Things to Do in Hendersonville

Calico Jacks Boat & RV Rentals supplies pontoons that skitter across Old Hickory Lake as well as motorboats and RVs that up the entertainment and convenience ante of outdoor getaways. The stable of land and water vehicles, available to rent or to buy, suits day trippers and serious boaters combing the water’s depths for first-edition copies of Moby Dick. After collaring a seaworthy boat, customers can venture out with a professional fishing guide to find an ideal angling spot.

Guns and Leather is as much an artists' studio as a shooting range. As onsite gunsmith for more than 30 years, Jeff Walle spends his days restoring and customizing firearms, sometimes machining a part for an antique rifle or working on an engraving.

Walle's respect for the tradition and history of firearms characterizes Guns and Leather, started by the Williams family as a humble 800-square-foot shop in 1999. By 2004, the Williams nearly tripled the size of their operation, moving to a 2,100-square-foot facility in Greenbrier. Today, they oversee a 75-foot indoor range split into five standard lanes with electric target retrieval and five computerized lanes with a Mancom system that can make targets pivot and moonwalk. They also supervise a 35-foot, 15-lane range in Hendersonville, which, like its predecessor, is outfitted with climate-control and air-filtration systems. Beyond supervising the ranges, the Williams also oversee a team of state licensed, NRA-compliant instructors that runs the Guns and Leather Shooting Academy, an instructional suite with courses tailored for everyone from everyday citizens to military personnel. To further demonstrate their commitment to responsible firearms practices, the Williams also coordinate a Junior Shooting Sports Program.

Gray Line's Homes of the Stars trip includes a cruise past downtown, historic Second Avenue, the State Capitol, Fort Nashborough, and Ryman Auditorium. The tour lasts about three hours, and you will be able to see the homes of such stars as Alan Jackson, Ronnie Milsap, Dolly Parton, the late Hank Williams, Lorianne Crook, Little Jimmy Dickens, and several others—with the exception of Roger Moore, who lives in a station wagon floating in the river. Gray Line is an established Nashville business that organizes several tours, shuttle services, and group trips, providing guests a hassle-free way to explore the city's rich celebrity history.

Designed by Jerry Lemmons and sculpted into the Tennessee countryside in 2001, Riverside Golf Course challenges golfers with 6,500 yards of winding fairways and greens. Clubbers can unsheathe their collection of golf-ball tenderizers and attempt to conquer the par-71 layout, which demands precision to avoid three water hazards that loom throughout the course. Riverside Golf Course is situated alongside a large driving range and a 9-hole, par 3 course, where golfers can practice their short game and enjoy the entertainment as the pint-sized course deals with the constant noogies supplied by its 18-hole bigger brother.

Laughter fills the air as kids zip down slides and caper about a jungle of wall-to-wall inflatables and obstacle courses within Monkey Joe’s play center. Kids 12 and under romp throughout the air-conditioned playscape’s obstacles, and tykes 3 and under stretch their imaginations on the softer and smaller attractions in the toddler play area. An orchestra of electronic beeps fills the arcade, and the scents of savory pizza waft from a concessions stand. Colorful balloons and cakes pack party rooms, where birthday boys and girls unwrap presents and brand-new imaginary friends.

Safety is paramount to Monkey Joe’s. The play areas are always supervised by the trained staff, and as little ones frolic, a child security system tracks visitors through identity bracelets and video monitoring. These safety measures—combined with the use of FDA-certified cleaning solutions—put parents at ease as they relax in the adult lounge, where they can catch their favorite shows on flat-screen TVs or browse the Internet for ways to pimp their minivans.