City Break USA: How To Spend A Weekend In Nashville

I’d been to Nashville for a work conference years ago, but the truth is that I’d never REALLY been to Nashville. Why? I only left the convention center once and didn’t get a feel for the city. Frankly, going back was not at the top of my list but my friend’s wedding this past October gave me a second chance. A chance to do Nashville right! I was in Nashville for 48 hours but I definitely did better this time and I loved it. Read on to learn more about my time there and how to spend a weekend in Nashville.

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nashville Facts – Get To Know The City

• Nashville is one of the fastest growing cities in the USA
• It is is the number 1 destination for bachelorette parties in the USA
• Nashville is the home of country music and is known as Music City (this is the only fact I knew prior)
• It has AMAZING southern food

Weekend In Nashville – The Crew

Our weekend in Nashville was a wet one, but we were determined to make the most of it. I was traveling with two girlfriends (we all arrived from different cities). Nashville makes a great destination for a girl’s trip.

Where To Stay In Nashville

We stayed at a hotel within walking distance of main sights downtown. Whether you decide on an Airbnb, hotel, or hostel, anywhere Downtown, The Gulch, or Mid Town would be great!

Things To Do During A Weekend In Nashville

Food Walking Tour

Nashville’s a great city to go on a food walking tour. I mean isn’t it easier to learn history while you eat?  I’d never tried the hot chicken before and I ended up having it twice in 48 hours. We booked a downtown Nashville Food Tour with A Little Local Flavor. This three-hour food tour is touted as Nashville’s best food tour and was highly rated on Trip Advisor so I went for it. The company is owned by locals focused on celebrating their community (supporting local small businesses is also my cup of tea).

Whether you’re traveling solo or with friends, a food tour is an amazing way to meet people (locals and other travelers). The food tour deserves a full post of its own but let me just say Nashville’s food scene is POPPING. We walked, learned about the city – saw the Parthenon, Ryman’s Auditorium, Country Music Hall of Fame, Parthenon replica, and had a little Civil rights history lesson over dessert at Woolworths on 5th. We ate, drank, and took in live music at two locations. At the end, we even got restaurant recommendations from our guide!

Music

Whether you’re into country music of not, you’ve got to take in live music when you’re in Nashville and there are lots of options. Check out the concert calendar to see what shows are playing during your planned trip.

Broadway

Plan your day such that you spend some time on Broadway (the main street downtown Nashville). Lower Broadway is also known as ‘Honky Tonk Highway’ with honky tonk bars lining the street and guess what? There’s no cover charge. So walk on in, grab a drink and listen to live music. It was definitely a first for me at a honky tonk bar. Expect it to be packed through. Some of the most popular bars are Legends Corner, The Stage (which plays all kinds of music and is great for variety), and Honky Tonk Central.

Grand Ole’ Opry

A radio show here put Nashville on the map as the Country Music capital. The Opry is just a little outside downtown and it continues to host top country performers. You can book a daytime backstage tour, a post show tour, or a VIP tour. Admission for adults (ages 12 and older) for a daytime backstage tour costs $27, while children’s (ages 4 to 11) admission costs $22. Post-show tours and VIP tours cost extra. While I did not get to visit this historic site, I’d recommend making time for this if your schedule permits.

Nightlife

Looking for rooftop bars? Check out Bourbon Sky, Famous Saloon, and Rare Bird. For more Live music options check out The Big Bang, B.B. King’s Blues Club & Restaurant, and Bourbon Street Blues & Boogie Bar (this was the last stop on our food tour, loved it). If pub-crawls are your thing, there are a good number of options on trip advisor.

Explore The Gulch

This part of town was my absolute favorite to walk and people watch. The Gulch is a vibrant community, home to shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues in Nashville. I got a manicure here, my friends got their hair done, we had brunch in the area, and of course found the site of one of Kelsey Montague’s ‘What Lifts You’ murals right there in the Gulch. Be sure to check this neighborhood out!

Visit The BelLE Meade Plantation

A visit to a plantation is also a history lesson and it’s something I’d like to do in the US Southern states. This estate is said to be an example of Victorian architecture in Tennessee, and was a site of Civil War battles. Owned the Harding Family, one of the largest slave-holding families in Nashville, a tour to the plantation also promises to highlight this aspect. The plantation is located 6 miles outside Nashville and the tours last about 45 minutes. Click here for more information.

Eat Some More

Dinner at Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint:

We had Barbecue and live music at Martins BBQ Joint as recommended by our guide from the food tour. This restaurant is the home of the West Tennessee Style Whole Hog BBQ with locations downtown and in Belmont. We visited the downtown location. As our guide warned, the lines were long but it moved so fast and we were seated and served in no time. There’s so much sitting space here (across two floors), I wonder how many guests they cater to on a daily basis.  With a beer garden and a stage in the back, this’ll make a great place to hang out in the spring/summer. The food was tasty, and I’d wholeheartedly recommend it!

Brunch At Biscuit Love:

The absolute best meal I had during the weekend in Nashville and I had a hard time settling down on one item. My friend said we had to try the bonut (biscuit donut) and she was so right. I mean, it is heavenly and they invented it here. Biscuit Love has three locations in the Nashville area (The Gulch, Downtown Franklin, and Hillsboro Village). The prices are so reasonable (my main entree cost $10 but then we added the bonus, sweet tea, and chai). Check them out on the web here. It is a MUST visit, I’m so glad my friend brought us here! I took my leftovers on the flight home… still tasty 24 hours later!

Truth is, there are so many great restaurants in Nashville  (oh, don’t forget Woolworths on 5^th for brunch) but I frankly did not have the time to explore. I CANNOT wait to return to Nashville. The food alone is reason enough!

I Underestimated Nashville

The truth is, I’d put Nashville in a box, and while I was sure it was a great city for country music lovers, I just didn’t think it was a city I WOULD enjoy. I should know better, right? They say assumption is the worst form of ignorance and I assumed on this one. I didn’t know much about it and it wasn’t until I was going that I paid attention. I LOVED my weekend in Nashville, I think 4 days would be ideal here but a weekend was all I had.  Check out my Instagram feed and highlights for more of all that I shared.

Is there a place you’ve visited and were pleasantly surprised? Are there places you think aren’t for you, let me know where and why? Have you been to Nashville? Let me know in the comment section below!

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Till Next Week,

Dee (Ms. Heels)