Nashville is a fun city with many different things to do, sights to see, and music to hear. You could make many return trips and still be able to see something new each time. There are many options for activities, dining, and lodgings, but here are some of the highlights I’ve experienced in Nashville!
Where to Stay
There are so many hotels in Nashville that it can be hard to decide where to stay. I suggest first researching the activities you want to do and what part of town those are in before you select a hotel. There are many parts to the city, so it’s a good idea to select an area and narrow down hotel options before making a final decision.
One of the more popular hotels is the Gaylord Opryland Resort. It is massive and an experience in and of itself. We spent hours just walking around and exploring the resort. It is also conveniently located next to the Grand Ole Opry.
If you would rather stay closer to downtown, there are many other options. I’ve stayed at Margaritaville. It was very walkable to the popular downtown sights but was not so close that it was noisy or overly crowded. It was a great escape in the busy city.
There are so many musicians in Nashville that there is live music almost everywhere – restaurants, bars, hotel lobbies, etc. Music is infused in nearly every activity within Nashville.
Activities
One of the must-do activities in Nashville is to visit the Grand Ole Opry. It is the longest running radio show. They do shows each Saturday but there is usually at least one other show during the week. The shows are great! Usually, there are several artists that perform about 3 songs each.
The last time I went, I also did the Backstage Tour. It was fantastic. Anyone who enjoys country music would love this tour. There is much history to see on the tour.
The Ryman Auditorium is the original home of the Grand Ole Opry. It is in the downtown area several miles from the newer Grand Ole Opry building. The Ryman is a great stop for serious country music fans. It is an interesting sight to see and is an important part of country music history.
The Country Music Hall of Fame is also in downtown Nashville. The building itself stands out since the front of it is designed to look like the keys of a piano (photo on the left). Inside, you can see many interesting pieces of country music history – awards, tour outfits, etc. Even if you do not go on the actual tour, it is worth visiting the building to check out the gift shops, the history lining the halls in the lobby, and Hatch Show Print.
Hatch Show Print is a company with a historic letterpress that has created concert posters for decades. They are an integral part of country music history. Hatch Show Print is now housed within the same building as the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Visiting downtown Nashville is another must on any Nashville itinerary. It can get crowded and rowdy at night with the bars and restaurants. It is very touristy and can be jam packed with people throughout the bars and street.
During my first trip to Nashville, I went on a celebrity home bus tour. It was fun to see the celebrity homes, but it was also a surprisingly great way to see the the city. We got to see the city and suburbs via a narrated tour – it was great!
One of the stops on the tour was the Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park. It was a good stop to stretch our legs, but it was also a beautiful park and cool to see the state capitol.
Belmont University and the Belmont Mansion are other popular stops in Nashville. The university is well-known for its great music program, but the house itself is also well-known and is a popular stop for tourists. People can go on a tour of the house and learn about the history of its former owners.
The Belle Meade Plantation is another popular home to tour. It is a little further outside the city but is well worth the drive. In addition to viewing the historic house, the grounds of the plantation are quite interesting as well. We spent 2-3 hours exploring all there was to see on the property.
Within Nashville, there is a replica of the Parthenon. It is a very quick stop, but is a fun, can’t miss photo-op.
There is some fantastic shopping in Nashville. There are several shopping areas spread out around town and a great mall – the Mall at Green Hills. Some of my favorite shopping can be found in Hillsboro Village and 12 South. There are many unique boutiques, bakeries, specialty dining, and flagship stores. Some chains also carry specialty items only found in the Nashville stores.
There are so many great restaurants that it is hard to go wrong, but here are some of the popular restaurants I enjoy:
Loveless Cafe is a bit outside of town, but it consistently makes the list of best restaurants for a reason. Their famous biscuits are worth the drive. It is a great restaurant a little off the beaten path.
Pancake Pantry is another popular Nashville restaurant that has been there for decades. There is typically a line to get a table, but it moves quickly. Its a great breakfast spot!
My favorite restaurant in Nashville is Burger Up. The burgers are great. It’s a small restaurant, so be prepared for a wait or consider going at off hours.
If you have access to a car, a day trip to Franklin, TN, is a must. It is a small town about 30 minutes south of Nashville. There is a great downtown area with many shops and restaurants.
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