A beautiful fall panaroma is seen from atop the NHC building

While all the world loves to travel to the Great Smoky Mountains, the leaves of Rutherford and its surrounding counties are just as beautiful without the drive.

So, this is the appropriate time to share some of The Murfreesboro Post’s favorite places to see fall colors. We’ve got 11 great suggestions:

1. East Main Street: The ancient maples of East Main Street are a sight to behold, but are best enjoyed on foot. Main Street Murfreesboro offers a walking tour guide booklet. The booklet includes historical information about the Public Square, as well as the East Main Street Historic District. Booklets are available at various locations like Linebaugh Public Library, The Center for the Arts and Oaklands Historic House Museum. Guided tours of downtown Murfreesboro are also available from The Heritage Center of Murfreesboro on West College Street. Don’t forget the huge sycamore on the East side of the Courthouse.

2.  The Greenway: Two, make that three, great places to view fall’s beauty are at the Braxton Bragg, Thompson Lane and Broad Street trailheads. Murfreesboro’s Greenway System offers hikes, walking, running and bicycling with access from nine trailheads all within the city limits. The Bragg Trailhead, located off West College Street, has restrooms and a playground and offers a fabulous walk along Stones River. The Broad Street stop runs along the limestone cliffs overlooking the river. Thompson Lane has trees that have been identified and marked for your learning pleasure.

3.  Barfield Crescent Park’s Wilderness Center: The 430-acre Barfield Crescent Park offers more than seven miles of paved and unpaved hiking trails and 12 private and one group campsite. For the adventurous, Barfield offers the county’s only backcountry trail and primitive campsite. Or, if you don’t wish to hike, picnic shelters are available. There are trees galore including some rare ones like the scarlet oak, sycamore and black gums – all trees with unusual color. Don’t forget your field guide.

4. Oakland Park: Located at the end of the Maney Avenue Historic District, the huge sugar maples were big, established trees when the Battle of Murfreesboro was fought in 1862. Admission to the park is free. Don’t forget to walk down into the wetlands where the Maney family built their spring house.

5. Long Hunter State Park: Located on Hobson Pike on the east shore of J. Percy Priest Lake, occupies the hardwood forests and cedar barrens common along the Stones River. Long Hunter provides easy hiking on its Bryant Grove, Day Loop, Volunteer and Lake trails with lots of fall follage and wildlife including water fowl, wild turkey and deer. http://www.tennessee.gov/environment/parks/LongHunter/

6. Woodbury: A trip to Woodbury on John Bragg Highway through the rolling hills of eastern Rutherford and Cannon counties provides horizons full of Mother Nature’s beauty. While in Woodbury, stop in at the Cannon County Center for the Arts or one of the antique stores on the Public Square.

Post reader Steve Cates suggests a Cannon County fall tour:

“Why would one drive to Gatlinburg and face the horrors of Sevierville and Pigeon Forge to see fall colors when some of the most beautiful are within 20 minutes or so of the Courthouse? Follow John Bragg Highway east to Readyville and get on the old Highway 70 S toward Woodbury. Turn left on Locke Creek Road. Then turn left on Dewey Bryson Road and go to the end of that hollow. Return to Locke Creek Road and turn left and go to the big bridge. Come around to the right and follow the Rush Creek Road north to Auburn. Turn right and ride past Dutton's Market to the Hurricane Creek Road. Turn right. Follow this road to the Wilson Hollow Road. Turn right. Go up on the ridge and turn left and head through Pleasant Ridge. When you get to the road that goes to Liberty or Woodbury, you have a choice. You can turn right to head back to Woodbury or, if you have time, take any of the roads east of the main road and follow these trails up to the Short Mountain area as in the Seals Hollow Road. You will not regret the three hours or the day or the three days you spend in this nearby area of our beautiful countryside.”

7. Old Nashville Highway and Stones River Battlefield: If you explored the trees along the Bragg Trailhead, you might as well continue out the Old Nashville Highway (West College Street) to Stones River Battlefield and beyond. While you are at it, marvel how this narrow roadway was once part of the famous Dixie Highway stretching from Chicago to Miami in the days before the interstate. While still junky in spots, this roadway is beginning to recover some of its past glory. At some points, you drive under a complete canopy of trees. Stones River Battlefield, with its cedar glades, is especially picturesque in the fall. www.nps.gov/stri

8. Murfree Springs: Again, if you are in the mood for walking and not riding, don’t forget the beautiful wetlands at Children’s Discovery Center at Murfree Springs. The flora and fauna are incredible along the elevated walkway. It’s a great place for a quick getaway in downtown Murfreesboro. There’s a nice playground for youngsters too. The wetlands are located behind the Discovery Center at 502 S.E. Broad St.

9. MTSU: Too few of us enjoy the beauty of the MTSU campus. Biology students and tree fanciers enjoy the rare mix of vegetation at the university on the older part of campus from Walnut Grove (famed for its tailgate parties) to basswood, slippery elm and the Kentucky Coffee tree. In fact, you can download a map showing all the unusual trees on campus. The most unusual? That’s probably the walnut tree planted from seeds grown at Mt. Vernon, George Washington’s home in Virginia. http://deptabas.web.mtsu.edu/Trees.pdf

10. Center Hill Lake: If you must drive, consider an adventure to Center Hill Lake where the trees are as beautiful as any you will see. Better yet, take a boat ride for some inspiring fall color. Center Hill Lake is a 64-mile long reservoir consisting of 415 miles of shoreline, located in DeKalb County. There are three waterfalls and excellent places hike, swim and camp.  Also on the lake are eight marinas, five restaurants, a state park, nine Army Corps recreation areas and the Joe L. Evins Appalachian Center for the Crafts. On the Web: http://www.centerhilllake.net/

11. The Natchez Trace: Take a day and drive part of the recently completed Natchez Trace Parkway. It is a 444-mile two-lane road running from Bellevue to Natchez, Miss. that follows an ancient trail used by Native Americans and European settlers to move goods and traffic from the Gulf Coast into Middle Tennessee.

Any or all of the parkway can be driven with entrance points in Bellevue, Franklin and Leiper’s Fork. Sections of the original trail can also be found along the parkway, if you need to stretch your legs.

More information can be found at www.nps.gov/natr.