May: prime time for Tennessee outdoors

Evening outings on the town will give you a flavor of Nashville night life, but you might have to come a few days early or stay a few days late in order to really experience Middle Tennessee in full bloom.

Springhouse Golf Club - If your idea of a swinging Nashville vacation involves a nine-iron, you'll find a beautiful course just minutes from the hotel. It is owned by the same people who own the Gaylord Opryland convention hotel.

The Hermitage Golf Course - If you want to combine history and golf, visit The Hermitage, home of Andrew Jackson, our 7th president. From there, you're a two-iron and a good tailwind from The Hermitage Golf Course, which garnered a four-star rating from Golf Digest and is listed by Maximum Golf as "One of the Best 100 Bargain Golf Courses in the United States."

Webmaster's picks

If you just have to get away

Take a hike around Radnor Lake or Centennial Park. You'll need a rental car or a local friend to get to either place. Radnor closes at dark, Centennial closes at 11 p.m., and the Parthenon at the center of the park closes earlier.

If you have an extra day or two on this trip

Drive 125 miles to raft the Ocoee River, not far from Chattanooga, which boast some of the most exciting rapids east of the Rockies. An experienced guide directs your eight-person raft on a three-hour run through rapids up through Class IV.