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George Dickel Distillery
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Go
Each June, this sleepy town comes to life for the annual RC-Moon Pie Festival, which brings in tens of thousands of visitors from all over the country. This year's 20th anniversary festivities, which run from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on June 21, kick off with a 10-mile run and also include live entertainment (banjos! cloggers!), more than 100 arts and crafts booths, the Olympics-style Moon Pie Games, and various food vendors. The sugar-fueled day concludes with the cutting of the world's largest moon pie, which becomes a free-for-all for those who have lasted this long.
EAT
Bell Buckle might as well have invented the meat-and-three, and you have your range of choices at the Bell Buckle Cafe: green beans, carrot soufflé, sweet potatoes, grits, okra, chili cheese dogs, onion rings, fried biscuits, BBQ, pork chops, chicken and dumplingsthe list goes on. The Moon Pie Sundaewhich comes in a variety of flavorsis a must, though the oatmeal cake with caramel drizzle is sinfully delicious, too. But the café is known for more than just its battered goodness: It was once a notable studio, Bell Buckle Records, where many country music greats jumpstarted their careers. Musical bric-a-brac wallpapers the interior, and every Friday and Saturday night, bands and songwriters from all over take the stage.
Down the way from the café, there's a coffee shop in the back of Designz by Youcalled Coffeez by Us, naturallyfor all of your java needs. The resident barista, rumored to be Bell Buckle's one and only, whips up specialty drinks like a gingerbread latte, which pairs well with the fresh-out-of-the-oven baked goods. There's also free Wi-Fi. Around the corner at Bluebird Antiques & Ice Cream Parlor, you can try the house-made fudge or old-fashioned maltwith a side of nostalgiafrom the soda fountain.
SHOP
Festival and café aside, Bell Buckle has garnered a reputation for being a hub for avid antiquers. Along the retail strip, you'll find the intimate Hilltop Antiques, which has some of the best prices in town. If you're looking for a wider selection, Livery Stable and Bell Buckle Antique Mall are across the street from one another just off the main drag, and each contains a medley of vendors selling odds and ends. If you prefer new to old, Froggie Went a Shoppin stocks a great selection of homewares, while Doodlebug Too sells an eclectic assortment of women's accessories, from purses to jewelry sets.
Stay
Being as close as it is to Nashville, Bell Buckle is an easy afternoon trip. But if you'd like to stay over, book a room at Arrowlet Bed & Breakfast, a gorgeous 1890s home that's a short walk from the downtown square. Rates start at $95 per night.
explore
Time left over? Head another 18 miles south to George Dickel Distillery in Cascade Hollow. Take a whiff of the whiskey percolating in the vats during a free tour (the last one departs at 3:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday), poke around the general store, and chuckle at the brand's punny marketing ploysa playful jab at that other famous distillery up the way, 'If You Only Know Jack, You Don't Know Dickel” is one of their famous slogans.
More great destinations at NashvilleLifestyles.com/Entertainment/Travel