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Cool Things To Do In Middle Tennessee

by Pankaj Upreti
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Things To Do In Middle Tennessee

House of the Music City – Nashville, Tennessee has life full of music, fun and whiskey. Nashville, which is the capital and the largest city of Tennessee happens to be in Middle Tennessee making it a center for tourism. Middle Tennessee is divided into three regions, Upper Middle, Upper Cumberland and South Central. 

People from all over the world travel to Middle Tennessee to explore the great history, art, food and other attractions including the world’s capital of music that Nashville is. There are other interesting and cool experiences to be had in Middle Tennessee in the other major cities including Murfreesboro and Clarksville.

What Is There To Do In Middle Tennessee?

Check out our below list-

Cannonsburgh Village

Located in Murfreesboro, this village is spread across 6 acres of land and represents more than 100 years of Middle Tennessee rural life from the 1830s to 1930s.

The village features a gristmill, schoolhouse, telephone operator’s house, the University House, the Leeman House, a museum, a caboose, the wedding chapel, a doctor’s office, general store, working blacksmith’s shop, a well, and other points of interest, including the World’s Largest Cedar Bucket! The village is closed December through April but the ground is open all year round.

The Village remains open from 1st of May till 1st of December every year. There are really cheap guided tours available and self-guided tours are free for all.

Beachaven Vineyards And Winery

Good place to visit in Middle Tennessee.
Nashville | Photo Credit – Ken Lund

Check out this award winning winery just 45 minutes away from Nashville for a tour and tasting of world-class Tennessee wines, a picnic in our vineyards, or an evening of wine and music at their Jazz Lawn and enjoy wines ranging from Blackberry to Chardonnay.

Oaklands Mansion

Oakland's Mansion of Murfreesboro in Middle Tennessee offers its visitors with a rich but infamous history of pre-civil war America.
Murfreesboro | Photo Credit – Ken Lund

Oakland’s Mansion of Murfreesboro in Middle Tennessee offers its visitors with a rich but infamous history of pre-civil war America. The mansion was built in four phases and was completed around the time of the civil war.

It was built by slaves owned by a “Maney” family across two generations and was supposed to display the riches and the extravagant lifestyle of the landowners. By the 1950s the derelict mansion was abandoned and scheduled for demolition.

It was then auctioned and managed by different owners over time. Ultimately, it was restored and transformed into a house museum that serves the community as a cultural and heritage tourism destination.

Book yourself a tour of this place and get a look at facts from a topsy-turvy history as unique as the furnishings and architecture of the mansion.

Discovery Center

Located in Murfreesboro, the Discovery Center offers endless fun and games to kids of all ages. The Discovery Center contains  attractions like the 5 Senses, Creation Station which boost the creativity and the imagination of kids to draw, paint and sculpt.

There is a Farmers Market which teaches the importance of buying and eating locally-produced foods; and Super Slide where kids can learn about gravity by sliding down the two and a half-story slide.

Kids can have fun outdoors in Nature Play and explore the Wetlands Boardwalk which covers 20 acres and find river otters, blue herons and muskrats along their adventure.

Stones River National Battlefield

Stones River | Photo Credit – William Alden

Come to Stones River National Battlefield, in Rutherford County, Tennessee, to meet with great stories of the American Civil War. The Battlefield memorializes the key Battle of Stones river of the war and has a cemetery and a number of historical parks for you to explore.

Country Music Hall Of Fame And Museum

Museum | Photo Credit – Robert Stinnett

Home to the pure American musical art form, Country Hall of Fame and Museum preserves and celebrates the art and the history of this form from its beginnings in the nineteenth century to its much vibrant evolved form today. 

They organize  insightful exhibitions, eclectic public programs, informative educational initiatives, and much more. Located in Nashville TN, this amazing place also has the Historic RCA Studio B, Nashville’s oldest surviving recording studio, and Hatch Show Print, a working letterpress print shop since 1879.

While in the area you can also check out Ryman Auditorium, also known as the Mother Church of Country Music, and the Musicians Hall of Fame.

Downtown Nashville Center

Enjoy Nashville's Downtown to enjoy some of the best local cuisines in Middle Tennessee.
Downtown Nashville Center | Photo Credit – Ken Lund

Enjoy Nashville’s Downtown to enjoy some of the best local cuisines and spend some time shopping and checking out Germantown, East Nashville, and Hillsboro Village.

Radnor Lake State Park

Radnor Lake is a state park in Nashville T N and is unique in the sense that no other metropolitan area as big as this has any such place that can offer such sceneries and recreational opportunities.

It provides more than twelve miles of hiking trails, including the Ganier Ridge trail, named in honor of Albert Ganier, founder of the Tennessee Ornithological Society. People come here for a tranquil experience and its scenic topography.

Andrew Jackson’s The Hermitage

Here you can hike the trails, enjoy a picnic, stroll through the garden enjoying Middle Tennessee weather.
Music | Photo Credit – United States Navy Band

Middle Tennessee is a go-to place for reconnecting with the historic past of the country. One such place that offers a glance into the past is the home of the 7th-American President Andrew Jackson located only minutes away from the downtown of the City of Music. It also happens to be one of Nashville’s top attractions.

The site offers a grounds pass, limited General’s Tours, limited VIP Tours and limited In Their Footsteps Tours. With 1,120 acres, you can hike the trails, enjoy a picnic, stroll through the garden enjoying Middle Tennessee weather.

Audio tours are available on your own device as well. Also be sure to check out Natchez Hills Winery at Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage, all-new onsite tasting room.

Adventure Science Center

Science Center | Photo Credit – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District

Experience the very unique Moonwalk in the Adventure Science Center. The Adventure Science Center not only holds exhibitions including BodyQuest and on merging science and medicine but also has an amazing digital projection and surround sound in the planetarium that features programs on sciences, culture and history, as well as laser shows.

It is a popular attraction for kids and adults alike and offers great experiences to learn and have fun from  together.

The Carter House And Carnton Plantation

Enjoy a spring day at The Carter House and Carton Plantation and get a glimpse at the civil war history of Middle Tennessee.  Located in Downtown Franklin, these two homes were on the frontlines of the Battle of Franklin.

Visit the grounds and outbuildings for a well-rounded tour of the place and get inspired by the stories of the original residents.

David Crockett State Park

David Crockett State Park of Lawrenceburg in Middle Tennessee offers you the real story behind David Crockett, Tennessee famous pioneer, soldier, politician and industrialist.
Waterfalls | Photo Credit – Brent Moore

David Crockett State Park of Lawrenceburg in Middle Tennessee offers you the real story behind David Crockett, Tennessee famous pioneer, soldier, politician and industrialist. The park contains exhibits depicting Crocketts’s life, a museum and a water-powered grist-mill.

Spend the morning and afternoon enjoying the beginning of spring in this park and enjoy hiking trails that lead to scenic views, waterfalls, bluffs and abundant wildlife.

Frist Center For The Visual Arts

Frist Center for Visual Arts in Nashville in Middle Tennessee offers a very interactive approach to its visitors towards visual arts.

In an effort to make art more accessible and approachable to younger people, Frist happens to be free for visitors 18 years old or younger in age.

Children and teens can let their imagination run wild with the thirty plus hands on activities available for them to participate in and a large collection of works on display that range from pre-historic and Buddhist paintings to modern day painting and sculpture pieces.

Nashville Zoo

Nashville Zoo in Middle Tennessee lets you see kangaroos,  cougars, Elands, Baird tapir, giraffes and meerkats among many other mammals, birds and reptiles from really close.
Birds | Photo Credit – David Baron

Nashville Zoo in Middle Tennessee lets you see kangaroos,  cougars, Elands, Baird tapir, giraffes and meerkats among many other mammals, birds and reptiles from really close.

Get more information and a deeper experience with animals like red pandas, flamingos, rhinoceros hornbills and more in the Zookeeper talks held everyday for visitors.

Parthenon Centennial Park

Constructed in Nashville, Middle Tennessee for Centennial Exposition of 1897 in Tennessee, this is an exact replica of the Greek Parthenon in Athens. The place has a recreation of the 42-ft statue of Athena.

Parthenon/ Centennial Park is also called the Athens of the South because of its details. You can come visit the Parthenon and then go for a walk in the park or have a picnic there.

President James K. Polk Home And Museum

Paintings | Photo Credit – Ken Lund

The only surviving residence of the extremely accomplished 11th US President James K. Polk other than the White House,  this painted brick structure is one of the best examples of Federal-style architecture in Middle Tennessee.

This was built by his father Samuel Polk who was a farmer. Visitors today get to see original possessions of the great President and Mrs. Polk, who also was his closest advisor, including furniture, paintings, clothing, and White House china.

Percy Priest

Percy Priest is a Volunteer State Reservoir in Nashville where you can enjoy an eyeful of beauty and enjoy autumn to the fullest in Middle Tennessee.
Autumn | Photo Credit – Carol VanHook

Percy Priest is a Volunteer State Reservoir in Nashville where you can enjoy an eyeful of beauty and enjoy autumn to the fullest in Middle Tennessee. This is your place to go if you are into fishing as you can find a lot of bass here.

Bass Angling is really popular in Percy Priest and you can come here and explore bass angling or have a beautiful walk by the lake and have an serene experience. People travel from all over to have a chance to watch unique birds or for some family fishing time.

Jack Daniel Distillery

Jack Daniel Distillery | Photo Credit – Carol VanHook

Drop by to the Jack Daniel Distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee for a tour through this working distillery and get to know the whole story of this world renowned whiskey.

The tour guides here will give you a complete  tour of the whole distillery with amazing stories about the whiskey as well as about Mr. Jack himself.

The tours are open for people of all ages, with some restrictions for younger people. There are also bus rides available for people who want to make the tour in a short time. You can also explore other local favorites like lunch at Miss Mary Bobo’s Boarding House and a trip to the Lynchburg Hardware & General Store.

Cheekwood Estate And Gardens

Cheekwood Estate is a 55-acre Botanical Garden in Cheek Estate in Middle Tennessee.
Gardens | Photo Credit – Carol VanHook

Cheekwood Estate is a 55-acre Botanical Garden in Cheek Estate in Middle Tennessee. It was built in 1929 as a residence for Leslie and Mabel Cheek and is one of the finest examples of American Country Era estate.

Converted to a museum of art and a botanical garden in 1960, Cheekwood has presented world-class art exhibitions ever since. Visitors can enjoy family activities for all ages and also the year-round festivals celebrating the four seasons.

Johnsonville State Historic Park

Museum | Photo Credit – Robert Stinnett

Johnsonville State Historic Park is a  1,075-acre park on the eastern side of Kentucky Lake and overlooks the site of the Civil War Battle of Johnsonville.

The Battle of Johnsonville took place on November 4, 1864 and the place is named after Military Governor Andrew Johnson of Tennessee.

The park has two large forts which are open for visitors. This park in Middle Tennessee attracts not only history enthusiasts but also the travelers who are interested in hiking, birdwatching and looking for rare species of plants and animals.

The park opened a new welcome center, museum and gift shop in 2012, that offers visitors an opportunity to learn about the Civil War and the Battle of Johnsonville.

What Is There To Do In Tennessee Right Now?

Check our below list for the things to do in Tennessee right now.

Gaylord Opryland’s Country Christmas

Enjoy at A Country Christmas, Gaylord Opryland Resort’s festival of the season with celebrations of winter and Christmas with a number of events  including the Oak Ridge Boys “Christmas in Tennessee” Dinner Show, I Love Christmas Movie – An Immersive Pop-Up Experience, Merry Snoopy Christmas Scavenger Hunt and much more.

The resort is decorated with more than three million twinkling lights and is spread across nine acres of exquisite decorations.  The event has a number of other attractions like the Sound Wave pool and Carriage rides and some of the most unique Christmas celebration experiences one can ever find in Middle Tennessee or all of the States.

Christmas On The Grove

Take a daytime stroll through the Fiddler's Grove Village in Lebanon of Middle Tennessee.
Train Museum | Photo Credit – David Brossard

Take a daytime stroll through the Fiddler’s Grove Village in Lebanon of Middle Tennessee and down the memory lane where you’ll feel nostalgic about all of the Christmases gone by and all the Christmas movies that you’ve loved since your childhood.

You also get to enjoy some coffee and hot chocolate at the nearby general store and have a look at the Model Train museum and relive your childhood’s Christmas memories.

Log Home Christmas Open House

Take a Christmas tour of model log homes decorated for Christmas at Crossville Honest Abe Log Homes model and the Cookeville Honest Abe Log Homes model in Crossville, Middle Tennessee.

All the social distancing measures will be taken care of and a safe visit will be in place for you.

The tour is free for all and starts in The Cambridge, Honest Abe Crossville’s Model Home, or the Bellewood Cookeville Honest Abe Homes Model.

You can enjoy a number of such Christmas Celebration events in Middle Tennessee but this one is both entertaining and educational because of the help of the workers of these models.

Please also read about things to do in Massachusetts.


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