Sometimes the best parts of traveling are the things you never planned to find.
Our recent trip to Tennessee wasn’t really a vacation. We traveled there because of family, and our main reason for making the trip was to be there for my dad. But even when you’re traveling for reasons other than a vacation, there are still opportunities to slow down, look around, try something different, and appreciate the places you find along the way.
That’s exactly what happened to us.
Instead of spending the entire trip eating at the same familiar fast-food restaurants and driving only from point A to point B, we started noticing the little things around us.
A restaurant we’d never tried.
An unusual building on the side of the road.
A beautiful old bridge.
A winding Tennessee backroad.
A colorful sunset that made us stop and look.
And some really good food.
Those little discoveries reminded me of something I think we sometimes forget when we travel:
You don’t have to be visiting a famous tourist attraction to have a travel experience worth remembering.
Sometimes you just have to get off the interstate and look around.
Traveling With a Different Purpose
This trip wasn’t about checking attractions off a list.
We were traveling because of my dad, so naturally our minds were on family. But we still had to eat, sleep, drive back and forth, and spend time in the area.
Instead of looking at that time as something we simply had to get through, we started enjoying some of the places around us.
That’s one reason I’m beginning to share more travel experiences here on my blog.
I don’t want my travel section to only be about expensive vacations or perfectly planned itineraries. I want to share real travel.
Road trips.
Weekend trips.
Hotels we actually stay in.
Restaurants we actually eat at.
Places we stumble across accidentally.
And those funny little roadside discoveries that make you say, “What in the world is THAT?”
Those are often the things I remember most.
Get Off the Interstate Sometimes
One of my favorite parts of driving through Tennessee is the scenery.
Once you get away from the interstate, the roads can change quickly. You can find yourself driving down a narrow road surrounded by trees, going around a curve, crossing an old bridge, or looking out over the water.
We found one of those bridges during this trip.
It wasn’t some huge tourist attraction with a gift shop and admission tickets. It was simply an old bridge along a beautiful Tennessee road.
But I loved it.
The road dipped down toward the bridge, trees surrounded us on both sides, and below was calm water bordered by thick green woods.
It was simple.
And it was beautiful.
Those are the kinds of places I want to start noticing more when we travel.
Instead of always asking, “What’s the biggest attraction nearby?”, I’m learning to also ask:
“What’s down that road?”
The Strange and Wonderful Things You See Along the Way
We also came across an old roadside property that immediately caught our attention.
It was colorful and quirky, with old road signs, bright paint, unusual decorations, and pieces from what looked like another era scattered around the property.
It didn’t appear to be operating as a normal store when we saw it, but that almost made it more interesting.
We didn’t have to spend money.
We didn’t need tickets.
We just noticed it.
That’s what I love about road trips.
You can drive past hundreds of ordinary things and suddenly see something that makes you turn your head and say, “Did you SEE that?”
Those unexpected discoveries become part of the story.
JJ’s Barbecue A Fun Local Find in Columbia, Tennessee
One of the things I enjoy most when traveling is finding places that have a personality of their own. I would much rather discover a local restaurant with a story behind it than eat somewhere that looks exactly the same in every city. That is what made our stop at JJ’s Barbecue in Columbia, Tennessee such a fun discovery.
Located at 900 Hatcher Lane in Columbia, JJ’s Barbecue has been part of the community since 1998. The restaurant says it is the oldest family-owned barbecue restaurant in Columbia, which made our visit feel even more like we had found a genuine local spot rather than just another place to grab a meal.
The first thing that caught my attention was the atmosphere.
This place has character!
The walls are covered with dollar bills signed and decorated by visitors, and there is Tennessee memorabilia throughout the restaurant. Look up and you’ll find wagon wheels turned into light fixtures along with old-fashioned tools and other rustic decorations hanging from the ceiling. It gives the restaurant the kind of quirky, welcoming personality that makes you want to look around while you’re waiting for your food.
Those little details are exactly why I love searching for unique places when we travel. Sometimes the experience is about much more than what is on your plate.
JJ’s menu is centered around Southern barbecue and comfort food. Pulled pork, sandwiches and giant loaded baked potatoes are among its specialties, and the restaurant also offers Southern-style desserts such as banana pudding and homemade pies.
What I especially liked about JJ’s was that it didn’t feel polished to the point of losing its personality. It felt casual, local and comfortable—the kind of restaurant where you can sit down, relax and enjoy discovering someplace you probably wouldn’t have experienced if you only stuck with familiar national chains.
Stan’s Restaurant — A Tennessee Road-Trip Stop Worth Remembering
One of the places we tried was Stan’s Restaurant in Columbia, Tennessee.
Stan’s is located at 1555 Bear Creek Pike and has been serving country-style food for decades. It’s more than just a restaurant—the property also has a country-store/roadside-stop feel, making it especially interesting when you’re traveling.
The first thing I noticed inside was the atmosphere.
This isn’t a sleek, modern restaurant that looks like every other chain in America.
There are old photographs and pieces of Tennessee history throughout the restaurant. Look toward the ceiling and you’ll see wagon wheels turned into light fixtures along with old tools and equipment hanging overhead.
There’s a large Tennessee flag on the wall, old pictures, rustic wood, and all kinds of details that make you look around while you’re waiting for your food.
It has personality.
And when I’m traveling, I LIKE personality.
Those Pancakes!
We ordered breakfast, and just look at those pancakes.
They were huge!
This wasn’t a tiny little stack that leaves you looking around for something else to eat. These were big, old-fashioned pancakes served with butter and syrup.
Sometimes breakfast doesn’t need to be fancy.
Give me a big stack of pancakes, butter, syrup, a comfortable table, and somewhere interesting to sit and I’m happy.
Stan’s gave us the feeling of stopping at a real Tennessee roadside restaurant rather than simply pulling into another national fast-food chain.
For road-trippers traveling through Columbia, I think that’s part of the appeal.
Our take: Stan’s was a fun stop with big portions, interesting décor, and plenty of Tennessee character. I would recommend it to travelers who enjoy casual country restaurants and places that have a story behind them.
Old Glory Restaurant — Home-Style Food in Columbia, Tennessee
Another restaurant we discovered was Old Glory Restaurant in Columbia.
Old Glory is located at 1018 S. Garden Street and specializes in home-style American and Southern food.
And this is exactly the kind of restaurant I hope we find more often on our travels.
It isn’t trying to be fancy.
It’s the kind of place where you sit down because you’re hungry and want a good meal.
The patriotic theme immediately stands out. The Old Glory logo features an eagle and American flags, and the restaurant has a comfortable, casual atmosphere.
But obviously, the most important question is:
How was the food?
Good!
We tried the fried fish with fries, and it looked like the kind of Southern meal you hope to find when traveling through Tennessee.
The fish came out with that golden, seasoned coating you want on fried fish, along with plenty of fries and sauces on the side.
This was not one of those meals where you leave wondering if you should stop somewhere else afterward.
Old Glory’s menu is built around home-style cooking with plenty of Southern sides and comfort-food choices. It’s exactly the kind of local restaurant I enjoy finding because it gives you something different from what you could order anywhere in the country.
Why I Like Finding Local Restaurants
When you’re on a long road trip, it’s tempting to stick with restaurants you already know.
I understand why.
You’re tired.
You’re hungry.
You know exactly what you’re going to get.
But we’ve discovered that trying a local restaurant can become part of the trip itself.
Instead of saying:
“Remember when we stopped at that fast-food place?”
you end up saying:
“Remember that little restaurant in Tennessee where we had that fish?”
That’s a memory.
Our take: Old Glory was a great local find. If you enjoy Southern comfort food, generous portions, casual surroundings and a restaurant that feels more local than corporate, it’s worth considering when you’re in Columbia.
McAlister’s Deli — A Dependable Lunch Stop
Not every restaurant we visit has to be a hidden mom-and-pop restaurant.
Sometimes you find a place that’s simply a really good travel stop.
We also ate at McAlister’s Deli during our Tennessee travels.
McAlister’s is a chain, but I still think chain restaurants deserve reviews when they’re part of a real trip—especially because travelers often want to know where they can get something besides burgers and fries.
We had sandwiches, chips, a pickle, and macaroni and cheese.
It was simple, filling, and exactly what we needed.
One thing I like about a deli-style restaurant while traveling is having more choices. Sometimes after several days on the road, you don’t want another heavy meal.
McAlister’s offers sandwiches, salads, soups, baked potatoes and other options, which makes it easier when two people want completely different things.
The Franklin/Cool Springs location is at 401 Cool Springs Boulevard.
Our take: McAlister’s made a good casual travel meal for us. It’s a convenient option when you want a sandwich, soup, salad or potato instead of another traditional fast-food stop.
Where We Stayed: Drury Plaza Hotel Nashville Franklin
Now let’s talk about where we stayed.
We stayed at the Drury Plaza Hotel Nashville Franklin in Franklin, Tennessee.
And yes—I would stay there again.
When you’re traveling because of a family situation, your hotel becomes more important than you might expect.
You aren’t necessarily looking for a resort.
You want somewhere you can come back to at the end of a long day, get comfortable, rest, shower, eat something, and feel like you can recharge before doing it all again tomorrow.
That’s what I appreciated about the Drury.
The hotel is located at 1874 West McEwen Drive in Franklin, close to I-65 and the Cool Springs area.
What Made the Drury Stand Out
One of the biggest advantages of staying at a Drury is what is included with your stay.
There’s a hot breakfast in the morning, which is extremely convenient when you’re trying to get moving without having to find a restaurant first.
Drury also offers its evening 5:30 Kickback, which includes food and beverages.
That can be a surprisingly big deal.
Travel expenses add up FAST.
Hotel.
Gas.
Breakfast.
Lunch.
Dinner.
Snacks.
Drinks.
Then do it again tomorrow.
Having breakfast and an evening meal/snack option included can reduce some of those extra expenses while also saving time.
There’s also something nice about coming back to the hotel and knowing you don’t necessarily have to get back into the car immediately to hunt for dinner.
Comfort Matters
A hotel doesn’t need to have gold-plated everything to impress me.
I care about the things that actually affect my stay.
Is it clean?
Is the bed comfortable?
Do I feel safe?
Can I get a good night’s sleep?
Is the staff helpful?
Is the location convenient?
Does it feel like I’m getting good value for what I’m paying?
Those things matter much more to me.
Our experience at the Drury Plaza Hotel Nashville Franklin was positive enough that it has become a place we are comfortable returning to when we’re in the Franklin/Nashville area.
That’s probably one of the strongest recommendations I can give a hotel.
Would we stay again? Yes.
And we have.
The Best Part of the Trip Wasn’t One Place
Looking back through the pictures from this trip, something stood out to me.
There wasn’t one giant attraction that defined the experience.
Instead, there were dozens of little moments.
A big stack of pancakes.
A plate of fried fish.
A sandwich when we were hungry.
An interesting restaurant ceiling.
An old building on the side of the road.
A bridge hidden among the trees.
Water below us.
A Tennessee backroad.
A stained-glass cross that caught my attention.
A patriotic mural.
And one incredible Tennessee sunset that turned the sky pink, orange and purple.
Individually, none of those things sounds like some enormous bucket-list vacation.
Together?
They tell the story of our trip.
My New Travel Rule: Pay Attention
This trip has given me a new travel rule:
Pay attention.
Look out the window.
Take the backroad occasionally.
Stop at the local restaurant.
Photograph the weird building.
Notice the old bridge.
Look up at the restaurant ceiling.
Talk to people.
Try something you haven’t ordered before.
And take the picture.
You might never be in that exact place at that exact moment again.
Travel doesn’t have to mean flying somewhere exotic or spending thousands of dollars.
Sometimes travel is simply experiencing somewhere different from home.
Give the Little Places a Chance
As I continue adding travel content to this blog, I want to make a point of featuring some of these smaller places.
Of course I’ll review hotels and well-known attractions.
But I also want to find the places people drive past.
The locally owned restaurant.
The roadside diner.
The cabin tucked away in the woods.
The strange roadside attraction.
The little store.
The campground.
The forgotten building.
The beautiful bridge nobody told you about.
The view you weren’t expecting.
Those places deserve stories too.
And when we have a good experience, I think it’s important to say so.
Small businesses especially depend on people talking about them, recommending them, leaving reviews and telling friends.
If somebody serves us a great meal or gives us wonderful service, I want to share that experience.
Final Thoughts
Our Tennessee trip began because we needed to be there for family.
It wasn’t planned as a vacation.
But somewhere between Michigan and Tennessee, the restaurants, roads, scenery and unexpected discoveries became part of our story too.
We enjoyed the country-road atmosphere and big breakfast at Stan’s Restaurant.
We found some good Southern comfort food at Old Glory Restaurant.
We had a convenient, satisfying meal at McAlister’s Deli.
And at the end of the day, we had a comfortable place to come back to at the Drury Plaza Hotel Nashville Franklin.
But maybe my favorite lesson from the trip wasn’t about any particular restaurant or hotel.
It was this:
You don’t always have to search for an adventure. Sometimes you just have to notice the one happening around you.
So the next time you’re traveling, don’t be afraid to get off the interstate.
Take a different road.
Try the restaurant you’ve never heard of.
Stop and look at that weird old building.
Take a picture of the bridge.
Watch the sunset.
You never know which little stop will become the part of the trip you remember most.
And that’s exactly what I’m hoping to find as we travel more:
Good food, good people, unique places, honest reviews, and the unexpected things we discover along the way.
Places Featured in This Trip
JJ”S BBQ
900 Hatcher Lane
Columbia, Tennessee
Stan’s Restaurant
1555 Bear Creek Pike
Columbia, Tennessee
Old Glory Restaurant
1018 S. Garden Street
Columbia, Tennessee
McAllister’s Deli — Columbia, Tennessee
627 S James Campbell Blvd, Suite D
Columbia, TN 38401
Drury Plaza Hotel Nashville Franklin
1874 W. McEwen Drive
Franklin, Tennessee
This post is based on our personal travel experiences. We paid for our own experiences unless otherwise disclosed. Opinions are my own. Business information, menus, amenities and hours can change, so always check directly with a business before making a special trip.
At JJ’s BBQ
