Area Activities Welcome Families to Make the Most of Summer.

by | May 2023

FINDING SOMETHING the whole family can do during the summer can be challenging. The beach is too crowded, and the amusement parks are too far away. And both can be astronomically expensive. You are looking to save gas and your sanity. Thankfully, many family-friendly activities are heating up in popularity for the summer months. Not only do they welcome the whole family to enjoy, but they won’t break the bank, and they will also get everyone up and moving. 

Disc golf 

First up is Disc Golf. While the two words seem contradictory, the sport’s growing popularity is anything but. 

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, Disc Golf is also known as Frisbee golf. In playing the game, players attempt to toss a plastic disc into each of a succession of basketlike receptacles stationed along a course, with the object being to reach each target in as few attempts as possible. It is similar to regular golf in that it has 18 holes and is played primarily by the same rules. But instead of hitting a ball into a hole in the ground, in Disc Golf, Frisbees are thrown into metal disc-trapping baskets on stationary poles.

Locally, Disc Golf courses have popped up steadily, with plenty of spots to play a round in whatever county you might find yourself in. It’s also a sport that welcomes all skill levels and almost all ages. 

Photographed by Ashleigh Newnes.

Local Disc Golf enthusiast Myles Love picked up the game upon moving to the area four years ago. Love was looking for something to do that was fun and would allow him to meet other people. 

“I moved out to Tennessee in 2019. I kind of knew what it was, but I had never played it. My brother-in-law, who lives out here, told me about it, and we went out and played. 

From there, Myles said he was hooked and said it has been similar to other activities he’s enjoyed, such as Frisbee and hiking. 

“I like Frisbees, so it’s been an easy transition, and once I started playing, I just kind of fell in love with it. I love the way you can get a disc to fly. I take friends who have never played. I also go with my dad, who’s 64. It’s an excellent way for us to hang out. It’s great exercise, especially when you’re older. For me, it’s just like a combination of playing Frisbee while you’re hiking.”

Coffee County is home to several Disc Golf courses in Hillsboro and Tullahoma.

Photographed by Ashleigh Newnes.

Pickleball 

Another summer activity that seems to have picked up its own cult following is Pickleball. 

A paddle sport with combined elements of tennis, badminton, and Ping-Pong, Pickleball is played on a doubles badminton court. The net is similar to a tennis net but is 2 inches lower and played with a hard paddle, identical to Ping-Pong. It can be played in either singles or doubles matches.

Contractors by day, area resident Felicia and her husband, Tim, took their love of the sport to the next level, constructing their private Pickleball court. 

“We did a lot of research in its design,” said Felica. “People don’t realize how much is involved with Pickleball. You can play outdoors with an outdoor ball on a paved or coated concrete surface. It’s a different game if you play indoors on a wooden floor, like in the gym where we normally play. But our court has a Picklegrip floor. It’s like a plastic interlocking floor designed especially for Pickleball, and it is amazing. We can play night or day, rain or shine.” 

Whether you play privately or publicly, there are various opportunities to get involved in a match. Manchester Parks and Recreation offers Pickleball playing times from 9 a.m. until noon, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Two courts are available for full Pickleball action. 

Photographed by Ashleigh Newnes.

Swimming

The local pool is on almost everyone’s list for summertime activities. The smell of chlorine, pizza, and suntan lotion is not only hypnotic but intoxicating and draws all ages to come in and cool off from the summertime heat. 

Area swimming today offers a much more upgraded experience than it once did. Area pools have been upgraded to include swimming options for all ages, such as splash pads and shallow-water play areas. 

Manchester Parks and Recreation has an updated outdoor pool area and one complete with a large and colorful mural commemorating the well-known Bonnaroo arch. The outdoor pool has two water slides, a lazy river, a lily pad walk, and a water playground to enjoy. The indoor pool is also open year-round for patrons to enjoy. Enjoy a lap swim, water aerobics, or the center’s therapy pool, which is a balmy 85 degrees. GN 

More Good News

A Lifeline for the Innocent

A Lifeline for the Innocent

SITTING AT 104 North Spring St., this unassuming building is more than just bricks and mortar; it’s a haven. The Children’s Advocacy Center in Coffee County is a sanctuary where an unyielding sense...

read more
Into the Flames

Into the Flames

A YOUNG BOY watched as firefighters attempted to save his grandmother’s home, the home where his mother and her siblings had grown up, and his Grandmother Taylor still lived. The hearts of those...

read more
All or Nothing

All or Nothing

THE CROWD is wild with excitement, chanting louder and louder. The band chimes in alongside the crowd, performing the jubilant number that welcomes their team onto the field. The cheerleaders wave...

read more
Wreaths Across America

Wreaths Across America

TRAVELING ABOUT as far northeast as roads will lead you, lies a quaint fishing and farming town known as Harrington, Maine. Years ago, a 12-year-old boy hailing from the town went on a trip of a...

read more