From The Bluff to the Caves, Explore Clarksville
Whenever I think of home, I think about the place where I will always be 16, where I can find a two-lane road and go real fast, a place I will always come back to. Leaving for college was tough for me, I never realized how much I loved where I’m from until I finally left. In high school, I always said, “I just cant wait until I get out of this town.” Little did I know how much I would miss it.
I was born and raised in Clarksville, Tennessee, where the tobacco burns, the road construction never ends, and it made me the person I am today. Clarksville was named the best place to live in the U.S. by Money Magazine. Clarksville, from 2009, was a much different place than it is today. It has grown immensely since the Nashville population boom, and so many things have been built there that Clarksville has become a great place to raise a family and have a life.
Fort Campbell, a United States Army base that is also the home of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), is right along the edge of the Kentucky-Tennessee border and is the fifth most populated military installation. Home to the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment and 101st Airborne Division, this post is inhabited by thousands of military families.
I never really knew much about the Army until my older brother joined in 2016. He has shown me how important it is to fight for our country because we truly don’t know how lucky we are to have the rights we do.
Fort Campbell has many attractions like the Pratt Museum, where I took a field trip in middle school. People can look at military artifacts and memorabilia that shows a timeline of Fort Campbell’s history.
One of my favorite places to visit at home is the McGregor Park Riverwalk beside the Cumberland River. Sunsets are the best part of this place. People can walk down the sidewalk where you can see the current flowing and see a mirror image of the sky on the water.
There is a huge bridge that goes across the river with colored lights. For holidays like Christmas, it is lighted in green and red colors, and if the University of Tennessee wins, it is orange. The McGregor Park Riverwalk is a beautiful place and a great attraction for families and Clarksville visitors.
If you are into nature, one of the great landmarks in my hometown is Dunbar Cave Park, a site full of unique rock formations and interesting caves and caverns. The park is over 144 acres, and thousands of people travel to Clarksville to check out this historic landmark. While I was in elementary school, it was very interesting to come here and see a cave for the first time and even a few bats. Dunbar Cave Park is an amazing place to hike, and if you’re into cave yoga, this is your spot.
One of the most famous restaurants for food and draft beers is Blackhorse Pub and Brewery. Blackhorse has become very popular in the last few years for its homemade brews and gourmet pizza, pasta, salads, sandwiches and more. One of the best items on the menu, and something I get every time I go, is the beer cheese dip.
One of my favorite spots is The Bluff, a beautiful lookout over the Cumberland River where people rock-climb, hike, and more. This spot was one of my favorites because it was a great place to let go of stress and focus on the more beautiful things in life.
The people and places I have found in Clarksville gave me the experiences, family, friendships, and memories I will cherish forever. I have always considered Clarksville to be a small town, but every day it continues to grow and soon will become one of the most populated cities in Tennessee.
