No matter how much you love your family and enjoy spending time at home with them, we all go stir crazy at some point. And that’s ok. It doesn’t mean we’re tired of being together, rather it just means we might need a change of pace or scenery. Working full time makes it hard to do things together as a family out of the house during the school year, or any time of the year for that matter. Not everyone is lucky enough to be able to take a full week off work to get out of town and spend some quality time with the whole family.
Day trips with the family are the best, especially when they’re spur of the moment and a surprise for the kids. If you need some ideas for a day out of the city, whether you live in Memphis or Nashville, might we recommend considering Humphreys County? Close enough for a day drive, yet far enough to feel like a vacation, Humphreys County has plenty to offer for any kind of family day trip!
For the Creatives
Does your family like putting together themed decorations each year for Halloween and Christmas? Are your kids in drama and art classes in school and you’re looking for a way to connect with them? Well, have I got the place for you: The Walls Art Park in Waverly, TN. This isn’t your typical art museum trip, that’s for certain. Not only are these works of art not hanging on the wall in a frame, they ARE the wall. Check out their website and get lost in their gallery of past works of stunning graffiti, the likes of which you’ve never seen. They’ve even started an annual Spring Paint Jam, inviting artists from all around to cover all the walls with their masterpieces. They’ll even have food trucks so this could be the perfect opportunity for a springtime family day trip in Humphreys County.
The park says that their core mission is “to allow artists to share their creativity with the community and express themselves freely in a space of their own.” While you can certainly make a trip just to enjoy the stunning work of others, they actually invite you to leave your own mark. Just be sure to bring your own paint and cleanup supplies and promise not to paint anything lewd or offensive. Get ready to make some colorful memories with your kids before they’re “too cool” to hang with you.
For the Active Family
Does your family thrive on competition or organized sports? Are you the type to wake up before dawn to run before getting ready for work? Humphreys County is practically tailored for the active family with plenty of outdoor options that is sure to get your blood pumping on a family day trip to the area.
During the summer months, you could make a day trip to Bone’s Canoe and Campground every weekend and still have the kids begging for more. You don’t even have to shell out the cash to buy an expensive rig for everyone in your family as they have canoe and kayak rentals on site. They offer a 5- or 10-mile float down the Buffalo River during the warmer months and will even drive you to the spots to drop in. Now that’s how you spend a day with the family in Humphreys County. If you’d rather stay on the side of the river with your fishing rods all in a row, they’ve got plenty of spots for that as well.
For the die-hard adventuring family looking for their next adrenaline rush, might we suggest Music City Skydiving? While certainly not for the faint of heart, skydiving together as a family could be a truly exhilarating experience none of you will ever forget. They offer tandem jumps for the newbies and solo certifications and jumps for the seasoned skydiver. Every review we’ve seen has recommended springing for the video package, which makes sense if you think your eyes will be closed the whole time!
For the Family Feast
It’s not a real “family vacation” without a feast at a restaurant you can’t get at home. We also know that most families have at least one picky eater, often more, that cannot agree on a place to eat. We’ve done the hard work for you and put together the best family-centric eating spots you can’t find outside of Humphreys County.
If you’ve still got a bit of extra time in the afternoon or evening before you have to head back to real life, stop into Skyway Pizza and Lanes for dinner and a quick game or two of bowling with the kids. Their menu is more than pizza and the family atmosphere and arcade games will keep the whole family entertained while also filling their bellies before hitting the road.
While we didn’t include Loretta Lynn’s Ranch on the activities above, we can’t NOT mention it when we’re talking about things to do or eat in Humphreys County! Due to Covid-19, Loretta Lynn’s Kitchen isn’t offering the buffet unless it’s for catering or big groups coming through on tours, but the rest of their delicious country cooking is still available to nosh on before heading back home.
Maybe you’d like something a bit fancier to end your day trip to Humphreys County with the family. If that’s the case, you’ve got more than a few options. First up is Samuel’s on the Square in Waverly. Their “sit-down, full-service, pay at the table, destination dining experience” offers both upscale Italian cuisine as well as high quality All-American grill-fare as well. Needless to say, everyone will leave the dining table satisfied after a meal here. You also have two locations of Jen’s Steak and Seafood to choose from depending on where you are in Humphreys County when your desire for surf and turf hits!
Family day trips will always be one of the best ways to reconnect with the loved ones in your family. While the kids may act like they’d rather be anywhere else, trust us when we say the memories you make with them now are the ones they’ll look the most fondly on in the years to come. Bookmark this page if you’d like to keep some ideas on hand for your next family day trip to Humphreys County.
ITINERARY POINTS OF INTEREST
Created as a safe haven for those who need to express themselves and prefer not to get cited for it, The Walls Art Park was inspired by train graffiti art that the park’s creator found to be truly beautiful. It’s become multi-surface art park that begs to be covered with the art of new talent.
Bone’s Campground is the perfect spot to set up camp and spend the whole weekend with the family. Plan ahead and you could have your canoe or kayak reserved and waiting for you every morning so you can all stay out on the water from sun-up to sundown.
With an over 8,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art facility; full-service rigging loft and gear store; large, wide open, flat landing areas; top-of-the-line equipment for students and experienced jumpers; and extremely high safety standards, Music City Skydiving is perfect for the first-time jumper or someone with thousands of jumps under their belt.
Enjoy yummy pizzas, pastas, sandwiches, and more while you enjoy bowling and games in a family atmosphere at this fun spot.
Loretta Lynn’s Kitchen serves up down-home dishes like country fried steak, pot roast, potatoes, greens, creamed corn, mac ‘n cheese, and southern style biscuits. Although the buffet is currently closed due to Covid-19, they are still offering their same delicious home style cooking for a nice sit-down family dinner.
Specializing in upscale Italian cuisine and American grill favorites, Samuel’s guarantees only the best quality beef, chicken, and seafood in Middle Tennessee. Try the Capon Florentine, their signature dish, or choose from specialties like prime rib, homemade meatballs, cheesy chicken marinara, and more.
With two different locations in Humphreys County to serve you, Jen’s is a small-town American, family-style restaurant where you’re invited to “sit long, talk much, and laugh often.” Enjoy USDA certified steaks cut and trimmed right in the kitchen as well as seafood favorites like jumbo shrimp, lobster tail, snow crab legs, swordfish, catfish, and much more.