Best Places to Visit In Columbia Tennessee

In the 38401 area code, you will find a town rich with history. Columbia was first incorporated in 1817, and was originally nestled on the banks of the Duck River. Many old structures are still located in Columbia, from the historic buildings of downtown to the beautiful Polk Home. The Mule Capital of the World boasts over 34,000 residents, making it a small southern town with lots to offer.

If you have not yet experienced old south charm and beautiful pre-Civil War era architecture, this town is definitely the place to be. There are homes dating back to the early 1800's throughout the town, and they are very easily spotted. A drive through the scenic heart of the town will provide your eyes with a glimpse of history, while the modernized "strip" will offer tons of shopping and dining opportunities.

The Polk Home was built circa 1817, by the father of our 11th president: James K. Polk. This beautiful home has been well cared for, and is open for tours to the public. It contains many antique furniture pieces, and the home is outfitted as if it were the 1800's. This is a wonderful place to visit if you would like to turn back the hands of time for the day. They even offer a gift shop, with some very intriguing gifts. The grounds are well manicured, and the fountain is absolutely gorgeous! On a tour, you will visit not only this home, but others as well.

Mule Day is a week long celebration that dates back to the early-mid 1950s. As time forged on, it went from a livestock trading event, to a parade, and now includes a weeklong list of festivities, horse and mule shows, beauty pageants, contests, flea markets, live music, livestock auctions, riding groups, a parade, and much more. Columbia, TN used to be a very popular trading post for livestock, especially the hardy mule. The mule is a hybrid that has a horse as a mother, and a donkey as a father. They were known to be much more hardy than the horse, yet able to haul heavier loads than the donkey. This resulted in an animal that could haul large quantities of goods over a vast distance without tiring easily. This amazing display of historical celebration has been gaining incredible popularity across the nation, and tens of thousands of enthusiasts flock to the park every year to celebrate Mule Day. There is so much to see and do during Mule Day festivities, and it might just be one of the largest celebrations of the year in Middle Tennessee. Bring your mule, bring some extra cash for the amazing goods sold at the flea market, and ride until your heart's content!

For those who love everything "motorcycle", this is a must see in Columbia. Nestled deep within the heart of Columbia, this shop offers hundreds of motorcycles for the enthusiasts' viewing pleasure. There are bikes that date back to the early 1900s, to bikes that were imported from across the world. There are Harleys and Suzukis, Hondas and Indians... There are even extremely large BMW motorcycles! You will find the occasional odd antique here, including a 1936 Maytag washing machine and classical bicycles. There are very old, antique horse saddles here as well. This store is absolutely incredible, and even has custom motorcycles for sale to the public. A stop at this store could be an all day visit for the biggest motorcycle enthusiasts as this shop is teeming with fascinating bikes!

This beautiful nature preserve is located 21 miles south of Columbia, and offers some of the most beautiful scenery and the most relaxing hiking trail that you can find. This 90 acre natural area has a small parking area, where you begin the descent down the hill. This steep trail finally brings you to the bottom of Stillhouse Hollow Falls; an absolutely breathtaking natural treasure that is often skipped by many tourists of the area. This beautiful park is well worth the trip out of town, and I will let the photos speak for themselves.