5 Best Things to Do in Smyrna, TN

By VI Staff on July 31, 2019

Smyrna is a Tennessee city located about 20 minutes from Nashville. It is a family-friendly town with lot of green spaces, combining its rich history with many modern amenities. Sam Davis House is the 1810 house museum where visitors can get the feel of the life during slavery. Capt. Jeff Kuss USMC Memorial is a reminder of the tragic accident in which one of the Smyrna pilots lost his life. Smyrna has been voted as one the top ten American cities to retire in by US News & World Report.

1.Sam Davis House

The Sam Davis House is a historic Greek Revival home in Smyrna, Tennessee. It is now a museum to the memory of Confederate soldier Sam Davis who grew up in the house. The house was originally built as a log house in 1810, and remodeled in 1847 by Charles Davis. His son, Sam Davis, was known as the "Boy Hero of the Confederacy." The house is located on the 168-acre property in downtown Smyrna and is one of the major historic and cultural features in Middle Tennessee. The house was purchased in 1927 by the State of Tennessee and turned into a house museum. The house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is open year around and is available for social events. The property includes two historic homes, various outbuildings, slave quarters and the family cemetery. There are more than 100 personal effects on display that belonged to the Davis family.

1399 Sam Davis Rd, Smyrna, TN 37167, Phone: 615-459-2341

2.Capt. Jeff Kuss USMC Memorial

The Town of Smyrna, Tennessee, has a long history of military aviation that started in World War II and continuing to this day with the Sewart Air Force base and the famous Tennessee Air Show. On June 2, 2016, United States Marine Corps Captain Jeff Kuss lost his life in a tragic accident while flying as Blue Angel #6 while practicing for the Great Tennessee Airshow. In memory to this event, the memorial was erected within Lee Victory Recreation Park, across from the Smyrna/Rutherford County airport. The main feature of the memorial is the F/A-18C Hornet, similar to that flown by Capt. Kuss. It is on permanent loan by the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida, to the Town of Smyrna.

102 Sam Ridley Pkwy E, Smyrna, TN 37167, Phone: 615-267-5005

3.Buckle and Hide Leather LLC

Buckle and Hide Leather LLC in Smyrna, TN is not only one of the Nashville Area's top leather shops, but a great fun to visit even if you are not looking for a new belt or wallet and are not a biker looking for a new outfit. It is chock-full of hand-made leather goods. There are hundreds of handmade leather belts, cuffs, wallets, leather apparel, jewelry, accessories, leather vests, riding chaps, riding boots, leather coats, saddle bags, leather hats, handmade leather holsters and much more. One of their most popular services is sewing patch – they have more than 500 different designs. The shop is owned and operated by Steve Johnson, who opened it in 2013 with his wife.

197 Enon Springs Rd W, Smyrna, TN 37167, Phone: 615-768-5041

4.Sub Station II

Sub Station II is a popular chain of sandwich shops with more than 40 restaurants in five states in the Southeast. Folks in these parts really love their hoagies, grinders, subs, sandwiches or whatever they like to call them and at Sub Station II they make them really delicious. They use the best quality and freshest ingredients on their special NY style buns that are baked just for them. The menu includes more than a dozen cold or hot sandwiches, a variety of salads, sides, chips, seasonal soup and desserts. All sub sandwiches are dressed in their signature “all the way” style, loaded with lettuce, onions, tomatoes, oil, vinegar, salt, pepper and oregano. The Sub Station II in Smyrna, Tennessee, is a small no-nonsense counter-serve spot with a few tables, but most folks just order online or by phone. They also deliver.

384 S Lowry St, Smyrna, TN 37167, Phone: 615-355-6686

5.Cousins Maine Lobster

If you fell in love with Cousin’s food trucks, now you do not have to chase them all over Smyrna. This popular chain with shops all over the country opened a small counter-serve restaurant in downtown Smyrna, Tennessee, serving all the same goodies that made their food trucks popular: lobster rolls, of course, Lobster BLT, Maine Whole Belly Fried Clams and much more. Their Maine Lobster is sourced from the Downeast waters in the most easterly part of the country, the Mid Coast, and in Penobscot Bay near Vinalhaven in the Gulf of Maine. The menu features lobster in all shapes and forms: in tacos, quesadillas, bisque and tots. Besides lobster, Cousin’s serves haddock, fish and chips, shrimps, clam chowder and much more.

1932 Almaville Rd #200, Smyrna, TN 37167, Phone: 615-930-1881