A Weekend in Franklin, Tennessee

I’ve spent most of my life traveling to Nashville, Tennessee to visit family, long before it became the wildly popular travel destination it is today. I went to see the holiday lights at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel and drove past the fancy houses in Brentwood. But until recently, I’d never stopped through the town of Franklin.

If you’ve ever heard of a big-name celebrity that lives in Nashville, they probably actually live in Franklin. It’s laid back and polite so people tend to not bother you when in line at the local coffee shop. It’s also where big-name acts can test out their new songs before hitting the stages of the Music City. Everywhere you look, there’s a place offering live music. There’s a definite young energy in Franklin that I haven’t found in many other places.

Civil War Landmarks

Franklin is best known as the site of a devastating Civil War battle that was a skirmish that was part of the Battle of Nashville. Antebellum homes and battlefields are still there, like Carnton Plantation, the Lotz House, and the Carter House. Some still bear bullet holes. History buffs can tour the homes and grounds as well as the cemeteries.

The area around the town is mostly rolling hills and the Natchez Trace Parkway passes through between Nashville and Natchez. And the landmarks of Nashville are less than 45 minutes’ drive away.

Music Everywhere

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Nashville has big-name venues, but your favorite artists perform frequently in Franklin at intimate venues. Everywhere has a live music venue down to the “pickin corner” at the Leiper’s Fork Market gas station and some of the local stores. They have an area with instruments that anyone can pick up and play.

Puckett’s Grocery in Leiper’s Fork and Kimbro’s in Franklin are known for their live music. But Franklin is also home to the Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival, the reason for my visit. Founded by one of the members of Better Than Ezra, it brings in a diverse group of talent including Justin Timberlake, Foo Fighters, and The Killers. I got to see my favorites like Jenny Lewis and Leon Bridges and briefly hung out with longtime blog friends Kristin and Jade!

Funky Shops

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I’m someone not easily impressed by the majority of stores because it tends to be a lot of the same stuff. But the stores of the greater Franklin area are incredible. The Factory is a shopping and dining hub in a former stove factory. It has a record store and local goods shop.

White’s Mercantile is owned by Hank Williams Jr’s granddaughter Holly and features home furnishings and gifts. Franklin Road Apparel is a trendy clothing store with designer denim, vintage-style t-shirts, and men’s clothing.

Landmark Booksellers sells an incredible selection of national authors with a special emphasis on regional authors. Serenite Maison in Leiper’s FOrk has antiques sourced from Europe and closer to home. It has a large section of gifts and home decor as well as a “pickin corner” for performances.

Foodie Wonderland

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Many of the favorite restaurants in Nashville actually started in Franklin. Five Daughters Bakery is one example, a neighboring bakery with a cult following for its doughnuts and breakfast sandwiches. Also at The Factory, Honest Coffee Roasters sells whole beans or a drink to enjoy as you browse.

They also have locations in Huntsville and Nashville. Grab lunch at Mercantile Deli, known for chicken salad sandwiches, freshly made soups, and breakfast burritos. Bishop’s Meat and Three is another favorite with daily specials like fried chicken, catfish, and turnip greens. Set in a former pharmacy, Gray’s on Main is a lively restaurant with its own stage and cocktail bar.

Franklin is also the perfect base to visit distilleries on the Tennessee Whiskey Trail because of the proximity to Nashville, Lynchburg, and Tullahoma. There are also distilleries in the area like Leiper’s Fork and H. Clark. If you don’t care for whiskey, there’s also the stunning Arrington Vineyards. Set outside of downtown Franklin, the winery is owned by country music legend Kix Brooks of Brooks and Dunn and offers tastings, live music, and food truck eats.

The Perfect Fall Getaway

Most of the major hotels are located near Cool Springs, but a new boutique hotel is opening soon in Franklin. The town also has some funky rentals in historic homes, log cabins, and even next to recording studios! Check out this post from Visit Franklin for more.

Have you been to Franklin, Tennessee?

I visited Franklin with Visit Franklin.