Falling for Franklin

Just south of Nashville is a magical Tennessee city that embodies the true meaning of country  

- LISA CERICOLA

IT'S LIKE clockwork. As soon as the summer heat is ushered out by a breath of fresh fall air, Southerners start thinking about road trips. Whether you're dreaming of a quiet cabin in the woods, antiquing in a quaint town, leaf-peeping on a hike, or finding fresh apple cider ghnuts at a farm stand, it doesn't get much better than a weekend trip to Franklin in Middle Tennessee.

Franklin might be small compared to Nashville, its neighbor to the north, but it has developed a big reputation over the years. Various media outlets (including this one) have proclaimed the city the "prettiest," "most charming" "friendliest," and "most romantic" as well as a "Southern dream town" and the "nicest place in the South." That is quite a lot of hype for any location to live up to, but year after year, Franklin continues to attract visitors and new residents. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, it was one of the 15 fastest-growing cities in America from 2010 to 2019.

Take a stroll around the vibrant 16-block historic downtown district, and you'll find it hard not to be charmed. Main Street is lined with handsomely restored buildings, many from the Victorian era, that house an impressive array of small businesses, both old-fashioned and decidedly modern. Beginning in the early 1980s, the city and local preservation organizations like the Downtown Franklin Association took on the task of restoring many of these formerly run-down gems like The Franklin Theatre, an Art Deco building from 1937 where people now watch movies and hear live music.