Goat Yoga and Downtown Franklin
What a fun day we had in Franklin, IN. After a restful night’s sleep, we got a jump start on the day by hitting up the local Farmer’s Market. Most towns have a weekly Farmer’s Market (often on Saturday), so when we travel I always do a little research ahead of time to scout them out. It’s a fun way to meet the locals (and ask for recommendations!) and if we are staying at a location with a kitchen, it’s the perfect time to stock up on fresh food.
Franklin’s Farmer’s Market runs from 8 – 12 on Saturdays and has a dedicated spot right on the edge of downtown. We enjoyed checking it out and picked up some tasty kombucha while we were there.
I loved these little red wagons that you could use to load up your goodies (or maybe your kids!):
Next on the agenda was Farm Animal Yoga. Yep, you read that right. It’s the next iteration of Goat Yoga. Which is also a real thing. This may have been my favorite part of the weekend (although the Artcraft was a close second).
Tagalong Farms has been doing goat yoga for a while now and decided to improve upon the experience by once in a while offering a more interesting cast of animals. Lucky for me, the weekend we were there was one of the farm animal weekends. It’s pretty much exactly what it sounds like. You get to do yoga outside with a bunch of farm animals running around. It was awesome.
Yes, that’s a pig in front of my yoga mat. We also got to interact with chickens, kittens, bunnies and of course goats. The instructor, Jocelyn has been teaching goat yoga classes for about a year, and she made it really fun for everyone present. We ran through a pretty standard routine – lots of stretching, a few sun salutations, etc.
This is definitely a class a beginner or non-yogi would feel comfortable attending. She was also very understanding of the fact that it was impossible not to stop sometimes to pet an animal or take pictures. So maybe not the best workout I’ve ever had, but possibly the most fun!
After goat yoga, we met up with some friends who were in town for the CE divisional swim meet and enjoyed a delicious meal with a lovely view of the golf course at Big Woods. Big Woods is an Indiana company that began in Nashville, IN as a brewery and has morphed into not just a brewery (Quaff on) but also a distillery (Hard Truth) and a few additional restaurants. We all loved the atmosphere, food, and drinks.
It was time to burn off some of those calories so that was accomplished by shopping downtown Franklin. The town is absolutely adorable with a traditional square surrounded by a variety of stores and restaurants. Very walkable.
With a sidewalk sale going on, there was a lot of fun shopping to be had. If you like antiques, there were several very nice stores. Also some unique clothing boutiques (my favorites), a local coffee shop, record store and home decor shops. Even a toy store for the kids.
While at the record store, we got a tip from the owner about a place we just had to check out, Madison Street Salvage. He mentioned that all his record holders were made from church pews he picked up there. Sounded cool, so we were off to find it.
This shop is really interesting. While there, we spoke to the store’s one paid employee, Danny Causy. Everyone else who works there is a volunteer. Danny’s passion for the shop and restoration, in general, was obvious. He shared with us how the store takes donations and then uses the money made to help restore old buildings around Franklin.
They are currently working on restoring their 16th location. Money made at the store also goes to help support the Artcraft Theatre – which after last night’s show I am now a huge fan of! If you live in the Indianapolis area and are looking for salvage materials for remodeling, projects, etc. Madison Street Salvage is a great resource.
Hard to believe it, but it was time to eat again! For dinner, we enjoyed being part of the Franklin community by dining at The Willard. The Willard is located in a historic building (built in 1860 as a residence) and seemed to be the place where everyone from Franklin was hanging out. The atmosphere was comfortable, the service was wonderful and the food was tasty. We couldn’t ask for more. To learn more about our experience at The Willard, check out this post with ALL the details. I’ll just tease you with a few photos here:
If you want to re-create our amazing day in Franklin, here is all the info you need – I was amazed at how much there was to do and see in this small town!
Franklin Farmer’s Market; 2 blocks west of the Courthouse; Website
Goat Yoga: Tagalong Boutique; 251 E Jefferson Street; (317)-438-7640
Big Woods; 1800 East King Street; (317) 739-0378; http://www.bigwoodsrestaurants.com/franklin/
Madison Street Salvage; 350 E. Madison Street; 317-739-0601; http://www.fhisalvage.org/
The Willard; 99 N. Main Street; 317-738-9668; http://www.thewillard.com
Check out the fun we had last night in Franklin:
Brick Oven Pizza and an Art Deco theater
Thank you to the Festival Country CVB, Tagalong Boutique and The Willard for hosting parts of our visit to Franklin, IN. The opinions expressed are all my own.
I’d heard about goat yoga before, but hadn’t seen it! Such a cute little goat!
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I know, super cute. It is starting to pop up all over – definitely something fun to check out.
Goat yoga looks like a blast! A new experience for sure!
It was very new to me – and very fun!
I love goats, but I don’t know if I could do yoga with them, haha. But it looks fun and different! Maybe I’ll give it a try someday!
They were suprisingly not pushy – maybe because they were so small.
I’ve dying to try goat yoga! Sounds like such a lovely day! Thanks for sharing!
Laura, it’s popping up everywhere, so I bet you could find one either where you are or on your next trip out of town.
The goat is so cute!
I know! He was only 1 week old. Adorable.
This seems like the most perfect day ever! Animals and good food?! Sign me up!
Ashley, it was so fun!
I keep hearing about goat yoga – I would LOVE to try it! Those restaurants look fantastic, and I love a good salvage shop. Looks like a great town!
Jess, goat yoga is popping up everywhere, it was definitely fun! I’m with you on the salvage shop – fun!
I’m not a huge yoga person but I would love to chill with the goats. They are so friendly. And the food afterwards looks good too.
Monica, it was pretty basic yoga – and we were totally encouraged to play with the goats – so perfect for everyone!
Interesting yoga, and some yumminess food there, I know my eyes were light up when I see food, lol. my friend run dogga here (yoga with dog), I have never try it though, I am not a dog person, hehe.
I would love a dog yoga – especially puppies. I’m with you on the food – good food always has me interested!
Just as I was getting used to the idea of yoga with a goat, you bring in a…pig? Seriously, it looks like a blast and something I would totally be into!
Oh how adorable, I would love to do yoga with the goats!
It was so fun even if it wasn’t the best workout I’ve ever had.
Goat Yoga is on my list of things to try! Although, I on’t know how much yoga I’d actually do – I just want to hang out with the goats. Lol. Visiting a farmer’s market while traveling is a great tip. No one knows a town better than the locals.
Not gonna lie Christa, I did as much cuddling the animals as yoga that morning.
Oh, how fun! I love yoga and I LOVE pigs ! This looks like an amazing day!
Me too – fun combo!
I heard about goat yoga on the radio and thought it was a joke, I had no idea that it was real. How fun! sounds like my kind of yoga.
I know! I thought it was a joke at first too, but it’s the real deal.
I love following this trip of yours! Farm Animal Yoga? Not sure you could get me to do that, but it sounds extremely intriguing, to say the least. I love the food pics you showed and it sounds like they have the kind of restaurants I would love to visit.
Thanks! I’m all about the local restaurants with great food and drinks.
Oh. My. Goodness! I would love to do yoga with a piggie. Heart melt!! What a fun filled day. I would’ve left with a truck load of stuff and one pig.
That made me giggle! The pig was darling.
A very unique way of yoga but I’m sure it makes it more fun and entertaining.
So true!
How neat! Looks like fun.
Madison Street Salvage looks like a place I would love to shop at! The town in itself looks like a cool place to visit! And what a fun way to do yoga!
We have a local farm that offers goat yoga and I have been meaning to try it out! So fun.
Tina, you need to go give it a shot!
Looks like a great place to visit! Ive been so curious about goat yoga! i can see how it would br a lot of fun, even if not the most effective.
Exactly!
haha yes to goat yoga!