I fell in love with Nashville about five years ago when my husband and I were on our honeymoon. Aside from my love of classic country music and Civil War history, there was something about the Nashville area that just felt more inviting than other cities I had been to.

My husband and I decided to take our two-year-old to Tennessee for a small vacation this fall, and we discovered Franklin, Tennessee, a “small” (approximately 60,000 population, but it has a small-town feel) town about 20 minutes from Nashville. If I had to choose a favorite town in America, so far this would be my pick.

A brief background for Franklin, TN:

• It was established in 1799 and named for Benjamin Franklin

• The Battle of Franklin was fought in 1864 during the Civil War

• It won Money Magazine’s “Best Places to Live” as well as “Most Romantic Main Street” in 2010

A winning feature of Franklin is its historic downtown. Franklin has utilized master plans to retain its historic downtown and unique sense of place. Franklin’s motto, as seen on their tourism marketing material, is “Find Yourself in Our Story.” I love this statement, for many reasons, but most of all because it is personal, for visitors and residents. Residents in Franklin seem to take its ‘branding’ to heart, helping make it the place it is.

People think of the Midwest as a friendly region. This southern town was the friendliest place I’ve ever been to. My family was in a toy store for a half hour, and at least five families stopped to talk to us, and really interested in who we were and why we were visiting Franklin. My son made friends. Even from our small town, where everyone knows everyone, this was a new experience. This is not a town for antisocial loners. And it doesn’t want to be.

Here at Taylor Studios, we’ve been talking more and more about Community Experience Plans—this community completely inspired me. This community is close-knit although diverse, passionate about its heritage, and committed to keeping Franklin, well, Franklin.

Does your community inspire you?

I think my house needs a pillar.

Even the trash cans tout the motto. If this scene looks familiar to any of you with “Bieber Fever,” this is where he shot his Christmas music video, a mere two weeks before we visited.

The theater was renovated summer 2011 and shows old movies and hosts live music.

My absolute favorite breakfast location, Merridee’s.

You can learn more about Franklin here:www.visitwilliamson.com