Summer Activities

Gardens and Farms

When I moved to Nashville, one of my main concerns was finding a home with a backyard so that I could plant a small garden. I quickly realized that was not too difficult to find, and I’ve got a great king-bed-sized garden out back. Every day I check on the garden, and I am constantly amazed how much the plants grow from one day to the next–I feel like a kid on Christmas morning! I did not grow up with a vegetable garden, but I will be sure to have one for my children. I think it is so important for children to learn where and how fruits and vegetables grow, and the garden is a great place to start. If you don’t have one in your backyard, there might be a community garden in your Nashville neighborhood or you can spend the day on one of the many farms in Tennessee. Pick TN Products is a wonderful resource for visiting farms in Tennessee. There are several farms that offer farm tours, hay rides, horse trails, and more. At some farms you can even pick your own vegetables! So, spend the day with your kids in the country and return home with an abundance of veggies to make dinner!

Here are two photos of my garden: On the left, planting the seedlings in May and on the right, overgrown madness in July!

Drive-In Movies

I have never been to a drive-in movie theater (sad to say), but fortunately Adrian is a big fan and recommended a great theater just outside of Nashville. The Stardust Drive-In is located in the heart of historic Watertown, just 45 minutes from Nashville. Stardust has two outdoor screens which offer a double feature every night of the week. Through Tuesday, July 14, Screen One is showing Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen and Year One and Screen Two is playing Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs and Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian. Both options sound good to me, but Screen Two is a bit more family-friendly. And, the best part is that the tickets are very reasonable–$7 for adults and kids over 12, $3 for children ages 6 to 11, children under 5 are free, and dogs are free too!

Also, please note that you must have a working FM radio (car or portable) and it is best to arrive early for the best parking spots and to avoid long concession lines–popcorn is an essential part of the experience!

If you’re feeling very adventurous and energetic, make a full day with both of these activities! The kids will be sure to sleep on the drive home.

Children’s Photographer - Nashville, TN
Adrian Hitt Photography
www.adrianhitt.com
615•715•4655