I’m always looking for a few things when hiking with my toddler: It needs to be flat, it needs to be shady, and it needs to have a lot of benches. Radnor Lake State Park delivers. The beautiful lake is flanked by mature trees, and you’re guaranteed wildlife sightings. (Deer! Turkeys! Eagles! Ducks! So many turtles!) It’s an ideal hike for a meandering toddler who wants to run, skip or climb their way around the lake. The trails are fairly wide and very well marked, and the loops around the lake are about three miles long. Add in a stop (or three) for breaks, and it’s a wonderful way to spend half a day feeling like you’re worlds away from home. ELIZABETH JONES
More Best of Nashville wins: In our Writers’ Choice, Radnor Lake State Park has also been named Best Park for a Long Walk (2024).
