Local

Found 150 blog entries about Local.

Twenty years ago, food trucks were a rarity in the U.S. Now, our country is home to nearly 35,000, which collectively pull in $42.7 billion annually. This has been a delectable development here in Middle Tennessee, where our diverse and talented resident chefs have established mobile eateries with a decidedly international flair.

Our staff voted the following selections as the Top Food Trucks in Nashville and throughout the surrounding areas. Whether you’re craving vegan Asian fusion eats, classic Nashville hot chicken, or a sweet serving of freshly rolled ice cream, we have the trucks to follow from early spring to the end of fall.

Hot Chicken

Nashville Chicken and Waffles
Nashville

Spicy, perfectly crunchy hot chicken served over rich,

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Thanks to a plethora of challenging natural and man-made courses, biking in Middle Tennessee is superb year-round. Whether you’re searching for the best biking experience in Nashville or longing for a true getaway deep in the woods, we have the perfect destination for you.

Tune up your bike, pump up your tires, pack a lunch, and let’s explore the rich offerings our stunning region has in store!

Shelby Bottoms Greenway
1900 Davidson St | Nashville

Shelby Bottoms Greenway’s 5-mile paved loop trail runs through the greenway’s gorgeous 960 acres, with three miles hugging the banks of the iconic Cumberland River. Wooden boardwalks and bridges will take you over streams and sections of the river.

This gentle route is popular with cyclists,

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In Nashville, our bar culture runs the gamut from world-famous makers of one-off craft cocktails to slingers of PBR. We cherish the wide range of experiences available to us here, and we’re just as likely to drop $15 on a cocktail as we are to spend the evening ordering beer on tap. Because most of us meander from spot to spot throughout the year, we’ve developed a keen eye for the drinks, details, and décor that set a bar apart from the rest.

With that in mind, we’re excited to put forth our list of the Top Eight Unique Bar Experiences in Music City.

Audrey
809 Meridian Street | Nashville

Audrey, Sean Brock’s renowned Appalachian restaurant, is also home to a bar situated on the floor above. When you enter this calming, Zen-inspired

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Do your plans for 2023 include a staycation in or getaway to Middle Tennessee? Then you must read on for our top picks for the Best Boutique Hotels in Nashville and the surrounding area. Whether you’re staying alone, heading out on a romantic stay for two, or bringing a group of ten, we have found the perfect place for you to lay your head. 

While there’s nothing wrong with a stay at a national brand’s property, you have a rich selection of hotels with character to choose from when you stay in Nashville—and we think it would be a shame if you missed out!

The Russell
819 Russell St | Nashville

The Russell is unique among our choices due to its location within a historic church in East Nashville—one originally constructed 115 years ago. Each

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If you’re searching for incomparably delicious offerings in Nashville, but you don’t want to fight the throngs to find the front door and be forced to holler over the neighboring table’s bachelorette party to be heard, today’s list is for you.

Despite their legendary reputation, the experience of dining in the Top Cozy Restaurants in Middle TN won’t feel like more work than your Monday – Friday grind. Make reservations where possible, plan to park earlier than you think you ought to, and you’re going to have a beautiful experience.

Margot Cafe
1017 Woodland St | East Nashville

Margot Cafe is a French and Southern fusion, farm-to-table experience. Their menu changes daily to reflect the produce and proteins that are top-notch early that

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We at Parks believe that the best comfort dessert has to be the donut, and that got us talking: what are the top ten best donut shops in Middle Tennessee? Every shop that made our list is independent and friendly, offers only the best confections, and has proven themselves in the difficult times we’ve recently seen.

The selections we made are each equally deserving, so be sure to read through our descriptions if you’re looking for a specific type of shop or donut to make your day just that much better. No matter where you go, we are glad you’re avoiding the chain offerings and snagging far better products from locally-owned businesses!

Fox's Donut Den
3900 Hillsboro Pike Ste 2 | Nashville
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Since 1973, Fox’s Donut Den has served Nashville

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Now is your chance to escape your daily routine and the winter blues and take time to relax and reconnect with nature. Any time of year, Tennessee is packed with perfect vacation spots. While we’re famous for our riotous fall foliage display, don’t sleep on the magic of winter in our magnificent state! From the snow-dappled Smoky Mountains and stunning state parks to the hustle and bustle of charming towns throughout the region, you’ll never run out of entertainment at these Top Winter Destinations in Tennessee.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Sugarland Entrance | 1420 Fighting Creek Gap Road | Gatlinburg
Cades Cove Entrance | Cable Mill Road | Townsend

Winter in the Great Smoky Mountains is breathtaking. The snow-capped mountain peaks,

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In the age of online mega-corporation booksellers, cities and towns throughout the country are losing their brick-and-mortar bookshops. While it’s certainly convenient to order books with one click, ease of use has come with a great cost to our nation’s communities. The magic of browsing the shelves of a cozy bookstore, curling up with your young child in the kids’ section to read through the morning, and exiting the shop with a tall stack of glossy finds simply cannot be replaced by our smartphone screens.

This year, support the bookstores we’ve chosen for our list of best Middle TN bookshops, and any local bookshop you find and love. Local independent bookstores need your patronage to keep them going, and we need independent bookstores to help

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2023 is slated to be a big year for remodeling and renovation. In Nashville alone, 2022 was a record-setting year for home expansion, and there are no signs of this pace slowing down. If you have plans to update, upgrade, or expand on your home, it’s vital that you read up on Tennessee’s laws governing permits for residential construction. Laws do vary by county, but robust building codes are in effect throughout the entire state.

Today we’ll be discussing the general rules that apply in Middle Tennessee.

What are Building Permits?

A building permit is a written authorization from your state, city, or county granting you permission to proceed with construction. They are intended to enforce building codes and zoning laws and can be obtained

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Middle Tennessee is nationally famous as an outstanding southern destination for creative, lively parties. With our region’s rich history in music, cuisine, and culture, it’s a given that tourists will flock here to join local residents to ring in the new year. However, a party is only as epic as the venue and the entertainment, which is why we’re sharing our curated 2022 – 2023 list of the top places to celebrate the New Year in Middle TN!

Jack Daniel’s New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash
600 James Robertson Pkwy | Nashville

The biggest party in Nashville is the Big Bash. Taking place in Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, this CBS-hosted event will feature hours of live music before the 15-foot Music Note Drop and fireworks at

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