Brentwood, Tennessee is home to many entertaining and fun things to do. As a mostly affluent suburb of Nashville, it has also been home to prominent athletes and country music stars. Dolly Parton, Luke Bryan, Garth Brooks, and Carrie Underwood top a long list of internationally-known artists. It was also ranked as Money’s #21 Best Place Place to Live in the USA. You could spend weeks combing through this treasure chest to find the best hidden gems in Brentwood.
Or you could take a shortcut and keep reading. We’ve compiled a list of fun, off-the-beaten-path activities in the area. Anyone who has recently moved to this wonderful little city—or anyone planning to move here—should check out this Top 10 List of Things To Do in Brentwood.
Buying a home in Brentwood? These are the spots you should know about.
1. Hot Air Balloon Adventure
Why not start things off with a big bang of excitement? Middle Tennessee Hot Air Adventures provides hot air ballooning tours to the area south of Nashville. That includes cities like Franklin—and of course, Brentwood.
The family-owned company offers a show-stopping experience,
“We pride ourselves in ballooning over less developed areas, lofting over hollows and hidden lakes, offering breathtaking views of wildlife and the rolling hills of Middle Tennessee.”
Their team has successfully completed balloon rides around the world. Their safety rating is perfect.
A trip in their giant, sunset-colored balloons will be the perfect way to spend a day. Tours are available at dawn or dusk to ensure a magical experience. It’s something that you and your family or friends will never forget.
2. Catch a Quick 18 Holes
After you’ve spent the morning soaring with eagles and inspecting the inside of clouds, it’s best to do something earthy.
What sounds better than a round of golf on a beautifully manicured course? (You were probably checking out the amazing greens from your birds-eye-view on the hot air balloon!)
Brentwood is home to 3 country clubs.
- Brentwood Country Club has been around since 1960. It boasts an amazing clubhouse renovated from an antebellum (pre-Civil War) mansion. The course is a 6,437-yard layout with Bermuda grass.
- The Nashville Golf & Athletic Club is not for the faint of heart. The USGA once rated this 7,340-yard course among the Top 25 most difficult golf courses in the country. What’s more, Sports Illustrated ranked its sixth hole as one of the 18 greatest golf holes in the USA. If all that didn’t make it legendary enough, the grounds sit on land that once belonged to Davy Crockett.
- Rounding out the list is The Governors Club. This gorgeous course is home is meandering creeks, beautiful slopes, waterfalls, and imposing rock structures. Arnold Palmer designed it, and the course does not disappoint.
3. Make a cocktail tumbler the 19th hole.
If you’re looking for a place to knock back some craft brews or a good old-fashioned Old Fashioned, check out these two locales:
- Corner Pub – A nice, lacquered bar with plenty of screens to watch
- Murff’s Craft Brews & Burgers – A locally owned institution featuring great plates and friendly service
4. Enjoy Some Unbutton-Your-Pants Southern Cuisine
Mere Bulles features Southern fare & steaks, plus an extensive wine list, in a sprawling, plantation-style house. It’s one of the best restaurants in the entire area, Nashville included.
Vittles is just down the road, a casual restaurant serving ample portions of homestyle Southern comfort food & breakfast all week.
A third option is Firebirds Wood Fired Grill. It serves steaks, seafood & cocktails in an upscale lodge-like setting.
While the best restaurants in the area feature steaks and other Southern specialties, you may be in the mood for Italian instead. In that case, check out Amerigo Italian Restaurant. Like Firebirds, it’s a chain restaurant rather than a local institution, but the atmosphere provides a quality place to dine.
Kid-Friendly Hidden Gems in Brentwood
5. Geocaching & History Tour
Why not go on a geocaching tour through Brentwood’s historical locations? In case you’re late to the party, catch up on what geocaching is with this video:
Historic Brentwood has put together a 10-site geocaching scavenger hunt for families and beginners to enjoy.
6. Dyer Observatory
Vanderbilt University has a magnificent observatory for viewing the stars and other celestial bodies.
Visitors are welcome during Open House Days, when they can tour the facilities, as well as Telescope Nights, when the observatory is open for stargazing. Telescope Nights occur every second Friday night of the month.
7. Kick Back with a Good Book
It may seem a little unusual to recommend a library on a List of Top Things To Do in Brentwood. But don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. The Brentwood Library has been called the crown jewel of the city.
Its wonderful and constantly evolving facilities accommodate over 1000 visitors every day. We think that proves it’s worth a visit.
8. Meet up at the Trailhead of Smith Park
Walking trails crisscross the 400 acres of historic Ravenswood Farm property. Open dawn to dusk, we think this video demonstrates what a pleasant experience it is to stroll through the park’s fields and forests.
You can find a trail map here.
While you’re at it, the antebellum Ravenswood Mansion is the perfect place for a photo shoot, whether for a wedding or the family during the holiday season.
More Hidden Gems in Brentwood
9. Quirky Shopping
Brentwood is crowded with stores with clever names. How could you pass by Gear Box Leather, Sew What, or Swiftwick Socks without stopping in for a peek?
Check out the complete list of fun shopping options here.
10. Arrington Vineyards
Rounding out the end of our chock-full list of hidden gems in Brentwood, TN is the beautiful and renowned Arrington Vineyards. The hills produce a dozen kinds of wine, including merlot, chardonnay, viognier, riesling, cabernet sauvignon, syrah and a sweet raspberry that will tickle your taste buds.
If you’re lucky, you may just catch the next group of hot air ballooners passing overhead!
