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History Buff
Day One
Savor: Head over to The Stubborn Mule for a hearty breakfast that will leave you filled for hours to fuel your day.
Explore: Head to the Columbia Arts District to experience Firefighters Park with its commemorative mural and historic marker in a community park setting.
Explore: Tour the Historic Athenaeum that was once a girls' school rectory.
Explore: President James K. Polk Ancestral Home & Museum, just two blocks north on Garden Street and one block west on West 7th where you'll be fascinated by the stories of our 11th P.O.T.U.S. and first lady Sarah Polk. Take in the museum, house tour, gardens, and Presidential Exhibit Hall for the latest touring exhibit.
Savor: World famous Puckett's Grocery is known for its rustic charm and southern specialties like BBQ and the 'Meat & Three' lunch special. Oh, and there's always live music on the weekend evenings!
See: The Maury County Archives is a history trip through Columbia's interesting past located in the heart of downtown Columbia.
Shop: Historic Downtown Columbia - Now it's time to put the history on hold and go for a stroll around downtown to indulge in a bit of shopping therapy. (There's also 'New South Marketplace' with a handful of specialty shops just three blocks north on Main Street and the emerging Arts District southwest of downtown where you began your day.)
Sip: Bad Idea Brewing and BriarWorks - Choose one or both of these local makers to enjoy a cold craft brew. Bad Idea Brewing is new to the Arts District located in the Columbia Arts Building. And BriarWorks crafts handmade smoking pipes and you'll discover a complete with a lounge area for sipping a brew. You can take a tour of this boutique-sized maker for a first-hand look at their pipes.
Dine: Mama Mila's - Experience the an authentic Italian Cafe called Mama Milas, located in the Columbia Arts District. You will indulge in real Italian food that has been passed down for generations including delicious entrees, pastries and amazing coffee.
History Buff
Day Two
Savor: Kaite Pie and Sons Country Kitchen will wow your taste buds with their one-of-a-kind breakfast!
Explore: Historic Elm Springs is a beautiful, 1837 Antebellum mansion open for tours Monday through Friday.
Explore: There's no better way to experience Columbia's history than with a walking tour of downtown.
Savor: Choices, choices: Stop for lunch at Square Market, appropriately named for their location right on the town square. Or there's Red Seven Pizza just two blocks west of downtown. Their name says it all!
Explore: Tour one of Maury County's stately plantation homes, Rippa Villa Plantation, a stunning and fully restored 1850s Greek Revival styled mansion, complete with original Cheairs family antiques, heirlooms and Civil War artifacts. The grounds, which span 98 acres in Maury County, encompass the family and slave cemeteries, Freeman's Bureau school house, slave quarters, the Battlefield of Spring Hill (precursor to the famous Battle of Franklin) and the Museum Gift Shop.
Sip: Taps Off Main and Asgard Brewing - Choose one or both! Columbia's newest craft brew taproom is Taps Off Main, located on the town square with more than 25 beers on tap to choose from. Asgard Brewing brings the cool, smooth beers of the Icelandic region to the Middle Tennessee area branded with a Viking culture.
Dine: the sophisticated New Orleans cuisine of River Terrace Restaurant will impress your tastebuds and make you want to come back for more. Delicious Cajun dishes prepared to perfection.
The Presidential Residence
Visit the ancestral home and museum of the 11th U.S. President James K. Polk. Open for tours daily.... Learn More