Info on Franklin, Tenn and area

[kyzrex]

My wife and I have been looking for a place further south to possibly move to sometime in the future.  We are currently located in NoKy, just SE of Cincinnati.  I love living here 9 mths out of the year, but mid-December thru mid-March pretty much suck.  Our problem is, we don't want to be more than 1/2 a days drive from where we are now, so that kids and grandchildren will be able to visit on a regular basis.

We looked in alot of areas, but not found anything perfect yet.  Probably we won't, but we'll keep looking anyway.

The next area we plan to check out is around Franklin, Tenn.  We've not been to that part of the state, except to drive thru, and thought it would be a place to visit next month when we have a couple of days free.  can anyone tell us about the area.  How's the winter weather?  Good riding in the area?  Active and nice downtown area?  Housing choices and costs?  recreational opportunities?  College or University close by?  Cost of living?  Any other info that might be useful?

I figure that people that live in the area, and share the same interests we do (riding and traveling especially) would probably give us better info than any city web-site or tourism site, or real-estate agent could.

Thanks in advance.

Patrick

[Mac]

I lived in the shelbyville Tn area which is about 40 miles south of Franklin and have been to Franklin several times.

It is a nice, affluent area. Lots of shopping and activities. Housing appears to be pleatifull, but mostly subdivisions. I couldn't tell you about the costs, but it is a more upscale suburb compared to Murfreesboro or smyrna. With Nashville I imagine there are several universities close by, but I couldnt tell you what or where. There is also a big college in Murfreesboro.

The winter weather is generally mild lows in the 30s, little snow that rarely stays for long.

The riding is very good. The natches trace starts nearby and going south you get into foothills with many good backroads. Lynchberg,Tn home of Jack Daniels is within 50 miles and while mostly sa cruiser destination is fun to see and in an area of many good roads.SHilo national park is also close by.
Little Sturgis in Kentucky is about 150 miles north, if you like a raunchy, but fun ralley.(mostly cruisers, but all bikes are welcome. There are lots of nekkid and nearly nekkid women and men at night, so its an adult party once the sun goes down)

I've enjoyed living in the area, the people of Tn are warm and hospitable. There is no state income tax, plates and insurance are low. The road conditions are good not too much construction when I was there last in Nov.  

You might also consider looking at Spring hill Tn, just south of Franklin. The Saturn plant used to be there and since GM bowed out housing prices may be much lower.

[CosmicCowboy]

Franklin has a nice downtown area, and you're not far at all from some great ride destinations. Not sure what the current housing market is like there.

Nearby colleges are:

Middle Tennessee State University
Tennessee State University
Frist (I think is what it is)
Belmont
Travecca

Nice ride destinations are Jack Daniel's, George Dickle, Bell Buckle, Lieper's Fork, as well as Civil War historical sites scattered across the state.

For reference, I live in Murfreesboro, which is about 35 minutes east of Franklin.

[Mrs. DantesDame]

My sister lived there for 5 years. She really enjoyed it (although her heart was always in California, where she is now). She didn't like the humidity, but the weather seemed to be otherwise ok. A few cold days in the winter and some intense thunderstorms. Probably what you're used to in northern KY, actually...

She is not an active person, so reports of what she did down there at most included a drive to some local small town for lunch (like Lieper's Fork mentioned above).

I just realized that I'm not much help, other than to say that she liked it down there. I didn't see enough of it when visiting to have much of an opinion, other than it's too hot for me  

[Tyrroneous]

Pat, be sure and plan a meal stop at the Loveless Cafe.  They have some good eats!!  It is located pretty much at the beginning (end?) of the natchez trace.  My SIL lives in Nashville and she enjoys that general area quite a bit.  

Oh, and you'll be much closer to Barbers!  

[photomd]

Franklin has turned into a more upscale bed room community of Nashville in the last 20 years. I grew up in the Green Hills area of Nashville. Up until the mid 80's, it was the somewhat rural cousin of Nashville...kinda like Hermitage is today. However it has gone way upscale from it's rural roots. I was looking at jobs in the area last year and it has a very high number of college grads, the population makes a nice living and it shows in the area. I also looked in the Brentwood area. I couldn't wrap my head around all the nieghborhood associations with their rules and expense, but some seem to really like that. I miss Nashville a lot. The whole area has lots to offer IHMO.

[CosmicCowboy]

I miss Nashville a lot. The whole area has lots to offer IHMO.

Yeah, besides the riding, there are also tons of opportunities to catch live music. Nashville area is definitely a great place to be.

[Jason F.]

I live 20 minutes east of Franklin and drive/ride there fairly often. Franklin is pretty much an upscale suburb of Nashville so any data you can find on Nashville will apply for Franklin in terms of weather and such. Franklin is an upscale affluent area as was previously mentioned. Housing costs are higher in the area than many other outer lying Nashville suburbs and property taxes are also higher in the county in which it sits. The cost is not without benefits though as the county has some of the best schools to be found in the greater Nashville area. Plenty of activities to partake in and a fairly impressive park system in the surrounding area. Very good and plentiful dinning options in the area and plenty of shopping options.

If you live and work in the area you will be fine. If you have to commute into Nashville the drive in can be a bit of a bear since traffic is often a bit heavy on the interstate and major surface roads. Certainly not unbearable but it is not one of the best commutes to undertake. Traffic in the Franklin area is often easily managed once you know the shortcuts and side roads. It can be a bit heavy on the main roads at times. As already mentioned some of the best riding in the greater Nashville area is around Franklin and the rest is not that bad of a ride away.

I personally would not live there simply due to the cost of living in the area and the county. It is a charming area though with lots of appeal. I am content to live in the next county over (Rutherford) and drive/ride over when I feel like taking in the sights. I will say after living in a couple of States and several other cities I really love the greater Nashville area. I have spent extended time in Memphis (and absolute shit hole), Birmingham (pretty much as bad as Memphis), Knoxville, Atlanta, Kansas City, Wichita, Topeka, Bowling Green, San Diego, and Ewa Beach on Oahu and Nashville is still one of my favorites. I often find it to have a great sense of community and civic pride which is always a welcome change after my time in Memphis and Birmingham.

[Kramer]

We absolutely love it here.  As does everyone else I know (who lives here).  Schools are good, the tax money spent seems to go to good use (EXCELLENT services, roads and such).  I live about a mile west of downtown Franklin.  Lots to do here GREAT roads for riding, lots of amenities.  Lots of neighborhoods, but also lots of cool places with lane.  and if you have the BIG bucks, there are quite a few places to get some property and just show off your fancy gate.
Close enough to Nashville to enjoy that if you like.  The entire area here is rich in history and lively enough to satisfy all but the die-hard Vegas-type.
I think either Franklin or Williamson Co. is ranked # 8 in the wealth category (nationally), so there are some bucks around here.
it's starting to get a bit crowded.  And the folks around here seem to have the whole "my kid first, damn everyone else" 'tude going on.  Read: LOTS of kids.  And lots of catering to them.  Not good or bad, but worthy of note.  But that's because it's such a good place to raise them.  Still old fashion enough, yet somehow ahead of the game.

Good 3 season weather.  Winter is short, but gloomy.  And close enough to get anywhere within 8 hours drive.

Ping me off-line if you have more specific questions or concerns.

[Bobcattoo]

Can't add much to previous descriptions but moved from Central KY to Williamson Co. 26 years ago. No plans to leave. That should say something. Summers get toooo hot for me now but the rest of the time is mostly Bikable. Plenty of good roads and other Bikers.

[kyzrex]

Well,  I'd like to thank everyone for your insight and opinions.  We just got back today, and I can tell you , we LOVED the place.  Exactlly what we have been looking for, so far.  I'm prety sure that we will be buying some place down there within the next year or so.  
We'll visit again a few times, at different times of the year, before making a final decision.

Got there Monday late afternoon and after checking into our hotel in the Cool Springs area, headed downtown.  Parked in the center square area and decided to walk around for awhile.  FIFRST THING we see......Honda 919 and  Ducati Monster parked accross from the Mellow Mushroom.  I took that as a good sign! In fact, we saw lots of sportbikes aroond downtown over the next 2 days, and few cruisers.  Around here, it would be the complete opposite.....nice!  Nice to see that there were other people out walking, some of the shops were closed for the holiday, some were open, same with the resturants.  Found lots of GOOD resturants as well.  Irish Pub, with excellent fish and chips and Guiness.  Marribee's Breadbasket for a good breakfast and Blueberry Creme Coffee....YUM.  The before mentioned Mellow Mushroom for very good pizza and an excellent beer list...had the Left handed naked creme stout....pretty good.  On Tuesday night we ate there, followed by a free concert out on the patio ( on a TUESDAY night!?), and a cup of Ben and Jerry's ice creme from accross the street.  Walked down the street a couple of blocks and there's a Starbucks and another Ice Creme/Yogart shop, lot's of people of all ages hanging out chatting, drinking iced coffe and cold treats....on a Tuesday night around 9:30 no less.  Downtown really seems to have a nice vibe to it, I can see myself ( and my wife) hanging out down there quite a bit.  Living out in the country, as I do now, is great most of the time, but still nice to have an area to go hang out in with so many good choices of place to go, along with live entertainment from time to time.  Right now, I'd have to drive/ride about 40 miles to find any such area, and it would not be as nice, nor as easy to get aound in.

Spent a little time Tuesday with a real estate agent, at her office, viewing condo's and homes in the area, and in our price range.  Then took a couple more hours and drove arond for a look see at different areas.  WE liked the area west of town the best, less congestion and traffic.  WE LOVE the downtown/historic area, but I'm not rich so that's problably out.  Eastern area, along with Cool Sprins/Brentwood area are to much of what we moved out into the country to get rid of.  Like where I work, and we used to live....every retail and resturant chain known to man, along with the traffic, noise, and congestion to go with.  Nice to visit when I have to, but don't want to live there.  

We'll keep looking and I'm opptomistic we'll find what we are looking for home wise in that area.  We already know the downtown is what we like.

[kyzrex]

Update....

Know it's been along time since anything was posted to this thread, but.......

We close on our new home in 1 week.  Found a nice little house in Maplewood, about 1 1/2 miles west of downtown, close to I-96.   We will be slowly moving in over the next couple of months.  Just part-time and vacations for now, we'll see where we are in a few years.  I'm sure we are going to enjoy it.

Patrick

[Jason F.]

Update....

Know it's been along time since anything was posted to this thread, but.......

We close on our new home in 1 week.  Found a nice little house in Maplewood, about 1 1/2 miles west of downtown, close to I-96.   We will be slowly moving in over the next couple of months.  Just part-time and vacations for now, we'll see where we are in a few years.  I'm sure we are going to enjoy it.

Patrick

Welcome to Tennessee!

[Kramer]

Cool Jason.  Welcome to town!

[Jason F.]

Cool Jason.  Welcome to town!

Who me? I have been here a long time. Patrick is the new resident.  

[vitaminC]

Nearby colleges are:

Middle Tennessee State University
Tennessee State University
Frist (I think is what it is)
Belmont
Travecca

And Vandy!  

Congrat's on the impending move, it's a great area.

[Tyrroneous]

That's good news Patrick!  

Next time we head to Nashville to see my SiL, I'll send ya a PM.  Maybe we could get together for lunch or something.

[CosmicCowboy]

And Vandy!  

Congrat's on the impending move, it's a great area.

Holy crap! How did I miss that?

[Kramer]

Who me? I have been here a long time. Patrick is the new resident.  

Err...I meant Patrick.

Sorry to the both of you.

[kyzrex]

That's good news Patrick!  

Next time we head to Nashville to see my SiL, I'll send ya a PM.  Maybe we could get together for lunch or something.

Please do.  Would be great to see y'all again!

[Bobcattoo]

I-96?  
Welcome..........and maybe invest in a map!  

[kyzrex]

I-96?  
Welcome..........and maybe invest in a map!  
[/quot

LOL....opps!     Close to I-65 off of ROUTE 96.  Slight error I guess.