Located just west of Bellevue in Williamson County, Fairview is a quaint but lovely small town, perfect for nature lovers. It’s also home to several fun places for kids to play, and a handful of fantastic eateries. Here’s my advice for how to spend a day in Fairview.
The geese may look peaceful here, but they can get fierce! (Margaret Kingsbury / City Cast Nashville)
🌳 Get in Tune with Nature
Bowie Nature Park is a beautiful park with over 700 acres of forest and 17 miles of trails. We typically park at the nature center, then either hike the trails behind it to Joann’s Outdoor Classroom and the Memorial Walkway — which has footprints in the trail with lots of little animal statues — or we go across the field in front of the center, where the giant squirrel, raccoon, and tree mosaic sculptures are.
My favorite trail, however, is around the lake. We always spy frogs and turtles, and of course the numerous geese, who can frankly get a little intimidating if you have food.
Gotta climb to slide, though there are plenty of other slides there that require less climbing. (Margaret Kingsbury / City Cast Nashville)
🛝 Lots of Fun for Kids
Bowie Nature Park is also home to a fantastic playground. The new playground opened in 2022, and it’s swiftly become one of my daughter’s favorites. She especially loves the zipline (although it seems to be frequently out of order). There’s plenty of other playground equipment, from tire swings to a bouncy park ranger jeep and a musical area. It’s enclosed, and there’s a smaller play structure for toddlers.
If it’s packed, and it frequently is, you can also try out the playground at Fairview Ball Park. It’s much smaller, but cute and often pretty empty. We went there a lot when my daughter was a toddler. The smaller structures are good for younger ages.
Both playgrounds have picnic tables.
Tennessee Toddles is one of the few indoor playgrounds in our area. It’s 6,000 square feet of fun with lots of soft play structures and bouncy areas, perfect for a rainy day.
🛍️ Where to Shop
If you’d rather shop than hike and hang out at playgrounds, head to Farm Fresh Vintage Finds & Creamery. This cute little store sells antique furniture, home decor, handmade candles, and ice cream. It’s a great place to find unique gifts, too.
🍽️ The Best Places to Eat
- 🍩 Before you head to the park or playground, grab some donuts from Fairview Fresh Deli Donuts. My donut-loving friends swear they’re some of the best local donuts they’ve ever had!
- 😋 End your day with lunch or dinner at The Thompsons Kitchen, which combines a fine dining experience with country charm. Their menu changes frequently, but I recommend grabbing the blackened catfish, if available.
