Explore Tennessee … Your Spring Road Trip

Music, homemade biscuits, beautiful outdoor vistas, waterfall and hikes … ready to explore Tennessee?

The area features beautiful natural areas, remnants of early America and the legacies of some of the greatest artists and musicians in American history.

Visit the Wayne County Welcome Center in Collinwood for a hearty welcome to Tennessee, and learn about one of the undiscovered gems along the Natchez Trace. In Collinwood and Waynesboro, you can find deals in antique stores and an inviting downtown made to stretch your legs.  For outdoor enthusiasts, rent a pontoon boat and float the Tennessee River, go canoeing on the lovely Buffalo River or Shoal Creek, or inquire about hunting and fishing in the many rivers and verdant valleys.

Lewis County holds exhibits on early American settlements, the Meriwether Lewis monument/Burial Site, Civil War history and Gordonsburg mining. You can also find a 1960s commune, an Amish and Mennonite payment, General Store, two wineries along the Natchez Trace Wine Trail, working alpaca and horse farms, antique shops with small town prices, unique clothing, specialty restaurants, horseback riding trails and gift shops. Even the country’s largest natural habitat refuge explicitly created for endangered African and Asian elephants is located in Lewis County.

If Sunday morning had a hometown, it would be the quaint community of Leiper’s Fork, Tennessee. A unique fusion of scenic settings, culture and Southern cuisine can be found at this come-as-you-are treasure off the Natchez Trace Parkway just south of Franklin. You’ll discover the pinnacle of elegance with a side of BBQ and southern charm in Leiper’s Fork thanks to the community’s distinguished force of local artists and galleries, as well as landmarks such as the renowned Fox & Locke and its iconic open mic night stage. You’re likely to feel at home during any visit to Leiper’s Fork, whether you attend a play at the Lawnchair Theatre, sip local whiskey or unwind on a front porch by a fire pit.

Franklin is the ideal location if you want to unwind and experience southern refinement. You will become immersed in a new adventure in a lovely place, from locally-owned distilleries to their nationally famous, historic Main Street. Tennessee’s Franklin is located just south of Nashville. The 1864 Battle of Franklin was fought at this important American Civil War location, and the city is also home to the Carter House and Carnton Plantation, which also contains the McGavock Confederate Cemetery. There is a sizable collection of 19th-century furniture in the Lotz House from 1858. Main Street’s downtown is lined with art galleries, antique stores, and renovated Victorian structures.

Families of all ages may take an enjoyable road trip to Tennessee’s Natchez Trace section to learn about the country’s rich history and experience nature. Spring break and spring blooms are just around the corner, so let’s get to planning! Also, be sure to check out our friends at Nashville’s Big Back Yard for more in-depth stories and history on the area.