Don’t sacrifice quality fun for affordability. In Rutherford County, TN, you can have both. Whether you’re traveling with kids, with friends or family, or looking for a grown-up couple’s getaway, relax. We’ve got it.
Economical Excursions Keep Kids Entertained
Spend an afternoon, a day or a weekend exploring all the fun that Rutherford County has to offer. There are exciting options to keep everyone happy.
Smyrna Outdoor Adventure Center (SOAC) hosts a variety of activities, including indoor fun and outdoor paddling and climbing trips. Enjoy hands-on children's exhibits, a pool, 20-foot climbing walls and cargo-net climbing. They have party rooms, local artwork and a variety of environmental, educational, recreational, and outreach programs for all ages.
Wilderness Station at Barfield Crescent Park in Murfreesboro offers a variety of events organized by Outdoor Murfreesboro, specializing in outdoor recreation and environmental education. The Wilderness Station has a nature center, gift shop, and rental facility, along with many animals, including owls, a hawk, snakes, and more. A retreat room is available for rent for up to 75 people. The 275-acre back country area includes approximately five miles of hiking trails and a backcountry campground.
Historic Cannonsburgh Village in Murfreesboro shows off early Tennessee life with a gristmill, school house, a telephone operator's house, art gallery, caboose, general store, blacksmith's shop, and the World’s Largest Cedar Bucket. The chapel is a local favorite and is stillu sed for weddings. Self-guided tours are free. Wander on your own or explore family fun events and more Please call ahead before you plan your visit as the village may be closed for a private rental. And be sure to check out the events on Pioneer Days, Saturday, April 27.
Bluewater Catfish Farm in Eagleville is a full-service pay lake for the whole family. The relaxing farm includes concessions for food, bait for purchase, a shade pavilion, picnic tables, a kid's fishing pond, and a television for big sporting events. Check their Facebook posts to find out about competitions and special events.
Lucky Ladd Farms, also in Eagleville, has enough to entertain the whole family for days. Voted the number one place to take kids in the Murfreesboro and Nashville area. Enjoy the petting zoo and wildlife, nature trails and authentic farm experiences. Rides, climbing, ropes, a splash pad and mega slides keep little ones active, while the gem mine and educational presentations are great for slightly older visitors. Special events happen throughout the year, so stay up to date on what’s happening.
If you’re feeling fancy, you can sip away the day at a Teddy Bear Tea Party at the Sam Davis Home and Plantation in Smyrna. Bring your child’s favorite stuffed animal for a tour, tea party, crafts and more. Be sure to make reservations, as space is limited.
Affordable Fun for Grownups
Escape rooms are a great way to flex your mental muscles and have a fun adventure with friends. Locked: Escape Game Murfreesboro is now part of Murfreesboro Escape Rooms, giving you two great opportunities to have a blast.
If history is your thing, Stones River National Battlefield has a variety of events, including hiking, biking, tours, ranger programs and special events.
For a slightly different experience at the Sam Davis Home, make your reservation for the Behind the Ropes Tour. These tours go into spaces most visitors don’t get to see, with personal family artifacts not typically on display. “That might mean getting to step inside a room that’s usually gated off, peeking inside a closed closet or even getting to go into the cellar, which is not open to the public,” says director Jenny Lamb. “The topics…can be more gritty and graphic, but it is also for the experience…a space to learn about history without worrying about asking a hard question in front of a young person or…being distracted by a crying infant. This evening experience allows for a more relaxed atmosphere for dialogue to move freely. We see a lot of couples making this a date night, we also see groups of friends, and we do also see single folks that simply love history and want to learn more. It’s a tour for all adults.”
Another historic home, Oaklands Mansion in Murfreesboro, is staging "The Hallelujah Girls" by Jones, Hope & Wooten on March 15 and 16. Come share a laugh with the feisty Southern women of Eden Falls, GA, as they gather for fun and big plans at SPA-DEE-DAH!, their church-turned-spa. Before or after the show, you can take a tour of the mansion, visit the gift shop and explore the grounds.
Do you love the smell of BBQ, cooked low and slow? Join us for the Boro BBQ Fest, April 19-20. You’lll find some of the best BBQ west of the Mississippi, along with beer and whiskey, fun and activities for the whole family.
If you’re musically inclined, check out Jazzfest, April 26-27 at the Fountains. It’s free, with music from local schools, so come prepared to spend the day shopping, snacking and listening to great music. Gallagher Fest is a brand-new folk and bluegrass festival and celebration of Middle Tennessee roots takes place May 4, at Gallagher Guitars. Enjoy various artists and picking contests at this street festival. Hear great classic country musicians and singers at Dewdrop Jamboree, May 18 at Washington Theater in Patterson Park.
If horses are your thing, you won’t want to miss the International Barrel Racing Association Turning Spring Show, March 22-24. Follow that up with the Tri-Star Horse Show, April 6-7. The Grand Ole Horse Show for MINI therapeutic horses is a two-day event, April 27-28, and the Lucky 7 Quarter Horse Show runs from Wednesday, May 1 through Sunday, May 5. The WHOA Spring Extravaganza/Triple Crown for Walking Horses is set for May 9- 11. All take place at the TN Miller Coliseum.
Sensible Shopping Options for All
There’s nothing like great shopping to make your trip memorable. There are dozens of places to shop for a wide variety of Rutherford County exclusives.
In Murfreesboro, check out Bella's Boutique, Quinn's Mercantile, the boutiques of Painted Tree, Funtiques Consignment, Terri Leigh’s Boutique, Hylabrook Antique Mall and ReInvintage Home.
Highlights in Smyrna include Buckle & Hide Leather, Lowry Street Pickers, The Market at Victory House and Platinum Mermaid.
Don’t overlook All Things Home and Aislinge Boutique in Eagleville.
Cost-Effective Cuisine For Everyone
Rutherford County has so many affordable restaurants for every taste. Toots, with several locations in Murfreesboro and Smyrna is a locally owned, long-time favorite for family food and fun.
Camino Real, with four locations in Murfreesboro and Smyrna, offers authentic Mexican cuisine. For a fun burger and dessert, check out the treats at locally owned Karin’s Kustard and Hamburgers in Smyrna. Also in Smyrna, you can find excellent Thai food and sushi at Thida Thai.
Other locally owned favorites include Slick Pig BBQ and City Cafe, the state’s oldest restaurant still in operation, both right on Main Street in Murfreesboro; Demos’ Restaurant, with weekly specials, and Joe and Dough Cafe, with donuts made fresh daily and coffee from a local roaster.
Domenico’s Italian Deli, on the square in Murfreesboro, has food and flavors inspired by Jeff Murphy’s family deli in California. Jeff came to MTSU to play football—and stuck around to open this restaurant in honor of four generations of his family who have served up great Italian flavors at their deli in Alameda, California since 1954.
In Eagleville, Check out Las Fiestas on Main Street and the famous Coach T’s All American Grill. When you stop in La Vergne, be sure to get a taste of the Thai food at Chon Thong.
Beautiful, Budget-Friendly Lodging
Rutherford County has plenty of places to call your home away from home. Affordable spots are easy to find whether you’re traveling alone, as a couple or with a group.
The newly remodeled Hampton Inn in Murfreesboro is pet friendly and convenient to I-24, with a number of shops and restaurants nearby. Unwind in the outdoor pool and work out in the fitness center. Daily hot breakfast and WiFi are free.
Comfort Suites in Murfreesboro is close to Stones River Mall, plenty of restaurants and events at MTSU. Daily hot breakfast, a 24/7 business center and coffee bar and gym and seasonal pool make it perfect for both business and family vacations. Sleep Inn & Suites is modern and affordable and has meeting rooms for conferences and get-togethers. MainStay Suites in Murfreesboro provides pet-friendly apartment-style living, complete with kitchen, with hotel convenience.
If Smyrna is your spot, check out the Hampton Inn & Suites, right off I-24, walking distance from shopping and eating and just 10 minutes from Lee Victory Recreation Park in Smyrna. Start the day with a free hot breakfast, and enjoy the free WiFi. La Quinta Inn & Suites is a pet-friendly hotel with a free breakfast, business center, meeting space, gym and outdoor pool.
If you prefer a more home-like environment for your stay, explore the options at Blue Door Homes in Murfreesboro. From studios to four-bedroom homes, each location offers a unique design and convenience to all the fun of Murfreesboro.
Rutherford County is the perfect Spring Break travel destination for the families, couples and individuals that want to experience a fine vacation, but don’t want to break the bank. Take a trip full of exciting excursions at a fraction of the cost.