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SUMMER ADVENTURESCOVER STORY

on the waterSUMMER ADVENTURES

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TTennessee is known for its scorching summer heat. Fortunately, it also boasts endless water adventures for outdoor lovers. Whether you’re looking for a relaxing adventure kayaking the Cumberland River, or a thrilling Flyboard session on one of our beautiful lakes, you can find it all within a short drive “east of the city.” Add these top water adventure spots to your summer bucket list!

SAILING & SWIMMING AT J. PERCY PRIEST LAKE J. Percy Priest Lake is located 10 miles east of Nashville and is a very popular summertime destination for middle Tennesseans. With over 14,000 acres of water and 265 miles of shoreline, there’s something for everyone. Water recreation at Percy Priest Lake includes fishing, boating, cliff jumping, and swimming. Pack up the car and head to Seven Points Recreation and Campground to enjoy a day at the beach. Admission fee is $4 per carload or $30 for an annual pass. Don’t forget to pack a lunch to enjoy at one of the many shaded picnic areas. Rather be on the water than by the water? Percy Priest is a great place for boating or sailing. Enjoying the peaceful lull of the water on a sailboat is a majestic feeling. Percy Priest Yacht Club offers two ways to get you sailing the water: a six-week Basic Sailing Course or group lessons with Learning at the Helm (LATH) every Tuesday, April through September. For more information visit ppyc.org.

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By MAKAYLAH EVERETTSpecial Thanks to Sailboat Owner, John King

COOL OFF WITH THESE NEARBY WATER DESTINATIONS

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SUMMER ADVENTURE KAYAKING THE CUMBERLAND After driving through some beautiful farmland on the way, you can see the city from a different view while kayaking down the Cumberland River. For the past year, River Queen Voyages has offered locals and tourists alike kayaking rentals and guided tours down the Cumberland River. The sit-on-top kayaks are great for beginners or experienced paddlers. Annie Klaver, owner of River Queen Voyages, says that kayaking the Cumberland is a hidden adventure not many people know about. Thanks to the Cumberland River Compact and other efforts, she says the Cumberland River is as clean as the Harpeth River now and perfect for kayaking. Kayakers can choose from two routes. The shorter route, Shelby Park to Downtown Riverfront, is three miles and lasts approximately one hour. The longer route is eight miles, approximately three hours and goes from the Opryland area to Shelby Park. Klaver says that the experience is relaxing and explores Nashville history. Ask Klaver how to see the Demonbreun Cave, which housed Timothy Demonbreun, famous fur-trapper and Tennessee’s “first citizen.” “You’re in nature even though you’re in the city,” says Klaver. “You can’t beat the views of the city that you can only see from the river.” To book an adventure on the Cumberland, visit www.rqvoyages.com.

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CAT JUGGIN’ AT CENTER HILL Located about forty-five minutes east of Nashville, Center Hill Lake is considered a highland reservoir. It boasts deep, clear water great for fishing. Anglers from all over visit Center Hill in search of popular species in the interior such as bass, crappie, catfish, and bream. Edgar Evins State Park in DeKalb County is a great place to put in the lake for a day of fishing. With three free boat launches, 6,000 acres of shoreline, boat rentals, fishing areas for kids, cabin rentals, and a campground, it’s also a perfect spot to spend the weekend. According to expert angler and full time guide, Jim Duckworth, Center Hill Lake is a superb boating lake because the waters are deep, alleviating the worry of running aground. “[Center Hill] is the main lake I love to guide and fish on,” he says. According to Duckworth, a great family activity on Center Hill is night “cat juggin’,” or fishing for catfish using bait strung between multiple empty milk jugs that float on top of the water. June happens to be peak season for cat juggin’. “Not only is it great quality time for the family but everyone gets to be involved,” says Duckworth. “I’ve heard about wives who never wanted to go fishing, but after fishing jugs for catfish at night, they want to go every weekend! And the kids love jugging for cats, too.” Duckworth, a fishing guide for 32 years, has created a DVD filmed on Center Hill Lake showing families how to build the jugs and get ready for a weekend of fishing, called Juggin’ for Catfish. Edgar Evins State Park boat rentals include small aluminum boats, pontoon boats and houseboats. Duckworth also mentions the fish out of Center Hill are great for eating. “If you put out 48 jugs, you’re guaranteed to have about 24 catfish,” says Duckworth. “Enough for a fish-fry!” For information about cat juggin’ and how to set up jugs, visit jimduckworth.com.

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SOARING ABOVE THE WATER Wonder what it’s like to fly on water? You can find out at Nashville FlyBoard, with jet-powered flight lifting you exhilaratingly above the water’s surface! According to Melissa Moore, Owner and Master Instructor at Nashville FlyBoard, the Flyboard® is powered by the propulsion of the Jet Ski via a special pump adapter, which is connected to a 60 - 80 foot hose and allows the rider to fly up to 35-40 feet above the water. Beginners don’t get over three to five feet above water, but she says it feels a lot higher. “It’s an easy way for people to maintain the feeling of flying without falling like you would skydiving or cliff jumping,” says Moore. “It’s a lot of fun for a group, because it’s usually something no one has tried before. There’s really nothing else like it.” Nashville FlyBoard offers 30 minute to two hour individual or group sessions at the lake of your choice. All sessions include a short lesson with a trained and certified instructor before your scheduled flyboard time and your choice of using the Official Zapata Racing FlyBoard®, Hoverboard by ZR®, or New ZR JetPack. Moore says the minimum age to try the Flyboard® is 13, with weight restrictions of 100 - 300 pounds. Additionally, the Flyboard® is not recommended for pregnant women, people with recent surgeries or people who are afraid of heights. To book a session visit: nashvilleflyboard.com/booking.

PADDLEBOARDING EXCURSION OR SUP YOGA EXCURSION A new and popular water adventure is recreational stand-up paddleboarding (SUP). SUP is often considered the combination of kayaking and surfing. Instead of sitting on the board, you stand upright on the board like surfing and use a paddle to guide your direction, much like you do when kayaking. To try it out, go to the Nashville Paddle Co. for rentals, how-to classes, moonlight group paddles, and paddleboard yoga. Located at the Hamilton Creek Park on J. Percy Priest Lake, SUP is a great way to spend the afternoon on the water. Nashville Paddle Co. co-owner Liz Veyhl says paddle boarding is great for everyone and includes a great workout. To amp up the workout, Veyhl has introduced the SUP yoga program. According to Veyhl, the intro classes and SUP yoga classes cover all the basics of standing, paddling technique, as well as board and water safety. “I think some people see photos and think they’d never be able to find their balance, but with some basic pointers and learning about the right size and style of board, most paddlers get the hang of it really quickly,” assures Veyhl. The co-owner says some classes offer more standing poses while others move more slowly and cater to brand new yoga students. “As with any yoga class, you can choose how adventurous you want to be and how often you decide to get wet,” explains Veyhl. Nashville Paddle Co. donates a portion of their proceeds to organizations such as the Cumberland River Compact in an effort to keep Tennessee waterways in paddling condition. Collect a TWRA mesh bag’s worth of trash on your paddle (or on the shore) and get 10 percent off your next rental. Visit www.nashvillepaddle.com for information and the SUP yoga class schedule.