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Enjoying all the wonderful outdoor adventures that the Natchez Trace Parkway offers and want to take a break from hiking and camping? Or visiting Nashville or Franklin and looking for a low-key day trip? Then you should head into Leipers Fork, TN, and fall under the charm of this small Southern village.
The Fork offers a unique shopping experience, including several hundred years old antiques, one-of-a-kind furniture, fine art, specialty food, and rare books.
Leiper’s Fork offers many events throughout the year, including live music almost nightly, art shows, and outdoor movies during the summer.
Things To Do In Leipers Fork
1. Sip Drinks By The River At Wines In The Fork
Wines in the Fork is a creekside tasting room for wine lovers with wineries across Middle Tennessee.
Take your wine by the water and enjoy live music on the weekends.
2. Check Out Serenite Maison
Interested in hand-selected antiques and one-of-a-kind items? That’s what you’ll find at Serenite Maison.
One of the most impressive parts? The “pickin’ corner” is where you’ll find iconic instruments, and you may even find some well-known musicians checking them out too.
3. Enjoy Fine Art at Leiper’s Fork Gallery
The gallery was formerly home to a gas station and features an eclectic range of art, from paintings to sculptures.
You can even enjoy making ‘smores outside at the firepit on most days!
4. Tour The Leiper’s Fork Distillery
Once upon a time, moonshiners called this area home. Leiper’s Fork Distillery has brought the art of distilling back to the area.
The distillery makes its bourbon right in Tennessee, and you can take a tour.
5. Grab Drinks at Leiper’s Fork Market
This market is pretty cute (for a gas station!), but it also has a Red Bird Coffee House directly outside, a playground, picnic tables, and even a free little library.
6. Sleep at Pot N’ Kettle Cottages
Pot N’ Kettle Cottages has smaller cottages or full historic homes for bigger groups, and it’s within walking distance to (almost) everything in town.
7. Listen To Live Music at Fox & Locke
Formerly Puckett’s Grocery, Fox & Locke is home to Open Mic Nights on Thursday nights.
Grammy award-winning artists have been known to pop in to play a few songs. And even if they don’t, the music is always great!
8. Enjoy Local Art at Copper Fox Gallery
Copper Fox Gallery features a diverse range of handmade goods. This includes items like pottery, jewelry, glass, and more.
Located in a beautifully restored 1860s home, the gallery is a piece of art.
Where is Leiper’s Fork, Tennessee?
Leiper’s Fork is an adorable rural village in Williamson County, TN, on the Natchez Trace Parkway. Just one mile off the Trace, you’ll run into this town and miss it in the same second if you’re not paying attention.
What is the Natchez Trace?
This was an important travel route for Native Americans and early European-American settlers. This “trail” is over 400 miles long and was the same trail that Meriweather Lewis of Lewis and Clark died on in 1809.
While the existing Trace is about a mile away, the Old Natchez ran straight through the town center.
What’s the story behind Leiper’s Fork?
Leiper’s Fork was settled in the late 1700s by North Carolina and Virginia pioneers. The village includes late 19th century buildings and is a Registered National Historic District.
These historic buildings and homes have been transformed into restaurants, antique shops, gift shops, and galleries.
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I go for the charm of small towns when I travel. Especially in the US where everything can seem homogenized, the character of small towns can really accentuate our regional differences.
You’re very right Brianna!
I love finding amazing small towns as I travel. Probably helps since I grew up in a small town and it reminds me of home!
They are fun to explore for sure 🙂
Is that the General Lee from Dukes of Hazard and what is it’s story? Great post and thanks for hosting! 🙂
It sure is indeed Calli! This is one of the cars that was used in filming! 🙂
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You won me at the mention of rare books…
I figured I would win some people over with that 🙂
What an adorable place. I love small town America.
Thanks Corinne! 🙂
I’m much more a of city person but love the occasional visit to a small town. I love the fairs, trying restaurants well-known by locals, and even the farmers markets seem to have more charm than the ones I’ve been to in a big city. Great reading about this place!
You’re right about the farmer’s markets 🙂
I love your posts Ashley. They make me want to grab a car and cruise around the Southern US. This one looks like a great find, really showing how diverse the US are. Thanks and happy easter!
Thanks Margherita! I hope you get to do a Southern US trip – it really would be an amazing trip!
I am a big city person but I do love little driving holidays when you get to stop off in lots of little places you wouldn’t necessarily have ever heard about. A big road trip of the American South is definitely on my list for next year!
An American South road trip would be a fantastic idea! I hope you get to do it 🙂
I would definitely want to stop there and take in the charm of this place. The one car in the first picture looks like Burt Reynolds will hop into it any time soon and take off with Sally Field:)
You should check it out sometime Birgit! 🙂
That car from the Dukes of Hazard was the first thing I noticed in your photos. I’m very bad about rushing through the small towns during road trips trying to push through until we reach our destination. Leipers Fork does look like a charming town that’d be good for a lunch break and some walking around before hopping back into the car.
I love that everyone knew the car without me saying what it was from…this is one of the ones that was used during filming 🙂
Oh I love small little towns just like this! I enjoy a city but it’s this quaint historic areas that catch my interest the most. The view outside Puckets Grocery, with all the bikes, reminds me of Alice’s Restaurant here by me. You know it’s a great place to hang out when there’s always crowds of bikes out front. Fun place to read about.
You’re exactly right Daidri!
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Looks like the perfect day trip, as it has live music, good food and history. The next time I’m in the area this could be a great option.
You should check it out Dave…very relaxing place! 🙂
I could VERY easily spend an arvo there. I love big cities, but small towns are a great way to relax and step back in time.
I couldn’t argee with you more…I’ll take you when you come to visit 🙂
Oh I love small towns and they never get any love or great write ups! I am from Colorado, and went to college in NC I know how cool small towns can really be! Very fun, would love to see this place and love the history of the Indians and how it was settled! Thanks for sharing!
Ohhh small towns in NC are great as well I’m sure!
Oh, I’m definitely a small town girl at heart! This town is really adorable! I love how charming these small places are, each with their own history and local events! That book store sounds great!
Small town, big city…I like it all. It depends on what I am interested at the time I am choosing a destination. I love history, so historic things are always fun.
I prefer small towns for living, but enjoy bigger ones for travels. Leiper’s Fork looks lovely!
It looks like a very cute little town!!
I am definitely a city slicker. Somewhere like this would just be an afternoon stop for me 🙂
I love how the village has so much charm and character! Would love to visit if I’m ever in the area.
Looks like a very charming place, indeed! 😀
I prefer small towns probably because I am from one. I like all the old and new combined and the people and stories you learn while visiting. Is there a Dukes of Hazard story behind the one pictures?
Leiper’s Fork looks like a place I could enjoy a lot. I have a weakness for the small, charminf towns. And the ones having a word fork in the name seem simply irresistable :). Thanks for the tips, Ashley!
I’m definitely a big city person, but something is to be said of these smaller towns and villages. I love how quaint everything is. I think I would enjoy wandering around here.
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