Small Town USA: Tennessee & Kentucky Road Trip

Small town, good food, and pretty streets. Franklin feels like stepping into a perfect blend of Southern charm, history, and a touch of luxury without big-city chaos. The kind of place that looks straight out of a movie. We were there for one night, so we started by wandering the historic downtown, popping into locally owned shops and soaking in the small-town charm.

Next, we had dinner at Grays on Main, where elevated Southern cuisine and live music bring the space to life. For fun after dinner, we headed just minutes away to The Factory. It offers a completely different vibe—a more industrial-chic hub filled with artisan shops, casual eateries, and local makers. We enjoyed some ice cream, then called it a night.

On the road again with a pit stop in Nashville for brunch. My girls had never been there and love country music, so we swung into Lainey Wilson's place for food, then headed over to the famous Tootsie's for some great music! Just a short stop on Broadway was enough, then we headed to Bardstown, the Christmas (and Bourbon) Capital of Kentucky.

We spent the afternoon wandering local shops, enjoying long, relaxed meals at Scout and Scholar Distillery and Oak & Ember. It’s not flashy or fast-paced. It’s the kind of place that invites you to slow down, sip something good, and truly take it all in.

Frankfort is a quiet, historic capital tucked into the rolling hills along the Kentucky River. You can visit the grave of Daniel Boone and take in scenic views from the hilltop cemetery, then take a leisurely drive through the town’s historic landmarks. A visit to Buffalo Trace Distillery adds a signature Kentucky experience, blending rich bourbon heritage with beautifully preserved grounds. We loved it here. There's even a playground for the kids. We spent the afternoon in town at Poor Richard's Books, House of Commons Bourbon Library, and walking along the brick-lined streets. We enjoyed so many laughs. We ended our day at Cypress and Oak for a wonderful dinner.

OK, this is the real reason we took this trip: to see the Ark and the Creation Museum. It was a great stop to spend the day before we headed to Covington for a couple of nights, including New Year's Eve. Once we reached our hotel, we had some snacks at Ripple Wine Bar until dinner at Carmelo's Restaurant, which was worth the late dinner reservation.

We had a wonderful brunch at the Hotel Covington before we headed to the Creation Museum. Side note: The ark and the museum are 45 minutes apart from each other—not on the same property as you would think. After a day at the museum, we came back and decided to go across the river to Cincinnati, Ohio, for an impromptu ice hockey game with an indoor fireworks show for New Year's. This ended up being one of the highlights of our trip—something we didn't even plan on. We ended the night at the hotel with plenty of New Year's festivities going on.