Gallatin’s been keeping this beachy, seasonal shack a local secret and it’s no surprise — strong Bushwacker cocktails, wagyu beef burgers, and fish tacos are the perfect complement to Awedaddy’s umbrella-covered tables, string lights, and lakeside location at Gallatin Marina. Live music provides a lively soundtrack to the festivities, while Sunday brunch is the ideal kickoff for a day spent on the water of Old Hickory Lake.

A rainy day on the water is better than none at all, and Moby Dicky’s covered patio in Hendersonville is just the spot for it come rain or shine thanks to some retractable screens. Picnic tables and a small live music stage line the banks of the Cumberland River while plates brimming with shrimp, oysters, and grouper make their rounds with meatier counterparts (hello, steak and biscuits) in tow. Grab a beer, or a brunchtime bloody mary, and feel the stress melt away.

At Hendersonville’s Anchor High Marina, the Rudder happily fuels avid boaters’ appetites with seafood — hot crab dip, blackened catfish, fried fish tacos — alongside pork chops, burgers, and salads. The tiki-style deck plays host to a variety of family-friendly events, from live music performances to trivia nights, and kids will get a kick out of the resident wildlife, including turtles, fish, and ducks. Drop by Tuesday through Friday from 2 to 6 p.m. for happy hour pricing on drinks and apps.

Those who appreciate the low-and-slow barbecue method should head to Papa Turney’s at the Nashville Shores Marina on Percy Priest Lake. It’s a considerable upgrade for Turney, who started selling his grilled meats in a small operation off Lebanon Road. Today, you can find the same quality smoked meats with an expanded venue and menu that includes beef brisket, ribs, pork, catfish, and turkey legs, all complemented by sauces whipped up by Turney’s partner, Miss Zeke. After a full meal, wander over to Miss Zeke’s Juke Joint, the restaurant’s in-house music venue featuring live blues, jazz, and soul.

Located in Rock Harbor Marina off the Cumberland River, Blue Moon Waterfront Grille is a breezy waterfront hang offering indoor and outdoor seating options for enjoying peel-and-eat shrimp, crab cakes, fried catfish, and Sunday brunch. It all begs to be washed down with a cold beer or rum-centric signature cocktail. When the live music winds down, you can still catch a game on one of the many TVs, but the real star of the show here is the view.

Situated alongside a gurgling creek in bucolic Leiper’s Fork, Wines in the Fork is the brainchild of James Evans, owner of Vintage Winery in Columbia. Pop in for a tasting or buy a bottle to enjoy outdoors by the water. Keep an eye on the company’s Instagram feed for special events like reservations-required dinners and family-friendly live music where you can bring blankets, chairs, and munchies and enjoy a glass of homegrown Tennessee strawberry wine or the Farmstead table red.