Nashville is growing and the surrounding area kind of all gets lumped into what is now known as the Nashville area. So we came up with 12 things to do in Nashville this weekend but in reality, it's all about the surrounding area. While Nashville is full of tons of stuff to do, it's always a good idea to get out of town every once in a while and explore all that Middle Tennessee has to offer. These 12 best day trips in Nashville we've put together are the perfect ways to get out of town all year round and see some of the most beautiful, fun, and unique spots throughout the state. Check them out!

January - Land Between The Lakes

Situated between Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake on the Tennessee/Kentucky border, Land Between the Lakes is a beautiful landscape full of stunning views and abundant wildlife. January is peak bald eagle season, making this 2-hour drive from Nashville ideal for this winter month.

February - Rock City

What's more romantic for February than taking the 2-hour drive down to Lookout Mountain to the famous Lovers Leap waterfall? Rock City even has Valentine's Day packages for any lovebirds visiting during Valentine's Day weekend. During February or not, Rock City is one of the most unique things to do around Nashville. Check out this video from Yankeesinthesouth:

March - Sewanee

As the state comes alive after the cold winter, Sewanee is the perfect spot to see the budding flora and experience the natural beauty of the state. The hundreds of miles of trails along the Cumberland Plateau in and around Sewanee are the perfect spot for a quick springtime hike.

April - The National Cornbread Festival

Every April in the small town of South Pittsburg, the National Cornbread Festival takes over downtown for a weekend. The festival is full of arts, crafts, live music, and tons and tons of cornbread concoctions up for competitions and for tasting. Food demos and samplings are just the beginning of the delicious fun here!

May - Shiloh National Battlefield

The Shiloh National Battlefield still has many of the canons from the infamous 1862 battle on the site, making it a sobering but perfect day trip for the Memorial Day weekend at the end of May. You can walk the battlefield and learn all about its importance in the Civil War.

June - RC Cola and Moon Pie Festival

One of the quirkiest but favorite festivals in the state is Bell Buckle's annual RC Cola and Moon Pie Festival. The small town throws a parade, has all kinds of local artists, and even throws a pageant for Mr. RC Cola and Ms. Moon Pie. The festival usually takes place in mid-June.

July - Smithville Fiddlers' Jamboree

Every year on the weekend closest to the 4th of July, the tiny town of Smithville throws one of the biggest parties any small town in Tennessee has ever seen - The Smithville Fiddlers' Jamboree. The town of 4,000 gets over 30,000 visitors for the weekend as they pay homage to classic Appalachian music. They've been going strong every year since 1972, and the festival history is fascinating

August - The Lost Sea Adventure

When the hottest months of the year come around, the smart ones head underground. And there's nowhere better way to escape the heat than the Lost Sea Adventure, where you can ride a glass-bottomed boat across America's largest underground lake. If you're searching for a unique getaway spot, then the Lost Sea Adventure should definitely be on your list! Check out this video from yankeesinthesouth to get a tour of this underground wonder:

September - Burgess Falls

Another great way to cool off in the hottest months? Head to the water. Burgess Falls, located at Burgess Falls State Park, is stunning any time of year, but swimming at the pool at the bottom of the falls is both incredibly refreshing and picture perfect. The falls are only an hour and 20 minutes outside of Nashville, making this an easy day trip.

October - Bell Witch Cave

You need a good, spooky road trip for October, and what's spookier than one of the most haunted places in Tennessee? The Bell Witch Cave is only a 45-minute drive from downtown Nashville, and you can tour a cave so haunted, even Andrew Jackson wouldn't stay on the property! As best day trips in Tennessee go, this is a gooooooood one!

November - Natchez Trace Parkway

The beginning of November is peak foliage season for most of Tennessee, and there's no better spot to see the leaves than the stunning, scenic Natchez Trace Parkway. Head south on the highway from Nashville at least to Lieper's Fork where you can get stunning views of the valley from the parkway's famous double-arch bridge.

December - Franklin

Franklin is often lauded as one of the best small towns in America, and they pull out all of the stops when it comes to Christmastime. The Main Street gets decked out with all of the Christmas cheer you could imagine, and their annual Dickens of a Christmas Festival is one of the biggest events in Middle Tennessee. It's the perfect way to spend a weekend before the holidays start.

Out of these 12 things to do in Nashville this weekend how many have you done? Have you visited any of these places? If so, we'd love to see your photos and hear about your experiences there!

If you want an adrenaline rush of an adventure, check out this epic ziplining tour through the mountains of East Tennessee.