We knew that Franklin, Tennessee was just outside Nashville when we decided to spend a romantic getaway there. It’s much more. This is a richly populated town with a long history. It’s also a prosperous one today. Franklin is the county-seat of Williamson County. This county has the highest level of wealth in Tennessee and is home to Dave Ramsey. It was a beautiful, inviting place to enjoy a romantic fall getaway.
Open Mic at Puckett’s Leiper’s Fork
Do yourself a favour. Start your romantic getaway in Franklin Thursday to catch the Puckett’s Leiper’s Fork open mic. The lineup could be at any club in the United States, minus the superstars looking to have a good time. Being 30 miles from Nashville must have its advantages.
The audience is packed with locals and music scouts. Each performer has two songs. We thoroughly enjoyed the energy of the club, which might have been off-putting for some social distanters. There’s nothing better than a night of great music and good barbecue. Show up early to get the best seats and parking, as well as to listen to the early lineup.
Pot N’ Kettle Cottages
Leiper’s fork is a small, charming village of only 650 Lieperforkians. Pot N’ Kettle Cottages are a unique and cute place to stay. The Pot N’ Kettle Cottages offer a fully equipped kitchen, plenty of space and are still within walking distance of the center of the village. The bikes and fire pit were a great addition. We would have roasted marshmallows on the fire if we hadn’t been rocking to the music in Puckett’s.
Explore Leiper’s Fork
Leiper’s Fork’s charm doesn’t diminish when the sun comes up. We began our day at Country Boy Restaurant. Who would have thought that you could make southern eggs benedict using savory country ham, fried green tomato and fried potatoes? After a tasty breakfast, we drove to Natchez Trace a 444-mile historic driving trail that connects Nashville with Natchez, Mississippi. After a quick drive up to State Route 96 we took a short walk in the woods of Timberland Park, before returning to Leiper’s Fork to have lunch.
The 1892 Restaurant was our choice for lunch. And what a burger it was! New York cheddar and fresh mushrooms were perfect complements to the savory, spicy patties. While our food was digesting, we explored the shops on the main street. Leiper’s Fork has everything that you won’t find at Walmart. After a pleasant and enjoyable afternoon of window-shopping, we went to Leiper’s Fork Distillery on a tour. You might be disappointed if you expect a Jack Daniels Tour. If you are a fan of good whiskey, and love great personalities, then an afternoon with Pops, your tour guide, will be perfect for you.
Franklin Dining
Finally, we made it to Franklin for dinner on Friday night. We could have chosen any of the many restaurants in downtown, but we chose 55 South a flavorful American restaurant. The spicy NOLA Cheesesteak, the savory brisket, and the savory tacos would have been fine, but we decided to go for the Garlic Parmesan Crab fries, thinking we could burn the calories off on our walking tour.
We visited the Red Pony for their famous shrimp and grits. Red Pony’s shrimp and grits was a distinct departure from the many other versions we’ve tried (and loved) in the South. Instead of layers of melted cheese, they used a complex brown sauce. The waiter convinced us to order dessert, Creme brulee and candy cap mushrooms. Mushrooms for dessert, you ask? This rare and extremely beautiful mushroom pairs perfectly with caramel notes. Note that both Red Pony and 55 South had excellent COVID protocol, including a check on the temperature of each guest before seating.
We also had breakfasts at McGavock’s Coffee Bar & Provisions and McGavock’s Biscuit Love. Although both were good, the lunch at The factory at Franklin was outstanding. It was once a stove manufacturing facility, but now it is a mix-use space that includes restaurants, shops, and music venues. We loved the tacos from Mojo Taco, but we also couldn’t resist Jeni’s Ice Cream or Five Daughters Bakery.
Franklin on Foot Ghost Tour
We had to do a calorie penance because of those parmesan fries. We left 55 South to go on our Franklin Ghost Tour. The weather was perfect and the atmosphere was fantastic. The weather was perfect. It was Halloween weekend with a full moon, and the air was slightly chilly. The Public Square was packed with people for the Halloween edition.
Ghost tours are a great way to discover a city’s past. Most of Franklin’s haunts were inspired by the Battle of Franklin. This was the most horrifying battle of the Civil War, which I had never heard of. Pickett’s charge at Gettysburg is well-known to most people. The Battle of Franklin proved to be much more deadly. Confederates advanced twice as far, were outmanned and outgunned by the Union, and occupied fortified positions rather than the improvised lines at Cemetery Ridge. Carnage was the result. On that fateful day, more than 6,000 Confederate soldiers out of 10,000 who fought in the battle died. In Franklin, 44 homes treated the survivors as makeshift field hospital.
We also saw Hiram Hall in Franklin, which was once the tallest building West of the Appalachians. Were there any ghosts around? Maybe. One home had tapestries that moved without any wind outside. We all believed a door was opened while we watched.
Hotels in Franklin
The Harpeth Hotel, part of Hilton Curio Collection, was our hotel for the night in Franklin. The hotel has large, modern, and clean rooms. It is located right in the center of Franklin. Hilton Clean Stay is a great program that features a set of enhanced cleaning protocols. It’s a special feeling to break the clean seal on your hotel room.
Morning Ride along the Harpeth River
Franklin offers enough cycling to keep us coming back. In the Harpeth Hotel’s lobby, signs advertised a group trip to Leiper’s Fork. Brentwood, a nearby town, has a large paved trail system. You’re also just ten minutes away from Natchez Trace or a multiday bike tour. Even new mountain biking parks have been built in Leiper’s Fork, Franklin and Leiper’s Fork. Today was a leisurely 2-mile Franklin Greenway ride between Bicentennial Park, and Judge Fulton Greer Park.
When the valet had parked the car for the night, we removed our bikes. In the bag check, our bikes were ready and waiting to be ridden. The ride down to the trailhead is a short, quiet one. There’s an amazing, new welcome to Franklin Mural in the Urgent Team Building, across from Bicentennial park. The greenway is a great place to relax and ride. You can create a loop by riding on the high road or low road. We chose to walk through downtown Franklin, which is small and has a roundabout and a five-point intersection.
Scenic Drives near Franklin
We took an afternoon tasting tour of the Williamson County countryside. We had a suds stop at Curio Brewing Co. Original Martin’s Barbecue Joint and Mill Creek Brewing Co enjoyed BBQ. It was also possible to taste at company distilling. This was particularly interesting as Mr. Heath Clark is an attorney by day and was instrumental in the passage of Tennessee craft distillery bill that helped create the Tennessee Whiskey Trail. They don’t make Tennessee Whiskey because they don’t use the Lincoln County Process. Along with Tennessee Bourbon, they also make a delicious black and tan gin and some very fine gins.
Arrington Winery was the stop that grabbed everyone’s attention. We assumed that there was a special event when we saw parking attendants and police directing traffic. It was a normal Saturday night. Two separate venues were available for wine tasting. The Lodge offered live jazz music and hillside dining, with stunning sunset views. Meanwhile, the Barn featured live bluegrass.
The wine flights were also suited to many tastes, just like the music. They offered not only a red and white flight but also a sweet flight with chocolate pairing. I’m not ashamed to admit that we drank sweet wine while listening to bluegrass.
You should visit Mistletoe farms Alpacas if you are near Arrington Vineyards. We made a post dedicated to alpacas. But do yourself a favour and take a look.
Franklin Wraps Up Fall
We enjoyed our trip to Franklin in Tennessee. It reminded us in many ways of Hamilton County in Indiana, which is a beautiful town located on the edge of a major city. You can still find plenty to do and eat, even though you are near Nashville. You’ll never have to leave the area.
After the normal life resumes, I can see us returning to Franklin, to see the spa, to do more biking and to attend some of the amazing festivals. We will definitely be returning to Puckett’s, listening to live entertainment. We haven’t been to all the amazing restaurants that are waiting for us. Franklin, we’ll see you on the other side!