Since I am living in Middle Tennessee, near Nashville, I spend a lot of time walking in this area. Today I took one of my dogs to Edwin Warner Park on Highway 100 in Nashville. I literally gasped when I spotted a barn owl sitting on a 10-foot tree next to the walkway! It was 9:30 a.m., and the owl was a beauty. I once before was lucky enough to observe one of this species perched on a tree limb near a greenway. I must be cursed though! While I usually carry a camera in my pocket, I had forgotten it in the car - both times!

If you’re ever in Nashville, I recommend you check out The Warner Parks. Edwin and Percy Warner Parks are with more than 2600 acres of forests and fields the largest municipally administered parks in Tennessee. Walkways are well-maintained. You can bicycle, ride a horse or watch your dog play at the dog park near the model airplane field. The Parks Department always offers some activity programs for children and adults. You can check out what’s offered ahead of time by calling the Warner Parks Nature Center on Highway 100 615) 352-6299.

And since you have likely worked up an appetite during your outdoor activity, I recommend one of the traditional hot spots for breakfast in Nashville: The Loveless Motel. Just follow Highway 100 westbound and you can’t miss the Loveless, which is famous for its hearty Southern Breakfast. The Loveless was sold a few years ago and renovated as a touristy spot. It has great little (albeit rather pricy) shops and galleries.

What’s more, literally around the corner from the Loveless begins the Natchez Trace Parkway. If you want to enjoy a 444-mile historic route, which was carved first by buffalos 1,000 years ago, then the Natchez Trace from Nashville to Natchez, Mississippi, is perfect for you. The only advice I have is take your time, enjoy the scenery, visit some of the Civil War sites, experience Emerald Mound – one of the largest Indian mounds in North America – and most of all, don’t forget your camera in the car.For more on Natchez Trace go to www.byways.org/explore/byways/2285/

However, if your time in Nashville is limited and you feel more like art exhibit and gardens, you should check out Cheekwood. It's a mansion that the Cheek family transformed into a museum. The surrounding gardens are well-maintained and during summer months, they house a special exhibit for children. This year between Sept. 29 and Nov. 4, scarecrows will line the pathways. Cheekwood also offers arts and botanical programs from young to old. The Pinnapple Room Restaurant is open for lunch from Tuesday through Saturday, or you simply bring along your own, small picnic. More information can be retained at www.cheekwood.org.