As the old saying goes, “If you want something done well, do it yourself.” That's exactly what TropiTANa owner Alex Friedrichsen did. After 20 years spent tanning at indoor facilities and lamenting the lack of a quality, high-end tanning spa in the Mt. Juliet area, Friedrichsen decided to build one himself, and in 2006, the doors of TropiTANa were officially opened.

Inside, lofty ceilings provide cool ventilation for 15 private rooms, each stocked with fresh towels and trimmed in sea-foam green and wood paneling. Fourteen beds comprise six levels of tanning perfect for establishing or building on a solid base tan, and a VersaSpa booth mists pelts with a carefully calibrated spray that eschews the orange glow typically caused by Velveeta-based formulas. Perhaps most importantly, the tanning spa is staffed by a team of Smart Tan–certified crew members, each of whom has been trained to advise clients on the best tanning choices for their skin type and needs, and to clean each room according to a checklist to ensure sanitary surroundings after each session.