Fort Campbell North

Day Trips

Kick off your adventure with a hearty breakfast at the base dining facility followed by a guided orientation session at the visitor center. You’ll meet the base commander for a briefing on safety protocols and core mission objectives. Wrap up the morning with a stroll through the historic parade ground to learn about Fort Campbell’s storied past.

Enjoy a boxed lunch at a shaded picnic area before embarking on a bus tour of key installations, including aviation hangars and training fields. Disembark for photo opportunities beside a CH-47 Chinook helicopter on display. Cap off the afternoon with an interactive demonstration at the weapons range, observing range safety procedures in action.

Gather in the recreation hall for a welcome reception with fellow travelers and base personnel. Sample regional specialties from the food truck park while live country music sets the tone for the week. Finally, take a twilight walk along the base perimeter fence, watching the sunset paint the landscape in warm hues.

Begin your day with a guided sunrise yoga session overlooking the scenic Damascus Trail. Energize with a farm-to-table breakfast featuring locally sourced produce. Afterwards, follow a naturalist for a birdwatching hike through wooded corridors teeming with songbirds and deer.

Refuel with a gourmet picnic basket on a riverbank picnic table beneath towering sycamores. Test your balance on the ropes course at the nearby Adventure Park, under the guidance of certified instructors. Cool off afterwards with a refreshing dip in a natural spring-fed swimming hole.

Return to base for a wellness workshop focusing on mindfulness and stress relief techniques. Sip on herbal tea as you learn breathing exercises tailored for active lifestyles. Drift off beneath the stars after a relaxing guided meditation in the amphitheater.

Catch a shuttle into Clarksville’s historic downtown district for a coffee tasting at a local micro-roastery. Wander cobblestone streets lined with boutique shops and murals depicting Tennessee heritage. Stop at a farmers’ market to sample seasonal jams, honey, and freshly baked pastries.

Lunch at a riverside bistro offers panoramic views of the Cumberland River as you savor Southern comfort fare. Explore the Customs House Museum and Cultural Center, diving into rotating exhibits on Civil War history and Appalachian folk art. Finish by browsing artisanal crafts at downtown galleries.

Dine at a farm-to-fork restaurant under twinkling string lights on a rooftop patio. Experience a live bluegrass performance at an intimate music venue just a few blocks away. Conclude the evening with a leisurely walk along the riverfront walkway, enjoying gentle breezes and city lights.

Start with a hearty Southern-style breakfast at a heritage inn before heading to the Fort Campbell Historical Museum. Explore interactive exhibits detailing airborne operations and watch archival footage of paratroopers in training. Engage with veteran volunteers who share firsthand accounts of Cold War missions.

Enjoy a catered lunch in the museum courtyard surrounded by period vehicles and artillery displays. Participate in a hands-on restoration workshop, learning how to maintain vintage uniforms and insignia. Take a photo beside a restored World War II Jeep for a keepsake postcard.

Attend a candlelit living-history program featuring reenactors portraying life on base in the 1950s. Sample era-appropriate refreshments while listening to swing bands that once entertained troops. Wrap up with a twilight carriage ride through the landscaped parade grounds.

Load up for an early departure to Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area for a guided mountain biking excursion. Fuel up with protein-packed granola bars and fresh fruit along the trailhead. Tackle winding singletrack paths and forested switchbacks with an expert trail guide.

Enjoy a riverside barbecue lunch at a campground pavilion prepared by park rangers. After eating, set off on a kayaking trip down the calm waters of Lake Barkley, spotting turtles and herons along the shoreline. Pause at a secluded beach for a brief swim and reef diving demonstration.

Return to Fort Campbell for a lakeside dinner cookout complete with s’mores by a campfire. Listen to a guest park ranger share ghost stories and tales of frontier adventurers. End the night with stargazing binocular sessions led by an amateur astronomer.

Begin at a historic café for biscuits and gravy paired with freshly brewed coffee roasted on-site. Join a local chef for a hands-on Southern cooking class, mastering skills like cornbread baking and fried green tomato preparation. Sample your creations alongside homemade preserves and honey from nearby apiaries.

Tour a boutique distillery for a behind-the-scenes look at Tennessee whiskey production. Savor guided tastings of spirits aged in charred oak barrels and learn cocktail-mixing techniques. Enjoy a chef-curated lunch featuring spirits-infused sauces and glazes.

Dine at a farm-to-fork pop-up dinner in a historic barn, where each course highlights seasonal ingredients from local farms. Pair each dish with craft beers from a nearby brewery specializing in sour ales and stouts. Close the evening with live acoustic music and dessert samplings of pecan pie and bourbon balls.

Volunteer at a local community garden, helping to plant heirloom vegetables and flowering pollinator strips. Break for a light brunch prepared by volunteers, including homemade granola parfaits and citrus-infused infused water. Chat with community leaders about ongoing sustainability projects.

Work alongside local artists to paint a mural celebrating Fort Campbell’s multicultural community. Afterward, enjoy a boxed lunch while listening to spoken-word performances by youth poets. Visit a nearby veterans’ outreach center to pack care packages for deployed troops.

Attend a community potluck dinner in the neighborhood hall featuring dishes from residents’ heritage cuisines. Participate in a talent showcase where locals perform dance, music, and storytelling. Conclude with a group sing-along of classic American folk songs under ambient lantern light.

Board a paddlewheel riverboat for a narrated cruise along the Cumberland River at daybreak. Sip on mimosas and fresh fruit while absorbing panoramic views of misty riverbanks. Learn about river ecology and steamboat history from the onboard naturalist.

Savor a buffet-style lunch featuring Gulf shrimp, fried catfish, and seasonal salads on the open-air deck. Disembark for a complimentary guided nature walk at a riverside wildlife sanctuary. Spot migratory waterfowl, beavers, and possibly an eagle soaring overhead.

Return to the boat for an elegant sunset dinner cruise complete with white-glove service. Dance to live jazz under a chandelier-lit pavilion on the upper deck. Finish the evening with a signature riverboat dessert and nightcap while the boat’s lights shimmer on the water.

Head to a curated outdoor market showcasing pottery, textiles, and hand-carved woodworks by regional artisans. Enjoy freshly baked pastries and locally roasted coffee as you admire live craft demonstrations. Purchase one-of-a-kind keepsakes while chatting with makers about their creative process.

Join a pottery wheel workshop led by a master ceramist and mold your own souvenir bowl. Snack on gourmet food truck offerings featuring fusion tacos and vegan sliders. Attend a gallery talk at an adjacent art center focusing on Appalachian folk art traditions.

Return to base for an open-air art reception celebrating local talent, complete with wine tasting stations. Watch live mural painting on a curated theme that guests vote on during the event. Conclude with a silent auction benefiting a local arts education nonprofit.

Enjoy a farewell breakfast buffet highlighting southern staples like chicken and waffles, grits, and fresh fruit. Gather for a closing ceremony at the parade field where you’ll receive commemorative patches and certificates. Share reflections and photos from the trip with new friends and hosts.

Relax in the recreation center with a debrief session over iced tea and lemonade. Pack up your luggage and take advantage of last-minute shopping at the base exchange for Fort Campbell memorabilia. Pose for a group photo beneath the iconic “Airborne” sign as a final memento.

Savor a celebratory dinner at an upscale steakhouse known for its dry-aged beef and local craft beers. Enjoy toasts to new friendships and memorable experiences along with a decadent chocolate lava cake finale. Depart under starlit skies with fond farewells and plans to return.