If you're looking for a weekend getaway or a vacation spot that is off the beaten path, look no further than McMinnville, Tennessee.

McMinnville is located almost exactly halfway between Nashville and Chattanooga, Tennessee. Approximately 20 miles off Interstate 24's Exit 111, McMinnville offers a variety of activities that are suitable for the whole family!

McMinnville is the county seat for Warren County, Tennessee. Warren County was formed in 1807 and named for Major General Joseph Warren, patriot of the American Revolution.

Today, Warren County is best known as the Nursery (plants) Capital of the World. With hundreds of nurseries offering both wholesale and retail shopping, Warren County is a landscaping hobbyist dream.

Yet, trees and shrubs is not all Warren County has to offer!

With more than 32 known miles and many more estimated miles of virgin cave, Cumberland Caverns is one of the most extensive caves in Tennessee.

The oldest remaining residence in McMinnville was built in 1825 by Jesse Coffee and was distinct in its time due to its exterior brick construction. The Black House, situated on the southeast corner of Main and High streets in the downtown business district, gained the name by which it is best known through the ownership and occupancy of Dr. Thomas Black and his family. The house where Dr. Black practiced medicine was deeded by his descendant, the late Jean Leonard, to The Eagle Club which began restoration of the structure in the early 1980s. The museum is open for tours during specially designated times.

The history provided by Falcon Rest states: "In the 1940s, Clay Faulkner's mansion was converted into a hospital and nursing home. An early ad boasted a quiet location and an ideal climate, at rates of $5.00 to 8.00 per day -- according to care required. By the mid-1950's, Dr. J.P. Dietrich had added onto the building and renamed it the Faulkner Springs Hospital. Local folks still tell fond stories about the doctor and the house where he dispensed medicine and love.

"The doctor closed the hospital in 1968. He stripped out much of the woodwork in an unsuccessful attempt to tear down the solid brick structure, then let it sit empty for a decade an a half. When George McGlothin bought the old house at auction in 1989, it was a ghost of its former glory. George and his wife Charlien began four years of restoration, tackling 95 percent of the work themselves. The results were well worth the effort. Today, Falcon Rest is more beautiful than the day Clay Faulkner's family moved in."

A particular favorite of kayakers worldwide, Rock Island State Park is most famously known for it's Blue Hole. The Blue Hole is also a favorite of fishermen and legand says that there are catfish in The Blue Hole that are as big as volkswagons!

Dominated by the Great Falls of the Caney Fork River, Rock Island State Park offers a variety of activities including hiking, picnic areas, swimming areas, boating and camping. Luxury cabins are available for those who prefer not to sleep outdoors.

As part of the Tennessee Valley Authorities (TVA) Center Hill Lake system, Rock Island State Park offers easy boating access to nearby popular locations such as Center Hill Dam, Ragland Bottom, Silver Point and more.

And don't forget to visit nearby Fall Creek Falls State Park in Van Buren County, Tennessee. Fall Creek Falls is a very popular tourist destination for those seeking natural beauty and outdoor activities. With restaurants, luxury cabins, fishing cabins, and an on-site hotel in addition to golfing, boating, numerous trails of varying skill levels, a nature center and more, Fall Creek Falls is a must visit destination for anyone who enjoys the outdoors!

See and read about the Trail of Tears, while taking a five-mile hike on Caldwell Mountain at Shellsford. Follow the path the Native Americans took as they were displaced from their home. It was this path passing through McMinnville that they would stop to mill their corn and/or care for their sick.

The Mainstreet McMinnville project has revitalized downtown with the opening of such attractions as the Brady-Hughes-Beasley Photographic Archives and Museum, Southern Museum and Galleries of Photography, Culture and History, and the Warren County Heritage Center and Museum; restaurants Capalano's and New York Grill; Club Manhattan night club; art galleries such as Chole's and The Station Pure Art; and numerous antique shops.

During the spring, summer and fall months, visitors are also welcome to attend the Main Street Live events (outdoor concerts) and the Farmer's Market.

This multi-use facility is available for daily use and special group events. It includes indoor facilities for Basketball, Volleyball, Tennis, Racketball, Walking Track, McMinnville Wellness and Fitness Center, Ping Pong, Games, Vending and special activity rooms. The Center is also used for conventions, trade shows, and other special events. Outdoors, the Civic Center grounds have a number of recreational components including: The Gilley Pool, Seven Lighted Ball Fields, Jungle Jym Playground, Four Outdoor Lighted Tennis Courts and 3/4 mile Paved Walking Trail.

For more information on McMinnville, lodging and other area attractions, be sure to visit the Warren County Chamber of Commerce and the City of McMinnville.