Get out and hike this weekend: Tennessee's outdoors are better than ever

Saturday is National Public Lands Day and all 56 Tennessee State Parks have ranger-led hikes, interpretive programs or volunteer opportunities, as part of their celebrations. 

Most of the hikes and events are free, but registration is recommended because of limitations on the number of participants.

Mid-state park hikes on Saturday include:

• Cedars of Lebanon's 2 p.m. fall hike on the one-mile loop Dixon Merritt trail to see wildflowers and cedar glade forests, 615-443-2769;

• A 9 a.m., 2.5-mile moderate hike on Edgar Evins State Park's Millenium Trail, 931-646-3080;

 • A 2.5-mile "reflection hike" that starts at 5:30 p.m.at the Trail of Tears trailhead at David Crockett State park. This outing is described as a "moderate" sunset hike that includes a wagon ride for the return trip. 931-762-9408.

If you want to get out on the water, Fall Creek Falls State Park is offering pontoon tours at 2 and 4 p.m. around Fall Creek Falls Lake. This is a great way to enjoy the scenic lake and learn a little history about the park. Tours are limited to nine people and cost $10 each. To sign up, call 423-881-5298.

Volunteer opportunities include a "privet pull" at Harpeth River State Park, tree trimming, limb removal and litter pickup at Bledsoe Creek State Park; and trail work at Cordell Hull Birthplace State Park. Last year, more than 600 people participated in this day of service to our parks. Register online or by phone at individual parks.

For information on other National Public Lands Day events in Tennessee, and details on how to register, see tnstateparks.com/about/special-events/national-public-lands-day-hikes

Caverns tour discount

If you are up for a cave tour, The Caverns, at the foot of Monteagle Mountain, is offering a 25% off "Ms. Cheap discount" on guided cave tours through the end of October,  if you use the code mscheapcave.

The Caverns, known for underground concert experiences, recently added a tour of what is known as Big Room Cave, where you can be led through an enormous natural cave room that is 40 to 50 feet underground and longer than three football fields.

More:Cave tours at The Caverns like seeing 'Red Rocks meets Ruby Falls'

The 45-minute tour, which also takes you inside the music venue, is regularly $22.95 for adults and $12.95 for children 12 and under. Children under 2 get in for free. Reservations are encouraged at thecaverns.com/cave-tours.

The Caverns is located in Pelham, just off Interstate 24.

Still time to enjoy Nashville Zoo deals

The Nashville Zoo's half-price online admission promotion and free carousel ride deals run through the end of September. The half-price option — for online tickets and admission after 1 p.m. daily — is $8.50 for adults and $6.50 for children (2-12) on Mondays through Thursdays and $9.50 for adults and $7.50 for children on Fridays through Sundays.

The zoo is also offering free rides on the Wild Animal Carousel on Wednesdays in September and offering a $1 discount on a large Dippin' Dots ice cream daily throughout the month. (It's normally $7.)

The other good zoo deal is the Kroger Safari Fridays where guests can present their Kroger Plus Card at the zoo's ticket building to get half-price admission all day on Fridays in September.

Details: www.nashvillezoo.org 

Reach Ms. Cheap at 615-259-8282 or mscheap@tennessean.com. Follow her on Facebook at facebook.com/mscheap, and at Tennessean.com/mscheap, and on Twitter @Ms_Cheap, and catch her every Thursday at 11 a.m. on WTVF-Channel 5’s “Talk of the Town.”