Picnic It -- To reserve a picnic shelter in any of Nashville's city parks, call tel. 615/862-8408.

Boat Rentals -- In the summer, a wide variety of boats, from canoes and paddleboats to personal watercraft and pontoon boats, can be rented at Four Corners Marina on Percy Priest Lake, 4027 Lavergne Couchville Pike, Antioch (tel. 615/641-9523). This grocery store sells bait, tackle, and fishing licenses year-round. The gorgeous lake, only a few miles east of downtown, is surrounded by a series of parks, trees, and natural beauty rather than commercial and residential development.

At Kingston Springs, about 20 miles west of Nashville off I-40, you can rent canoes from Tip-a-Canoe, 1279 U.S. 70, at Harpeth River Bridge (tel. 800/550-5810 or 615/254-0836), or bring your own. Canoe trips of varying lengths, from a couple of hours up to 5 days, can be arranged. Rates start at $45 per canoe, which includes the shuttle upriver to your chosen put-in point. Trips lasting 5 days cost $125. The Harpeth River is a meandering, scenic river of mostly Class I water with some Class II -- and a few spots where you'll have to carry the canoe.

Golf -- Three area courses consistently get praised by Nashville golfers. The Hermitage Golf Course, 3939 Old Hickory Blvd. (tel. 615/847-4001), is a challenging 36-hole public course about 20 minutes east of downtown. Greens fees are $49 to $69 and can be booked in advance online. The Vanderbilt Legends Club of Tennessee, 1500 Legends Club Lane, Franklin (tel. 615/791-8100), is a bit farther out of town but offers a 36-hole course designed by Tom Kite and Bob Cupp. Greens fees for the Legends Club are $36 to $85. For many golfing visitors, however, the Opryland's Gaylord Springs Golf Links, 18 Springhouse Lane (tel. 615/458-1730), is most convenient. This par-72, 18-hole course is set on the bank of the Cumberland River. The course boasts not only challenging links, but also an antebellum-style clubhouse that would have made Rhett Butler feel right at home. Greens fees range from $40 to $90 for 18 holes. For the most serious enthusiasts, The Golf Institute at Gaylord Springs offers high-tech analysis of golfers' swings, two indoor hitting bays for year-round instruction, and on-site customized club fittings and repair workshop.

Horseback Riding -- If you want to go for a ride through the Tennessee hills, there are a couple of nearby places where you can rent a horse. The Ramblin' Breeze/A Cowboy Town, 3665 Knight Rd., Whites Creek (tel. 615/876-1029), 7 miles north of downtown Nashville, rents horses for $20 an hour ($15 for children ages 7-12). Juro Stables, 735 Carver Lane, Mt. Juliet (tel. 615/773-7433, or visit their website), is located about 15 minutes from Nashville on I-40 east, at the Mt. Juliet exit. They are open daily, 9am to one hour before sundown. Their rates are $22 per horse for adults for 1 hour; $33 per horse for adults for 1 and a half hours; $17 for one hour for children 15 years and under; $28 for 1 and a half hours for children 15 years and under; $11 for one hour for doubled children; $17 for one and a half hours for doubled children; $44 for one hour lesson; $66 for 1.5hr lesson.

Swimming -- Though most of the hotels and motels listed in this guide have pools, if you'd rather go jump in a lake, head for Percy Priest Lake. You'll find this large man-made reservoir just east of downtown Nashville at exit 219 off I-40. Stop by the information center to get a map showing the three designated swimming areas.