Side Trips from Nashville

Side Trips from Nashville

The middle Tennessee area surrounding Nashville is a pocket of gently rolling Cumberland Mountain foothills and bluegrass meadows. It is one of the state's richest farming areas. Such small towns as Lynchburg and Franklin, the latter of which historian Shelby Foote calls one of the nation's top Civil War sites, offer wonderful antiques shops and crafts boutiques.

The Tennessee Antebellum Trail (800/381-1865 for a map and admission prices), which has more than 54 historic sites, plantations, and Civil War battlefields, is a 90-mi loop tour that begins in Nashville and continues through historic Maury and Williamson counties. Nine sites are open to the public daily.

Loretta Lynn's Ranch

Loretta Lynn's Ranch encompasses the entire village of Hurricane Mills. The singer's personal museum is here, and you can take tours of the first floor of the coal miner's daughter's stately antebellum home, of a simulated coal mine, and of a re-creation of her simple childhood home. Camping, canoeing, paddleboats, trout fishing, and swimming are among the many recreational activities available here.

44 Hurricane Mills Rd., Hurricane Mills. 931/296-7700. Tour $10, museum $10, camping $17-$22 per night for 2 people. Apr.-Oct.

Franklin

The town of Franklin rivals Natchez, Mississippi, in charm and Civil War history. A self-guided walking tour begins at the town square and covers several antebellum homes plus the meticulously restored downtown business district, which has more than 50 shops, including several antiques shops and art galleries. The Carnton Plantation, where some of the Civil War's bloodiest battles were fought, and Confederate Cemetery are nearby. Also in the area is the entrance to the Natchez Trace Parkway (off I-40), which wends its way through gorgeous scenery in three states. For more information on Franklin and its attractions, contact Williamson County / Franklin Chamber of Commerce (City Hall, Franklin, 37065. 615/794-1225. www.williamsoncvb.org).

Lynchburg

Lynchburg has been depicted worldwide in ads for its best-known product: whiskey. The quaint town is home to the Jack Daniel's Distillery, the oldest registered distillery in the country, where you can observe every step of the art of making sour-mash whiskey.[. On TN 55. 931/759-4221. www.jackdaniels.com. Free. Guided tours daily 9-4:30

Dining

Miss Mary Bobo's Boarding House. Diners flock to this two-story 1867 white-frame house with a white picket fence to feast family style at tables laden with fried chicken, roast beef, fried catfish, stuffed vegetables, and sliced tomatoes, along with corn on the cob, homemade biscuits, corn bread, pecan pie, lemon icebox pie, fruit cobblers, and strawberry shortcake. There's only one meal served Monday-Friday, at 1; Saturday has two seatings, at 11 and 1.[. Main St., 1/2 block from Public Sq. 931/759-7394. Reservations essential. No credit cards