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The Nashville Mom

/ Travel

Nantucket Day Trip

Dear Nantucket, you were worth the wait!

I have seriously been dreaming of a trip to Nantucket for years! I finally made it and it was as magical as I imagined!

We stayed in Cape Cod for a few days for our summer vacation. I knew that I couldn’t be that close and not make it over to the island! While the boys played golf, Lily Caroline and I took the ferry across to Nantucket! The ferry was easy to navigate and was a scenic ride over! We first sat outside but decided the wind was a little much so we moved inside. The ferry took about an hour.

When we arrived to DREAMLAND, we grabbed a smoothie from Provisions and then caught the bus down to Sconset. The Bluff Walk in Sconset is like none other with the most beautiful gardens filled with hydrangeas and seaside views. Lily Caroline told me that I wasn’t allowed to take anymore photos of flowers but it was next to impossible in Nantucket!

After our stroll, we took the bus back into ”town” and browsed through the shops (so many adorable shops!) Our favorites were the book stores (Nantucket Bookworks and Mitchell’s Book Corner)!

We worked up an appetite and walked to one of Nantucket’s iconic restaurants, Something Natural! We sat outside on a picnic table with our delicious sandwiches (I had the Avocado, Cheddar and Chutney sandwich!!) I tried to really soak in the moment because it was so special!

After lunch, our tired legs marched over to Jettie’s Beach! LC braved it in the chillier than we are used to waters! We were able to rent chairs from the Jettie’s Beach store. There’s also on onsite restaurant and bathrooms that made our day trip beach day easier!

Luckily, there was a bus stop at Jettie’s Beach that took us directly across from our next stop- The Juice Bar! This famous to the island ice cream is a must! You know it’s good when the line wraps around the building!

We took a cab over to see Brandt Point Lighthouse! Our driver dropped us off in front of the Coast Guard Station unbeknownst to us and we were reprimanded as we tried to find the lighthouse! Luckily, it was just right down the street!

After our run in with the Coast Guard, we grabbed a quick dinner at The Rose and Crown. Our last stop of the day was Children’s Beach! This sweet spot has a playground, sports field, bathrooms and ice cream shop at the beach! It was the perfect way to end our day before heading back to the ferry!

I cannot wait to go bACK (and hopefully stay on the island)! We were so hot, sweaty and tired but made memories of a lifetime!

/ Fall Guide

Fall Guide 2022

Cheekwood Harvest

  • Saturday, September 17th through Sunday, October 30th
  • Cheekwood Botanical Gardens
  • Celebrate all things fall during Cheekwood Harvest. The changing of the leaves are one of many garden highlights you’ll find as oaks, maples, dogwoods, and other trees greet you with their fall colors. Activities and experiences designed for kids, adults and families alike, make this six-week celebration the perfect time visit Cheekwood.

Goblins and Giggles

  • Saturday, September 10th through Monday, October 31st
  • Gaylord Opryland
  • Opryland’s family-friendly Halloween activities and all-ages seasonal entertainment offer fall fun with peace of mind. Jack-o-lantern walk, trick-or-treating, Ghoul School, scavenger hunts, animal encounters, Ghouls Night Out boat cruise and more!

Honeysuckle Hill Farm Fall Festival

  • September 24th through October 30th (check their website for available dates as some are reserved for field trips, etc)
  • Honeysuckle Hill Farm in Cooperstown, TN
  • Country Music Corn Maze, Pumpkin Train, hillbilly pig races, pumpkin patch, kettle corn, caramel apples, zipline adventure park and much more!

Pumpkinfest

  • Saturday, October 29th from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Historic Downtown Franklin
  • The Heritage Foundation of Williamson County’s 37th Annual Pumpkinfest is Middle Tennessee’s largest family fall festival. Autumn-inspired food and drink, children’s activities, live music, costume contests for pets and families, and outstanding arts & crafts – featuring seasonal and specialty gift items! 

Tennessee Apple and All Things Fall Festival

  • Saturday, October 8th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Morning Glory Orchard
  • Celebrate Tennessee apple season and a little of everything fall at one of the only local orchards in Middle Tennessee! Bring your family and friends to explore where apples grow at the beautiful Morning Glory Orchard in Nolensville, TN. Nashville Craft BevCo and Morning Glory Orchard are joining together to bring you this amazing event. They’ll have an assortment of freshly picked TN apples, slushies, Morning Glory Orchard’s Hard Apple Cider, preserves, butters, ice cream, nonalcoholic ciders, pastries, mums, pumpkins, local produce (while supplies last) and all sorts of goodies including amazing local finds in the orchard store! Plus, shop and enjoy over 50 unique vendors, 5 food trucks including Cousins Maine Lobster, Bag Lady’s Co, Vehicle City Coney, Bubbled Up, baristas from Bloom Coffee Cart, Nashville Craft BevCo, corn hole, dip painting, fall photo-ops, chicken feeding, mini orchard tours, fresh orchard air and so much more!!! There are picnic tables and benches to enjoy the beautiful grounds and your favorite snacks. Free admission, $10 onsite parking (cash only) Free parking + shuttles running from The Church at Nolensville (7388 Nolensville Rd)

Granville Fall Celebration

  • Saturday, October 1st from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Saturday, October 31st
  • Historic Granville’s Fall Festival kicks off a full month of decorations and scarecrows that are simply “over the top.” One of Tennessee’s Largest Scarecrow Festival, visitors will enjoy see over 300 scarecrows of Mayberry characters and traditional scarecrows. Jazz on the Cumberland at Veteran’s Park will host musical presentations all afternoon. The Granville Quilt Show will be held at the Granville Methodist Church all during the month of October.  The Granville Ghost Walk will be on October 21st and October 22nd with myths and stories about Granville.

Nashville Boo at The Zoo

  • October 14th-30th
  • Nashville Zoo
  • Enjoy fall-themed scenes, special animal shows, trick or treating for the kids and more! 

Lucky Ladd

  • September 17th through October 30th
  • Lucky Ladd Farms, 4374 Rocky Glade Rd. Eagleville, TN
  • Pumpkin Patch, Nashville Preds themed corn maze, apple cider, caramel popcorn, farm animals, children’s games and activities

Gentry’s Farm

  • October 1st-31st (See their site for daily hours_
  • Pumpkins, corn maze, trails, farm animals, seasonal treats and much more.

Walden Pumpkin Farm

  • Open Thursdays-SundARS September 24th-October 31st
  • Walden Pumpkin Farm will have pumpkins, children’s activities, local produce for sale. Free entry and parking.

Hermitage Ghost

  • Friday, September 23rd, 6:30 p.m. through Friday, September 30th, 10 p.m. tour
  • The Hermitage
  • Explore the haunted side of history during our Hermitage Ghost Tours! After dark this fall, embark on a distinctly spooky voyage at Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage as you explore the mansion, grounds and cemetery by lantern light. Along the way, guides present stories of strange encounters such as the ghosts of the Battle of New Orleans and Jackson’s infamous meeting with Tennessee’s Bell Witch. Beware of eerie encounters, possibly even with President Jackson himself.

Gallatin Main Street Festival

  • Saturday, October 1st from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Downtown Gallatin Main Street
  • Gallatin’s Main Street Festival will feature over 200 vendors *FREE*

Porchfest at the Park

  • Saturday, October 1st from 2 to 6 p.m. on various porches and concert at 7 p.m.
  • Westhaven Community
  • 11th Annual Porchfest with a day of music on the lake. Paddle Dog will be open for rentals and hot dogs. Concert at 7 p.m. on Magli Green

Wilson Family Farm

  • Saturdays and Sundays September 24th through October
  • Wilson Family Farm (4809 Byrd Lane College Grove)
  • 8 acre Corn Maze, sunflowers and zinnia fields, Hayride, cow train, pumpkin sling shot, lots of activities for young and old. A true pick your own patch, but we have plenty picked for you also. Homemade jams, jellies, salsa and breads. Admission is $12 per person ages 2 and up and includes all the activities.

/ Weekend Happenings

Nashville Weekend Happenings: August 18-21

Titans Preseason Game

  • Saturday, August 20th at 6 p.m.
  • Nissan Stadium
  • Cheer on the Titans as they take on Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a preseason game. Purchase tickets here.

Tennessee State Fair

  • August 18th through 27th
  • James E. Ward Agricultural Center in Lebanon, TN 
  • Family friendly events including fair rides, 4-H and FFA competitions, livestock shows, live music, and more

34th Annual Shakespeare in the Park Festival

  • August 18th through September 18th beginning at 7 p.m.
  • oneC1TY Nashville
  • The event includes performances of Shakespeare’s  Cymbeline and August Wilson’s Gem of the Ocean. The event also includes pre-show concerts and food trucks. General admission is free. 

COLORSCAPES

  • Through September 4th
  • Cheekwood
  • Cheekwood’s newest exhibit is COLORSCAPES, a perception of the physical world through color. This immersive experience takes place around Cheekwood, including indoor and outdoor installations.

Black Arts Bash

  • Saturday, August 20th from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
  • Cheekwood
  • From morning to night, Cheekwood will celebrate Black artists with music, dance, storytelling, spoken word and more. Families will enjoy storytime and hands-on activities for children as well as a collaborative art project. Plus Colah B. Tawkins will do a live taping of her podcast Black in the Garden. Tasty fare from local Black chefs will be available for purchase.

/ Travel

Mystic, CT

My vacation type would be cute coastal towns! Mystic, Connecticut definitely checked that box! After taking Owen to a card show in Atlantic City, we decided to make a little coastal New England road trip!

Mystic was our first stop along the way and we loved this charming town!

We grabbed lunch at Fords Lobster in Noank and between the warm, buttery lobster rolls and dockside seats, it was the best way to begin our trip!

We stayed at The Whaler’s Inn, which was within walking distance to Mystic’s adorable downtown shops and restaurants. The Whaler’s Inn was super cozy, had a delicious onsite restaurant, The Shipwright’s Daughter and across from the river!

Kayakers and paddle boarders cruised down the river! Mystic has a historic drawbridge that opens regularly to let boats come through! This is the 100th anniversary of the bridge!

Mystic River may sound familiar to you as Julia Roberts made the town famous in the 1988 movie, Mystic Pizza!

We decided to try this landmark pizza place and it did not disappoint! Their pizza was one of the best I’ve ever had!!

And of course, we had to try Mystic Drawbridge Ice Cream! This famous ice cream shop began in the 1800’s and offered so many unique flavors! I had the Vermont Maple Nut and I’m stilllll thinking about how good it was!

Our time in Mystic was short and sweet…but this town captured our hearts and we can’t wait to go back!

/ General Info

Nashville Weekend Happenings: August 11-14

Williamson County Fair

  • August 5th through 13th
  • Williamson County AG Expo
  • Agricultural expos and competitions, rides, and more festive fun!

Tomato Art Fest

  • August 12th and 13th
  • Five Points neighborhood
  • Free festival with music, art, food, costumes, shopping and more! There will also be a Bloody Mary Garden Party, Tomato Art Show, East Nashville Tomato 5K and Parade! 

Zzzoofari Slumber Party

  • August 13th beginning at 4 p.m.
  • Nashville Zoo
  • Enjoy a unique camping experience as you sleep under the stars near the zoo’s animals. The event will also include kid-friendly activities and breakfast. Your ticket also includes free entry to the zoo. 

Margaritaville Night at the Nashville Sounds

  • August 13th at 7:05 p.m.
  • First Horizon Park
  • First 2,000 fans receive a Sounds Hawaiian shirt! Enjoy an evening of live music and baseball as the team wears Jimmy Buffett-inspired jerseys and play the Gwinnett Stripers!

COLORSCAPES

  • Through September 4th
  • Cheekwood
  • Cheekwood’s newest exhibit is COLORSCAPES, a perception of the physical world through color. This immersive experience takes place around Cheekwood, including indoor and outdoor installations.

Summer of More

  • Through September 5th
  • Gaylord Opryland
  • Enjoy all things family-friends with pirates, princesses and loads of fun! Guests can expect activities such as The Captain’s Hidden Treasure Escape Room, The Shiny Stash Scavenger Hunt, Royal Tots Tea & Treats, Delta Riverboat Ride, and more.

/ April Happenings

August Happenings

Tennessee State Fair

  • August 18th through 27th
  • James E. Ward Agricultural Center in Lebanon, TN
  • Family friendly events including fair rides, 4-H and FFA competitions, livestock shows, live music, and more.

Williamson County Fair

  • August 5th through 13th
  • Williamson County AG Expo
  • Agricultural expos and competitions, rides, and more festive fun!

Big Machine Music City Grand Prix

  • August 5th through 7th
  • Nissan Stadium
  • The Big Machine Music City Grand Prix returns to Nashville for a three-day event including racecourses, superspeedways, shorts ovals adn road courses! The Grand Ole Opry will also host a performance in downtown Nashville on Sunday, August 7th headlined by Tim McGraw!

Tomato Art Fest

  • August 12th and 13th
  • Five Points neighborhood
  • Free festival with music, art, food, costumes, shopping and more! There will also be a Bloody Mary Garden Party, Tomato Art Show, East Nashville Tomato 5K and Parade!

Zzzoofari Slumber Party

  • August 13th beginning at 4 p.m.
  • Nashville Zoo
  • Enjoy a unique camping experience as you sleep under the stars near the zoo’s animals. The event will also include kid-friendly activities and breakfast. Your ticket also includes free entry to the zoo.

Margaritaville Night at the Nashville Sounds

  • August 13th at 7:05 p.m.
  • First Horizon Park
  • First 2,000 fans receive a Sounds Hawaiian shirt! Enjoy an evening of live music and baseball as the team wears Jimmy Buffett-inspired jerseys and play the Gwinnett Stripers!

34th Annual Shakespeare in the Park Festival

  • August 18th through September 18th beginning at 7 p.m.
  • oneC1TY Nashville
  • The event includes performances of Shakespeare’s  Cymbeline and August Wilson’s Gem of the Ocean. The event also includes pre-show concerts and food trucks. General admission is free. 

COLORSCAPES

  • Through September 4th
  • Cheekwood
  • Cheekwood’s newest exhibit is COLORSCAPES, a perception of the physical world through color. This immersive experience takes place around Cheekwood, including indoor and outdoor installations.

Summer of More

  • Through September 5th
  • Gaylord Opryland
  • Enjoy all things family-friends with pirates, princesses and loads of fun! Guests can expect activities such as The Captain’s Hidden Treasure Escape Room, The Shiny Stash Scavenger Hunt, Royal Tots Tea & Treats, Delta Riverboat Ride, and more.

Music Under the Stars

  • August 26th and 27th
  • Cheekwood
  • Bring a blanket or lawn chair to enjoy live music with a backdrop of lush gardens. Craft cocktails and food trucks will also be on site for purchase.