1. Hancock House
City: Gallatin, TN
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (615) 452-8431
Address: 2144 Nashville Pike
Insider Pick:
Description: Hancock House is a 15-room colonial revival log inn. In the late 1800s it was a stagecoach stop and toll gatehouse known as Avondale Station. Over the years 2 small cabins were attached to the back of the original building. Between the 3 structures is a courtyard, just off the dining room. The interior features hardwood floors, exposed beams, fireplaces, log walls, area rugs, and period antiques that the Hancocks have collected over more than 30 years. The main house has 5 bedrooms, each with a private bath and fireplace. The Chamber room, located on the ground floor, has an antique Murphy bed and a whirlpool tub. The Nannie Dunn room, half a flight of stairs up and off the dining room, has an antique bed. Upstairs are the Bridal Suite, with an antique canopy 4-poster bed and a romantic whirlpool for two, and the Felice Ferrell room, named for the home’s previous owner, which has an antique elevated bed. All accommodations include a full country breakfast, served in your room, in the dining room, or outdoors in the courtyard. The Hancocks also serve afternoon tea and other beverages and plenty of fresh fruit. Breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner are available by reservation. Children are welcome at Hancock House, but there are no accommodations for pets. Hancock House hosts weddings, receptions, seminars, and other events.
2. Long Hollow Golf Course
City: Gallatin, TN
Category: Golf
Telephone: (615) 451-3120
Address: 1080 Long Hollow Pike
Description: Long Hollow, a 5,622-yard, par 70 course, is on rolling land, with water a factor on 7 of its 18 holes. Watch out for number 10, a 420-yard par 4—there’s water out of bounds to the right on the second shot and trees to the left. Greens fees are $17 weekdays without cart, $34 with cart; and $19 on weekends without cart, $38 with cart. Long Hollow has a snack bar, pro shop, and driving range and offers lessons.
3. The News Examiner
City: Gallatin, TN
Category: Media
Telephone: (615) 452-2561
Address: 1 Examiner Court, Sumner Hall Drive
Description: Covering news throughout Sumner County, the News Examiner began publishing in the mid-1800s. Owned by Gannett, it is published on Mon, Wed, and Fri and has a circulation of about 9,700. An annual subscription is $42 for Sumner County residents.
4. Bledsoe Creek State Park
City: Gallatin, TN
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (615) 452-3706
Address: 400 Zieglers Fort Rd.
Description: One of more than a dozen state parks that were closed in 2001 due to budget cuts, Bledsoe Creek State Park had reopened by 2004 with new features, including a new bathhouse facility and several other planned improvements, including a new office, 2 boat docks, boat launching ramps, and 57 campsites. Most, if not all, sites have electrical and water hookups as well as picnic tables and grills. Reservations are not taken for campsites. The park also has 6 miles of hiking trails (including a 1-mile paved, wheelchair-accessible trail), 3 playgrounds, fishing areas, 2 picnic shelters, and wildlife-viewing opportunities. An environmental education area, this 164-acre park is 6 miles east of Gallatin off Highway 25, on the Bledsoe Creek embayment of Old Hickory Lake in Sumner County. Bledsoe Creek State Park, named for long hunter and Revolutionary War veteran Isaac Bledsoe, who came to the area in the 1770s, is in an area rich in history. The settlement of Cairo in Sumner County occupied an area near here in the 1780s. Also nearby are the historic sites of Wynnewood, Cragfont, Rock Castle, and Bledsoe’s Fort. The latter, on Highway 25, 5 miles east of Gallatin, was built by Bledsoe in 1783 to protect settlers from Indian attacks. Isaac and his brother Anthony were killed not far from there by Indians and are buried at the Bledsoe Monument. Cragfont is the rock house that sits on a bluff about 3.5 miles north of the park entrance. It was the home of Gen. James Winchester, veteran of the American Revolution and the War of 1812. The park is open daily from 7 a.m. to sunset.
5. Gallatin Marina
City: Gallatin, TN
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (615) 452-9876
Address: 727 Marina Rd.
Description: Gallatin Marina has a restaurant, a store that sells limited marine supplies, a private launching ramp (there’s a $5 fee for nonmembers), a picnic area for boaters, private and transit docking, a gas dock, and, for members, a swimming pool.