1. Santi Lodge Bed And Breakfast
City: Arlington, TN
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (901) 867-2274
Address: 85 Willow Bend Drive
Description: Santi Lodge may be situated only minutes from I-40 and the traffic around Wolfchase Galleria shopping mall, but it feels as if you are miles away from an urban area. The log-cabin lodge is set on 100 acres and offers four rooms, each with air-conditioning in summer, private bath, and satellite TV. Some rooms include extra amenities such as fireplaces, walk-in closets, and private patios. A continental breakfast is served to guests, and you also have access to a fax machine, a copier, a washer and dryer, and other amenities. The lodge hosts a number of large groups for business meetings, weddings, and the like, and at times a minimum two-night stay is required.
2. Tennessee Renaissance Festival
City: Arlington, TN
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (615) 395-9950
Address: 2124 New Castle Rd.
Description: Weekends in May, ending on Memorial Day, the wooded grounds across from Triune’s Castle Gwynn turn into a medieval village where you’ll find jousting knights, fair maidens, fortune-tellers, gypsy jugglers, and entertainers plus medieval-themed arts and crafts and food. Twice daily, knights in full armor mount large Percherons and engage in combat. In addition to jousting exhibitions, you can enjoy drama and comedy (presented in Olde English) at 2 stages on the grounds as well as Renaissance music. All vendors, entertainers, and some 150 volunteer greeters wear period costumes. Dozens of crafts vendors and artisans offer such items as clothing, glass, candles, wood crafts, pewter jewelry, silver crafts, and weaponry. Free children’s activities include storytelling, games, and coloring. For an extra charge, adults can try their luck at such games of skill as archery and ax throwing. Triune is about 20 miles south of downtown Nashville between Franklin and Murfreesboro. The castle is 8 miles from I-24, off the Highway 96 exit, or 6 miles from I-65. Admission is $20 for adults, $7 for children ages 5 through 12. A season pass is $70 . Parking is free.