Black Heritage Travels: How to Experience Middle Tennessee This Fall

Middle Tennessee could provide the perfect recipe for romance that includes whiskey, great food, carriage rides and copper skies.  The region’s vegetation is beautiful year-round but fall arrives with a colorful treat to the eye due to the tree varietals found in urban and rural regions. One thing is consistent: the copper skies of sunset. The environment and a few perks like Tennessee whiskey and southern cuisine make for a weekend getaway and road trip.  Get inspired and learn how to experience Middle Tennessee this Fall with Black Heritage in mind.

Black Heritage Travels: How to Experience Middle Tennessee This Fall

You can begin with a visit to the newly opened Nearest Green Distillery in Shelbyville, TN. Owned by Fawn and Keith Weaver, who produce Uncle Nearest Whiskey. The distillery is on the grounds of a walking horse farm. Visitors to the distillery can tour and taste. The tour includes a hard hat tour of the facility and parts of the facility undergoing construction. The Welcome House on the property is the only place in the world, where people can sample all four expressions of Uncle Nearest whiskey: 1820, 1856, 1884 and 1870 (previously only sold in the U.K.). Apart from the tour, there is a retail store, where Uncle Nearest branded products can be purchased, including whiskey. You can enjoy watching the sunset or the copper skies and a sip of Uncle Nearest’s whiskey at Toppy’s, the bar named for Fawn Weaver’s horse. Visit the Uncle Nearest site to learn more about the tour and purchase tickets for the VIP experience.  

The University Art Gallery (UAG) in Sewanee, TN (93 miles away from Nashville, 46 miles from Shelbyville) is currently hosting Prints and Quilts from Gee’s Bend, a selection of Gee’s Bend quilts, etchings, and sculpture from the Arnett collection. The exhibit ends on October 13. 

One hour and some change away, you can access some of the best food in America in Nashville.  

Nashville’s Prince’s Hot Chicken is both history and great food. It is the home of the original hot chicken sandwich, which has been featured on TV food and travel programs. It is also replicated by high-end restaurants as well as fast food places. It is worth it to visit Prince’s, if for no other reason than to say you have tried the original and tasted history. 

If you’re interested in vegan food, then visit The Southern V, a restaurant owned by Tiffany and Clifton Hancock. Their menu contains variations of southern cuisine cooked with plant-based recipes. Pick up a dozen of their donuts for the ride back home. 

If you are in need of a comfortable place to stay overnight, then try booking a room at the Urban Cowboy BnB in Nashville. Urban Cowboy has an enviable pub with Tennessee whiskeys for sampling. And every room is photo shoot worthy, which means you can inquire about taking anniversary, engagement or couple photos there. The Hampton Inn Vanderbilt-Nashville is black-owned too, and while it is family-friendly, the neighborhood has a romantic spot or two to be enjoyed. Perhaps, music, a nibble of food and craft cocktails at Minerva in the Buchanan Arts District is a way to end the evening. 

Swing by Witness Walls, a Civil Rights public art project located in Public Square Park. Commissioned artist Walter Hood states, ” Witness Walls is a commemorative sculpture celebrating the extraordinary events of the Civil Rights movement that occurred in Nashville in the nineteen fifties and sixties.” 

Before heading back home, swing by any one of these soul food restaurants in Murfreesboro, if not both.  

• The Fish Fry, Murfreesboro  
• The Kleer-Vu Lunchroom, Murfreesboro (Open since the 1960s) 

All of the places mentioned are good for couples fun or family fun. Children visiting the Nearest Green Distillery will not be allowed to participate in any of the whiskey-related activities, but there are horses and stables to entertain them. Middle Tennessee has plenty of historical value that can be learned by simply asking one of the locals to point you in the right direction.  

Whatever you choose to do or wherever you decide to go, don’t forget those copper skies at sundown. They are free and come with the tour at no extra charge.  

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