Last Minute Outings Before School Starts
As the smell of fresh pencils and new sneakers creeps closer, there’s still time to squeeze every last drop of sunshine out of summer. Those final days before school starts don’t have to be spent in a frenzy of supply shopping and screen-time battles. They can be spontaneous, unplugged, and full of the kind of memory-making that keeps kids glowing long after the bell rings. Last minute outings for your family are the BEST!
Think one more road trip. One more sticky handful of cotton candy. One more creek walk. The great thing about Tennessee is that magic isn’t hard to find; it’s scattered across state parks, farms, and county fairs. Just pick a direction and go.
Go Wild: Explore a Tennessee State Park
You don’t need a cross-country trip to feel like you’ve gotten away. Tennessee has over 50 state parks, so your family can find the perfect mix of forest, water, or wide-open skies.
Hike through shaded trails and spot deer at Radnor Lake. Let your kids run wild through the rock formations at Cummins Falls. Wade through the cold shallows at Fall Creek Falls and listen to the waterfall roar. Each park offers something different, from cave exploration to treetop ziplines and peaceful picnic spots.
Most parks are free or low-cost (for parking or swimming), and they don’t require reservations or a set schedule. Which means you can wake up, throw snacks in a few backpacks, and be out the door in time to beat the heat and the crowds.
Hidden Gems for Nature-Loving Families
If you’ve already hit the well-known parks, Tennessee still has plenty of lesser-known gems. Stillhouse Hollow Falls in Summertown offers an easy hike to a stunning 75-foot waterfall. Big Hill Pond State Park near Pocahontas features boardwalks through cypress swamps and an observation tower with panoramic views. Long Hunter State Park near Nashville has kid-friendly trails and a shoreline perfect for skipping rocks.
These spots are ideal for unplugged afternoons that turn into unforgettable summer send-offs.
Fair Season is the Sweet Spot of Summer
You can feel it before you even park the car: the hum of rides, the call of carnival games, and the unmistakable scent of popcorn and powdered sugar. A good country fair is summer in its purest form, and the Williamson County Fair delivers that and more.
Held each August in Franklin, this event blends small-town charm with big-time fun. You’ll find everything from baking competitions and tractor parades to exotic petting zoos and hypnotist shows. For the younger crowd, there are rides, butterfly gardens, and educational exhibits where they can touch, smell, and ask a thousand questions.
It’s the perfect mix of celebration and learning, where a walk through the livestock barns may spark a new fascination with goats or gardening. The fair’s heart is in its local roots, which means it’s full of people and programs who care deeply about Tennessee’s future, and the families growing up in it.
Go Local or Go Home: One Last Visit to a Family Farm
The late-summer harvest is something special: sun-ripened tomatoes, golden corn, juicy peaches, and flower fields blooming like fireworks. A visit to a local farm can be a joyful escape and a quiet reset before autumn routines hit full swing.
Tennessee is dotted with family-run farms offering u-pick produce, tours, homemade ice cream, and outdoor classes. It’s one thing to read about food chains in a textbook; it’s another to pluck a vegetable from the soil and eat it while it’s still warm from the sun.
You can use Pick TN Products to find farms, farmers markets, and handmade products near you. Many are within a short drive and welcome last-minute visitors. It’s an easy way to support your local food economy while giving your kids a hands-on learning experience they’ll remember.
A Natural Approach to Education and Last Minute Outings
Whether homeschooling or simply hungry for enriching experiences, this is the time of year to plan for deeper learning (and deeper roots).
Stoney Creek Farm, a sustainable farm in Franklin, Tennessee, blends practical skills with old-school fun: gardening, canning, composting, and outdoor classes that feel more like summer camp than school. If you’re looking to extend summer vibes into the school year, our educational programs offer a gentle on-ramp.
We’ll be at the Williamson County Fair, representing Pick TN Products and our homeschool enrichment program, Nature Explorers, which teaches kids through immersive outdoor learning. Stop by to meet us, ask questions, or pick up some ideas to bring nature into your child’s everyday life, beyond summer, whether they’re in public school, private school, or somewhere in between.
Spontaneous Summer, No Plans Required
If you’re down to your final weekend before the chaos begins, don’t stress about planning something big. Some of the best end-of-summer moments are ones that feel thrown together.
- Impromptu creek day. Let the kids get soaked and let yourself get barefoot. Don’t bring a schedule, just vibe off the sunshine.
- Sunset picnic. Grab takeout or pack a basket and head to a park to let the sky be your screen time.
- Backyard stargazing. Lie on blankets and see who can find the first constellation (or UFO).
- Farmers market mission. Give the kids $5 and challenge them to find something they’ve never tried before.
- Family photo scavenger hunt. Choose a local downtown, grab your phones, and snap silly pictures of ten unique things.
These moments don’t require money, tickets, or preparation. Only intention, presence, and showing up for a summer that’s almost slipped away.
Hold On a Little Longer
There’s something bittersweet about this part of the year. The shadows are longer, the evenings feel cooler, and there’s a quiet hum of anticipation in the air. But there’s still time.
Time to let your kids stay up late chasing lightning bugs. To fill their bellies with fair food and their minds with new experiences. Time to say goodbye to summer, not with a sigh, but with one more sparkler, laugh, and good memory.
Plan your perfect end-of-summer adventure and discover hands-on, homegrown learning at Stoney Creek Farm, where nature is always in session.
