>A Day at the Farmer’s Market

>I’m pretty sure that Nashville is one of the best cities in America to raise kids.

Seriously, there are so many things to do with your children here (many of them free) that we literally never run out of activities.

And one of my favorite ways to while away a summer day is to go to the Farmer’s Market in downtown Nashville.

The fountains are especially fun for preschoolers and toddlers because they can enjoy the water without needing to be able to swim.

I also love the fountains because they’re one of the few places in town where children of all backgrounds and ethnicities come together and play. Nashville’s neighborhoods are not exactly diverse, and despite my best efforts, Punky is definitely a little suspicious of children who don’t look like her. I’m always looking for opportunities like this to naturally widen her horizons.

Bruiser was initially a bit cautious, but within a few minutes, he was running through the fountains like a madman. A cute, pudgy little madman, I mean.

As Punky grew bolder, her excitement mounted. She raced faster around the jets of water, stood closer to the tallest ones, let the torrents of water splash down over her head, until finally, she was overcome by excitement. She stood stock still and howled, loud and long, in pure joy.

And it occurred to me that we should all howl with joy more often. The world would definitely be a better place if there were more joyful howling.

The Farmer’s Market has a Food Court, complete with a Cajun restaurant with the most marvelous shrimp po’ boys, an international grocery, a coffee shop, various other restaurants, and the best shaved ice in town.

Eating this shaved ice is very serious business when you are five.

After we’d eaten, it was time for the moment I’d been waiting for- a visit to the Farmer’s Market itself.

We bought South Carolina peaches, Amish-made sourdough bread, organic ground beef, locally grown cucumbers…