Breeden’s Orchard — A Small Orchard Outside Nashville You Didn’t Know You Were Missing Out On
Dreaming of fall and all things pumpkin season? Wishing the day would come when there’s a crispness in the air and you can practically smell the apple cider? You’re not alone. Summer has been fun but I need my sweater weather back. I keep ordering a pumpkin loaf from Starbucks and hoping that if I do fall things I can will it to come early (let a girl dream)! My latest attempt to invite fall to show up: Orchard Visits!
Vineyards are always a good time but have you been to a local orchard? If you’re planning a visit to Nashville and want to spend a gorgeous day sipping local wines or ciders, you don’t want to miss out on Breeden’s Orchard!
A friend of mine took me out to Breeden’s Orchard in Mount Juliet (about 30 minutes outside of Nashville) and ever since then I’ve tried to return as much as I can. It’s still pretty hot out so it doesn’t exactly have that fall charm to it just yet, but during the summer months their fields are filled with peach trees and the store offers a plethora of summer grilling spices, fruit dips, fresh cheeses and dips (their whipped feta dip is out of this world) and fruity slushies to keep you cool.
They’ve already got some pumpkins out at the end of July. I’ve truly found my people!
Welcome to the Orchard!
As soon as you park, you’re welcomed by a gorgeous sunflower garden surrounded by wildflowers local to the area. There’s something so calming about wandering through flowerbeds, hearing the crickets chirping, bees buzzing and watching nature thrive around you. It’s like getting lost in a fairy tale! Speaking of fairy tales, there are over 50 gnome and fairy homes around the orchard. Be sure to go on a little hunt to find all of them while you’re here.
Behind the store you’ll find the field of your dreams! A swing set high enough off the ground for adults, which in my tall girl world is a huge plus. My inner child was thriving swinging as high as I could without ever worrying about my feet hitting the ground—a luxury I didn’t have on many swings even as a child—but with an ice cold pumpkin spice mead. Next to the swings you’ll find a stand resembling a wishing well filled with a mixture to create the biggest bubbles ever…so I guess technically that is a wishing well in my book.
Want to take in the grounds and watch the team members tend to their peach and apple trees? There’s picnic tables and benches situated in the perfect spots along the grounds for you to sit back, enjoy a picnic or some of the delicious offerings from inside the store. If you need a little more shade there’s a gorgeous gazebo waiting for you next to their oversized tunnel slides…yes, there are slides!
Peach and Apple Picking!
Inside the store they have an entire produce section of peaches during the summer, apples in the fall, and fresh veggies, but you can also pick your own peaches or apples.
Special Events
Check out their events page to see what fun special events might be taking place when you’re there. They’ve got a Sourdough Bread Making class I’m dying to take and they usually have a night market two Fridays each month where you can wander the orchard after dark, discover local artisans and farms, enjoy tasty eats from food trucks, and relax to live music as the sun goes down. Feeling like a little morning yoga on an orchard? They’ve got that, too! Plan your visit right and get the most out of your trip. You can be sure to find me there for their Fall Craft Show!
They’re currently doing some construction towards the back, just past the gazebo (nothing that will disturb your visit) to build a stage for events. Keep your eye out for when it’s completed so you can visit on nights with music, plays and holiday specials!
Inside the Store
Small, local places like Breeden’s always have the best items to take home with you! They’re like the hole-in-the-wall restaurants you can’t pass up because they have the most delicious food in town. I love loading up my pantry with different olive oils, syrups, sauces and butters and every single one of theirs is a must-have! As I’m sure you can imagine, I was not leaving here without some pumpkin butter.
You can find multiple different syrups—including an elderberry syrup that’s amazing for combatting colds and boosting your immune system—applesauce and butter you’d swear your grandma made, and a cold section filled with the most amazing dips you won’t be able to stop eating. They often have a team member offering testers so you can decide which one (or ones) you need to more of than a cracker’s worth. This last trip, I chose their Lemon Za’atar Hummus and Hot Honey Whipped Feta Cheese Dip. The owners have a farm just down the road and make their cheese dips from their own goats’ and cows’ milks. You truly can’t get more local than that! It’s a problem how quickly I’m going through these dips and already feeling the urge to go back for more.
Along with all these goods, you’ll find freshly baked breads such as Apple Spiced Donuts, Jalapeño Cheddar Bread, Fluffy Japanese Shokupan Loaves, Cinnamon Rolls and more. Forget the calories and just say Yum!…I mean yes, but also yum!
I’m a huge fan of mead so the fact that they have an on-site meadery makes my little Irish heart so happy! If you’ve never had it before, do yourself a favor and enjoy a tasting when you visit. You can try as many flavors as you like for free before deciding which one you’d like to purchase. In true fall welcoming fashion, I had to get the Pumpkin Spice…and take home a bottle of it, as well. I also grabbed an Evergreen Tulip (such an interesting flavor) and Blossom to enjoy later on the patio back home.
As you can see, Breeden’s Orchard has the makings to be a favorite day-trip stop when visiting Nashville. Make sure you add it to your itinerary next time you head down south and thank me later. I’ll be happy to cheers you with a glass of mead! If you’ve been here before or made your way over on your visit I’d love to read all about it and what you enjoyed the most. Leave a comment below and share your favorite memories!
Thanks & Let’s Do Better Together!
Kait