Grab your walking shoes and get ready to do some exploring in the new year! Three Tennessee destinations have landed among the best in the nation for a New Year's nature walk.

New Year's Traditions and Superstitions

There are plenty of New Year's Day traditions that people partake in, many of them steeped heavily in old wives' tales and superstitions. One Chinese superstition says that chores should be skipped - no cleaning on New Year's Day! The reasoning? You might accidentally throw, or wash, your luck away.

Wake Early to Set the Tone for the Entire Year

Polish superstition says that waking early on New Year's Day will set you on the right path to waking early all year long... so perhaps you should wake up early, skip cleaning the house, and step outside on New Year's Day.

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Get Up and Get Outdoor in the New Year

Why not start the new year with a new tradition of getting outdoors? If you're looking for a great place to take a hike and explore nature, the folks at Sustainable Jungle have compiled a list of "America's 150 Favorite New Year's Day Nature Walks."

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America's Favorite New Year's Day Nature Walk

For most Americans the #1 Favorite New Year's Day Nature Walk - Lanikai Pillbox Hike on Oahu, Hawaii - is a bit out of reach without a plane ticket and a hefty price tag. Fortunately, the #2 destination is a little easier to access for those in the contiguous United States.

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#2 Lookout Mountain Nature Trails, Chattanooga, Tennessee

Located in Chattanooga, Tennessee, you will find America's #2 Favorite New Year's Day Nature Walk with the Lookout Mountain Nature Trails. Lookout Mountain sits 2,000 feet above sea level and looks out over the city of Chattanooga. From Lookout Mountain's Rock City visitors can view seven states from the elevated vantage point.

Offering a range of trails with varying difficulty, the area around Lookout Mountain is perfect for families. The Guild-Hardy Trail is a popular option, providing a relatively easy and scenic walk through the forest with views of Chattanooga.
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#10 Radnor Lake State Park Trails, Nashville, Tennessee

Taking the number 10 position of America's Favorite New Year's Day Nature Walks, is Radnor Lake State Park Trails in Nashville, Tennesse. The trails here are a fairly easy walk and don't require an exceptional amount of physical exertion.

This state park features several easy trails that loop around Radnor Lake, providing a tranquil nature experience right in the city. The Lake Trail, in particular, is a flat, 1.3-mile path that's perfect for a leisurely family walk.
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Further Down the List Tennessee Makes a Third Appearance

Further down the list, Alum Cave Trail takes the number 44 position out of the 150 trails included on the list. Also located in the natural beauty of Tennessee, Alum Cave Trail, also known as Alum Cave Bluff Trail, is found within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Regardless of whether you visit Tennessee on New Year's Day or any other day of the year, there is no shortage of natural beauty to explore and exciting things to do.

This 7K Square Foot Vintage Shop In Nashville, TN Is a MCM Lover's Dream Come True

Dashwood Vintage and Flora is 7k square feet of vintage furniture and decor sure to wow any mid-century modern lover. Keep scrolling to see some of what Dashwood has to offer and to find out where to find them.

Gallery Credit: Kat Mykals