There are dozens of historic sites in Middle Tennessee that tour companies don't even cover. Tennessee Antebellum Trail, a 90-mile self-guided driving tour helps you discover these gems. Ramble, at your leisure, through four counties and to 55 historic sites, including antebellum plantations and homes. Several sites, including The Hermitage, Home of President Andrew Jackson, are open for tours. Guide information is free, call or visit web site for details.

In 1866, the Jack Daniels distillery received its license in the state of Tennessee to produce what has become the most famous southern sipping whiskey. This National Historic Site is located in the little town near a natural spring. Guided tours of the facility are offered daily. Combine your visit to the distillery with a walk through downtown Lynchburg; it features additional historic sites and several souvenir shops. If you go in September, join in the celebration of the city's founder in the downtown square. While enjoying the tour of the distillery, be careful not to sample the product. Oddly enough, this county is dry and the consumption of alcohol is illegal!

Music City Alpacas is a lovely alpaca farm located southeast of the city of Nashville near Smyrna, La Vergne and Antioch.  This family-operated farm is home to 28 alpacas, some of which have received blue ribbons in regional alpaca shows. Music City Alpacas breeds, raises, and sells alpacas and alpaca yarn. Photos of animals and yarn made from the warm wool are available for purchase on the farm's website. Music City Alpacas welcomes visitors, but does not keep regular public hours, so alpaca enthusiasts should call ahead to schedule a visit. Music City Alpacas is also available to show an alpaca at schools, clubs and other groups. Animal lovers of all ages will enjoy a visit to Music City Alpacas. -Lynn-nore Chittom

The largest public cave formation in Tennessee, a visit to the Cumberland Caverns should be on every adventurer's to-do list. At the caverns, you can join the daily guided walking tours that include historical information on caving and the significance of saltpeter mining for gunpowder munitions. Cumberland Caverns also offers daytime and overnight adventure spelunking tours for groups of all ages as well as special bus tours for larger groups. The formations in the caverns and size of the caverns are the best in Tennessee and rival the splendor of many of the well-known caves in central Kentucky. Visitors to Cumberland Caverns should plan ahead for a 1.5-mile (2.41-kilometer) walk through temperatures hovering in the mid 50s. A light jacket and good walking shoes may make a visit to the Cumberland Caverns even more enjoyable. -Lynn-nore Chittom

l'Eté du Vin is one of America's oldest wine auctions. This venue is home to the summer of wine auction. Don't delay, make your reservations and give to a good cause.

Carpenter Albert Lotz built this grand home in 1858 on what would become the site of the Battle of Franklin during the Civil War. Lotz turned his home into a makeshift hospital for the injured. Guided tour of the Civil War house showcase fine antiques and stories of the Lotz family during the critical 1864 Battle of Franklin. This collection of antiques is by far the finest private collection of American Victorian furniture in the Southeast according to the Magazine Antiques. Admission: $10 for Adults; $9 for Seniors

Christ Community Church is one of the most popular churches in the Franklin, Tennessee area. As the home church for popular Christian artists such as Amy Grant, Stephen Curtis Chapman, and Michael Card, this church has a firm foundation in the contemporary worship service style. It is also well-grounded theologically as a member of the Presbyterian Church in America. Christ Community Church offers a full spectrum of educational and counseling ministries designed for children, youth, singles, adults and seniors. The church facilities are also commonly used for community events. For more information on service times and upcoming events, visit the church's website. -Lynn-nore Chittom

King's Creek Golf Club is a gorgeous course set in the rolling countryside of Spring Hills, Tennessee just south of Nashville and the city of Franklin. The course at King's Creek uses the Arnold Palmer Signature Course design, which offers an enjoyable golfing experience for golfers of all levels of expertise. Each hole includes five different tee options that adjust according to the difficulty of the course. King's Creek offers guests daytime or discounted twilight tee times to give area golfers the maximum number of options. A trip to King's Creek Golf Club would be a great outing for any golfer in the Nashville area. -Lynn-nore Chittom

High Meadow Alpacas is a large and beautiful alpaca farm located in the rolling hills of Leipers Fork south of Nashville outside the city of Franklin. With over 150 acres (61 hectares) and over 400 individual alpacas, High Meadow Alpacas is the largest alpaca breeding farm in the southeast. The award-winning alpacas in this herd come from some of the best breeding lines in the country, resulting in numerous show awards and some of the highest quality alpaca offspring available for purchase anywhere in the country. High Meadow Alpacas welcomes visitors but does not have established hours, so appointments are necessary. This is a great excursion for all animal lovers and particularly alpaca enthusiasts. -Lynn-nore Chittom

The Row at The Factory in Franklin contains a collection of local artists and their works. Some of the studios include fine art, while others offer artisan crafts. The Row includes galleries of paintings by local artists Deborah Gall, John Cannon, Deann, Emily Martinez, Amber Gould and Christina Long. It also features stained glass creations by Julie Westall, Native American artisan crafts by Connie Shaw and metal work and wind chimes by Eleanor Anne Bailey and Eric Lankford. The atmosphere at the Row is quiet and contemplative and blends nicely with the rustic elements of The Factory. Many of the artists work on site and are available to discuss their work and to negotiate prices. Many of the studios also have their own websites. -Lynn-nore Chittom