From serving as the settlement site for 18th century pioneers, to hosting the famed Cumberland River Dragon Boat Festival, the Cumberland River has continually served as Nashville’s civic center. Explore everything from downtown Nashville’s modern skyline filled with glass and steel, to its rural outskirts dotted with woodlands and lakes, while floating down the winding waterway on a riverboat.
The General Jackson Showboat is the only public riverboat cruise in Nashville. Operating year-round, the massive 300-foot paddle wheel boat carries 1,200 passengers and comes outfitted with four decks and a two-story Victorian theater. The ship has regular midday and evening cruises. Enjoy live music, such as country, bluegrass and soul acts, in the ship’s theater while dining on Southern cuisine. There’s also a Sunday brunch with gospel music and country buffet. Catch the ship just steps from the famed Grand Ole Opry, 15 minutes east of the city center. Round-trip cruises, which travel down the Cumberland River to downtown Nashville, run between two and three hours.
RiverShip Cruises offers charter rides down the Cumberland River and across Old Hickory Lake in Hendersonville, 20 minutes northeast of downtown Nashville. Journeys take place aboard the 65-foot RiverShip Vagabum, a yacht that accommodates up to 12 people. Relax in the air-conditioned salon or the outdoor upper deck. Float past the mansions of famous area celebrities and historic figures or anchor the vessel for an afternoon of swimming. Boats are rented for a minimum of two hours and can be used for such special occasions as anniversary, birthday and graduation parties.
Blue Heron Cruises operates out of Ashland City, 30 minutes northwest of Nashville. The Blue Heron is a 40-foot, open-air pontoon that seats 22 passengers and travels down the Cumberland River. The line provides an assortment of rides, including a narrated nature cruise through a wildlife refuge with possible glimpses of bald eagles, Canadian geese and blue herons; a kids adventure cruise with a one-hour stop at a beach; and a sunset cruise with piped-in music. Excursions are available from March through November.
Cumberland River Cruises is in Lebanon, 30 minutes northeast of downtown Nashville, and home to Discovery, a covered pontoon that accommodates up to 20 people. Book the boat for private parties or take a public cruise on the Cumberland River and Old Hickory Lake, including sunset tours where you can watch hundreds of gray bats exiting a cave and nature tours that focus on the area’s cliffs and wildlife. Specialty cruises showcase regional fireworks in July and fall tours highlight the region’s colorful foliage. Drinks and blankets are available for added comfort. Cruises are offered from March through November; call during the off-season as excursions may still be available.
