A curated guide to quick drives, long lunches, and lots of character outside the city…
Why We Came
This was a quick family scouting trip ahead of the move: neighborhood wandering, a little house hunting, and time on the ground to get familiar with middle Tennessee. As empty nesters, it felt good to experience these places at our own pace and start picturing what everyday life could look like here. We had a great time exploring with the entire family.
First Impressions
Tennessee is greener than photos ever capture—layers of trees, wide skies, and that slow, generous light. We kept noticing the architecture too: gracious porches, brick and limestone, classic details that feel welcoming. And yes, the food lived up to the hype—simple, comforting Southern staples done really well.
The Four-Town Loop
Each stop had its own mood: Nashville with its energy and constant hum; Franklin with storybook Main Street charm; Leiper’s Fork with an easy, slower rhythm; and Columbia with a historic core and real character. Seeing them back-to-back gave us a clearer sense of how they connect—and where we could see ourselves spending the most time.
What’s Next
We packed a lot into a few days and came away with a sharper picture of what feels right for us. Below, we’ll break down the highlights—where we went, what we enjoyed, shops and restaurants we noted, and the areas that rose to the top during our trip.
Nashville
Stay — Union Station Hotel
We kicked things off at the Union Station Hotel, the old train station turned boutique stay. Our room had 20-foot ceilings, and the lobby stole the show with its arched stained-glass ceiling, a lively bar for snacks + drinks, and even live music in the evenings. It felt like checking into a piece of Nashville history.
Dinner — Drusie & Darr (Jean-Georges) at The Hermitage
For night one, we dressed up for Drusie & Darr at The Hermitage Hotel—yes, the Jean-Georges spot everyone talks about. Highlights: the egg toast loaded with caviar, the crispy sushi, and the habanero fried chicken fried with CO2 (spicy, crunchy, perfect and not too greasy!).
After Hours in Nashville — Broadway Honky-Tonks
We walked over to Broadway and did the classic Nashville lap—country music, dancing, and beers. Favorites on our circuit: Robert’s, Tootsie’s, Dierks Bentley’s, The Stage (great country/dive feel), and Friends in Low Places. A very “when in Nashville” kind of night.
Morning — 12 South Stroll + Brunch
After checkout we wandered 12 South. Buttermilk Ranch for brunch: I loved the peach panzanella; the crew went for Wagyu steak & eggs and the BLT with thick-cut bacon. Shopped the strip—Sézane pop-up (Emma scored this jacket but in brown)), Reformation, Emerson Grace (my fave), and a few vintage flea pop-ups.
French Fix — Pastis
We also did Pastis for brunch. Family favorites: croque madame, escargot, and a Gruyère omelet. I’m obsessed with the interiors—very Paris-by-way-of-Nashville.
Hot Chicken, Hole-in-the-Wall Edition — Red’s
Took a friend’s rec for Red’s Hot Chicken: order at the window, then slide next door into Nashville’s oldest bar – Springwater Supper Club & Lounge to eat (they’re sister spots). Jukebox, darts, friendly staff—the good kind of gritty.
My Favorite Nashville Activity
Grab an iced latte and drive around dreamy houses. Neighborhoods to cruise: Green Hills, Belle Meade, 12 South. Go at golden hour for the porch-light glow.
Franklin
Stay — We checked into an Airbnb right in downtown Franklin, which made everything walkable. Despite the construction across the street- we loved this place! It was cute and well appointed for everyone. Kids loved it and especially loved the freedom it provided popping into town without needing a car.
Dinner Spots We Loved
- Red Pony Restaurant — polished but relaxed. The lamb chops were unreal, the watermelon salad was summer in a bowl, and the pesto seafood pasta disappeared fast. We walked right in, but it’s a popular one.
- Culaccino — cozy Italian wine bar/restaurant; great pizzas for sharing and a fun wine list for lingering conversation
Morning Ritual — Coffee & Pastries
Hank’s became our morning stop. Best sellers for us: the ricotta toast with blackberry preserves and the pistachio croissant. Strong coffee, easy vibe—done.
Perenn is a super cute bakery / brunch spot. Start with dessert and order one of their seasonal pastries (best decision ever) but the croissant breakfast sandwich and the avocado toast seemed to be a couple of hits!
Do — Franklin Trolley Tour
We highly recommend the Franklin Trolley Tour. It picks up at the Visitor Center every hour on the hour for a 45-minute loop through different neighborhoods. It’s not a sleepy ride—you get great stories about the Battle of Franklin and a feel for how the area has evolved (even since the ’80s!). The kids loved it.
Shop — Main Street Finds
Two favorites: The Iron Gate and White’s Mercantile—beautiful decor, lifestyle goods, bits of fashion, and gifts. We left with souvenirs and a couple of home finds; I’ll definitely be back when I have more time.
Tip: Franklin’s best explored on foot—plan a slow afternoon for Main Street, coffee in hand, and let the shops and side streets pull you in.
Columbia
Why We Spent Time Here
We did a lot of house hunting in Columbia. Franklin is still our target for a quick Clouz Houz flip, but Columbia is where we’re exploring a home for us—in town and in the surrounding neighborhoods. Lots of potential; more on that soon in a separate post.
Eats to Bookmark
- Mama Mila’s — small, family-owned, super casual BYOB pasta spot. The Augi pasta with their famous “crack” sauce (tomato + alfredo) was the table favorite, and the cheesy focaccia (a Thursday special)… was so so good. And despite the warning “no one serves good salad in the south”, we ordered a garden salad with the homemade pesto ranch and agreed it might be our favorite dressing ever!
- Puckett’s — classic Southern comfort. Nashville hot chicken, pulled-pork mac & cheese, and we grabbed a half-gallon of the fruit sweet tea to take back to the Airbnb for cocktail mixing and sipping. Delish!
- Prime and Pint — part butcher shop, part sit-down restaurant. The shrimp & grits were phenomenal—simple, classic, exactly what you want/need if you give this one a try.
- Bradley Mountain — a coffee shop that doubles as a little cocktail lounge in the evening. Great outdoor patio and tons of memorabilia and small gifts!
Shopping Notes
We popped into a great antique shop called Loblolly Interior Market Antiques for home finds, plus a handful of small boutiques that felt very us.
Leiper’s Fork
Eat
Late lunch at Fox & Locke—live music humming, classic BBQ, and that front-porch energy that makes you want to linger.
Shop
Favorite stop: Tennessee Turquoise, Morgane Stapleton’s turquoise shop tucked in a little log cabin behind the main drag. It’s tiny but packed, and they share the history behind the stones and tribe makers. I treated myself to a slim bangle for my stack—one of those small, special moments to mark on this trip. I was in heaven, to say the least … Across the way, Patina Home & Garden is a beautiful home boutique with curated goods and a few vintage clothing finds—collected, not crowded.
Sip
Leiper’s Fork does afternoon pick-me-ups right with coffee and food trucks sprinkled all around. We checked out the new mobile café Table of Contents for an afternoon iced oat milk latte with lavender, and boy did it hit the spot. On our list for next time: a local winery where you can sit right in the creek with your glass (bookmarking—will update once we go).
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What’s Next
We covered a lot in a short window and came away with a clearer read on each town’s rhythm. Next up: organizing our full Tennessee hit list … with maps! Also, sharing more on the Columbia home search and our plan to find a Franklin flip for CH. If you’ve got recs we missed, drop them—we’re building our Middle Tennessee guide as we go.
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