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 

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 Brooke Snyder and Ashleigh Newnes.

Heather Brown is an avid lover of the game who not only plays but also competes in area tournaments and competitions. One of her favorite courses is the Red Apple Disc Golf Course at Stone Mountain Distillery in Woodbury. 

“It’s one of my favorites. The course is super challenging but fun,” she said. “I have sort of a noodle arm, so it’s harder for me to throw farther,” she said. “A wooded course is a little more challenging but allows you to use the trees to your advantage. My family and I enjoy playing the more heavily wooded courses.” 

As a female who plays the game, Brown added that she welcomes other females to try the sport. 

“I think it can be a little intimidating to come out and see a bunch of guys throwing discs,” she said. “But the more you’re out there, the better you get. We invite women of all [skill] levels to come out and enjoy with us.” 

Photographed by Brooke Snyder and 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.

The Shelbyville Recreation Center welcomes Pickleball players of all ages and [skill] levels to come check out and experience the addictive sport. According to the USA Pickleball Association (USAPA), playing Pickleball can boost mood and overall mental health while burning calories. It also works on balance and agility while offering the same benefits as other exercises, including reducing the risk of heart attack and chronic disease, toning muscles, and increasing energy.

Local Pickleball player Felicia Daniels knows the benefits of playing the sport. She and her family have a long-standing love of Pickleball, which is four generations strong. 

Photographed by Brooke Snyder and Ashleigh Newnes.

“My family is a four-generation family that plays,” she explained. “My mother started playing in Tullahoma at the D.W. Wilson Community Center. I hardly ever got to see her because she was so addicted to it. She told me I should start playing so I could see her more, so that’s how I got into it. That was probably three years ago, and that’s how long my husband and I have played. My children started giving me a hard time about never seeing me, and I told them the same story. So now my children have started playing, and even my grandbaby is trying to play too. It has become one big family affair.”

The Shelbyville Recreation Center has a $3 fee, with courts open from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. for those wanting to play indoors. Outdoor players can enjoy Pickleball free of charge from 6 a.m. to midnight every day on specially marked outdoor courses at the center.

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. 

The Shelbyville Recreation Center is home to indoor and outdoor pools, which can be utilized in various ways, including open play, fitness classes, and lap and competitive swimming. The outdoor pool ranges from zero depth entry to 5 feet, and its features include a water slide, basketball goal, and sprinklers. GN 

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