#1-12 Play Like a Kid Indoors
The great outdoors are, indeed, great. But, sometimes, the heat and humidity is too much. You don't have to spend the summer holed up in a bar just for the A/C. We've scoped out the options for playing inside, either with your mind or your body (or both), and having fun with friends and family, without risking heat exhaustion. Here are 12 of our favorites. —Margaret Littman
#1 Hidden under the Johnny Cash Museum is House of Cards, a restaurant and magic club where you can witness sleights of hand, interact with mentalists, and even make requests of a piano-playing ghost. This is not dinner theater, but an immersive, magical evening that includes dinner. You'll put your phone away and actually talk to your companions, perhaps the most significant trick of all.
#2 Located inside Bongo East, Game Point Café is more than a library of a few copies Scrabble with a bunch of missing letters (what you usually find when you play a coffee shop board game). An expert, likely game guru and co-owner Rick Keuler, will help you find a game from a collection of almost 400, and he’ll teach you the rules. Tell him what you like (and don't) about other games, and he'll make the perfect match. There's no fee to play, but you ought to buy sandwiches, salads, baked goods, or beer from the café. Some tables even have custom cup holders to keep your coffee away from your cards.
#3 The first Wednesday of the month, Meeple Mountain brings more than 100 game players to the Nashville Software School on the Southeast side to play both provided games and those that others bring to share. There are contests to win games, too, and the whole thing is free. Meeple Mountain is in the process of opening a board game café in East Nashville later this year. It will have food and game concierges to help with rules, plus a library of games to play and some for sale.
#4 Inside a modest pre-fab building in East Nashville lies an unexpected cavern of fun: BATL axe-throwing. Think darts with small hatchet-type axes; there’s a trained staffer to help you learn to throw without hurting yourself and to keep score. You can go for one-time beat-the-heat fun or join a league (like bowling, except with axes). Sessions last about two hours and are $40.96, with a $5 discount on Tuesdays. And, BATL’s bar and kitchen are now open.
#5-6 There's no shortage of places that you can pay to lock yourself in a room for an hour and solve clues to make your way out. But The Escape Game, which has locations in Berry Hill and downtown, is among the best, with flawless execution and eye for detail. Games are $35.99, plus tax, with a $5 discount before 11 a.m. If you're looking for an option in the suburbs, and you appreciate a flair for the dramatic, check out Franklin's Live Minds Adventure Escape, which has décor worthy of a movie set. Cost is $28.
#7 True, Topgolf is not technically indoors, but the mammoth driving range and entertainment venue near Germantown has covered areas with fans, so you're protected from the elements in your hitting bay. Hit a micro-chipped golf ball from one of three levels, and watch the screen to see how your stroke lands as you compete against friends. Food and drink will be delivered to your bay, or you can dine inside. Cost is $45 after 5 p.m.; $5 less from noon to 5 p.m.; and even cheaper before noon.
#8 Yes, one of the ideas of going out to play is to get away from your screen-time at home. But Rabbit Hole Virtual Reality isn't just about screens. You'll don a virtual headset, stand in front of a projector in a 10-by-10-foot room, and play one of nine different games, ranging from golf to space pirates. Cost is $15 for 15 minutes, or $45 for an hour.
#9 Race against your friends (or strangers) at Music City Indoor Karting at speeds up to 40 miles per hour on a quarter-mile track. This is about going fast, not ramming into each other (no bumper cars here). An eight-minute race is $23; if you are going to go more than once, sign up for the annual membership ($15) for discount pricing.
#10 Stroll over to Soda Parlor, the East Nashville sweet shop, for a milkshake or an old-fashioned or modern ice cream float, and, then, stick around to play arcade games for free. We're talking Ms. PacMan, Mario Bros., and all manner of retro video games. There can be a line for the games on peak hours, but try weekdays during the day, if you have your heart set on a specific throwback.
#11 It is not very often that locals go downtown to play (for another exception, see also #1 House of Cards on this list), but it's worth battling the pedal taverns to find HQ Beercade. Its 65,000 square feet are packed with 30 vintage arcade games and 10 pinball games, where you can play under a neon sign that reads, "Don't grow up, it's a trap."
#12 Air conditioned bars and coffee shops with trivia nights abound. There are literally multiple options in most neighborhoods any weekday night, some with regulars, others where the teams regularly change. Among our picks are Fat Bottom in the Nations on Mondays, Crows Nest in Green Hills on Tuesdays, and Inglewood's Dose on Thursdays.
#1-12 Play Like a Kid Indoors
The great outdoors are, indeed, great. But, sometimes, the heat and humidity is too much. You don't have to spend the summer holed up in a bar just for the A/C. We've scoped out the options for playing inside, either with your mind or your body (or both), and having fun with friends and family, without risking heat exhaustion. Here are 12 of our favorites. —Margaret Littman
#1 Hidden under the Johnny Cash Museum is House of Cards, a restaurant and magic club where you can witness sleights of hand, interact with mentalists, and even make requests of a piano-playing ghost. This is not dinner theater, but an immersive, magical evening that includes dinner. You'll put your phone away and actually talk to your companions, perhaps the most significant trick of all.
#2 Located inside Bongo East, Game Point Café is more than a library of a few copies Scrabble with a bunch of missing letters (what you usually find when you play a coffee shop board game). An expert, likely game guru and co-owner Rick Keuler, will help you find a game from a collection of almost 400, and he’ll teach you the rules. Tell him what you like (and don't) about other games, and he'll make the perfect match. There's no fee to play, but you ought to buy sandwiches, salads, baked goods, or beer from the café. Some tables even have custom cup holders to keep your coffee away from your cards.
#3 The first Wednesday of the month, Meeple Mountain brings more than 100 game players to the Nashville Software School on the Southeast side to play both provided games and those that others bring to share. There are contests to win games, too, and the whole thing is free. Meeple Mountain is in the process of opening a board game café in East Nashville later this year. It will have food and game concierges to help with rules, plus a library of games to play and some for sale.
#4 Inside a modest pre-fab building in East Nashville lies an unexpected cavern of fun: BATL axe-throwing. Think darts with small hatchet-type axes; there’s a trained staffer to help you learn to throw without hurting yourself and to keep score. You can go for one-time beat-the-heat fun or join a league (like bowling, except with axes). Sessions last about two hours and are $40.96, with a $5 discount on Tuesdays. And, BATL’s bar and kitchen are now open.
#5-6 There's no shortage of places that you can pay to lock yourself in a room for an hour and solve clues to make your way out. But The Escape Game, which has locations in Berry Hill and downtown, is among the best, with flawless execution and eye for detail. Games are $35.99, plus tax, with a $5 discount before 11 a.m. If you're looking for an option in the suburbs, and you appreciate a flair for the dramatic, check out Franklin's Live Minds Adventure Escape, which has décor worthy of a movie set. Cost is $28.
#7 True, Topgolf is not technically indoors, but the mammoth driving range and entertainment venue near Germantown has covered areas with fans, so you're protected from the elements in your hitting bay. Hit a micro-chipped golf ball from one of three levels, and watch the screen to see how your stroke lands as you compete against friends. Food and drink will be delivered to your bay, or you can dine inside. Cost is $45 after 5 p.m.; $5 less from noon to 5 p.m.; and even cheaper before noon.
#8 Yes, one of the ideas of going out to play is to get away from your screen-time at home. But Rabbit Hole Virtual Reality isn't just about screens. You'll don a virtual headset, stand in front of a projector in a 10-by-10-foot room, and play one of nine different games, ranging from golf to space pirates. Cost is $15 for 15 minutes, or $45 for an hour.
#9 Race against your friends (or strangers) at Music City Indoor Karting at speeds up to 40 miles per hour on a quarter-mile track. This is about going fast, not ramming into each other (no bumper cars here). An eight-minute race is $23; if you are going to go more than once, sign up for the annual membership ($15) for discount pricing.
#10 Stroll over to Soda Parlor, the East Nashville sweet shop, for a milkshake or an old-fashioned or modern ice cream float, and, then, stick around to play arcade games for free. We're talking Ms. PacMan, Mario Bros., and all manner of retro video games. There can be a line for the games on peak hours, but try weekdays during the day, if you have your heart set on a specific throwback.
#11 It is not very often that locals go downtown to play (for another exception, see also #1 House of Cards on this list), but it's worth battling the pedal taverns to find HQ Beercade. Its 65,000 square feet are packed with 30 vintage arcade games and 10 pinball games, where you can play under a neon sign that reads, "Don't grow up, it's a trap."
#12 Air conditioned bars and coffee shops with trivia nights abound. There are literally multiple options in most neighborhoods any weekday night, some with regulars, others where the teams regularly change. Among our picks are Fat Bottom in the Nations on Mondays, Crows Nest in Green Hills on Tuesdays, and Inglewood's Dose on Thursdays.
#1-12 Play Like a Kid Indoors
The great outdoors are, indeed, great. But, sometimes, the heat and humidity is too much. You don't have to spend the summer holed up in a bar just for the A/C. We've scoped out the options for playing inside, either with your mind or your body (or both), and having fun with friends and family, without risking heat exhaustion. Here are 12 of our favorites. —Margaret Littman
#1 Hidden under the Johnny Cash Museum is House of Cards, a restaurant and magic club where you can witness sleights of hand, interact with mentalists, and even make requests of a piano-playing ghost. This is not dinner theater, but an immersive, magical evening that includes dinner. You'll put your phone away and actually talk to your companions, perhaps the most significant trick of all.
#2 Located inside Bongo East, Game Point Café is more than a library of a few copies Scrabble with a bunch of missing letters (what you usually find when you play a coffee shop board game). An expert, likely game guru and co-owner Rick Keuler, will help you find a game from a collection of almost 400, and he’ll teach you the rules. Tell him what you like (and don't) about other games, and he'll make the perfect match. There's no fee to play, but you ought to buy sandwiches, salads, baked goods, or beer from the café. Some tables even have custom cup holders to keep your coffee away from your cards.
#3 The first Wednesday of the month, Meeple Mountain brings more than 100 game players to the Nashville Software School on the Southeast side to play both provided games and those that others bring to share. There are contests to win games, too, and the whole thing is free. Meeple Mountain is in the process of opening a board game café in East Nashville later this year. It will have food and game concierges to help with rules, plus a library of games to play and some for sale.
#4 Inside a modest pre-fab building in East Nashville lies an unexpected cavern of fun: BATL axe-throwing. Think darts with small hatchet-type axes; there’s a trained staffer to help you learn to throw without hurting yourself and to keep score. You can go for one-time beat-the-heat fun or join a league (like bowling, except with axes). Sessions last about two hours and are $40.96, with a $5 discount on Tuesdays. And, BATL’s bar and kitchen are now open.
#5-6 There's no shortage of places that you can pay to lock yourself in a room for an hour and solve clues to make your way out. But The Escape Game, which has locations in Berry Hill and downtown, is among the best, with flawless execution and eye for detail. Games are $35.99, plus tax, with a $5 discount before 11 a.m. If you're looking for an option in the suburbs, and you appreciate a flair for the dramatic, check out Franklin's Live Minds Adventure Escape, which has décor worthy of a movie set. Cost is $28.
#7 True, Topgolf is not technically indoors, but the mammoth driving range and entertainment venue near Germantown has covered areas with fans, so you're protected from the elements in your hitting bay. Hit a micro-chipped golf ball from one of three levels, and watch the screen to see how your stroke lands as you compete against friends. Food and drink will be delivered to your bay, or you can dine inside. Cost is $45 after 5 p.m.; $5 less from noon to 5 p.m.; and even cheaper before noon.
#8 Yes, one of the ideas of going out to play is to get away from your screen-time at home. But Rabbit Hole Virtual Reality isn't just about screens. You'll don a virtual headset, stand in front of a projector in a 10-by-10-foot room, and play one of nine different games, ranging from golf to space pirates. Cost is $15 for 15 minutes, or $45 for an hour.
#9 Race against your friends (or strangers) at Music City Indoor Karting at speeds up to 40 miles per hour on a quarter-mile track. This is about going fast, not ramming into each other (no bumper cars here). An eight-minute race is $23; if you are going to go more than once, sign up for the annual membership ($15) for discount pricing.
#10 Stroll over to Soda Parlor, the East Nashville sweet shop, for a milkshake or an old-fashioned or modern ice cream float, and, then, stick around to play arcade games for free. We're talking Ms. PacMan, Mario Bros., and all manner of retro video games. There can be a line for the games on peak hours, but try weekdays during the day, if you have your heart set on a specific throwback.
#11 It is not very often that locals go downtown to play (for another exception, see also #1 House of Cards on this list), but it's worth battling the pedal taverns to find HQ Beercade. Its 65,000 square feet are packed with 30 vintage arcade games and 10 pinball games, where you can play under a neon sign that reads, "Don't grow up, it's a trap."
#12 Air conditioned bars and coffee shops with trivia nights abound. There are literally multiple options in most neighborhoods any weekday night, some with regulars, others where the teams regularly change. Among our picks are Fat Bottom in the Nations on Mondays, Crows Nest in Green Hills on Tuesdays, and Inglewood's Dose on Thursdays.
#13 Play Like a Kid Outdoors
For many, summer camp is something fondly remembered from our PG youth. Camp No Counselors is not that kind of summer camp. Restricted to ages 21-plus, CNC offers an open-bar throwback on Percy Priest Lake, where 200 of your new best friends from all over the U.S. drink, wakeboard, create arts and crafts, drink, do paddleboard yoga, traverse ropes course, and, you guessed it, drink. The four-day, three-night events take place from September 13 to 16 and 20 to 23, and are located a mere 30 minutes from downtown.
#14 Play Like a Grownup Outdoors
Once a male-dominated sport, fly-fishing is booming among Nashville women. Here’s why, as well as how you can get started. —Jon Gugala
Susan Thrasher had fished when she was a girl, but it wasn’t until she turned 35 that she first tried fly-fishing at the invitation of her father. She remembers catching her first fish.
“I was just so taken with it, x93 Thrasher, now 55, says. “I knew for a fact that it changed my life. x93
It was the elegance of the cast. The beauty of the locations. The complete absence of worm guts. Thrasher became obsessed, eventually leaving a career as a civil engineer to become a fly-fishing guide and instructor, and, with a friend, to found Music City Fly Girls, a Middle Tennessee-based club now in its 11th year.
“Sometimes, it’s almost a spiritual experience, x93 she says. “And it’s challenging. There’s always something new to learn. x93
By the numbers, fly-fishing among women is way up. A December story in the New York Times cited them the fastest growing demographic in a traditionally male sport. Thrasher has seen her club’s average member age plummet, as younger women cold-call her looking to learn. Jen Ripple, publisher and editor of Dover, Tennessee-based women’s fly fishing magazine, Dun, says that, while many factors have brought about the rising interest, including social media connections and industry support, possibly the biggest has to do with gender-tailored equipment that has only recently become available.
“When I started out, I had to wear boy’s waders, and they fit me like they were a pair of boy’s waders, x93 Ripple says. “I was an adult woman. x93
In the last five years, Ripple has witnessed the introduction and now prevalence of women-specific equipment and apparel that has made it more attractive—literally—to women that would have otherwise been turned off by having to wear something that fit like a trash bag.
“Now, they make clothing that looks good to women and doesn’t make them look like men on the river, which is really important, x93 she says. “It makes women feel like the legitimate anglers that they have been. x93
As we enter the summer months, lessons and outings are prevalent through clubs and outfitters. But meetings are scarce. After all, the fish are rising, and the women are out on the water.
#15-18 Eat Something Ice Cold
Chill out with a scoop or a cone—even if you’re dairy free. Koko’s Ice Cream, which started as a pop-up and, then, went on bike, opened a physical space at the Shops at Porter East this spring, where you can find their (actually delicious) plant-based sweets, like strawberries and cream or the vegan Koko’s Kone. While you’re over there, hunt down the new Frisson Soft Serve shop on Fatherland Street for a Lord of the Dough cone. Purists: Hit up any Nashville location of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams—or order online for a shipment of Frosé Sorbet. Or, if you find yourself downtown, swing by Makeready Libations & Liberation for *free* ice cream sandwiches every Friday from 3 - 4 p.m. through August 31.
#15-18 Eat Something Ice Cold
Chill out with a scoop or a cone—even if you’re dairy free. Koko’s Ice Cream, which started as a pop-up and, then, went on bike, opened a physical space at the Shops at Porter East this spring, where you can find their (actually delicious) plant-based sweets, like strawberries and cream or the vegan Koko’s Kone. While you’re over there, hunt down the new Frisson Soft Serve shop on Fatherland Street for a Lord of the Dough cone. Purists: Hit up any Nashville location of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams—or order online for a shipment of Frosé Sorbet. Or, if you find yourself downtown, swing by Makeready Libations & Liberation for *free* ice cream sandwiches every Friday from 3 - 4 p.m. through August 31.
#19-20 Eat Cookies Delivered to your Door
With two locations in town, Tiff’s Treats makes cookie delivery to your air conditioned home or office a cinch. But we recommend braving the heat for a trip to one of the stores for the Tiffwich Ice Cream Sandwich, made with two warm cookies and icy cold vanilla ice cream in between. Meanwhile, local favorite Christie Cookie Co. also has ice cream sandwiches, which you can customize at their Germantown shop. (Or, there’s a second location that just opened up in 12 South this summer, and they have cookie cakes, too!)
#21 Splash Around
Cool off at one of Nashville’s best open-to-the-public spraygrounds at Cumberland Park, directly beneath the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge.
#22-25 Drink Something from a Can
Pack the cooler with ice-cold cocktails in a can, like locally made Naughty Tea, which is a tea-based wine from Natchez Hills Vineyard & Winery. Ideal over ice, these four-packs can be found at the winery’s location inside the Nashville Farmers’ Market. For something a little sturdier, the new Pickers Vodka crafted cocktails in a can have you covered. There are four mixed beverages, like the Music City Mule, with vodka, ginger beer and lime, or the Honky Tonk Hurricane, made with pineapple vodka and three fruit juices. Four-packs are available at local retailers. Wine drinkers: Give Nashville Urban Winery’s Indecent red or rose wines, served in a seductively designed can, and produced with California grapes at the new East Nashville facility. The light, fruit forward wines are also food friendly, so grab a few before packing up the picnic basket. New to the mix is Deep Bay Spirits, a light and refreshing distilled spirits-based drink in two iterations: gin soda citrus mint and vodka soda lime.
#26-28 Catch a Show Indoors
If the summer heat is bogging you down, move the party indoors by attending these three entertainment alternatives.
Bluegrass Underground at The Caverns
July 21: Scott Miller
August 18: Corey Smith
• As one of the best areas on earth for live music, it’s no surprise that Middle Tennessee is home to the world’s coolest underground performance hall. Check out the Pelham-based Caverns, with Southern rocker Scott Miller in July or singer-songwriter Corey Smith in August, as they take the stage as part of the Bluegrass Underground series.
Cirque Du Soleil’s Corteo
July 26-29
• Cirque Du Soleil’s latest masterpiece, Corteo, will make its Tennessee debut this summer. Audience members can expect the 51-person cast of acrobats, musicians, singers, and actors to fill Bridgestone Arena with magic and music.
Frist Friday: An Evening of Chaos and Awe
July 27
• Get out of the sun and in to the Frist Art Museum for a night of art, music, live performances, and plenty of food and drinks. Explore the latest exhibit and discover interactive gallery activities during this heatproof, indoor event.
#29 Hit the Beach
And, sometimes, you just need to escape. Our closest shoreline happens to be one of the dreamiest—Northwest Florida beckons with its white-sand beaches and wide-open views. And, although 30A draws the crowds further east, Destin, a quieter, sleepier town, has a shiny new reason to visit. —Erin Byers Murray
The Henderson, a Salamander Beach and Spa Resort, opened in late 2016, bringing 170 elegantly appointed rooms to the Gulf Coast. With inspiration that could have been pulled from the New England coastline, the stately, manor-like resort is both casually comfortable and seriously luxurious. From the handcrafted wooden tables that dot the Living Room lobby to the custom, locally created artwork along the walls, it feels more like a sprawling guest house than a hotel.
The amenities speak to the type of luxury you can expect. To start, there’s the Salamander Spa, which takes up nearly a full wing of the resort and provides spacious treatment rooms, stunning glass- and sea-inspired art, water views, and any number of ways to relax. Cool off in their newly installed Cryogenic chamber, which, in just three minutes, gets you ice-cold for a calorie-burning freeze. Follow it up with a 60-minute Tibetan bowl ritual treatment, which is part soft-handed massage, part auditory bliss. Don’t miss the experiential shower and a soak in the steam room before you go.
Once you’ve been properly restored, it’s time for a drink by the adult pool, which is on a lushly appointed deck. (It’s separate from the family-friendly pool, which includes a splash park and lazy river.) Post up under a tented cabana for a Sunset margarita and a light and airy shrimp wrap from the Sea Level Poolside Bar & Grill, or saunter out to the beach, which sits just across the street via private access, where umbrellas, lounge chairs, and attendants will keep you well-situated for your stay.
The attendants can also hook you up with a YOLO paddleboard session, and even a quick lesson, before you set out onto the crystal-clear blue. Or take a walk down what will likely be a near-empty beach: The resort sits beside the Henderson Beach State Park, which preserves 6,000 feet of shoreline that is accessible to resort guests and park-goers, and offers short hiking trails, as well as protection for the seasonal turtle-nesting season.
If the sea breezes keep things cool, the resort also offers complimentary bike rentals, spin classes on the Sunset Vista deck, and the occasional moonlight yoga class.
Back on site, soak in the views from your Gulf-, pool-, or garden-facing room, before heading out to explore the rest of the resort’s perks. At Primrose, you’ll find a kitchen-side sushi bar, as well as sea- and land-loving temptations, like a stunning chilled-seafood tower, a hearty bowl of shrimp and grits, or braised pork shank, with an orange-cilantro glaze.
Thirsty? Make your way to the lobby level Horizons bar, an octagonal room with views of the Gulf, for a bourbon-based Blackberry Fizz. For the kid at heart, and the ultimate way to cool off, there’s Sprinkles, a ground level ice cream shop, where you can grab a cone or a cup, and head out toward the Grand Lawn for a short sit by the fire pit that might be just the thing to cap off your beachside getaway.
#29 Hit the Beach
And, sometimes, you just need to escape. Our closest shoreline happens to be one of the dreamiest—Northwest Florida beckons with its white-sand beaches and wide-open views. And, although 30A draws the crowds further east, Destin, a quieter, sleepier town, has a shiny new reason to visit. —Erin Byers Murray
The Henderson, a Salamander Beach and Spa Resort, opened in late 2016, bringing 170 elegantly appointed rooms to the Gulf Coast. With inspiration that could have been pulled from the New England coastline, the stately, manor-like resort is both casually comfortable and seriously luxurious. From the handcrafted wooden tables that dot the Living Room lobby to the custom, locally created artwork along the walls, it feels more like a sprawling guest house than a hotel.
The amenities speak to the type of luxury you can expect. To start, there’s the Salamander Spa, which takes up nearly a full wing of the resort and provides spacious treatment rooms, stunning glass- and sea-inspired art, water views, and any number of ways to relax. Cool off in their newly installed Cryogenic chamber, which, in just three minutes, gets you ice-cold for a calorie-burning freeze. Follow it up with a 60-minute Tibetan bowl ritual treatment, which is part soft-handed massage, part auditory bliss. Don’t miss the experiential shower and a soak in the steam room before you go.
Once you’ve been properly restored, it’s time for a drink by the adult pool, which is on a lushly appointed deck. (It’s separate from the family-friendly pool, which includes a splash park and lazy river.) Post up under a tented cabana for a Sunset margarita and a light and airy shrimp wrap from the Sea Level Poolside Bar & Grill, or saunter out to the beach, which sits just across the street via private access, where umbrellas, lounge chairs, and attendants will keep you well-situated for your stay.
The attendants can also hook you up with a YOLO paddleboard session, and even a quick lesson, before you set out onto the crystal-clear blue. Or take a walk down what will likely be a near-empty beach: The resort sits beside the Henderson Beach State Park, which preserves 6,000 feet of shoreline that is accessible to resort guests and park-goers, and offers short hiking trails, as well as protection for the seasonal turtle-nesting season.
If the sea breezes keep things cool, the resort also offers complimentary bike rentals, spin classes on the Sunset Vista deck, and the occasional moonlight yoga class.
Back on site, soak in the views from your Gulf-, pool-, or garden-facing room, before heading out to explore the rest of the resort’s perks. At Primrose, you’ll find a kitchen-side sushi bar, as well as sea- and land-loving temptations, like a stunning chilled-seafood tower, a hearty bowl of shrimp and grits, or braised pork shank, with an orange-cilantro glaze.
Thirsty? Make your way to the lobby level Horizons bar, an octagonal room with views of the Gulf, for a bourbon-based Blackberry Fizz. For the kid at heart, and the ultimate way to cool off, there’s Sprinkles, a ground level ice cream shop, where you can grab a cone or a cup, and head out toward the Grand Lawn for a short sit by the fire pit that might be just the thing to cap off your beachside getaway.
#29 Hit the Beach
And, sometimes, you just need to escape. Our closest shoreline happens to be one of the dreamiest—Northwest Florida beckons with its white-sand beaches and wide-open views. And, although 30A draws the crowds further east, Destin, a quieter, sleepier town, has a shiny new reason to visit. —Erin Byers Murray
The Henderson, a Salamander Beach and Spa Resort, opened in late 2016, bringing 170 elegantly appointed rooms to the Gulf Coast. With inspiration that could have been pulled from the New England coastline, the stately, manor-like resort is both casually comfortable and seriously luxurious. From the handcrafted wooden tables that dot the Living Room lobby to the custom, locally created artwork along the walls, it feels more like a sprawling guest house than a hotel.
The amenities speak to the type of luxury you can expect. To start, there’s the Salamander Spa, which takes up nearly a full wing of the resort and provides spacious treatment rooms, stunning glass- and sea-inspired art, water views, and any number of ways to relax. Cool off in their newly installed Cryogenic chamber, which, in just three minutes, gets you ice-cold for a calorie-burning freeze. Follow it up with a 60-minute Tibetan bowl ritual treatment, which is part soft-handed massage, part auditory bliss. Don’t miss the experiential shower and a soak in the steam room before you go.
Once you’ve been properly restored, it’s time for a drink by the adult pool, which is on a lushly appointed deck. (It’s separate from the family-friendly pool, which includes a splash park and lazy river.) Post up under a tented cabana for a Sunset margarita and a light and airy shrimp wrap from the Sea Level Poolside Bar & Grill, or saunter out to the beach, which sits just across the street via private access, where umbrellas, lounge chairs, and attendants will keep you well-situated for your stay.
The attendants can also hook you up with a YOLO paddleboard session, and even a quick lesson, before you set out onto the crystal-clear blue. Or take a walk down what will likely be a near-empty beach: The resort sits beside the Henderson Beach State Park, which preserves 6,000 feet of shoreline that is accessible to resort guests and park-goers, and offers short hiking trails, as well as protection for the seasonal turtle-nesting season.
If the sea breezes keep things cool, the resort also offers complimentary bike rentals, spin classes on the Sunset Vista deck, and the occasional moonlight yoga class.
Back on site, soak in the views from your Gulf-, pool-, or garden-facing room, before heading out to explore the rest of the resort’s perks. At Primrose, you’ll find a kitchen-side sushi bar, as well as sea- and land-loving temptations, like a stunning chilled-seafood tower, a hearty bowl of shrimp and grits, or braised pork shank, with an orange-cilantro glaze.
Thirsty? Make your way to the lobby level Horizons bar, an octagonal room with views of the Gulf, for a bourbon-based Blackberry Fizz. For the kid at heart, and the ultimate way to cool off, there’s Sprinkles, a ground level ice cream shop, where you can grab a cone or a cup, and head out toward the Grand Lawn for a short sit by the fire pit that might be just the thing to cap off your beachside getaway.
#30-32 Hit the Pool
Satisfy your pool craving on some of Nashville’s newest rooftop venues. Although you’ll have to splurge on a hotel room if you want the all-access pool pass, a great tan plus a cocktail-filled social hour is what you’ll really be paying for.
Holston House
Choose from an array of light bites and cocktails at Holston House’s own rooftop bar, TENN on Top, which overlooks Music City’s downtown skyline.
Bobby Hotel
If the pool atop this location doesn’t call your name, the trendy architecture surely will. Grab drinks from a 1956 Scenicruiser bus-turned-rooftop bar, while lounging poolside at the Bobby Hotel.
Cambria Nashville Downtown
The Cambria Nashville Downtown’s rooftop pool shares a space with TRUE Music Room and Bar, Nashville’s newest music venue, making it the ideal hangout spot for both day and night.
#30-32 Hit the Pool
Satisfy your pool craving on some of Nashville’s newest rooftop venues. Although you’ll have to splurge on a hotel room if you want the all-access pool pass, a great tan plus a cocktail-filled social hour is what you’ll really be paying for.
Holston House
Choose from an array of light bites and cocktails at Holston House’s own rooftop bar, TENN on Top, which overlooks Music City’s downtown skyline.
Bobby Hotel
If the pool atop this location doesn’t call your name, the trendy architecture surely will. Grab drinks from a 1956 Scenicruiser bus-turned-rooftop bar, while lounging poolside at the Bobby Hotel.
Cambria Nashville Downtown
The Cambria Nashville Downtown’s rooftop pool shares a space with TRUE Music Room and Bar, Nashville’s newest music venue, making it the ideal hangout spot for both day and night.
#30-32 Hit the Pool
Satisfy your pool craving on some of Nashville’s newest rooftop venues. Although you’ll have to splurge on a hotel room if you want the all-access pool pass, a great tan plus a cocktail-filled social hour is what you’ll really be paying for.
Holston House
Choose from an array of light bites and cocktails at Holston House’s own rooftop bar, TENN on Top, which overlooks Music City’s downtown skyline.
Bobby Hotel
If the pool atop this location doesn’t call your name, the trendy architecture surely will. Grab drinks from a 1956 Scenicruiser bus-turned-rooftop bar, while lounging poolside at the Bobby Hotel.
Cambria Nashville Downtown
The Cambria Nashville Downtown’s rooftop pool shares a space with TRUE Music Room and Bar, Nashville’s newest music venue, making it the ideal hangout spot for both day and night.