Planning to Visit Franklin TN in the Fall?
Whenever I think of Tennessee, Nashville’s iconic music scene always springs to mind. But just a short drive away, Franklin, TN, has a quintessentially southern, acoustic charm unlike anywhere else.
In Franklin, even the biggest names in music come to unwind, find inspiration, or call it home!
I’m not kidding- Justin Timberlake, Miley Cyrus, Tim McGraw, and Brad Paisley have all called Franklin TN their home at some point, and it is not uncommon to see a celebrity enjoying a cup of coffee or dinner around town.
My husband and I discovered just how magical Franklin can be during our visit in the fall.
As native South Floridians, we miss out on the fall colors, but Franklin has everything we love about the season.
We believe that it is worth a visit, whether you’re in Nashville looking for a day trip or a weekend getaway and no, I’m not just saying that because our last name is also Franklin. 🙂
In this post, we’ll discover the top 9 fall activities for couples in Franklin.
You’ll know why Franklin is a true hidden gem from live acoustic sets from up-and-coming musicians to fall festivals.
So, pour yourself a warm cup of cider and prepare to fall in love with Franklin, Tennessee!
Some of the links contained in this post are affiliate links, meaning that at no cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
A special thanks to Visit Franklin for sponsoring this post. As always all thoughts and opinions are my own. My husband and I truly enjoyed our time in charming Franklin, TN. We know you will too!
1. Cozy Breakfast Date
Oh man, I’ve always loved Southern Food (it’s the biscuits for me) and Franklin does not disappoint!
There are so many cute breakfast spots in downtown Franklin and the surrounding areas that are perfect for a romantic breakfast or brunch date.
Our Pick: Merridee’s Breadbasket
Merridee’s Breadbasket is located downtown on the same street as the Franklin Visitor Center, but it is not a traditional sit-down breakfast spot.
When you walk in, you order at the counter, they give you a number and you sit wherever you want. They’ll bring your order to you.
I love this concept!
There’s also seating outside and since the restaurant is not directly on Mainstreet, it’s still peaceful to sit there during breakfast.
You must try the cinnamon roll specialty coffee, it was my favorite! They also have glass cases filled with desserts and pastries.
Some of our other favorite breakfast spots:
- Puckett’s Restaurant – located right next door to Merridee’s. It’s like walking into a small grocery market, but it’s a traditional sit-down restaurant.
- Biscuit Love – located downtown in the historic Corn House, just a few steps from the public square. You gotta get a biscuit sandwich!
- Five Daughter’s Bakery—If you’re more into sweets for breakfast, you can head to The Factory and grab a freshly made donut. They offer seasonal flavors!
2. Franklin’s Coffee Trail
I don’t know about you, but my husband and I are much happier when we’ve had a good cup of coffee, really any time of the day.
Thankfully, Franklin has a coffee trail with plenty of amazing options for that perfect cup of Joe!
You can find the best spots by signing up for the Franklin Craft Coffee Trail, one of many free digital passports available, with no app download required.
Once signed up, you’ll have access to discounts at coffee shops around town. When you check in to 5 or more locations, you can pick up a prize from the downtown Franklin visitor center.
We stopped at a few shops during our stay:
- McGavock’s Coffee Bar & Provisions – located inside the stunning Harpeth Hotel where we were staying.
- The Coffee House At Second And Bridge – located practically next door to the Harpeth Hotel in an old quaint southern house.
- The Fainting Goat Coffee Co. – across the street from The Carter House!
- Honest Coffee – we stopped by during our visit to The Factory in Franklin.
3. Scenic Drives Around Franklin
Coming from South Florida, we miss out on the leaves changing colors during the fall season. Thankfully, when driving around Frankin, there’s no shortage of beautiful scenery.
If you’re headed to Franklin, chances are you’ve rented a car so I highly recommend you go on some scenic drives to experience the charm of southern homes, farms, and old silos.
It’s something that my husband and I love to do when traveling!
Check out these routes:
Natchez Trace Parkway stretches 444 miles from Nashville, to Natchez, Mississippi. Franklin is home to the iconic Natchez Trace Parkway Bridge, a perfect photo opp, especially in the fall!
Old Natchez Trace runs parallel to the Natchez Trace Parkway and is known for beautiful estates and old farms, you’ll drive through some of the most affluent areas of Franklin.
Leipers Fork Scenic Route is a must-do when you’re in Franklin! It’s about a 15-minute drive from downtown Franklin and the village is like taking a trip back in time. It’s so cute!
Franklin Road: If you’re heading to Nashville, you’ll likely be taking Franklin Road. It’s a beautiful scenic drive so even though it’s sad that you’re leaving Franklin, at least you have a nice drive to enjoy on the way!
4. Discover the Charm of Leiper‘s Fork
Leiper’s Fork is approximately 8 to 10 miles southwest of downtown Franklin. The drive usually takes about 15 to 20 minutes.
Not only is the drive one of the most beautiful I’ve ever seen, but this village is something out of a Hallmark movie!
There’s so much to do in Leiper’s Fork! It’s a relaxed atmosphere with art galleries, shops, restaurants, and bars. It’s no wonder so many celebrities call Leiper’s Fork and Franklin home.
We also had the opportunity to enjoy dinner and an open mic night at Fox & Locke. More on that later!
5. Hop On and Hop Off Scenic Tour
Who doesn’t love a hop-on hop-off tour?
It’s our favorite way to see a new place because it gives you a nice overview of the area and also serves as transportation to all of the major sights and attractions.
“The Franklin Hop” had a live tour guide knowledgeable about Frankin’s history, particularly during the Civil War, he even brought props!
He also gave us “homework” including books to read and movies to watch to understand better what it was like in Franklin and the South.
We caught the tour downtown at the Franklin Visitor Center.
The trolley tour takes you around downtown Franklin and beyond while making stops at major sights like the Factory, The Moore-Morris History & Culture Center, Carnton, and Carter House.
It’s one trolley that hits each stop every hour. The route is quite scenic!
Fun Fact, The Culture Center has a really cool presentation where you step into a saloon and are greeted by bartender hologram! The way they tell the history of Franklin is state of the art. A must visit!
6. Leisurely Picnic at Arrington Vineyards
Set on 95 beautiful acres, Arrington Vineyards is a serene escape with panoramic views of the rolling countryside of Middle Tennessee. And a fun fact, it is co-owned by country music artist Kix Brooks of Brooks & Dunn.
It’s truly a picturesque setting and perfect for a day out as a couple, but it’s even better with friends!
At the vineyard, you can bring your own picnic, and purchase a wine flight, glass, or a bottle to enjoy while listening to live music at several spots on the grounds.
It takes about 20 minutes to get there from downtown Franklin and the drive has breathtaking views of the Tennesee countryside.
7. Enjoy a Walk and Self-Guided Tour on Main Street
One of our favorite activities was grabbing a coffee and walking on Main Street in Downtown Franklin.
The downtown area was decorated for fall and it was so cute and quintessentially southern. There are plenty of shops, restaurants and bars.
I also love that they are so pet-friendly! There are white dog bowls on Main Street, so cute.
Be sure to make a stop at the Franklin Theatre, known as the Crown Jewel of Franklin’s Main Street which offers movies, live music, dance performances, and more.
There are also self-guided tours on the Visit Franklin website as part of the digital passport program including the Great American Main Street.
All self-guided tours are free!
8. Catch Live Music at Local Venues
Probably, the coolest experience of the entire visit was the live music, especially at Fox & Locke restaurant in Leiper’s Fork.
On Thursday nights, Fox & Locke hosts an open mic night. It attracts a mix of local talent, musicians passing through, and some driving hours to grab a spot to perform.
The cover is only $7 and purchasing tickets is highly recommended. They sell out in minutes!
The lineup was amazing—we listened to artists from around the world! Some performed covers and others performed original songs for the first time.
I know I’ll be hearing some of these songs on the radio someday, the talent is next level!
Several celebrities walked in to listen or hung out outside. One of which was Patrick Cassidy (yes, those Cassidys) came to watch his son perform – Jack Cassidy.
It was honestly one of the coolest experiences and one that my husband and I will be talking about for years to come.
It was better than any of the live performances we experienced in Nashville – and that’s saying a lot because I’ve been to the Bluebird Cafe!
But that’s not all, there’s live music everywhere in Franklin. Here’s some of our favorites:
- Tornado Room – located in Leiper’s Fork just below The Country Boy restaurant (across from Fox & Locke). It’s an intimate speakeasy that is actually used as a tornado shelter!
- Kimbro’s Pickin Parlor – located in downtown Franklin, is like a huge house party with live music, games, and food.
- Gray’s on Main – located on Main Street, Gray’s is a pharmacy turned bar and restaurant with live music on the 2nd floor.
9. Photo Ops at Pumpkinfest
Our trip to Franklin fell on the 39th annual Pumpkinfest which is held on Main Street and welcomes over 100,000 people!
They set up what was dubbed “Autumn Alley” on a section of Main Street with a ton of super fun fall-themed photo opportunities, games, and live music.
We had a lot of fun getting those fall pics that can never happen in South Florida.
The festival has a main stage for live performances, vendors selling arts and crafts, and plenty of fun food stalls from homemade donuts to German delights!
It was a fun way to enjoy the season!
Fun Fact, this year Franklin also celebrated the 225th anniversary of the city’s founding.
How far is Franklin from Nashville?
Franklin, TN, is just a hop, skip, and a jump from iconic Nashville. It’s only about 21 miles south of Nashville and an easy drive.
It took us around 30 -40 minutes driving during peak rush hour. It’s perfect for a weekend getaway from Nashville or if you want to spend the day there – although I don’t think that’s enough!
Is Franklin, TN worth visiting?
Absolutely, Franklin, TN, is undoubtedly worth a visit! Franklin is a charming city steeped in history, particularly from the Civil War era and the Battle of Franklin.
But even if you’re not into history, just walking around the downtown area and visiting the quaint antique shops and boutiques gives quintessential Southern town vibes.
And you can’t miss the live music scene! Even if you’re not into country music, you can’t walk down the street without stopping to listen to whoever is performing.
You never know, you could be listening to the next Taylor Swift!
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