While you’re visiting Franklin, Tennessee, you’ll want to experience the historic downtown area. Gray’s on Main is a must-visit attraction. With its vintage neon sign lining Main Street, this cafe pays tribute to the original Gray’s pharmacy. The building was once home to the renowned pharmacy for over 70 years.
Fairview Nature Park
Forested trails, a Treehouse playground and an Education Center highlight Fairview Nature Park. The park also offers picnic areas and other recreational opportunities for families. A variety of educational programs and classes are also available. A visit to this nature preserve is sure to provide a memorable Franklin experience.
Bowie Nature Park is the largest park in Tennessee, covering nearly seven hundred acres. It features 17 miles of trails and a nature center. There are also fishing ponds and horseback riding trails. Throughout the park, you can enjoy the wildlife that calls Fairview home.
The Carter House, one of the most famous historic sites in Franklin, is also located here. You can tour the grounds and learn about the Civil War. The site also has a museum where you can learn about slavery, the battlefield, and the reconstruction of the Union. Other historic sites in Franklin include the Carnton Plantation, which was once the home of the famous Randal McGavock. The plantation had a rich history and hosted President Andrew Jackson and other famous Americans. However, when the Civil War broke out, the plantation’s role changed.
Visitors can also visit the Franklin State Park, which has a nature trail through the woods. The park also includes a Civil War monument and plenty of open green space. In the summer, the park is a great place to go hiking.
Mistletoe Farm Alpacas
If you’re a lover of alpacas, you’ll love visiting the Mistletoe Farm Alpaca Farm in Franklin, Tennessee. This family-owned farm features alpacas, a farm store filled with alpaca wool products, and traditional crafts classes. You can also take a spin class to learn to make alpaca-based yarn and other items. To visit the farm, make sure to book a reservation in advance.
Mistletoe Farm Alpaca is a small farm located 30 minutes south of downtown Nashville. It’s a great spot for families and kids of all ages. The farm is also a great place to hold events, such as weddings and engagements. Weddings, homeschool events, senior living trips, and even music videos have taken place there.
Mistletoe Farm Alpaca is run by Leanne and Tom. They’re a couple from Tennessee. They’re both accountants, but they wanted to try something different after their daughters went off to college. Tom suggested that they go out to a farm that raises alpacas.
Wayah Bald Tower
The Wayah Bald Lookout Tower, things to do in Franklin, North Carolina, is an old lookout tower that offers sweeping vistas of the rolling hills and Great Smoky Mountains. Located 17 miles from downtown Franklin, Wayah Bald provides breathtaking views of the surrounding area. Visitors can also climb the tower, which was built in 1937 by the Civilian Conservation Corps.
The tower was decommissioned in the 1940s and destroyed by a wildfire in 2016. It had an interior stairway and drop-down beds, which were used by watchmen. They would live in the tower for up to two months and receive food weekly. A roadside restroom is available for hikers.
The Wayah Bald Tower, things to Do in Franklin, North Carolina is a popular destination for hiking enthusiasts, especially in the summertime. With panoramic views, you can enjoy a picnic or take some incredible pictures of wildflowers. While you’re in Franklin, you can also visit the Nikwasi Mound, one of Franklin’s oldest historical structures.
While visiting Wayah Bald, be sure to bring your four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive to get to the top. You’ll enjoy the panoramic views of the valley below from this viewpoint. If you have a senior citizen or a wheelchair, you can also take the paved path up to the top. The paved path makes Wayah Bald easy to access.
Lazy Hiker Brewing Co.
If you are a beer lover, you’ll want to check out the newly opened Lazy Hiker Brewing Company in downtown Franklin, NC. This brewpub offers a wide variety of brews, from the Trail Mate Golden Ale to the Slack Pack IPA. This brewery, which shares space with Mad Batter Food and Film, features excellent brews and delicious food. They also have both indoor and outdoor patio seating and are dog-friendly.
In 2015, the brewery teamed up with the nonprofit Mainspring Conservation to release a beer that benefits the conservation organization. The beer, named Needmore Ale, features North Carolina-grown grains, including barley, rye, and wheat-rye hybrid triticale. The brewery used Belgian yeast and Jarrylo hops to enhance the beer’s flavor.
Mill Creek Brewery
The craft beer taproom at Franklin’s Mill Creek Brewery has a welcoming and fun family atmosphere, with a focus on approachable, tasty brews. Visitors can enjoy flights, growlers, and pints of beer, as well as a wide selection of eats. The brewery also offers a golf simulator and private event space.
The brewery is located just down the street from Martin’s BBQ. There is a large, spacious taproom and a food truck. There are over a dozen craft beers on tap, and the company offers flight options so that customers can sample the brews.
The brewery opened in early 2015, and now offers three beer brands. It also operates two bars, the Franklin Location and Hop Springs, which are both part of the Nashville Scene’s Burger Week events. The Mill Creek Taproom at Franklin was recently named “Best New Taproom” by Nashville Scene.
Franklin has an interesting history, and you can learn about it by taking a walking tour of the town. Franklin’s Public Square is the site of a former slave market, and the city has a Confederate monument erected by the United Daughters of the Confederacy. Though the city council cannot remove the monument, it has decided to tell a “Fuller Story” of the Black experience in the Middle Tennessee area. The city has information boards set up around the Public Square. The displays cover topics like former slave markets, the Battle of Franklin, and race riots.
David Arms Gallery
There are plenty of things to do in Franklin, Tennessee, including the David Arms Gallery. The gallery features the paintings of renowned Nashville artist David Arms. In addition, you can enjoy the beautiful views of the surrounding area from the city’s charming public parks. Fort Granger Park, for example, is 14.5 acres of land with a quaint walking trail that overlooks south Tennessee. Other popular Franklin parks include Liberty Park and Aspen Grove. You can also check out one of the many vintage shops and antique malls.
There are also many art galleries in the city. You can visit the David Arms Gallery, Leiper’s Creek Gallery, and Copper Fox. You can also find antique shops, like Serenite Maison. Franklin has a rich history and played a crucial role in the American Civil War. It also has beautiful parks, art galleries, farmers’ markets, and entertainment venues.
The downtown Franklin square is a popular spot for artists and shoppers. The area is filled with many festivals and cultural events, including the annual Downtown Art Crawl. You can also find a variety of live music performances at venues like Puckett’s Grocery.
Fox & Locke
If you love authentic country music and live shows, head to Fox & Locke in Leipers Fork. This acclaimed live music venue and restaurant is located in a historic building and hosts authentic music five days a week. If you’re a fan of live music, you’ll love the unique atmosphere and eclectic menu at Fox & Locke.
Located outside of Franklin, Leipers Fork is home to beautiful cottages, antique shops, and galleries. Leipers Fork is also the home of the legendary Fox & Locke, which was once Puckett’s Grocery. The legendary store and restaurant was established in 1929, and is home to several prominent companies.
Fox & Locke is one of Franklin’s most iconic restaurants. This old-time joint has live music almost every night, and is often played by Grammy-winning artists. On Thursday and Saturday nights, Fox & Locke is host to open-mic night. Other local venues for live music include Leiper’s Fork, Serenite Maison, and Pickin’ Corner.
Fox & Locke has been serving delicious cuisine for over 50 years. Visitors can also enjoy craft beer at Mill Creek Brewing Co. and try some flights of the craft beer.