Hey, friends! So here’s the thing… I love visiting places in the U.S. that normally I wouldn’t visit unless I had a reason. And, while I had a reason (technically) this time, it was still a trip taken solely for leisure. That said, Nashville did NOT disappoint. I enjoyed myself much more than I thought I would and it was mainly because of the rich culture and history throughout the city. There was so much to do, so much to learn and so much to experience. Also, Nashville is booming – the city is growing, they are building high rises like crazy, and it’s definitely giving millennial luxe vibes. I am here for it. I could live in Nashville and I always say, “if I can live somewhere it’s a great city in more ways than one.” I’m dropping all the deets in this blog post about my Nashville trip. I hope you enjoy this recap because I’m telling you what you need to know (as far as I know) based on my experience. Let’s get into it…
WHERE TO STAY IN NASHVILLE, TN
Our living arrangements included two different hotels, both of which we enjoyed greatly. Both hotels were located downtown but on opposite sides of each other. Both of them were within walking distance of Broadway street (where you can find all the action). However, there were distinct differences between the two that made the uniquely amazing to their brand. I recommend staying at either location – do your research and choose what fits your style and budget best. Also, stay where you get points. I am both a member of IHG and Marriott so I racked up points at both! Yay!
First, we stayed at Hotel Indigo, which was the perfect location for walking to Broadway Street but still somewhat out of the mix and madness of it all. We enjoyed Hotel Indigo because they had an amazing breakfast menu, delicious dinner menu, and live music every single night in the bar area where the bartenders knew their stuff! I personally drank whiskey the entire trip and was served some amazing sidecars with my whiskey of choice (which changed every day). Downtown Nashville has lots of hills, but the hills to and from Hotel Indigo were not as steep as some of the others. Also, Printers Alley is located on the backside of Hotel Indigo. Printer’s Alley has cute dive bars and even a blues bar that many people frequent. Unfortunately, I did not get pictures of Hotel Indigo, but it was such a great, traditional vibe.
Next, we stayed at the JW Marriott, which was also in a great location and wasn’t located too far from Broadway St., the Country Music Hall of Fame, and many other places you can conveniently walk to. There’s a restaurant located in the JW called Stomping Grounds and their food was delicious. Stomping Grounds also has a bakery/coffee shop wing in it so if you’re looking for a quick grab you can get that there as well. The JW had a nice pool area with cabanas, a spa, and a large gym which I absolutely loved. I was really impressed by the technology in the room such as the doorbell and lighting functions, which sounds cheesy but it’s nice to not have to get out of bed when you realize you forgot to shut a light off. the JW is at the top of a pretty steep (approximately 3 blocks) hill so keep in mind as you are planning your trip.
TRANSPORTATION
We primarily used Uber and Lyft as our modes of transportation. We had a guided tour as one of our activities where we had a driver guide us around Nashville for about 7 hours, but other than that we stayed Downtown and walked everywhere. Do you need a rental car? No, unless you plan on driving to Gatlinburg, Memphis, or somewhere else nearby. Even if you plan on going to a Tennesee Titans game, the stadium is located on the other side of the river in Downtown Nashville so no car is needed!
THINGS TO DO IN NASHVILLE, TN
National Museum of African American Music:
This is an absolute must-visit. This museum was extremely interactive and informative. From creating your own playlists to producing your own beats to testing out your freestyle skills, to watching old-school music videos and performances at award shows. The museum took approximately 2-2.5 hours to walk through in its entirety – that is if you are reading every single thing like my mom and me, haha.
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum:
Even if you aren’t a “fan” of country music, I recommend you give this museum a visit. They pay tribute to African Americans’ contributions to country music and have amazing memorabilia showcased such as Elvis Presley’s Cadillac and performance outfits by many artists you may know and even love. If I were you I would give yourself approximately 3 hours maximum to walk through the museum in its entirety.
Visit Ryman Auditorium:
I learned that the Ryman auditorium is a Nashville staple. We completed the self-guided tour and it took about an hour to get through the Ryman. Many artists have made their way through the Ryman such as B.B. King, Jason Aldean, and Garth Brooks. Artists see the Ryman as a treasure that must be protected at all costs – especially since it has so much history and so many legends have touched that stage. I highly encourage you to take a visit because it was amazing to learn the back story and present story of the Ryman.
Visit the Grand Ole Opry:
Okay so apparently this should be on our bucket list and I didn’t even know it. I truly enjoyed my time at the Grand Ole Opry. As someone who loves music (all types of music) it felt great to be introduced to artists I never heard of (and some I had) and enjoy their music through the entire show. It also felt great to be a part of a live show – to know that my laugh contributed to what someone across the world was hearing at the exact moment when they were hearing it, haha.
Take a Guided Tour:
We took a guided tour and loved every bit of it. Our tour guide was so knowledgeable and showed us all around Nashville while also briefing us on the history of many local bars, recording studios, and neighborhoods. During our tour with her, we visited the Parthenon, drove by Vanderbilt, Fisk University, Tennessee State University, went to Antique Archaeologists (where the show American Pickers is based), went to the Ryman Auditorium, ate at the Assembly Food Hall, and then went to the Patsy Cline Museum before calling it a day. Whew! It was such a long day, but so much fun, and I learned so much about the history of music and culture in Nashville. The guided tour was from 11 am – 5 pm.
Eat at the Sun Diner:
Listen, this place was my favorite. It was the first meal I had when I arrived and the last meal I had before leaving. WOW! I got the chicken and waffles both times. The chicken was cooked to perfection and the batter for the waffle was some type of magical something that was just perfect! This place is pretty popular so plan accordingly – we visited during the week so we got lucky, but I can bet you my last buck that place is popping on the weekend. The seating is family-style with just a few booths, just FYI. It’s located on 3rd right past Broadway St. near the Johnny Cash Museum.
Pub Crawl:
We did a pub crawl and it was… interesting. I had a slight issue with the fact that we didn’t pick our drinks. We just consumed what was given to us by our guide at each bar. I don’t know what you’re thinking right now, but I might have an idea, LOL. We consumed beer, cider, frozen vodka, moonshine, tequila, whiskey, and some other stuff. Luckily the portions weren’t too much. We would spend a little time at each bar before heading to the next and that was nice because most (if not all) bars in Nashville have live music.
Grab a Drink and Enjoy Live Music:
Nashville is the place to be if you enjoy live music. Talented artists take the stage and put on amazing shows. Most of them involve the crowd and take requests while others just do their own thing. Regardless of how it’s being done, I encourage you to stop and soak it in because it’s nothing like a good Tennessee whiskey and live music preparing you for whatever is to come next. We also enjoyed some time at Corsair Distillery located at Marathon Motor Works. The whiskey is strong, but it’s supposed to be right? Haha
Visit the Assembly Food Hall and the stores nearby:
Assembly Food Hall won my heart. I walked through like a kid at an arcade for the first time. Where do I start? What should I try? From gran and go spots like Prince’s Chicken to restaurants you can enjoy like Sixty Vines. It’s all under one roof! I stan the Assembly Food Hall!
So, basically…
Nashville is full of culture, great food, lots of live music, and hella fun! You should go! It’s a surprisingly good time, I promise!
Traveling to Tucson, AZ soon? Be sure to check out this blog post for my recap!
