On our recent trip to Nashville, Indiana my wife and I were in search of the things that made Nashville famous. From antiques to art, Brown County and Nashville, Indiana have something for just about everyone.

The rugged and beautiful countryside of Brown County has been compared to the mountainous areas in the eastern United States. When you drive through Nashville and the surrounding Brown County, you’ll know why it is called “The Little Smokies.” Around the turn of the century, the scenic views and fantastic scenery, and the equally colorful characters who populated the region, attracted artists from all over the world.

Artistic Traditions Continue In Nashville's Art Colony

Since the early 1900’s, Nashville and the surrounding area of Brown County have served as an art colony. When T.C. Steel and many other artists brought their families to Brown County, it was the beginning of a great tradition in Nashville and the area of Brown County. Over the years, others followed, and Brown County became known as one of the most popular art colonies in the nation. Using paint and canvas, those masters created some of Indiana’s best landscape paintings. Today, there are more than 300 shops, studios, galleries, restaurants, hotels and bed and breakfasts nestled in the hills of Nashville and Brown County. Following in the tradition of the early arrivals, today’s artists still seek to express the beauty found in Brown County.

The Hidden Valley Inn

On our arrival in Nashville, we stayed at the beautiful Hidden Valley Inn, located on the north end of town. It is a three story structure, with all three floors accessible to ground level. The rooms are very beautiful, and extremely well decorated. We enjoyed the fireplace in the living room, and at night we sat on our own private balcony and admired the fantastic view. The suite also had a whirlpool tub, kitchenette and cable TV. We enjoyed our stay there thanks to the wonderful staff.

The Artists Colony Inn

On our first evening in Nashville we dined at the Artists Colony Inn, the Inn is a local favorite in the Nashville area. The food was very delightful, and the service was excellent, and the people very friendly. Local craftsman have created furnishings typical of a 19th century Inn. The Inn offers suites that are decorated with cherry furniture designed by Bob Timberlake. Most guest rooms feature four poster beds, Windsor chairs, hand stitched quilts and loomed rugs. It is a wonderful place to stay and to have a pleasant and tasteful dining experience.

The Hobnob Corner Restaurant

At lunch time on the following day we found a wonderful corner store called The Hobnob Corner Restaurant. Warren and Betsy Cole are the owners of the Hobnob, which serves delicious sandwiches and dinners. We enjoyed our lunch specialty sandwiches and home made bread, which is baked daily at the Hobnob. They also offer fresh baked pastries and Danish. High quality products and personal attention to details creates a wonderful and delicious restaurant.

During our time in Nashville we visited many of the shops and stores, many were offering their own home made products and wares. As we wandered the streets looking for the unusual and the hand made goods we were not disappointed, we found many different shops, galleries and studios.

A Tip For Visiting Nashville

When searching for unique treasures look further than just Main Street in Nashville. We found many of our favorite artistic treasures along the back roads and alleys. So remember when visiting Nashville and Brown County, Indiana be sure to look in the hidden and out-of-the-way places for unique shops.