I was visiting my only high school friend in Franklin, and we were looking for something to do…read moredowntown that did not revolve around eating or drinking for once. She has lived there for years and had never done this tour, which made it feel like a bit of a discovery for both of us. We ended up at the Lotz House Museum, and it turned out to be one of those unexpectedly memorable experiences. On this particular day, we lucked out with Chuck as our guide. He is a former high school history professor, and you can tell immediately. He does not just recite facts, he brings everything to life with stories, details, and just the right amount of drama. The house itself is not large, but that almost works in its favor. Between the stories of the Lotz family and the vivid accounts of the Battle of Franklin happening right outside, you can practically see it all unfolding as you move from room to room. It is the kind of experience that sticks with you long after you leave, and at around seventeen dollars, it feels like an absolute steal. And do not skip the gift shop. Treat yourself to a peach Nehi soda on your way out. It is unexpectedly fantastic, and I am still thinking about how to get my hands on more.

Amazing tour. We really enjoyed our visit. Chuck was extremely knowledgeable and funny. Highly…read morerecommend visiting the Lotz house if you are near Franklin.

The Franklin Haunted Walking Tour is an absolute MUST DO! When it started to sprinkle, the others…read morewho had booked ended up canceling. Instead of calling off the tour, Alicia gave me a private one. She was a phenomenal guide--her passion for Franklin, its rich history, and its community was obvious from the start. The tour was fun, dynamic, and incredibly insightful. Alicia shared each encounter with such historical accuracy and animated storytelling that I literally felt chills, all while feeding my love of learning about history and culture. Her reputation in the community is undeniable. Before, during, and after the tour, so many people spoke highly of both the quality of her tours and of her as a person. I originally found Franklin Walking Tours online, but once I arrived in town, every local I asked pointed me straight to Alicia--often described as "the tours with the lanterns." While we walked, it was clear how well-known and well-loved she is. Watching her interact with the community made the whole experience feel warm and welcoming, almost like being at home. Later, when I went to dinner, everyone who asked about my day lit up when I mentioned her tour and immediately started raving about it. Franklin Walking Tours are hands down a must when visiting. I will definitely be back to try the other tours--and I'm hoping to bring my family and maybe even redo this one. :)

Dee was excellent on our Franklin walking tour. It was a perfect blend of history and spirit…read moreinformation. Highly recommended!

Carnton is an interesting historical spot. The property is well maintained with options for walking…read morethe property and/or touring the home. A small museum is in the Visitor's Center. A paved parking lot is available near the Visitor's Center. In that building you can buy tickets and tour the museum. The shop has some souvenirs as well as some packaged snacks and bottled water. Restrooms are nearby. Adult admission for the one hour house tour and grounds is $22 per person. Children under six are free. The museum was small, but worth looking at before heading off on the tour. The one hour home tour was interesting and offered plenty of opportunities to ask questions. The guide seemed knowledgeable and enjoyed answering questions.

Incredible tour at Carnton today. This house was a central field hospital during the Battle of…read moreFranklin and offers such a unique look at how the Civil War shaped our history. Huge thanks to our guide, Christian, for his deep knowledge of the McGavock family and the events that unfolded here. An absolute "must" for history buffs! Follow me on Instagram - @thecannyadventurist for a deeper dive into my reviews.

We had a charmed day, tour and visit. Met Bob the rooster. And co-owner too who was exceptionally…read morecordial and welcoming. The museum and grounds include significant Americana, Johny Cash, Elvis, and a painting featuring Bob Dylan. Clean. Well cared for and presented. Loved it. We arrived on a quiet fall day, out of season and couldn't promise the same experience for others. There is a gathering area to enjoy music performances in the summer months that wasn't open. There wasn't any food sold and I'm unaware if guests can bring any snacks to the events.

My husband and I were spending a few days in Memphis, and I just happened to pick up a pamphlet…read morefrom the visitor's center about TN Music Pathways. The last night there I decided to read through it, thinking to myself that we needed to make another trip through Tennessee to hit all of these cool places. Some we have already been to, but wouldn't mind going again. My husband being a HUGE Johnny Cash fan, I suggested we make a detour on our way home, just to fit Storytellers Hideaway Farm in. We were NOT disappointed. We both thoroughly enjoyed the tour of the house and the barn with all sorts of memorabilia. The highlight of the experience was the music and camaraderie with Johnny Cash's nephew, Mark Alan Cash. We could sit there and listen to him all day. We loved listening to the stories from his personal experiences with his uncle. If we ever get the chance to come back through here, we definitely will.

My friend and I love history and have been touring historic sites together, and our recent visit to…read morethe Carter House in Franklin was incredible. If you're a Williamson County resident, be sure to check out the Community Passports available through the library for free admission opportunities. Our tour guide, David, was outstanding. He truly transported us back in time, bringing the people, stories, and events of the Civil War to life in a way that was engaging and memorable. Two moments especially stayed with me. First, seeing the bullet holes that remain in the property was a powerful reminder of just how intense the Battle of Franklin was. Second, standing in the basement where a diverse group of people gathered together seeking safety during the fighting was incredibly moving. It's one thing to read about history in a book and another to stand in the very place where people experienced it and recognize how little time has passed. Whether you're a local or just visiting Franklin, I highly recommend taking the tour. It's a meaningful and fascinating look into a pivotal moment in American history.

We got an amazing tour of the Carter House by Randy! He was incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, and…read morepersonable. Would highly recommend checking out the Carter House when in town.

Wow, what a blast!?! Joe was our guide and so enjoyable to be around. No matter how much you know…read moreabout Franklin, you would thoroughly love this. Best Christmas Present ever! Talk about local flavor... New sampling eats and treats from places that we've been to but never tasted. We returned later that night for dinner for more soup from Amaricana Taphouse, along with our new found favorite beer served by David (sporting the best mustache in town). Friendliness and tastes at the Savory Spice store brought both history and such a variety of BBQ spices along with a nice parting gift. :) Triple Crown Bakery can't be beat for the sweets and the service. There is always something new at the "Gallery 202" to see. The time was relaxing and the conversation flowed so nicely we couldn't believe it when we our time came to an end, even a bit overtime, but we were having so much FUN. I have your best in Mind... just obey me and check it out.

... it was a beautiful day in Tennessee ....we drove about 20 miles to Franklin... Very cute…read morearea... lot's of small businesses... and great restaurants... parking can be a challenge...

I am always amazed at how these battlefield locations seem so peaceful. It is almost as if the…read morespirits of the fallen have willed peace upon a space where violence brought them their demise. Parking is tight here, but I am happy I took the detour to pay my respects to those fallen.

The volunteers there are so knowledgeable and kind, incredible history to learn & see!read more

Great piece of history right here in the Spring Hill area. Tours are wonderful and the mansion is…read morea fine example of 1800's southern life. It's well worth the stop and a contribution to preserving this legacy.

Taking a trip to Amish country was quite interesting. I lived in Pennsylvania for 3 months a long…read moretime ago and never saw any Amish, so this was completely new to me. We stopped at the Welcome Center but they weren't offering any wagon tours on the day we visited. So, we took a look around the shop instead. I bought a spiral wind spinner but nothing else appealed to me, mostly looked like donations. Some things were hand made but overall, it felt like it was more of a Goodwill than anything. It was cluttered and unorganized. My grandma and aunt wanted to use the restrooms on site but said they were extremely dirty and decided to use a local gas station's instead. The Amish are very nice people but there are rules. Don't take photos of them, some believe it takes their souls and others believe it expresses individualism. If you aren't Amish, be prepared to have people staring at you and the kids are not supposed to talk to anyone unless making a sale. Overall, everything was affordable and during our drive around, we purchased some peanut brittle, jams, and jarred veggies. Just bring cash, of course. It would be nice to come back and take a wagon tour but it also feels weird that our modern-day culture sees the Amish as some sort of entertainment. So, I'm very indifferent about this experience.

This whole area is so fun to come to .. we've had many things custom built by the Amish . The food…read morearound here is delicious . You can find all kinda stuff . Antiques , homemade baskets , quilts ... jams , cutting boards . All kind of treasures

If you want to get in the Christmas spirit just visit the Tennessee Governor's mansion. They really…read moredecorate the place and go all out. It is a great ladies day out with lunch afterwards. It's free too. You do need to make reservations on Eventbrite beforehand

We came here for the Christmas tour and we had an absolute blast. If you are one who enjoys…read morehistorical architecture, then this is a place you need to come visit. Politics aside, this was a really spectacular tour that can be appreciated from both sides. It is self guided, and you can go at your own pace. It was nice that you were not on anyone else's timeframe so you can enjoy it at your own leisure. The docents were really nice, and very informative of the mansion. They encouraged questions if you had any. I'm not sure of what the historical tours look like throughout the year, but they are available and guided. There was no fee for this tour nor the Christmas tour.