Forget Pedal Taverns: River Queen Voyages are the coolest way to see Nashville with a side of cardio. (And not just because you can take a dip while you’re en route.)
Founder Annie Klaver fell in love with Nashville—and the Cumberland River—when she moved here in 2006. While kayaking near her Madison home, she found herself wondering why locals and tourists didn’t use the Cumberland River in downtown Nashville more for recreation and relaxation, and thus, River Queen Voyages was born. Now in its fifth season, RQV offers up a completely unique way to take in the iconic Nashville skyline—and beyond.
“Our city was founded on the river, and there are hidden gems all along our routes. You can explore Demonbreun’s Cave upriver from Shelby Park, see the Omohundro lighthouse in the river, and see river houses and industry only visible from the water,” says Klaver. “The view coming around the bend into downtown on the Cumberland River is spectacular.”
River Queen Voyages offers three Cumberland tours and one tour of the nearby lower Stones River:
The Skyline: A three-mile (60- to 90-minute) trek from Shelby Park to downtown Riverfront Park.
The Greenway: A five-mile (two- to two-and-a-half-hour) trip from near Opryland to Shelby Park with scenic views of river houses, farms, and wildlife with downtown in the distance.
The Full Nash: An eight-mile (three- to four-hour) journey from near Opryland to downtown Riverfront Park during which you’ll experience both natural and urban landscape.
The Stoner: A three-mile (60- to 90-minute) nature paddle on the lower Stones River from the Percy Priest Dam to the new put-in/take-out at Kohl’s at Lebanon Pike. The Stones River is a smaller tributary into the Cumberland River so mostly non-motorized boats paddle this route.
Find out more on their Instagram page @riverqueenvoyages