Guidebook for Cottage on the Ridge
Food Scene
Kilgores is a family style restaurant serving home style dishes. The atmosphere is very casual and the prices are reasonable. $
10 locals recommend
Kilgore's Restaurant
2595 Old Nashville HwyKilgores is a family style restaurant serving home style dishes. The atmosphere is very casual and the prices are reasonable. $
This place has the best Apple Fritters, bar none! All donuts are made fresh several times a day and all are yummy. Get there early for the fritters because they sell out quickly! $
9 locals recommend
Smithville Donuts
306 W Broad StThis place has the best Apple Fritters, bar none! All donuts are made fresh several times a day and all are yummy. Get there early for the fritters because they sell out quickly! $
McDonald's
507 S Congress BlvdArbys
510 S Congress BlvdHardee's
270 W Bockman WayTaco Bell
310 Big Mac DrThe distillery has a full service restaurant serving fine dining meals in a beautiful country setting. They grow much of their own produce so it is fresh, in season. It is also an entertainment venue with a variety of events. Check online for currents happenings. $$
46 locals recommend
Short Mountain Distillery
8280 Short Mountain RdThe distillery has a full service restaurant serving fine dining meals in a beautiful country setting. They grow much of their own produce so it is fresh, in season. It is also an entertainment venue with a variety of events. Check online for currents happenings. $$
Blue Water Grille
1287 Floating Mill RdApplebees Grill is located in McMinnville, about 30 miles from the cottage. Other than fast food, it is the only "chain" restaurant in the area.
Applebee's Grill + Bar
1311 Smithville HwyApplebees Grill is located in McMinnville, about 30 miles from the cottage. Other than fast food, it is the only "chain" restaurant in the area.
This pub is located in Gainesboro, about a 30 minute drive from the cottage. It is a great place to have dinner and the food is delicious! The decor is old Irish pub style set in a older brick building on the square in Gainesboro. The food is Irish/English style with an authentic menu and freshly made to order. The fish and chips is super yummy! The bar boasts an enormous selection of craft style beers. $$
24 locals recommend
The Bull & Thistle Pub
102 S Main StThis pub is located in Gainesboro, about a 30 minute drive from the cottage. It is a great place to have dinner and the food is delicious! The decor is old Irish pub style set in a older brick building on the square in Gainesboro. The food is Irish/English style with an authentic menu and freshly made to order. The fish and chips is super yummy! The bar boasts an enormous selection of craft style beers. $$
Fishlipz Grill is a fun place to eat if you want to experience a lake marina. It is right on the lake, of course, and serves a variety of bar type food: fried fish, coleslaw, burgers, etc. The atmosphere is fun while you watch the boats come and go. The owners of Fishlipz also own the famous "Tootsies Orchid Lounge" on Broadway in Nashville. Occasionally, well known country celebrities will perform at the grill. There is usually live music on weekends and a variety of special events occurs throughout the summer. Check online for happenings.
25 locals recommend
Fishlipz Resort at Pates Ford Resort & Marina LLC
6323 Jefferson RdFishlipz Grill is a fun place to eat if you want to experience a lake marina. It is right on the lake, of course, and serves a variety of bar type food: fried fish, coleslaw, burgers, etc. The atmosphere is fun while you watch the boats come and go. The owners of Fishlipz also own the famous "Tootsies Orchid Lounge" on Broadway in Nashville. Occasionally, well known country celebrities will perform at the grill. There is usually live music on weekends and a variety of special events occurs throughout the summer. Check online for happenings.
Drinks & Nightlife
Formerly Maggies Landing, the Twisted Oaks restaurant and bar serves casual food, has a full bar and an outdoor patio with live music on weekends. They also have billiards table and a dance floor. It's a favorite with locals and lake visitors alike.
32 locals recommend
Twisted Oaks
3349 Nashville HwyFormerly Maggies Landing, the Twisted Oaks restaurant and bar serves casual food, has a full bar and an outdoor patio with live music on weekends. They also have billiards table and a dance floor. It's a favorite with locals and lake visitors alike.
Located between Smithville and McMinnville this is a local bar with bar type foods and an outdoor patio.
Cowboy Up Bar & Grill
10383 Smithville HwyLocated between Smithville and McMinnville this is a local bar with bar type foods and an outdoor patio.
Parks & Nature
One of Tennessee's most beautiful state parks is right in our neighborhood. Boating is available at the marina which also has a restaurant serving casual food and snacks. There are outdoor tables for watching the boats come & go. Center Hill Dam can be viewed from the marina. The state park visitor center has a huge tower that you can climb (free) to see the views of the lake.
31 locals recommend
Edgar Evins State Park
1630 Edgar Evins State Park RoadOne of Tennessee's most beautiful state parks is right in our neighborhood. Boating is available at the marina which also has a restaurant serving casual food and snacks. There are outdoor tables for watching the boats come & go. Center Hill Dam can be viewed from the marina. The state park visitor center has a huge tower that you can climb (free) to see the views of the lake.
Center Hill Lake
Another one of MiddleTennessee's most beautiful locations. This state park has all the amenities...picnic areas, boating, swimming areas, views, large rock outcroppings and cliffs and hiking trails. In my personal opinion it's one of the most gorgeous places in TN.
Rock Island State Park
Another one of MiddleTennessee's most beautiful locations. This state park has all the amenities...picnic areas, boating, swimming areas, views, large rock outcroppings and cliffs and hiking trails. In my personal opinion it's one of the most gorgeous places in TN.
One of the most gorgeous waterfalls in the state, Burgess has easy access via a short trail from the parking lot. There are two trails, actually. One follows along the river with super views and the other is more of a short cut back to the parking lot. ...not as pretty but quicker after the hike along the river. The fall itself is wide and there is a stairway leading down the side of the falls for better viewing and photo ops.
153 locals recommend
Burgess Falls State Park
4000 Burgess Falls DrOne of the most gorgeous waterfalls in the state, Burgess has easy access via a short trail from the parking lot. There are two trails, actually. One follows along the river with super views and the other is more of a short cut back to the parking lot. ...not as pretty but quicker after the hike along the river. The fall itself is wide and there is a stairway leading down the side of the falls for better viewing and photo ops.
Arts & Culture
Appalachian Center for Craft
1560 Craft Center DrWoodbury is home to the Arts Center of Cannon County.
https://www.tnvacation.com/local/woodbury-arts-center-cannon-county.
It also has numerous great antique shops around the town square and some great lunch spots.
10 locals recommend
Woodbury
Woodbury is home to the Arts Center of Cannon County.
https://www.tnvacation.com/local/woodbury-arts-center-cannon-county.
It also has numerous great antique shops around the town square and some great lunch spots.
Essentials
Located about 9 miles from the cottage in Smithville on Broad St. (hwy 70)
39 locals recommend
Walmart Supercenter
515 W Broad StLocated about 9 miles from the cottage in Smithville on Broad St. (hwy 70)
Grocery store, located 11 miles from the cottage in Smithville. In town, turn right at the Hardees and drive about 1/3 mile to Food Lion on the right. It's behind the Rite-Aid drug store. Turn right at the light in front of Rite Aid and then left into the shopping center.
17 locals recommend
Food Lion
719 S Congress BlvdGrocery store, located 11 miles from the cottage in Smithville. In town, turn right at the Hardees and drive about 1/3 mile to Food Lion on the right. It's behind the Rite-Aid drug store. Turn right at the light in front of Rite Aid and then left into the shopping center.
Entertainment & Activities
Canoe the Caney...reserve your canoe here. The store has basic supplies and souvenirs. Spend a day canoeing the Caney Fork River for a fun day out and beautiful, peaceful views. See their website for specials.
9 locals recommend
Caney Fork Outdoors - River Store
1193 Wolf Creek RdCanoe the Caney...reserve your canoe here. The store has basic supplies and souvenirs. Spend a day canoeing the Caney Fork River for a fun day out and beautiful, peaceful views. See their website for specials.
Cumberland Caverns
1437 Cumberland Caverns RdEverything Else
Nashville is about an hours drive from the cottage. We have easy access to I-40 at hwy 264. It's 12 miles to the interstate from the cottage. Nashville is a dynamic city! It is walkable downtown and full of things to do and see. They don't call us "Music City" for nothin'!
265 locals recommend
Nashville
Nashville is about an hours drive from the cottage. We have easy access to I-40 at hwy 264. It's 12 miles to the interstate from the cottage. Nashville is a dynamic city! It is walkable downtown and full of things to do and see. They don't call us "Music City" for nothin'!
Murfreesboro is the 4th largest city in TN. It has all the amenities of a larger city and is 32 miles from the cottage via hwy 96. Murfreesboro is home to Middle TN State University, (MTSU and the Blue Raiders). Shopping galore, and a Civil War battlefield memorial park.
31 locals recommend
Murfreesboro
Murfreesboro is the 4th largest city in TN. It has all the amenities of a larger city and is 32 miles from the cottage via hwy 96. Murfreesboro is home to Middle TN State University, (MTSU and the Blue Raiders). Shopping galore, and a Civil War battlefield memorial park.