While I'm about as Yankee as they come, I do understand that there's a certain appeal about the…read moreSouth and the Confederacy that's more than just what many people think. And so I believe that there is nothing wrong with honoring people who fought and died valiantly and with honor. That's what this monument is about. Located in the middle of a two-lane traffic circle on Main Street in Franklin, this Confederate soldier, like many of these monuments, faces south with his back to the Union. He is "protected" by four cannon facing in each direction. And the caption reads that he was erected by the Daughters of the Confederacy in 1899. It is a nice monument and a fitting tribute.

I've previously photographed and written about 122 veteran's memorials…read more Everything from King Phillip's War and the French and Indian War through Iraq and the War on Terror. But review number 123 will be a little different -it's the first monument I have ever seen dedicated to the Confederate Soldiers of the Civil War. It's right in the center of lovely Franklin Tennessee, in a small rotary park where Main Street hits 3rd Avenue. It's monolithic column rises an impressive 38 feet into the air. On top of the column is a mustachioed Confederate soldier standing tall and holding onto his rifle. Check out the detail on him - you'll see a long sleeved coat, a large brimmed hat, a holster and a belt. There are four cannons at the corners of the traffic circle, as if defending the statue. There are inscriptions everywhere. Here are the flowery highlights: Erected to Confederate Soldiers By Franklin Chapter No. 14 Daughters of The Confederacy Nov. 30, A. D, 1899 We who saw And knew them well Are witnesses To coming ages Of their valor And fidelity. Tried and true. Glory crowned. 1861 - 1865 In honor and memory Of our heroes Both private and chief Of the Southern Confederacy. No country ever had Truer sons, No cause Nobler champions, No people Bolder defenders, Than the brave soldiers To whose memory This stone is erected. Would not it be A blame for us If their memory part From our land and hearts And a wrong to them And a shame to us. The glories they won Shall not wane from us. In legend and lay, Our heroes in gray Shall ever live Over again for us.

I'm honestly not sure what the bad reviews are about here. People are saying that they're just…read moreglorifying the family, and not touching on the history of slavery, etc. We took a guided tour here in our trip to Nashville, and our tour guide was so knowledgeable. She touched on the good and the ugly. I didn't feel like she was "glorifying" anything. It's almost like some people just don't like history. History can be ugly somtimes, news flash. I love historical places and this place was cool! You really feel the energy here. It's pretty cool. The only part that sucks is that you're not allowed to take photos. Prices are good for toure too. It comes with a wine tasting at the end and a couple of them were super tasty! And I don't even like wine.

Visited Belle Meade Plantation & Winery and it left a bad taste in my mouth - literally and…read morefiguratively. The tour focused on glorifying the slave owners' "heritage" while minimizing the enslaved people who actually built the wealth and success of this place. That kind of selective storytelling is disrespectful. The wine tasted awful once I realized the truth was being watered down. Seeing people arrive for a wedding on the grounds as we were leaving? Disgusting. Celebrating on land rooted in exploitation, without fully honoring that history, is not romantic. It's erasure. I don't do rewritten history. Tell the whole truth or don't tell it at all.

Carnton is an interesting historical spot. The property is well maintained with options for walking…read morethe property and/or touring the home. A small museum is in the Visitor's Center. A paved parking lot is available near the Visitor's Center. In that building you can buy tickets and tour the museum. The shop has some souvenirs as well as some packaged snacks and bottled water. Restrooms are nearby. Adult admission for the one hour house tour and grounds is $22 per person. Children under six are free. The museum was small, but worth looking at before heading off on the tour. The one hour home tour was interesting and offered plenty of opportunities to ask questions. The guide seemed knowledgeable and enjoyed answering questions.

Incredible tour at Carnton today. This house was a central field hospital during the Battle of…read moreFranklin and offers such a unique look at how the Civil War shaped our history. Huge thanks to our guide, Christian, for his deep knowledge of the McGavock family and the events that unfolded here. An absolute "must" for history buffs! Follow me on Instagram - @thecannyadventurist for a deeper dive into my reviews.

Wow, the Nashville Parthenon is breathtaking. After paying the $15 admission fee. We immediately…read moreheaded to the Naos to see Athena. After admiring her beautiful statue, we walked through the galleries and treasury. I've been wanting to visit Nashville's Parthenon for years and it was everything I hoped it would be. Check out the website before visiting. It seems to be kept updated with closures, hours, and local events. Plus it contains a wealth of information regarding the exhibits with visitor guides and audio tours.

I enjoyed the history surrounding the Parthenon, and enjoyed reading all the information…read more Tickets were $15 per person. I felt like paying for the experience, there should have been more. I expected a lot more exhibits, there were a lot of empty spaces and although I thought the student artwork was fabulous there wasn't much else to look at beyond the Athena statue, it was beautiful. I think my favorite part of the visit was the massive doors in the room with Athena were closed and locked with a school locker sized masterlock, it was hilarious to me.

If you are looking for something to do for an hour, this is totally worth it. This story behind the…read morewoman who owned this mansion was really neat to hear. They have a very unique staircase that is also worth checking out.

Belmont Mansion is one of the many historical sites located throughout Nashville. I would add this…read moretour after a visit to 12 South for lunch. They offer a guided tour but the introduction given by a guide is a good overview for half the cost. The docents we spoke with were all available to answer questions as we walked through the rooms. You need about 1 /2 hours to enjoy the mansion gift shop and the grounds. The college buildings and gardens surrounding the mansion are beautiful and a nice respite from downtown Nashville.

Being a daily walk for me, this space is open, beautiful, comforting, and filled with some dark…read morehistory. Leashed pets allowed! Worth a visit!

Entrance off Lewisburg Pike. Well maintained, not crowded, and plenty of parking. I was here during…read morea weekend afternoon. On the well paved path there was only one biker, several people just walking, and a few with pets. Not many trash cans or benches. The dogs loved this place so much that I didn't get to read all the info I wanted to. We went on a short run and the upper area is pretty flat but the lower area is not.

We had our reception here!…read more Kathy was so accommodating and friendly. This house was a great option for a wedding reception. Affordable, historic, indoor/outdoor options in case of weather. Our friends and family really enjoyed it. They have tables and chairs included with the rental. No crazy rules - just the usual (licensed bartender, watch the walls, etc.) We were fortunate to have a very lovely September day. The place was particularly pretty at sunset. We did almost everything ourselves. Set up, had catering brought in, cakes, bar; which was important. We wanted to have vendor options and this allowed us to do that. There is also plenty of parking. They let people park on the front lawn, as needed. Somehow, it went pretty flawlessly. At the time, the rental ran us just $800 for the day. Not bad for a wedding venue. I strongly suggest contacting them for an event. The space is really unique and easy to get to. We would definitely rent for another event in the future.

Our Brain Aneurysm Survivor group had our annual meeting here in early September. The home is…read moreamazing. A great place to meet. It is well maintained and comfortable. It is easy to find and has plenty of parking. Kathy was so helpful and accommodating. She made it so easy to arrange our meeting.

Though the fort is gone, this is still a cool place to visit. For me the best thing was looking out…read moreon the view below and realizing what a strategic location this Civil War fort was in. I am a huge history buff and I enjoy finding historic places in my travels. The past is not lost in our past, but remembering the past, both the good and bad, helps us in shaping today and our tomorrows. If you are in the area, check this place out.

Fantasizing history occurred here at Fort Granger. There are amazing landmarks and a beautiful…read moreoverlook of Figure's Bluff.

Nick and I stopped into The Local on a Friday evening and immediately loved the atmosphere -- great…read morelive music, great drinks, and truly fantastic service. We felt so welcomed that we came back the very next day for lunch. While the Saturday crowd was pretty quiet, the service was still attentive and friendly. We split a cheeseburger with the Local fries, and it was absolutely delicious. Overall, we've had consistently great experiences here time and time again. The Local is quickly becoming one of our go-to spots!

We were looking for live music and didn't feel like going to Broadway, so this was the perfect…read more"local" place for some brews and classic country music. Beers and drinks we got: Twisted Tea Guinness Yazoo Gerst Miller lite draft Miller high life Shiner Bock Our server Everdina was delightful and the band gave the best vibes.

This is a great activity for anyone who wants to enjoy a nice day out in Nashville away from the…read moretourists and crowds. I took my parents when they came to visit and they loved it. The mansion tour was very interesting and our tour guide was fantastic. I forget her name, but shes a college student and she did a great job! One note: there are several sets of stairs on the tour and no elevators since it is an old building, so skip the mansion tour if unable to do stairs. You can't take pictures inside but it's worth viewing. The grounds and carriage house are worth exploring too. The wine tasting provided at the end of the tour was rushed and underwhelming. It was a quick splash of painfully sweet wine in a gift shop. I wouldn't rush back for the wine.

Plantation tour! Melissa was our tour guide!! Awesome,…read moreknowledgeable, informative and professional. My tour was Journey to Jubilee! This focused on the history of enslavement thru emancipation. It lasted 1 hr 30 minutes. Plenty of walking , and climbing stairs ( fyi ). Complimentary wine tasting of four wines . Walking the grounds is great exercise for some but can be challenging for others with disabilities or leg problems. Winery, cafe, and a restaurant is on grounds as well for dining options. Gift shop has plenty of variety from bags , mugs, ornaments, seasonings, home decor items etc. prices vary. I purchase this tour on a site called Get your guide. It's a reserve now pay later option that lets you get your monies in order on a confirmation date but keep your seat for your tours. Check website for days and hours !