While Tourists Pack Broadway, Franklin Locals Spend Their Time Doing These 7 Things

Franklin, Tennessee sits just south of Nashville, where locals have carved out a lifestyle that feels worlds away from the tourist crowds. While visitors flock to Broadway’s neon lights and honky-tonks, Franklin residents enjoy a quieter rhythm filled with historic charm, natural beauty, and tight-knit community connections.

These seven activities reveal how people who call Franklin home spend their free time, choosing authentic experiences over the hustle and bustle that defines Music City’s tourist district.

1. Walking Historic Downtown Franklin

Main Street in Franklin offers something tourists rarely find in Nashville’s crowded downtown: space to breathe. Locals know the best times to wander these sidewalks, usually early mornings when coffee shops first open their doors and the air still carries a hint of coolness.

The small boutiques and antique stores here don’t cater to rushed visitors snapping quick photos. Instead, shop owners remember regular customers by name, asking about families and sharing stories about newly arrived inventory.

Between errands, Franklin residents settle into cozy cafes with books or laptops, savoring the slower pace their town provides. The historic architecture surrounding them tells stories of centuries past, yet the atmosphere remains vibrant and welcoming.

2. Exploring Local Parks and Greenways

Pinkerton Park transforms into a neighborhood gathering spot most afternoons, where families spread blankets for picnics and kids race toward playground equipment. The park’s open fields provide perfect settings for impromptu soccer games or lazy afternoons reading under shade trees.

Harlinsdale Farm Greenway attracts a different crowd—cyclists and walkers seeking longer routes through preserved farmland. This former horse farm now serves as Franklin’s outdoor recreation hub, where residents can exercise surrounded by rolling pastures rather than concrete and traffic. The trails wind past historic barns and fenced paddocks, reminding everyone of the agricultural heritage that shaped this community.

3. Hiking Nearby Nature Trails

When Franklin locals need genuine solitude, they head to Natchez Trace Parkway, where centuries-old trails wind through forests that seem untouched by modern development. The parkway stretches for miles, offering countless trailheads where hikers can disappear into nature without encountering tour buses or selfie sticks.

Bowie Nature Park provides another refuge, featuring over six miles of trails that meander through diverse ecosystems. Families frequent this spot on weekends, introducing children to woodland creatures and teaching them to identify native plants.

These hiking destinations represent more than exercise opportunities for Franklin’s community members. They serve as mental health sanctuaries where stress melts away beneath tree canopies and beside babbling creeks.

4. Eating at Locally Loved Restaurants

Gray’s on Main doesn’t need flashy advertising or tourist guidebook mentions—word of mouth keeps their tables filled with familiar faces. Franklin residents guard their favorite dining spots somewhat protectively, cherishing restaurants where menus change seasonally and ingredients come from nearby farms rather than corporate distribution centers.

Breakfast spots throughout Franklin see the same customers claiming the same booths week after week, ordering dishes servers already know by heart. These neighborhood restaurants function as informal community centers where business deals happen over coffee and friends catch up during long, leisurely brunches.

The food tastes better somehow when prepared by chefs who live in the same town and shop at the same farmers markets.

5. Attending Community Events and Festivals

Did you know Franklin hosts over thirty community events annually, each designed to bring neighbors together rather than attract outside crowds? The town square transforms throughout seasons, hosting everything from bluegrass concerts to artisan markets where local craftspeople sell handmade goods.

Summer evenings mean outdoor movie screenings where families arrive early with lawn chairs and coolers, claiming spots on the grass before sunset. Children run freely while parents chat with folks they’ve known for years, creating memories that define small-town living. These gatherings cost little or nothing to attend, yet they provide entertainment value far exceeding expensive tourist attractions.

Seasonal festivals celebrate Franklin’s agricultural roots and historical significance with authenticity tourists rarely experience. Locals volunteer to organize these events, taking pride in showcasing their community’s character.

6. Visiting Civil War History Sites

Carter House stands as a solemn reminder of November 1864, when one of the Civil War’s bloodiest battles raged through Franklin’s streets. Local residents visit this preserved home not as casual tourists snapping photos, but as stewards of memory who understand the weight of history surrounding them daily.

Carnton Plantation’s grounds tell stories through bullet-scarred walls and carefully maintained Confederate cemetery rows. Many Franklin families bring children here regularly, teaching them about sacrifice, conflict, and the complex legacy their town inherited. These visits foster appreciation for how past events shaped present community values.

Understanding the history helps residents appreciate the peace and prosperity they enjoy today, creating deeper connections to the land they call home.

7. Enjoying Quiet Day Trips Nearby

Leipers Fork feels like stepping back fifty years, where artists’ studios occupy old buildings and the general store still serves as the town’s social hub. Franklin locals escape here when they need even more tranquility than their hometown provides, wandering galleries and enjoying meals at restaurants where reservations aren’t necessary.

Arrington Vineyards offers another popular retreat, where rolling hills covered in grapevines create postcard-perfect scenery. Residents pack picnic baskets and spend afternoons on the lawn, sipping locally produced wines while live musicians play. The relaxed atmosphere welcomes dogs and children, making it genuinely family-friendly rather than pretentiously exclusive.

The Natchez Trace Scenic Parkway provides countless pull-offs where locals stop to admire views or explore short nature trails. These mini-adventures require minimal planning yet deliver maximum rejuvenation. While tourists navigate Broadway’s crowded sidewalks and pay premium prices for manufactured experiences, Franklin residents enjoy authentic Tennessee beauty just minutes from home, returning refreshed and grateful for their community’s privileged location.