Nashville may not quite be the concrete jungle that is Manhattan, but even still you have to get away from the hustle and bustle of Lower Broadway. Luckily, the Nashville area is full of beautiful, natural spots that are just perfect getaways where you can escape from the city. There’s one spot in particular just east of Nashville that is particularly beautiful and magical: Cedars of Lebanon State Park. The park has an ecosystem unlike any other, including plants and animals that you won’t find anywhere else in the world.
TN State Parks Cedars of Lebanon State Park sits just outside Nashville in Wilson County to the East, but it’s only a 30 minute drive from downtown.
TN State Parks The park features over 8 miles of hiking trails, all of which are accessible from the visitors’s center.
TN State Parks Love camping? Cedars of Lebanon has 117 campsites with an additional 30 tent sites.
Anthony Jones - Flickr The park is named for the unique ecosystems in the area that allow for the growth of cedar trees.
Michael Hicks - Flickr The trees grow in natural glades, caused by the limestone bedrock being close to the surface.
Anthony Jones - Flickr But most importantly, the park is absolutely gorgeous!
Michael Hicks - Flickr You’re likely to see wildlife no matter what part of the park you’re in. From deer and foxes to salamander like this guy, you never know what you’ll see.
Michael Hicks - Flickr Because the limestone is so close to the surface, the ecosystem is nearly desert-like. In fact, there are 19 plant species that are rare and endangered that don’t grow anywhere else in the world.
Michael Hicks - Flickr But it’s the coves and hollers like this that make the place truly magical.
Michael Hicks - Flickr It looks like you’re walking through the forests of Narnia!
Michael Hicks - Flickr The visitor’s center frequently hosts programming for visitors. From birding outings to group hikes, they offer something for everyone.
Michael Hicks - Flickr Pretty sure this leads to Wonderland.
Michael Hicks - Flickr The park is open year-round from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Visit it today in Lebanon at 328 Cedar Forest Road.
After you work up an appetite from your hike, check out this spot in Nashville that serves up classics like you’ve never seen.
TN State Parks
Cedars of Lebanon State Park sits just outside Nashville in Wilson County to the East, but it’s only a 30 minute drive from downtown.
The park features over 8 miles of hiking trails, all of which are accessible from the visitors’s center.
Love camping? Cedars of Lebanon has 117 campsites with an additional 30 tent sites.
Anthony Jones - Flickr
The park is named for the unique ecosystems in the area that allow for the growth of cedar trees.
Michael Hicks - Flickr
The trees grow in natural glades, caused by the limestone bedrock being close to the surface.
But most importantly, the park is absolutely gorgeous!
You’re likely to see wildlife no matter what part of the park you’re in. From deer and foxes to salamander like this guy, you never know what you’ll see.
Because the limestone is so close to the surface, the ecosystem is nearly desert-like. In fact, there are 19 plant species that are rare and endangered that don’t grow anywhere else in the world.
But it’s the coves and hollers like this that make the place truly magical.
Michael Hicks - Flickr
It looks like you’re walking through the forests of Narnia!
The visitor’s center frequently hosts programming for visitors. From birding outings to group hikes, they offer something for everyone.
Pretty sure this leads to Wonderland.
The park is open year-round from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Visit it today in Lebanon at 328 Cedar Forest Road.
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