Yes, it's possible to enjoy water in a land-locked state

Get the most out of your summer: Read more about our favorite places to eat and drink, camp, play, rock, splash, explore, hike and chill.

Last summer, a friend-couple of mine — that is, a couple of my friends who are also a couple — embarked on an adventure so interesting that I joked that I might just steal it and write about it in the paper. All joking aside, I am stealing their idea and writing about it in the paper. The idea: to visit a different body of water each weekend, all summer long.

Due to logistical issues — bad weather here, work conflict there — my pals doubled up on a couple of locations and skipped a couple of weekends. But by and large, the project was a success, thanks in part to the sheer glut of natural bodies of water within a day's drive of Nashville. Whether your goal is to swim, canoe or simply float, there's no lack of opportunities to dip your toes in.

A casual canoe trip down a lazy Middle Tennessee river is one of the more satisfying ways to spend a day on the water. It's a fairly short trip to canoe rental services — places with names like Foggy Bottom and River Rat — that sit on the banks of the Buffalo, Duck, Harpeth and Piney rivers, among others. Rental rates vary from place to place, of course, but most spots will rent you a two-person canoe for a four- to six-hour trip for somewhere in the neighborhood of $40. (Kayaks generally cost about the same, but a one-person limit means you're paying twice as much per passenger.)

In my experience, the Harpeth — with its popular drop-in spot in Pegram, Tenn., just outside Nashville — tends to be among the more popular summertime river routes. That makes for slow going, and more interactions with families, high school kids and partiers alike. ("That's all right," you'll say with a false chuckle after an 8-year-old's errant paddle wallops you upside the dome. "It was just an accident." But you'll never be fully certain it was.) If you don't mind driving an additional 30 minutes or so down I-40 West to Lobelville, you'll find that the Buffalo River is a bit less overrun — travel at your own pace.

Is paddling too much work? Some places, like the luxuriously wide and easy Red River in Adams, Tenn. — home of the legendary Bell Witch! — offer inner-tube rental for about $14 apiece. They'll even rent you a tube to plop your beer cooler into, so you can let the current carry you and your booze along at no risk of committing any exercise.

If lounging and a little light swimming are more your speed, a perfectly solid and family-friendly option is the nearby Old Hickory Beach, just past the Old Hickory Dam and Lock on the Cumberland River. Old Hickory Lake is, of course, a popular spot for area folks who like to fish and boat and Jet Ski — if you're one of those people, you likely don't need tips from us on where to go — but this little cordoned-off section of the lake is great for floating and splashing. There's also a picnic shelter that accommodates up to 100 people, good for grilling out.

Percy Priest Lake is another spot rife with swimming and boating opportunities — Google Maps shows somewhere in the neighborhood of three-dozen small islands throughout the lake, and many of them are suitable for camping, as long as you can find a means to get out there. I just don't recommend swimming to them.

More ways to get wet:

Water Slide Festival

With a 1,000-foot double water slide (and smaller slides, too), a giant pool party, a foam party, bouncy houses and more. Also, yoga and Zumba, for some reason. Fri., June 24, Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville, 625 Smith Ave., riseandslide.com.

River Queen Voyages

Take in amazing city views while paddling along the Cumberland. Single kayak rentals start at $29, and River Queen Voyages offers both one- and three-hour trips. Tours offered every Wed.-Sun. through Oct., 615-933-9778, rqvoyages.com.

Nashville Shores

Water slides, splash pads and pools powered by more than 1 million gallons of water (and about 10 gallons of pee). Open daily May 27-Aug. 14, Sat.-Sun. only May 21-22 and Aug. 19-Sept. 11, 4011 Bell Road, Hermitage, Tenn., 615-889-7050, nashvilleshores.com.

Cumberland Park Sprayground

The large splash pad on the east side of the Cumberland can be crowded with kids, but at least it's free! Note: The water may be turned off during Nissan Stadium events. Open daily May 30-Sept. 5, 592 S. First St., 615-862-8508.

Wave Country

With a wave pool, speed slides, a kid-friendly splash area and more. Open daily May 28-Aug. 5; Sat.-Sun. only Aug. 6-Sept. 4, 2320 Two Rivers Parkway, 615-885-1092.

Nashville Paddle Company

Standup paddleboarding for all ages and experience levels, whether you want to cruise around Percy Priest Lake, partake in group yoga on the water or even paddleboard under the full moon. See online calendar for special events. Rentals available daily, Hamilton Creek Recreation Area, 2901 Bell Road, 615-682-1787, nashvillepaddle.com.

Pinewood Social

Yup, Pinewood Social really does have it all — bowling, booze, bocce ball and dipping pools, where you can simultaneously sip on cocktails while taking a small but refreshing plunge. Open daily 11 a.m.-9 p.m. (reservations recommended), 33 Peabody St., 615-751-8111, pinewoodsocial.com.

Listings compiled with assistance from Zoe Roberts