lot you can access a longer, primitive [trail], a story walk for kids, and a playground," she says.

• "Really all of the trails at Long Hunter are amazing, giving hikers a wide variety of terrain, flora and water views."

😱 Frozen Head State Park: "We went during a wet spell and it was like a Smurf village," Emily B. says of the park, which is near the Historic Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary. "Mossy rocks, mist, storybook-like."

🗓️ Plan ahead: Mayor Freddie O'Connell encourages residents to check out the crowded calendar of city park events like night hikes, guided birding.

• "It's a great way to explore parts of the city. It doesn't draw me to one favorite park," he tells Axios.
• "This summer, we liked spending time at the creek at Beaman Park and having a spot in the shade," O'Connell adds. "From a playground standpoint, I love taking our family to Mill Ridge Park."

🧺 Stay overnight: Greer Tidwell, the state's deputy commissioner for the Bureau of Conservation, tells Axios he loves the historic cabins built in several state parks by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s and '40s. A handful of cabins have been refurbished and are available to rent.

• "When people ask me what I suggest they do if they want to go to a park for the first time, that's one of the things I encourage them to do."
• "It's like walking into a piece of artwork."

Go deeper with Tennessee Trailheads:

• Mayor O'Connell's strategy for improving Nashville's city parks
• Parks are economic drivers, especially in rural Tennessee
• Tennessee parks expand accessibility with all-terrain wheelchairs, changing tables
• Tennessee governor bets big on state parks