A Day Trip to Charming Sumner County, TN

This Sumner County post is sponsored by the Tennessee Department of Tourism Development and Made in Tennessee. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

One thing I love about working with the Tennessee Department of Tourism Development (TDTD) is that they send me on the most amazing trips. I’ve driven through Sumner County for years but I’ve never stopped to explore all the fun things it has to offer. Not going to lie, I was super stoked when I saw this day trip itinerary plus it’s only a half hour to hour drive outside of Nashville!

So read below on all there is to do in Sumner County. 

WHERE TO EAT IN SUMNER COUNTY

Coffee and breakfast at Umbra. Do you know what Umbra means? Google defines it as, “the fully shaded inner region of a shadow cast by an opaque object, especially the area on the earth or moon experiencing the total phase of an eclipse.” The coffee shop, located in the Gallatin square, opened the weekend of the eclipse last year. Fitting right? This space has large windows, leather chairs, exposed brick, and hardwood floors. It’s the perfect place to start the day with a latte and an amazing blueberry muffin. It’s also a great spot for a business meeting or catching up with a friend. 

Next up, lunch at the Chocolate Covered Strawberry. This restaurant looks just like a house but inside is a boutique, gift shop, and cafe. Their staff was so warm and friendly, I felt like I was talking with old friends! And the lunch I had was amazing; ham and cheese on sourdough, chicken pot pie soup, chips and of course a couple of chocolate covered strawberries. I was so stuffed!

If you’re meeting someone for drinks, stop by the local watering hole, Half Batch Brewing. I tried an assortment of beers and my two favorites were the Two Foot Cream Ale and Fruity Foot. They also have game night and the best locals to sit and talk with.

When you’re ready for dinner, go to the lake and enjoy the view at Awedaddys. My friend Amanda and I decided to splurge for our dinner. Their mozzarella sticks were AMAZING as well as the tacos and burger! I thought they were going to have to roll me out of there. We went around sunset and got to enjoy the view of the lake and some live music. Once you’re done eating you can walk down to the pier and take in the view and have a small stroll to work off your meal.

Last but not least, dessert at La Michoacana Deluxe. All ingredients are fresh and natural, everything is handmade and there are no artificial flavors. Check out the menu here. 

WHERE TO SHOP IN SUMNER COUNTY

If you enjoy antiques, art, and collectibles, go to Gallatin square and look around Worthington Galleries. This gallery had the most amazing, one of a kind pieces and I could have spent all day looking around. My favorite piece was a chess set of the Civil War! 

Park your car and walk up and down N. Water Avenue in Gallatin. You’ll find such cute shops up and down that street. Start off with Tennessee Honey. This boutique carries very southern, feminine, flowy pieces and also has some great gift options. All very unique and Tennessee-esque! 

Near Tennessee Honey is Waine. If you’re looking for some trendy pieces, stop by and browse through their clothing options.

Head to Hendersonville to the charming Bates Boutique. The girls who worked there were so sweet and helpful. I also wanted one of everything in the store! After shopping, I settled on a great olive-colored midi dress. I started following them on Instagram and they share new arrivals and sales, which is bad for my wallet but good for my closet! I have plans to be back there soon.

Down the road from Bates Boutique is Honey Hole Market. I honestly could have stayed in this store all day! The decor is gorgeous, the owner feels like your new best friend, and the shop cat is so friendly and cuddly! Honey Hole has vintage farmhouse home decor and needs their own HGTV show if you ask me. I wanted to redecorate my house after some time there!

EXPLORE SUMNER COUNTY

After having breakfast at Umbra, it was still early so I went for a hike a Bledsoe State Park. It was an easy hike with lots of picturesque views of the lake. I had the park all to myself and it was nice to just take a quiet walk. It was such a beautiful day! I also saw some baby deer romping around while I walked. So stinkin’ cute! 

Drive down the road to Hendersonville and explore around Historic Rock Castle. Located next to a Cumberland River tributary called Drake’s Creek, the house was built on part of the 3,140 acres that Daniel Smith received in land grants for his service in the Revolutionary War and his surveying work. Over the course of a decade, the Smiths constructed their home in three phases resulting in the story-filled, multi-cultural historic house that stands today.  Rock Castle is .in fact the oldest house in middle Tennessee.  Due to the extraordinary original craftsmanship and the care given to the house over the centuries, Rock Castle is in similar condition to its original state. Read more about the Smith family and the history of Rock Castle here. 

This may sound like a jam-packed day but all these places are close together and are meant to be slow-paced and leisurely. Reader’s Digest named Gallatin the nicest place in America and I can see why! If you’re in Nashville for vacation, or even if you’re a local, Sumner County is worth spending a day at. You’ll get a true sense of what Tennessee is, the kind of people that live there and the traffic is waaayyy better than Nashville.

For more on Sumner County Tourism and events, check out their website. 

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