Franklin, Tennessee is a small town south of Nashville with savory Southern restaurants and family-friendly activities. Learn about the rich history, get kidsโ adrenaline pumping, and eat smoky barbecue and buttery biscuits. Cโmon, letโs go!
Family-friendly activities in Franklin, Tennessee
SOAR Adventure Tower is a huge structure with 110 ropes course obstacles across four levels. Climb over barrels and even through a canoe. Play 18 holes of mini golf with instrument-themed holes. Rock climbing is pretty rad at The Crag.
The 10,000-square foot indoor facility features climbs with 5,000 feet of elevation. Belay or boulder- itโs up to you. Bowl, play arcade games or billiards at Franklin Family Entertainment Center.ย
The bloodiest Civil War battle was fought in Franklin. My family toured the Carter House to see the bullet hole-ridden buildings and stand in the low-ceilinged basement where a family waited out the close combat that raged above them. You can also tour Carnton, an 1826 plantation that served as a hospital after the battle.ย ย
Family-friendly restaurants in Franklin, Tennessee
Biscuit Love is the place to go for brunch. Flaky biscuits, bonuts (a marriage between biscuits and donuts), grit bowls, and chicken and waffles pack the menu with savory and sweet Southern dishes. The Classic Omelet, with artichokes, roasted mushrooms, bacon and herby Fromage Frais was far from standard in my book.
The lines around Triple Crown Bakery tell you that their baked goods are worth waiting for. Franklin Bakehouse is another great choice for pastries and coffee. We especially appreciated their gluten-free muffins and cookies.ย
Puckettโs Grocery, the restaurant with live music, serves a mean smoked meatloaf plate. My son dug into the Porky Mac, which is mac and cheese piled high with pulled pork. Merrideeโs Breadbasket is a made-from-scratch bakery with breakfast and lunch on the menu. I munched an egg salad sandwich on fresh bread with crisp lettuce and tomato. My son went for the baked mac and cheese (notice a theme here?).
Culacinno Italian Restaurant is a lovely choice for an upscale evening out. Woodfired pizza with bubbly, 72-hour fermented crust, pesto pasta with succulent shrimp, and rich banana pudding crowned with hazelnut topping are all excellent dishes to order there.ย
Shop, dine and see live entertainment at The Factory, a retail and restaurant destination inside a reclaimed stove factory. Get your Hattie Bโs Hot Chicken fix without lines as long as youโll find in Nashville. Go to Otaku Ramen for slurpy soups, noodle dishes and bubble teas. Mojoโs Tacos was a favorite of my familyโs, with the chicken fajita taco my top choice.
Jeniโs Ice Cream is always huge hit. Find favorite favors (my family members all ordered Salted Peanut Butter with Chocolate Flecks) and totally unique, funky options that sound weird but taste incredible. Their newest flavor is Green Smoothie. You can also find barbecue, donuts, and coffee at The Factory. Then shop for vintage clothing, local goods, gifts, art and flowers. Iโd call that a nice trip, yโall!
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