Father’s Day Camping Trip

For Father’s Day I wanted to plan a trip based around what my husband enjoys most. My husband enjoys the great outdoors and when we travel it's most enjoyable to bring the whole gang. This includes my three sons (ages: 9 weeks, 7 years, and 9 years old) and our two overly complicated rescue dogs. So, I searched for a vacation spot that would be enjoyable for us all. I found a great resort that offered swimming, fishing, kayaking, and more!

Getting There:

Piney River Resort is just a 50 minute drive from Franklin and 1 hour from Nashville in the small town of Bon Aqua. Usually, my boys ask, “are we there yet?” but the drive seemed fast and easy. We were all pleasantly surprised and the countryside provided us with beautiful scenery.

Accommodations:

Piney River Resort offers 4 ways to stay. There are premium tent sites, luxury glamping tents, tiny house rentals, and rv sites. I chose a tiny home and felt it would provide my family with the most comfort. The tiny home had a great layout for us all. There was a main bedroom that my husband and I enjoyed, twin bunks right next to us that I actually used to put our bassinet on. There was a loft with two twin beds that my older boys really enjoyed. The stairs up were a bit steep but doable. I would recommend it for older kids. Our dogs roamed freely when we were there and there was room for their small crates in the living room when we were out. Each tiny home has a great patio and a fire ring with 4 chairs.

Things to do:

There are many things to do at this campground which is why it made for a great trip. In the mornings my older boys would ride their bikes around and play at the jungle gym until my husband had the fishing rods ready to go. They would drive down to the river (you can also walk) for a morning of fishing. Once the boys got tired of fishing, they enjoyed swimming in the river while my husband continued to fish. There are two river access points on the resort property. The water was very clear and according to staff one of the best river water qualities in the state. You can kayak or canoe on the river by contacting Pinewood Canoe Rentals. The property offers a pool and splash pad for guests and a small game room to entertain the kids for a little bit out of the heat. There is also a pickleball court next to the pool. In the evenings we enjoyed sitting around the campfire and making smores. One night we were telling scary stories and my husband's story just started getting creepy when the whole resort lost power! We later found out a snake took out the power. It definitely left us with a great memory. Once the sun starts setting, the sounds of frogs take over! We had no idea what we were hearing but there was no ignoring it. So, one night we took flashlights out to go find these strange sounds. We found frogs in the trees. It was the most interesting find and the kids loved the hunt. 

Food:

Food is limited but the market offers you some options when needed. Remember you are at a campground so pack simple. For breakfast we brought cereal, bagels with cream cheese, and eggs and bacon. For lunch we made hot dogs, PB&J sandwiches, brought chips, and some oranges. For Dinner we made Burgers with baked beans. The market offers Hunts Brothers pizza which was actually pretty good after swimming at the pool. They do sell hot dogs and some simple essentials if you have forgotten something. Just be aware of the market hours. They close pretty early and we didn't realise it until it was too late.

Conclusion:

Piney River Resort is a great place for a family friendly adventure. This is a place to unplug, unwind, and explore. It is a relatively close campground to the Nashville area that offers beautiful scenery, fishing, and water sports for all ages. It’s definitely worth checking out. Not only will dad feel refreshed but the whole family will enjoy this trip. 

Family Friendly: 4/5

Pet Friendly: 5/5

Adventures: 4/5

Food: 3/5