A beginner’s guide to Murfreesboro

Ah, Murfreesboro- geographical center of Tennessee, historical Civil War location and home to the Blue Raiders.

If you are new to our great expanse of Rutherford County, you may be unsure of where to go or what to do with your newfound collegiate freedom. But never fear, the ‘Boro offers many attractions to fill all that time your mom thinks you are using to study.

If there is one thing Murfreesboro is not lacking, it’s restaurants. The sheer amount of choices may intimidate a newcomer, but there are several worth your time and money.

For Southern fare, try Jeff Howell’s Family Restaurant- I have on good authority that the fried chicken and ribs are top-notch. If meat and threes are more your style, Kleer-Vu Lunchroom is as equally delicious as it is grammatically incorrect.

The best Mexican generally agreed upon is Camino Real, conveniently located near campus- be sure to have your student ID handy for a 10 percent discount. For sweets, Donut Country is the perfect place to grab breakfast or a late-night snack. They keep the coffee flowing, too, so it’s not a bad place to study if the library gets old (and it will).

The ‘Boro has plenty of shopping, though admittedly many of us are on a shoestring college budget. The Avenue is an open-air shopping center, featuring department stores and shops such as Barnes and Noble, Ulta and Express. The Stones River Mall houses Forever 21, Pacific Sunwear and Buckle, among others.

The Avenue holds dining and shopping options, with popular stores such as Newk’s and Chili’s. Photo by Matt Masters.

As with any college town, Murfreesboro has it’s fair share of bars and clubs. Main Street Live!– formerly Gilligan’s, formerly Club 527– hosts weekly shows and is generally 18 and up. For those who are legal, Wall Street Grill and The Boro are popular places to imbibe. Mark and Pat’s Handlebar, located off East Main Street, is an all-hours, Waffle-House type of restaurant—if Waffle House served beer. Word on the street is that they serve a killer breakfast.

If you’re an outdoorsman or woman, Murfreesboro has a great Greenway system perfect for jogging, strolling or biking, as well as the Bark Park for your four-legged friends. Barfield Crescent Park is a wildlife sanctuary with beautiful trails, campsites and a disc golf course. For a historical outing, the Stones River Battlefield is a national park complete with trails, tours and a Civil War museum.

Should you find yourself bored with the ‘Boro, there is a benefit to being in the center of the state. In almost any direction you set your sails, you’re bound to find an adventure. Murfreesboro is located 40 minutes from Nashville, and I guarantee there’s a concert there tonight- or any night. There are also museums, restaurants, record stores and the famous honky-tonks of Music City. If you’re looking to go a little farther, Murfreesboro is just two hours from the mountains of Chattanooga, three-and-a-half hours from Louisville and four hours from Memphis.

The campus of MTSU has its share of events as well. There are clubs, the recreation center and movies at the new Student Union building. The university hosts occasional concerts in the James Union Building or events on the recreation center lawn. And, of course, there are sporting events, such as tailgating in Walnut Grove before football games. Be sure to check the Student Programming & Activities page on MTSU’s website for more events this fall.

Welcome to Murfreesboro and MTSU. Enjoy the events and attractions that are available here, and discover for yourself all that Middle Tennessee has to offer.