Bartlett, TN

With demands of work and family making the two-week vacation a thing of the past‚ people are opting for shorter getaways‚ which makes the most important outdoor destinations those that are closest to home. And whether within a few minutes or a few hours of Bartlett‚ the destinations are many.

Any discussion of the area’s outdoor recreation must begin with the Mississippi River. “The snows of Yellowstone flow through Shelby County‚” points out Joe Royer‚ owner of Outdoors‚ Inc. and an avid outdoorsman himself. “So do the three rivers of Pittsburgh and the rains of Chattanooga. It’s the largest river in North America and fourth-largest on earth. It’s a Himalayan-type feature – magnificent and big – a major asset for this area.”

Every day‚ outdoor enthusiasts launch pleasure craft‚ cast fishing lines or settle in to bird-watch along the river that inspired Mark Twain. It’s one of the world’s largest flyways‚ with a magnificent diversity of birds‚ including the largest in North America – the White Pelican – navigating down the Mississippi in the fall. Kayakers and canoeists navigate the river as well‚ the more ambitious paddling 37 miles from Memphis Harbor to Tunica River Park in Tunica‚ Mississippi‚ a beautiful park reminiscent of San Francisco.

For those preferring car travel‚ memorable outdoor recreation opportunities abound. Ninety minutes from Bartlett is Reelfoot Lake. Created when a series of massive earthquakes in 1811 and 1812 caused the Mississippi to flow backwards‚ it is a must-see for its beautiful cypress trees and the bald eagles that nest there in the winter.

Two hours west of Bartlett are the 2‚700-foot mountains of the Ozarks‚ smaller cousins of the Smokies but no less beautiful. The village of Hardy‚ Arkansas‚ offers a wonderful getaway on the spring-fed Spring River‚ perfect for trout fishing‚ canoeing or tubing. The Current River in the Missouri Ozarks offers more of the same pristine beauty‚ as does the Buffalo River‚ a national scenic river known for its majestic bluffs.

Closer to home‚ with drive times measured in minutes‚ are two of the Bartlett area’s showcase parks. Nesbit Park‚ a 350-acre haven for birders‚ campers‚ hikers and nature lovers of all kinds‚ is a green oasis amid the suburbs between Bartlett and Memphis. The park also boasts excellent off-road biking with the 6.5 mile “Stanky Creek” trail.

Shelby Farms’ 4‚500 acres of open fields and hardwood forest makes it one of the largest urban parks in the nation. Surrounded on two sides by the Wolf River‚ Shelby Farms features a 9-mile “Tour de Wolf” mountain bike trail and approximately 25 miles of hiking and equestrian trails. A Frisbee golf course‚ a 137-acre off-leash dog area and thirty lakes ranging in size from 1 acre to 60 acres guarantee a venue for everyone’s outdoor interest. The park is also a hub for community activities‚ including a 4th of July celebration that attracts more than 25‚000 people. “Visitors from all over tell us their community is dying for parkland and hope we appreciate this wonderful place. Rest assured‚ we do‚” says Steve Satterfield‚ Shelby Farms’ interim administrator. Joe Royer agrees.

“Communities doing the best are those developing outdoor environments locally‚” he says. “Having that vibrancy in your city is like having the symphony. It makes you proud.”