19 Things To Do In Gallatin, Tennessee

1. Learn about local history at Trousdale Place

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Trousdale Place is a historic mansion and one of the most gorgeous structures in Gallatin. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the 1800s-built house was the former home of the governor of Tennessee, William Trousdale. After it was deeded to the Daughters of the Confederacy, the property was named Trousdale Place. Besides admiring the stunning architecture and original Trousdale furnishings, you can also visit Sumner County Museum on the grounds of the mansion, complete with a library dedicated to the Confederacy.

Trousdale Place

Address: 183 W Main St, Gallatin, TN 37066

Website: Trousdale Place

Price: 5 USD

2. Go hiking and camping at Bledsoe Creek State Park

The 169-ac (0.65 sq km) Bledsoe Creek State Park is a recreational area and a perfect place to go hiking and camping in the great outdoors. There are a whopping 57 campsites within the park, 2 boat launch ramps as well as more than 6 mi (9.6 km) of hiking trails. You will even find two picnic pavilions and tons of playground areas where your children can frolic and have fun to their hearts’ content. Since it sits on Old Hickory Lake, you can even go fishing here. The icing on the cake is for fauna lovers as the place has many wildlife observation points too.

Bledsoe Creek State Park

Address: 400 Zieglers Fort Rd, Gallatin, TN 37066

Website: Bledsoe Creek State Park

Opening hours: 8am - 4:30pm (daily)

3. Spend quality time with loved ones at Holder Family Fun Center

Are you looking for a fun-filled and thrilling place where you can have fun as a family? Then head straight to the entertainment complex of Holder Family Fun Center which boasts a plethora of family-friendly attractions. These include enthralling arcade games, rock climbing, bowling, and even laser tag. If you plan to host a party here, then we recommend going for the special party packages that include an hour of bowling, party supplies, and even an arcade card.

Holder Family Fun Center

Address: 683 S Water Ave, Gallatin, TN 37066

Website: Holder Family Fun Center

Opening hours: Sun - Thu: 9am - 11pm; Fri - Sat: 9am - 12am

Price: From 8 USD

4. Get to know the people who helped shape Gallatin at Douglass-Clark House

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Home, courthouse, museum—Douglass-Clark House has been it all. Built as a family home by Elmore Douglass around 1786, the structure was also one of the earliest courthouses in Sumner County. Today, it serves as a museum featuring important documents that list all the enslaved people who lived here as far back as 1790. The fantastic museum tells the story of the people who helped shape the history of the region. A tour around Douglass-Clark House is going to be a memorable learning experience.

Douglass-Clark House

Address: 2115 Long Hollow Pike, Gallatin, TN 37066

Website: Douglass-Clark House

Opening hours: Wed - Sat: 10am - 4pm (closed from Sun - Tue)

Price: Free

5. Watch a movie at the historical Palace Theatre

How’d you like to see Tennessee’s oldest silent movie theatre that still stands on its original site? Welcome to the Palace Theatre in Gallatin’s historic downtown. Right from its establishment in 1913 to 1977, this community theatre thrived beautifully then decided to reopen its doors in November 2002 with an updated look. Even to this day, locals visit this place to watch stage productions, concerts, and movies. Aside from that, this theatre is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places so a trip here is going to be an unforgettable experience. In case you’re in town, do check out their website for details on upcoming shows or events.

The Palace Theatre

Address: 146 N Water Ave, Gallatin, TN 37066

Website: Palace Theatre

6. Enjoy tee time at Long Hollow Golf Course

Just five minutes outside town, you will find the 1983-built Long Hollow Golf Course and clubhouse which offers affordable tee time to ardent golfers. The 18-hole course with well-groomed greens and fairways offers superb views as well as challenging putting green for golfers of all levels. You will also find concessions and cart sheds on the property, and the friendly staff offers tricks and tips for playing your best.

Long Hollow Golf Course

Address: 1080 Long Hollow Pike, Gallatin, TN 37066

Website: Long Hollow Golf Course

Opening hours: 7am - 8pm (daily)

7. Delve into local history at Sumner County Museum

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

If you’re a history lover, then you should definitely visit the 1975-established Sumner County Museum. Lying on the grounds of Trousdale Place, the museum is tucked into a historic 19th-century structure and is home to African American and Native American displays. These include entertainment and music curios, gun and military collections, period clothing, quilts, trucks and cars, antique toys, and more. In fact, people have even donated items such as a music exhibit, a blacksmith shop, and Gallatin’s first pumper fire engine. What makes Sumner County Museum a must-visit site is that not all museums have such interesting curios and antique items on display.

Sumner County Museum

Address: 183 W Main St, Gallatin, TN 37066

Website: Sumner County Museum

Opening hours: Mon: 12pm - 12:30am (closed from Tue - Sun)

Price: 5 USD

8. Admire the unique architecture of Rose Mont

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Owned by the city of Gallatin, Rose Mont is one of the most gorgeous historic structures in town. Constructed in 1842 for Judge Josephus Conn Guild’s family, the Greek Revival-style house was purchased by the city in 1993. What makes the place unique is the architecture that is a combination of Palladian and Greek Revival styles which was very common in the era of Middle Tennessee houses. You can also see Louisiana Creole elements such as open-air halls, large windows, and wide porches. Between April 15th and October 31st, the house was open for guided public tours.

Rose Mont

Address: 810 S Water Ave, Gallatin, TN 37066

Website: Rose Mont

Opening hours: Tue - Sat: 10am - 4pm (closed from Sun - Mon)

Price: 5 USD (per adult); 4 USD (per senior); 3 USD (per child)

9. Spend some time at Worthington Galleries

If you’re an art connoisseur, then Worthington Galleries are worth a visit. The largest retail fine arts gallery in the entire south, Worthington Galleries displays not only fine art, but also memorabilia, poster art, mosaic art, ethnographic art, sculptures, textiles, and wall art. You will find paintings ranging from Neoclassical and Baroque to Romanticism and the early or late Renaissance period.

Worthington Galleries

Address: 805 Teal Dr, Gallatin, TN 37066

Website: Worthington Galleries

Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 9am - 4pm (closed on Sat & Sun)

10. Join a tour around a native tree farm at Long Hollow Gardens

Part wedding venue, part vineyard, and part garden centre–Long Hollow Gardens are a little bit of everything. The place was established to serve as a post-WWII therapeutic garden centre. Today, the family-owned establishment offers farm tours not just around their native tree farm but also organic community garden. There’s even a historic 1880s farmhouse on the property that is very popular for its gorgeous wedding venue. Moreover, you will also find an antique greenhouse, creekside meadow garden, and a Southern magnolia garden on the property.

Long Hollow Gardens

Address: 2064 Long Hollow Pike, Gallatin, TN 37066

Website: Long Hollow Gardens

Opening hours: Wed - Fri: 10am - 5pm; Sat: 9am - 4pm (closed from Sun - Tue)

11. Explore the city by taking a cruise on Cumberland River

If you are looking to explore the city and have fun with your family, why not take a cruise on Cumberland River? Usually beginning or ending in Nashville, Cumberland River cruises allow you to see charming ports and the idyllic Tennesseean countryside. You can choose between American Cruise Lines Queen of the Mississippi and American Queen Steamboat Company. The former runs between St. Louis and Nashville, while the latter runs from Nashville to Memphis, Nashville to Chattanooga, and even does Nashville round trips. Book these tours to experience the picturesque Gallatin Marina and watch Tennessee go by from a unique, tranquil viewpoint.

Cumberland River Cruises

Address: 727 Marina Pvt Dr, Gallatin, TN 37066

Website: Cumberland River Cruises

Opening hours: 3am - 8pm (daily)

12. Dig into Italian fare at Campione's Taste of Chicago

Campione’s Taste of Chicago is a restaurant that takes pride in its Italian heritage, and you can see this just by looking at the food they serve. Since 2008, this place has been serving authentic Chicago-style Italian foods including pasta garnished with sport peppers and giardiniera, chicken salad, Chicago Italian beef sandwiches, and meatballs made from an old family recipe. If you get hungry while exploring several attractions in Gallatin, head over to Campione’s Taste of Chicago.

Campione's Taste of Chicago

Address: 179 Hancock St #208, Gallatin, TN 37066

Website: Campione’s Taste of Chicago

Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 11am - 7pm (closed on Sun)

13. Revel in the pulsating nightlife at Awedaddys Bar & Grill

Enjoy good times and have great fun at Awedaddys Bar & Grill which lies right on Cumberland River in Gallatin. This laid-back place offers not only excellent beer, burgers, and seafood, but also some groovy music with even local bands playing live at times. Snag a place outdoors by the water, order some lip-smacking rib eyes and cheese sticks, and sip on delicious bloody marys and margaritas while jiving to great music.

Awedaddys Bar & Grill

Address: 727 Marina Private Rd, Gallatin, TN 37066

Website: Awedaddys Bar & Grill

Opening hours: Tue - Fri: 3pm - 10pm; Sat: 11am - 11pm; Sun: 10am - 10pm (closed on Mon)

14. Indulge in recreational outdoor activities at Triple Creek Park

At 185 ac (0.75 sq km), Triple Creek Park is undoubtedly Gallatin’s largest park. It is packed with playgrounds, walking trails, sports complexes, and even dog parks. Walkers and hikers will be delighted by the trails, while families can have fun at the playgrounds, disc golf course, and even the picnic pavilion. Your furry friends can gambol about in the secure dog park. What’s more, the park is open until as late as 11 pm in the summer and 7 pm in the winter.

Triple Creek Park

Address: 240 Champion Drive, Gallatin, TN 37066

Website: Triple Creek Park

15. Have a fun-filled afternoon at Clearview Park

Clearview Park is the perfect place to enjoy an afternoon of family fun in Gallatin. One of the best green spaces in Sumner County, it not only has a walking track and a playground but also a basketball court, a softball field, and a small community recreation centre. What’s more, you will even find two lovely picnic pavilions. So, pack a basket of snacks and beverages, a frisbee, and a ball and head down to Clearview Park for an afternoon of riotous fun.

Clearview Park

Address: 723 Chambers St, Gallatin, TN 37066

Website: Clearview Park

16. Indulge in exercise at Gallatin Civic Center

If you’re a fitness fanatic, then Gallatin Civic Center should be your next destination. Whether it’s a Zumba session with pounding music or a spell of swimming, you will find everything to do here. In fact, its outdoor swimming pool is one of Middle Tennessee’s biggest pools, complete with a 40-ft slide (12 cm). The centre also has a racquetball court, an indoor swimming pool, and fitness classes with social distancing. Moreover, it even conducts blood drives for the American Red Cross Society.

Gallatin Civic Center

Address: 210 Albert Gallatin Ave, Gallatin, TN 37066

Website: Gallatin Civic Center

Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 5:30am - 7pm; Fri: 5:30am - 6pm; Sat: 7am - 4pm (closed on Sun)

17. Enjoy a waterfront picnic at Nat Caldwell Park

Located right on the banks of Old Hickory Lake, the federally-regulated Nat Caldwell Park is a smaller and less-crowded park in Gallatin. In fact, that’s what makes it such a great place to relax and enjoy a picnic on the waterfront. Besides open, grassy areas, it also has a shoreline perfect for fishing. You will even find a grill and a group picnic shelter that you can reserve, in case you’re visiting with your family or friends. If that isn’t enough, the park is even famous for wildlife viewing.

Nat Caldwell Park

Address: Gallatin, TN 37066

Website: Nat Caldwell Park

18. Go hiking at Lock 4 Park - The Point

If you’re an intrepid outdoors enthusiast, then we highly recommend the fantastic Lock 4 Park - The Point trail. The well-maintained 9-mi (15 km) long singletrack trail is one of the most popular trails in Middle Tennessee. Although it’s a looped trail, it’s divided into western and eastern sides. The western side is usually closed until spring since it’s lower and closer to the lake. While the elevation change isn’t too significant, the natural features and terrain make it really fun to get out and explore. The trail can be accessed from three areas called The Point. It’s the most popular of all access points since it has fishing areas, a pier, a mountain bike trail, a picnic pavilion, and even a model aeroplane landing strip.

Lock 4 Park - The Point

Address: 1598 Lock 4 Rd, Gallatin, TN 37066

Website: Lock 4 Park - The Point

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

19. Spend some quiet time at First United Methodist Church

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Downtown Gallatin is a sort of prelude to Southern charm, and First United Methodist Church sits at the pinnacle. Located right across from Gallatin City Hall, the red and white structure is an oasis of serenity and peace. It’s the perfect place to spend some quiet moments in the afternoon during your exploration of Gallatin.

First United Methodist Church

Address: 149 W Main St, Gallatin, TN 37066

Website: First United Methodist Church

Opening hours: Mon - Tue: 8:30am - 3:30pm; Wed: 8:30am - 5:30pm; Thu - Fri: 8:30am - 3:30pm; Sun: 8:30am - 12pm (closed on Sat)

Exploring gorgeous Gallatin

Gallatin is the very epitome of small-town Southern charm and a must-stop on your Tennessee itinerary. With so much to do in this town, it’s only fair that you stay here for a few days and explore its hidden gems, stunning architecture and culture, and delicious food. So, do read through the amazing things to do in Gallatin, Tennessee, when planning an itinerary for your next US escapade.

Editor’s Note: Due to Covid-19, the business hours of Sumner County Museum and Awedaddys Bar & Grill may differ from the stated timings in this article. Please be sure to check the updated hours from their websites.