Spend a Day in Cookeville TN: Fall Itinerary

This post is sponsored by and written in collaboration with the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development and Made in Tennessee. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Last week I had the opportunity to take a day trip to a city I’ve only ever driven by. My extended family lives in Jamestown, TN but on our drives there we always passed by Cookeville. When the Tennessee tourism board asked if I wanted to take a day trip to Cookeville, TN I jumped at the opportunity. Learn about all you can do in a day below!

Spend a Day in Cookeville TN: Fall Itinerary

Cookeville, TN is about an hour from Nashville and has an estimated population of 32,622. But after spending time in this city, you realize that it feels much smaller than that since it appears everyone knows each other.

The drive to Cookeville, TN was a pretty one with leaves changing and minimal traffic. Friday morning was the perfect time to drive up since weekend traffic came later and all the University of Tennessee fans were heading to Knoxville the next day.

The trip started with coffee at Poet’s. Poets had a laid-back vibe that almost made it feel like time stood still. There were people at tables having business meetings, students writing midterm papers, and men in the corner cutting up over the other football team. I decided to sit next to the window and people watch as I enjoyed my hot chocolate and a blueberry muffin.  

This Girl Loves to Shop…

After a light breakfast, it was time for some shopping in Cookeville, TN. I hit the shop next to Poet’s called The Market on the Square. Upstairs was full of different types of foods, condiments, and cute kitchen decor. The downstairs though is where I died and went to heaven. So much cute home decor and a Christmas room! I did a little Christmas shopping and got a Nutcracker coffee mug for myself.

The rest of the morning was spent in all the cute boutiques. We started at 31 Twenty-Five Boutique, but they were closed for the weekend. I saw so many things I loved from the window!

Next up was Cigi’s. This boutique had such a great selection and a wide range of sizes. They also had the cutest accessories and decor.

Then we headed to a strip with the cutest boutiques. We started at Caravan. Caravan was probably my favorite since they carried some of my favorite brands like Free People, Knot Sisters and Show Me Your Mumu. They also had the best selfie lighting in their dressing rooms.

In the same strip, you’ll find other boutiques like Broadway Boutique Mall, Luxe Boutique and Old Town T-Shirt Company. The best thing about this strip of shops is that there’s something for everyone. No matter your age or style, one of these shops will speak to you and you’ll find a great local item.

Let’s Eat!

Shopping works up an appetite. So next door to these shops is Cream City Ice Cream & Coffee House. They have snacks, ice cream, coffee, and smoothies. I ordered a yummy strawberry banana smoothie and it was just the fuel I needed.

Across the street are the Cookeville Railroad Depot and event area. There was live music playing and you could come to bring your lunch and enjoy the day! You can also walk around and see the cool trains.

After a busy morning, it was time for lunch. Seven Senses was where I landed on and there enjoyed a yummy meal of mashed potatoes, green beans, and fried chicken. I wish I was enjoying this right now!

Time to Get Outdoors!

After a yummy lunch, I headed to the Outdoor Experience. This is your go-to place for all your outdoor equipment and gear. They literally have anything you could think of for your outdoor experience.

Next to Outdoor Experience is Dogwood Park. This is a great place to walk around, pack a picnic or sit and reflect on the day. If you have kids they also have a great park to run around and play.

There was some time until dinner so I took a short drive to Monterey to see Bee Rock. It’s a short hike up to Bee Rock and the view is gorgeous. The leaves hadn’t reached peak fall season but there was some color scattered in the view. There were couples up there hanging out, picnicking, and enjoying the epic scenery.

Lastly, one of my favorite things about Cookeville, TN was the cool murals I saw. I took about an hour to go hunt for murals around town and found some great ones. Next time I’m here I’m going to do a huge mural guide!

I’ve also put together a fun video to show some snippets of my trip to Cookeville, TN. Take a look!

Have you ever been to Cookeville, TN? What did you do there? Let me know in the comments below!

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