A Charming Weekend Getaway to Franklin, Tennessee

2 days: Franklin, Tennessee

Historical Tours, Boutique Shopping, and a Dining Experience to Remember

I was surprised to find that there was not a shortage of things to do in Franklin, TN but there was a little bit for everyone; Bike tours, hiking trails and river kayaking for adventurous travelers, historical and walking tours for the history buff, and boutique shops and spas for the traveler needing some rest and relaxation. Below is the itinerary I followed for my first two days in Franklin.

A Historical Home Tour of The Carter House and The Carnton House

For your first day in Franklin, I suggest getting to know the history of the city. You’ll notice placards scattered around downtown highlighting various aspects of The Battle of Franklin. There are plenty of historical tours to choose from to give you further context and depth to the bloody history of this city.

 I chose to tour both The Carter and The Carnton Homes and although there was some overlap,  I gained a more full picture of The Battle of Franklin by participating in both. The Carter House is located where a major portion of the Battle of Franklin took place. The Carnton House served as a refuge for many confederate soldiers needing medical attention during The Battle of Franklin.

Budget for 60 minutes with additional time to walk around the grounds after the tour was completed. The first tour of the day begins at 9 am. Tickets are $18/adults and  $10/children (ages 6-15) for both homes. A combination tour ticket costs $30. You can purchase your tickets online ahead of time through the Battle of Franklin Trust or on site.

Lunch in Downtown Franklin

Franklin has a number of notable restaurants, with one of those being GRAY'S on Main. The cocktails here were delicious, the fried pimento cheeseballs are my new favorite guilty pleasure, and the Linz Bros Burger was enough for 2 people (depending on your appetite). The building which dates back to 1876 used to be home to The Gray Drug Co. pharmacy and if you pay attention to the wallpaper, you will notice old drug prescription forms that honor the roots of the building. GRAY'S on Main also hosts live music performances on occasion. 

Take a Stroll Downtown and Visit some of the Boutique Shops

If you love window shopping, downtown Franklin will keep you busy for quite some time. I found myself processing all of the information from the tours while mindlessly wandering circles around a plant shop (Rooted from Yarrow Acres). It was wonderful. There were fun gift and speciality shops between the many clothing stores lining the streets.  If rain is projected, I suggest seeing a show at Franklin Theatre in addition to visiting the shops.

Spend the Evening at Arrington Vineyards

About a 40 minute drive from Franklin sits the beautiful 16 acre Arrington Vineyards. If you visit on a Friday, there's live music and food trucks on site. If the sun is out, I imagine this would be a beautiful place to watch the sunset while wandering through the vineyards. When our group visited, thunderstorms began to roll in. Despite the weather, we had the best time drinking wine and Frosé, nibbling on our food truck finds and charcuterie purchased from indoors at the shop and sitting on an upper porch protected by rain covers on the side. It was a blast! However, I do recommend saving this one for a sunny day.

The Franklin Farmers Market and other Day 2 Activities

The Franklin Farmers Market runs on Saturday mornings and is a great way to support local farmers and try some delicious baked goods! I loved the donuts from Ellie's Old Fashioned Doughnuts. You can also explore The Factory which is the building right beside the Farmers Market and full of shops.

Go on an Electric Bike Ride with Pedego Bikes

This was one activity that was cancelled due to rain but I know I will be back again to try it! Pedego bikes offers a variety of tours around Franklin and Leiper's Fork. You can also rent a bike for about $25/hour and explore on your own. The bikes are electric meaning you can peddle as much or as little as you'd like.

Treat Yourself with a meal at Culaccino Italian Restaurant and Bar

I couldn't imagine a better way to cap off our time in Franklin. It has been almost a month since our trip and I am still daydreaming about the Rainbow Trout and Tiramisu. This is a bit pricier but the quality was definitely worth it. 

Cap off the Night with a Ghost Walk around Town

Franklin on Foot  and Franklin Walking Tours both hold some interesting and spooky tours in the evening such as the Murder and Mayhem or Haunted Franklin walking tours. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, these tours can be a memorable way to explore the town while hearing some goosebump raising stories. 

1 Night: The Village of Leiper’s Fork, Tennessee

Music and Libations in Leaper’s Fork

The Village of Leaper's Fork is just an 18 minute drive from Franklin and well worth a visit. I suggest setting aside one night to enjoy much of what Leaper's Fork has to offer, which is award winning live music, art galleries, good food and alcohol tastings. 

Start Your Morning with Big Bad Breakfast at Country Boy

For affordable southern homestyle breakfast at a family run establishment, Country Boy is a great place to start. Their menu features items such as  The Hillsboro with eggs, grits and hashbrown casserole as well as lunch options such as Fried Green Tomatoes and a Catfish Plate.

Peruse the Art Galleries and Shops Downtown

The Leiper's Creek Gallery is home to internationally recognized artists and is hard to miss if you're walking downtown. There are a few other galleries and shops located in the area which make for a fun way to get to know the creative side of Leiper's Fork. 

Wine and Whiskey

If you are in the mood for some libations I recommend visiting Wines in the Fork and Leiper's Fork Distillery. 

Wines in the Fork can be enjoyed indoors or outdoors by the river. It's located right down town and has a welcoming atmosphere. There is a tasting room inside along with a small market. 

Leiper's Fork Distillery specializes in small batch whiskey in a rustic setting. Distillery tours are one way to get to know the drinks served here. You can also order from the outdoor bar and play one of the games they have such as giant jenga. I am not much of a whiskey drinker myself but I did enjoy their cocktails!

See a Show at Fox and Locke

Aside from serving food, Fox and Locke has hosted some incredible live music performances and open mic nights. Many of the musicians who have performed at the Thursday night open Mic have gone on to have successful music careers in Nashville. Musicians such as Justin Timberlake and Carrie frequent this small town and surprise music performances by well known musicians are not uncommon at Fox and Locke. 

Stay at Pot N' Kettle Cottages and Enjoy a Night In!

A stay at Tin Roof cottage, through Pot N' Kettle Cottages was one of the biggest highlights of our Franklin, TN trip! Each cottage has a unique story and decorations that one can easily spend a full week exploring and appreciating.  There was plenty of room for all four of us and the beds were so cozy! 

The backyard had a fire pit and a shed with bikes and games to play. We spent one of the rainy days ordering catering from BAMFoods in partnership with Pot N' Kettle cottages and enjoying time catching up. 

I highly recommend booking a stay here. The cottages tend to book quickly during peak seasons so I recommend booking a month or two in advance if possible.