One of my favorite ways to teach my kids about the history of a place without them realizing it is to sign up for a ghost tour. A good tour guide will expertly weave the city\u2019s history into the ghostly tales that keep kids mesmerized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Franklin has two great tour options – Franklin on Foot Tours<\/strong><\/a> and Franklin Walking Tours<\/strong><\/a>. Both offer highly-rated ghost tours that are also family friendly. You\u2019ll walk through Franklin\u2019s historic district and hear about its most haunted structures, while getting a local history lesson in the process! <\/p>\n\n\n\n Imagine a national park that\u2019s nearly 450 miles long\u2026 It may sound impossible, but it exists! Starting in Nashville, Tennessee, and ending in Natchez, Mississippi, the Natchez Trace Parkway<\/a> is widely recognized as one of the most beautiful scenic drives in the U.S. The Parkway loosely follows the original Natchez Trace; a path first carved out by prehistoric animals, then nomadic Indians, European explorers, and finally wagon trains \u2014 By the early 1800s, it was a major thoroughfare for goods headed to and from the Mississippi River.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once the steamboat came on the scene, traffic slowed substantially on the Natchez Trace, and eventually, the dirt road returned to nature. The National Park Service made plans to build the parkway in 1938, but it wasn\u2019t until 2005 that the Parkway as we know it was finally completed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Today, the Natchez Trace Parkway is a winding, two-lane roadway where bicycles are welcome, pulling over to take a look around is encouraged, and speeding is all but impossible. Download a National Park Service map<\/a> and head out on the Parkway from Franklin; you\u2019ll find all kinds of historic stops along the way, from sections of the original Natchez Trace that you can drive down or hike to historic homes, a tobacco barn, a memorial to the War of 1812, and even Meriwether Lewis\u2019s death and burial site. Spend an hour on the Trace or take it all the way to Mississippi – there\u2019s plenty to see along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Located in the heart of downtown Franklin, the Franklin Theatre<\/a> is a wonderful place to feel like you\u2019ve traveled back in time while watching a movie or show. Built in 1937, this sumptuous Art Deco theater is known as the Crown Jewel of Main Street. Check the theater\u2019s schedule<\/a> before your visit to see what\u2019s playing while you\u2019re in town. Upcoming events include popular movies, live theater, and plenty of concerts. The ticket prices are always reasonable, parking is easy to find, and nearby lunch and dinner options abound \u2013 for all of these reasons, I can\u2019t recommend this theater enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Make sure your older kids understand the assignment while in Franklin and start your trip with the definitive Battle of Franklin guided walking tour<\/strong><\/a>, which takes guests to at least seven different locations on the battlefield and gives details on why it occurred, the arrival of Federal and Confederate armies, and the full story of what became known as one of the greatest single assaults of the entire Civil War. The tour takes approximately 90 minutes and tickets are available for purchase at The Carter House.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I always try to work in at least a few educational tours and experiences on our family vacations and Franklin has some excellent options. The Battle of Franklin Trust<\/strong><\/a> includes three different historic sites in Franklin and Spring Hill and each home has its own unique Civil War-era story. Carnton<\/strong><\/a> and the Carter House<\/strong><\/a> both are right next to downtown Franklin \u2013 the families who lived there during the Civil War had harrowing experiences during the Battle of Franklin. Rippa Villa<\/strong><\/a> in Spring Hill sits on 100 acres of farmland and includes an 1855 mansion, a Civil War battlefield, a Freedmen\u2019s Bureau school, and more. Tour one or all of them with your kids to keep them sharp during the summertime \u2014 In addition to the traditional tours, each historic site now offers tours focusing on the enslaved people who once lived there, which adds some much-needed context and perspective on what exactly was going on in Tennessee in the 1860s. Level up by downloading the lesson plans offered on the website<\/a> ahead of time to help you and your kids get the most out of the visit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I particularly love the Lotz House<\/strong><\/a> tour for kids (I\u2019d say it\u2019s best for ages 10 and up) because the family who lived inside this downtown Franklin home during the bloody Battle of Franklin had children who heard and saw everything. Their story is riveting, and it\u2019s likely to keep your kids interested a lot longer than most other historic home tours would. I took this tour with my daughter when she was 11 and she could not stop talking about it afterward- Because of the children involved, she was able to put herself in their shoes and really listen and understand the Battle of Franklin in a way she hadn\u2019t before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Just a few minutes from Franklin, Thompson\u2019s Station has one of the best-kept secrets in all of Middle Tennessee: Preservation Park<\/strong><\/a>. The park was created to preserve the land where the Battle of Thompson\u2019s Station took place during the Civil War, which you can read more about here<\/a>. Take the trail from the parking lot across a bucolic field and up to the top of a grassy hill with 365-degree panoramic views of the gorgeous Williamson County countryside \u2013 It\u2019s an amazing spot for a picnic. After the hill, the trail descends into some woods and then loops back around the base of the hill to return you back to where you started. I recommend taking a picture of the map at the trailhead to help guide you along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Trust me, I know how hard it is to get kids off their phones \u2013 so why not let the phones work in your favor by downloading one of Visit Frankin\u2019s Digital Passports<\/strong><\/a> and setting off on a historical scavenger hunt? Two favorites are Historic Homes of Hincheyville<\/strong>, which includes historic details of the gorgeous homes surrounding the downtown area, and Great American Main Street<\/strong>, which shares the history behind each building, church, and home along Franklin\u2019s main thoroughfare. As an added bonus, once you\u2019ve completed these self-guided tours, you can head to the downtown Franklin Visitor Center to collect a prize! <\/p>\n\n\n\n In the heart of downtown Franklin, you\u2019ll find a charming, free museum that even many locals don\u2019t know about \u2013 it\u2019s a fun stop for children and adults while you\u2019re sightseeing around town. The Williamson County Museum<\/strong><\/a> has a permanent collection of artifacts and exhibits devoted to Williamson County\u2019s fascinating history. Before you start exploring, pick up one of the museum\u2019s activity books at the front desk \u2013 There\u2019s a scavenger hunt for tweens, teens and adults, a scavenger hunt for younger children, and an activity book for elementary school-aged kids that encourages them to find answers to the activities within the exhibits. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The Natchez Trace Parkway<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The Franklin Theatre<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The Battle of Franklin Walking Tour<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Carnton, Carter House, and Rippa Villa<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The Lotz House<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Preservation Park<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Digital Passports<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Williamson County Museum<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The Moore-Morris History & Culture Center of Williamson County<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n