For me, Nashville is the perfect balance of big (enough) city, and of small town USA. We have our notable skyline with its impressive skyscrapers and then we have rolling hills, with their equally impressive landscapes, just on the outskirts of the metropolis. Depending on how your mood strikes, you can take in the bustling sights and sounds of Broadway, or you can retreat to one of the quainter and quieter sides of Music City. Among my favorites are Leiper’s Fork, downtown Franklin, Bell Buckle and Nolensville.
Nolensville has more recently become a hot spot for the real estate market, but for those of us happily settled in homes within the city limits, it makes a for a perfect weekend morning day trip. I’ve driven through Nolensville before, since it’s the most scenic (though maybe not the most direct) route to Arrington Vineyards. But on a warm September day last fall, I made Nolensville the final stop destination. Although I had previously discovered the amazing tastes for sale at The Amish Feed Mill (a container of their cranberry chicken salad with a bag of their freshly baked dinner rolls is a perfect to-go picnic to take to Arrington), on that day I met a friend there for the Saturday morning breakfast (served every Saturday from 8-10:30am) and just enjoyed good conversation in the ambiance of the old country market. In a world where shiny and new is often the assumed preference, I love the beauty that is evident in the rustic wood floors and mismatched dining tables and chairs. And although I confess I’m partial to a tried and true biscuit recipe we’ve made in our family for years, I still loved their biscuits with homemade jam, sausage and gravy, thick-cut bacon and scrambled eggs (yes, I ate it all :)). If that standard fare for breakfast were good for you, I would eat it every morning of my life. So when I’m at places like The Feed Mill (or Loveless Café), I set aside my typical health conscious choices and just eat like a true Southerner.
After eating more than I should have, we headed over to the Nolensville Farmer’s Market. I regretted being so full once I watched my friend pick out a box of pastries for her family from the The Bekahry tent. Hearing the baker share about making the oversized cinnamon rolls (with generous coverings of icing), the muffins, donuts and her chorizo, egg & hot pepper Jack Cheese Kolaches, will likely get me to drive back down south one Saturday morning on an empty stomach. After we made some healthier purchases from produce vendors of nearby farms, I headed over to explore my friend’s recommendations for some of the little gift shops set up in restored homes along the main street. The Tanner House, Shabby Lane and The Painted Dragonfly (all within walking distance of each other) each tempted me with adorable home décor, word art, boutique clothing and just delightfully different gift ideas.
I’m sure the locals and newly-established home owners in Nolensville could share other highlights and options of things to see and do there, but part of the fun is to know just enough to go and then discover more. 🙂
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