Author: Jordan Campbell

Top 5 Things to do Before Traveling During COVID-19

Written by Jordan Campbell on February 22, 2021. Posted in Blog.

It’s no secret that we are living in weird, unprecedented times right now. While traveling might not be at the top of some people’s list, it is necessary for others and some just want to escape for the weekend and be safe and healthy while doing so. If you are looking for a weekend trip to get you away from your everyday life, Visit WilCo has a “COVID-19 Travel Check List” to keep you safe and healthy while traveling.

Before you book a flight, hotel, or buy tickets to attractions, always check your local travel restrictions. You might have travel restrictions that don’t allow you to travel to certain places. Check and see if you have to supply anyone or anywhere with a negative COVID test or if there is a quarantine requirement once you return home.
Always check your hotel’s sanitizing protocol. These protocols should be listed on their website when booking, or you can call their front desk and ask or their protocols.
Plan your travel schedule and itinerary. With so many places having COVID-19 protocols in place, it is important to do your research beforehand. While being spontaneous can be fun, it’s not fun to show up to a museum and find out that you have to buy a ticket beforehand or that they are already at capacity for the day. Knowing restaurants’ protocols are also important before showing up to eat so you know if they have indoor dining, mask requirements, outdoor dining only, etc. *WilCo tip: One of Lebanon’s newest restaurants, Sassy Pecan has outdoor seating, and the food is to die for (homemade confections with toffee in every bite)!
Don’t leave without masks, hand sanitizer, and cleaning products.
Finally, enjoy yourself! Traveling might look different, but you can still have fun while following COVID-19 protocols.

WilCo cannot wait to see you in our beautiful county, and we want you to stay safe while doing so!

If you need help planning your trip, click here to browse through our 2021 Visitor’s Guide.

We have so many things to do in WilCo, whether it is an event at the Farm Bureau Expo Center, a pizza from Town Square Social, or a trip to any of our #PaintWilCo murals, you won’t ever get bored while you’re in town. Make sure to tag us in your pictures @VisitWilCo so we can see all of your excursions and fun while in WilCo!

Rhonda and Chris’ Treeland

Written by Jordan Campbell on November 12, 2020. Posted in Attractions.

Nestled near Watertown, Tennessee, on 90 acres in a beautiful valley bordered by two streams, the TreeLand is a tradition for many families. Click here for directions to the TreeLand.

Enjoy free hot chocolate, hot apple cider, cookies, marshmallows you roast on the campfire. Explore the natural beauty of the property and the wildlife who call this home. Well-behaved pets are welcome! No chainsaws or firearms, please.

The TreeLand is open from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. on three weekends in 2020.
November 26-29 | December 5-6 | December 12-13

Other days are self-service. Please call Rhonda at 615.237.9304 before you come.

Height	Price
Up to 6 Feet	$40
6 to 7 Feet	$45
7 to 8 Feet	$50
8 to 9 Feet	$60
9 to 10 Feet	$65
10 to 16 Feet	$70

We accept checks, major credit cards, and cash.

Real Christmas trees are environmentally friendly. Ours produce daily oxygen for about fifty people as well as prevent erosion and provide habitat for wildlife.

Virginia Pines grow well here, have sturdy branches that support heavy ornaments and fill your home with the fragrance of Christmas. With proper care, our trees stay fresh and fragrant throughout the holidays.

A friendly TreeLander will give you a hand saw and a “tree wheeler” to haul your tree. Strong young men will shake and bag your tree then help you tie it on top of your vehicle.

Choose from more than 1,000 Virginia Pine Christmas trees.

For a list of what you can do in Watertown after finding that perfect tree, follow these links!

Restaurants

Shopping

THANK YOU to our Veterans

Written by Jordan Campbell on July 2, 2020. Posted in Blog.

Yesterday I had the honor as the CVB Director and a member of the Wilson County Murals Committee, to be part of the unveiling of our newest mural in our #PaintWilco murals project. With the perfect location donated by Lisa and Darryl Noble and the brilliant artistry of Brad VanHook, the Veterans Mural now looks over the Veterans Plaza (Wilson County Veteran’s Service Office) as a symbol of our ever-grateful hearts to our Veterans.

Yesterday I had a much bigger honor than unveiling the mural. Yesterday I had the honor of meeting and talking with so many of Wilson County’s Veterans. Men and women that have sacrificed so much for our country. My wife and twin boys were there, and I gentleman who actually thanked us for bringing them. This man that probably went through things I cannot imagine was thanking US!?! Selfless hearts are a thing many of us are guilty of being short on, but this was not the case for the men and women I spoke with yesterday.

So again, I say to our Veterans, Thank You. Thank you for being the inspiration for this mural. Thank you for being an inspiration through your acts. Thank you for being the life blood that made the Veterans Museum happen and continue to happen. Thank you from my boys that thought the helicopter in the museum was the coolest thing they’ve ever seen. Personally, thank you for the reminder. We get caught up in ourselves and sometimes just see “the old guy in the Veterans cap” or give no more than a passing thought to a Field of Flags, but we all need to be reminded that each cap tells a story. Each flag in that field tells a story. We need to take the time to hear those stories and appreciate them.

Last night at dinner, as we talked about the people we met, my wife, Kristy, said “Today was good for the soul.” I could not have put any better words together.

Statement from: Jason Johnson, Wilson County Director of Tourism

Photo Credits: Wilson County Mayor’s Office, Lebanon Police Department, and Visit WilCo

Virtual Reality is the new Reality??

Written by Jordan Campbell on May 1, 2020. Posted in In the Meantime, Uncategorized.

Zoom, Teams, Skype, FaceTime. The NFL Draft, American Idol, zoos, and museums. For the last 7 weeks, we’ve worked our jobs, visited our friends and family, attended school, and watched life happen, virtually. Don’t get me wrong, it’s been pretty amazing to see the drive and ingenuity in people to ensure our world keeps turning, but for many of us, the “virtual” aspect of all of this can be stifling.

My two boys have watched countless nature and zoo virtual experiences, but their faces yesterday when they found a caterpillar in backyard said it all. They have filled books and refrigerator doors up with paintings and crayon drawings, but to take them out to Charlie Daniels Park to actually see the colors jump off of the caboose mural said it all.

As I said, we cannot deny all the incredible things done virtually over the last couple of months, but now we can start this transition from “virtual” to “reality.” The reality of things is this: Wilson County is a pretty great place to visit and a pretty great place to be! So start searching our website and start virtually planning the reality of a visit to WilCo!

Jason Johnson, Tourism Director

The Final Stretch

Written by Jordan Campbell on April 21, 2020. Posted in In the Meantime.

Tennessee is in its final stretches of “stay-at-home” orders. While group activities are a little further down the road, the economy will soon be getting a needed boost with the phasing in of non-essential businesses. Today’s “In the Meantime” is all about how you can make the most of this “home stretch” of quarantine.

Getting that Virtual Diploma

Written by Jordan Campbell on April 17, 2020. Posted in In the Meantime, Uncategorized.

How do you fit all the milestones teachers and students lost during the COVID-19 pandemic into an approximately 350-word blog post? It isn’t easy. There aren’t words for how these students and teachers are feeling right now. There aren’t emotions for the milestones they are missing out on- last days, proms, commencement ceremonies, senior nights, end of school parties. Yet here I am, trying to put the lack of words and emotions into words.

Demeter’s Common

Written by Jordan Campbell on April 14, 2020. Posted in In the Meantime.

We got to stay home, but we need to get essential items and we still want to support locally. How on earth do we do that anyway?

Finding My Place in the Crazy

Written by Jordan Campbell on April 9, 2020. Posted in Blog.

“When you’re curious, you find lots of interesting things to do” -Walt Disney

Not All Superheroes Wear Capes

Written by Jordan Campbell on April 3, 2020. Posted in In the Meantime.

I know that Ashley is usually the author and architect of these blogs, but today’s is getting hijacked by me, Jason. Twice a week, Ashley does a great job of highlighting some amazing places in Wilson County. Those “doing great things with the cards they’ve been dealt”, those “finding a way to make it work”, those “glass half-full” people. We hope you continue to appreciate and support these businesses as much as we do! We truly have some amazing people in Wilson County trying hard to bring some happiness and normalcy (or new normalcy) in these times. Please keep an eye out for more featured businesses ahead.

Breeden’s Orchard

Written by Jordan Campbell on March 31, 2020. Posted in Blog, In the Meantime.

Maintaining a sense of normalcy in a time that is so full of uncertainty can be hard. Breeden’s Orchard in Mt. Juliet is trying to keep as much “normal” in the world as they can. Starting March 31, 2020, they will be open Tuesdays 9-1, Thursdays noon-4, and Saturdays 9-1 to offer locally grown and sourced produce and products.