It may be less than a 30-minute drive from Music City‚ but Mt. Juliet certainly isn’t Nashville –and it doesn’t want to be. This town and the surrounding county are a haven for residents and visitors wanting to escape big-city traffic jams and rediscover the charms of small-town America. Diners serve up good old home cooking with a generous dose of Southern hospitality‚ and although progressive new developments continue to pop up‚ much of the area’s landscape remains pristine and natural. The community’s rapid growth is a testimony to its wide spread appeal – Mt. Juliet’s population grew from 5‚000 in 1990 to more than 20‚000 in 2006.

Come for the weekend and see what all the fuss is about – or come to stay. Here are a few suggestions for a whirl wind weekend exploration.

Friday

5 p.m.

Get your fill of comfort food with dinner at Our Place Cafeteria (4066 North Mt. Juliet Road)‚ a down-home restaurant reminiscent of Grandma’s house. Hand made quilts hang on the walls‚ and antiques make up the rest of the décor in the cozy dining room. Skinless fried chicken‚ real mashed potatoes‚ turkey and dressing‚ country-fried steak and gravy‚ homemade meatloaf and country vegetables are just a few of the foods that have earned Our Place a loyal customer base in Mt. Juliet and beyond.

7 p.m.

Head for the Mt. Juliet train station (22 East Division Street) and board the Music City Star commuter train to Nashville‚ departing at 7:10 p.m. Enjoy the 30-minute ride and take a stroll along Nashville’s riverfront‚ or have a cocktail and dinner at one of the restaurants along Second Avenue. Catch the return train at 9:57 p.m. One-way tickets can be purchased at station vending machines for $5.

Saturday

8 a.m.

Enjoy hot coffee and freshly baked bagels and breads at K&K Bagels (4038 North Mt. Juliet Road). Then take a stroll on the walking trail at Charlie Daniels Park (1100 Charlie Daniels Parkway) while the kids play on the enormous Planet Playground‚ which resembles a castle and has numerous swings and slides. Also at the park are an old-fashioned red caboose‚ tennis courts‚ volleyball and basketball courts‚ football fields and four covered pavilions.

11 a.m.

Grab a light lunch at Creative Accents & Scarlett’s Garden Tea Room (12192 Lebanon Road). Then visit the Mt. Juliet-Wilson County Library‚ where you can hunker down with a good book‚ research your family genealogy or surf the Internet while the kids are entertained in the children’s area.

1 p.m.

Swim‚ feed the ducks or let the kids play on the playground at Cedar Creek Recreation Area (9264 Saundersville Road) on Old Hickory Lake. Or take the family to Cedar Creek Sports Center (10770 Lebanon Road) for putt-putt golf‚ bumper boats and batting cages. After working up a sweat‚ refresh yourself with a blended smoothie or energizer drink at Keva Juice at Providence MarketPlace (401 South Mt. Juliet Road).

3 p.m.

Shop or catch a movie at Providence MarketPlace‚ a 103-acre mixed-use development that offers popular stores such as J.C. Penney‚ Target‚ T.J. Maxx and Bath and Body Works as well as a movie theater. Have dinner at one of its many eateries – Salsarita’s Fresh Cantina and NYPD Pizza both offer outdoor seating.

8 p.m.

Relax and listen to live music at Billy Goat Coffee Café‚ also located at Provi dence MarketPlace. Sip on a specialty coffee or indulge in dessert while soaking up the tunes. Bring your laptop and take advantage of Billy Goat’s free WiFi.

Sunday

8 a.m.

Feast on a country breakfast of eggs and pancakes at Cracker Barrel Old Country Store (350 South Mt. Juliet Road)‚ which was founded in nearby Lebanon and now has 560 locations in 41 states.

11 a.m.

Walk the two-mile Nature Loop Trail at Long Hunter State Park (2910 Hobson Pike‚ Hermitage). The hard-surfaced trail circles Couchville Lake and features interpretive signage depicting plants‚ trees and animals. Keep your eyes and ears peeled for wild deer‚ turkey‚ rabbits‚ snakes and butterflies.

1 p.m.

Chow down on a juicy burger at Red Robin Gourmet Burgers in the Providence MarketPlace. Other nearby lunch options include Chick-Fil-A‚ Fulin’s Asian Cuisine and Steak ’n Shake.

3 p.m.

On your way out of town‚ spend an hour or two picking seasonal fruit at Breeden’s Orchard (631 Beckwith Road‚ 615-449-2880). The family-owned orchard offers pre-picked and pick-your-own peaches in the summer (adults only) and apples in the fall (adults and children). Call ahead to ensure fruit availability. Be sure to visit the pie kitchen on your way out and take a fresh pie or homemade jellies home with you.