Nashville many times referred to Nashvegas or Music City. Nashville, TN a popular destination filled with culture, local charms, a lot of music, and irresistible variations of food. Nashville was on my list of places to travel.
Known for live music, iconic landmarks, and an abundance of Southern hospitality. Nashville is an energetic city with something to do for any traveler.
I had no idea how close Nashville was from Atlanta. Before deciding on where my next adventure would be, I mapped out a few places where I would be able to drive. Nashville came in at just about 3 hours and 47 minutes. I was sold! It was a straight drive and it was scenic for the most part. I’m a city girl, so this was the first time driving around the mountains. It was a sight to see and a fun experience.
WHERE TO STAY
I knew that before going to Nashville that I wanted to be in the heart of everything and not have to worry about driving and looking for parking every time we went out. I stayed at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel, a beautiful luxury hotel in the heart of everything downtown Nashville has to offer. Everything including the infamous Music Row, the Bridgestone Arena, and the convention center was within walking distance. The Renaissance Nashville Hotel is a prime location for everything that you will want to see and experience downtown.
In the hotel, there are a few places to eat, grab drinks, or quick snacks.
Five Chords Mercantile: A small little market for grab-and-go snacks. I came here to grab snacks and water for the room and the ride back to Atlanta.
Little Fib: I did not have the chance to eat here but they were always busy. This is an American restaurant.
The Bridge: The restaurant is literally on a bridge that connects the hotel to a parking garage. Fully enclosed with all glass windows, The Bridge is a must to check out during your stay. The ambiance is amazing. Grab the nachos – filled with smoked bbq chicken, cheese, beans, and queso. So delicious!
The hotel is outstanding. While there is a ton of hotels within downtown Nashville, the Renaissance is tucked away from the craziness. You are less than a 5-minute walk from Music Row but far away to enjoy silence if necessary.
Related: Things To Do In Chattanooga
THINGS TO DO
Where do I begin? One thing to know is that Nashville is a very small city. It is not as big as you may think. I highly suggest planning because there is so much to do here that you will want to get a peek at almost everything. Nashville is split into parts. You have, Downtown Nashville, East Nashville, The Gulch, and 12 South. I feel like I am missing a few but these are the places that I had the chance to check out.
Starting with Downtown Nashville. Here you will find the legendary Honky Tonk highway that’s located on Lower Broadway. This is a row of bars and restaurants that play live music starting at 10 am and lasts until about 3 am. Fun fact, there are no cover charges for entering these bars! It is known that Willie Nelson, Dierks Bently, and so many others started their careers on Broadway! Many of these bars have multiple levels and most have rooftops which is amazing. On the north end of broadway, you will find a lot of historic buildings, boutique hotels, and more restaurants. Lastly, of the “south of broadway” is where you will find a lot of newer hotels, music ventures, and attractions.
More things in Downtown Nashville:
Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum
Nashville Pedal Tavern
Old Town Trolley Tour of Nashville
Next, I made my way to the Midtown/Vanderbilt area. This was recommended by my Uber driver! He was awesome enough to give us a mini-tour of Nashville, hence why I can educate you guys so much about this beautiful city. This section of town is placed in between a few other sections of Nashville. This is where you will find the prestigious Vanderbilt University. A sight to see here is the Parthenon. This is the world’s only full-sized reproduction of the infamous Greek temple. Located in Centennial Park.
The Gulch is probably my second favorite part of town. This was once an abandoned area that went under major construction. Now this area is filled with boutique hotels, high-rise apartments, and condos, the “Instagrammable murals”, cute shops, restaurants, and breweries. The Gulch is the place to be for all of your brunch cravings! If you are into fashion and jewelry, stop by Uncommon James, a cute boutique owned by Kristin Cavallari. Here you will find the infamous wings mural.
One of the most walkable areas in Nashville is 12South and my favorite part of town. Spoiler, you will find a bunch of Instagrammable murals here! This half-mile stretch of 12South is filled with coffee shops, bakeries, restaurants, bars, boutiques and more! Have a sweet tooth, stop by Christie Cookie Co. home of the infamous DoubleTree Hotel cookies. I purchased a bunch of cookies and less than half of the cookies made it back home. They are THAT GOOD!
Here you will find the blue and white Instagram wall on the side of Draper James which is owned by actress and Nashville resident, Reese Witherspoon.
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All of these places are so vibrant, filled with so much to see and do. But, I know you are waiting for the fun part, the food!
WHERE TO EAT
Union 412: There is so much history in this little restaurant and you can feel it. Here you will find all of the southern cuisines on their breakfast and lunch menu, Check out their infamous chicken and waffles! A must-try. I literally came here twice because it was that good!
Tequila Cowboy: This is was my first stop when I arrived in Nashville. Of course, I had to try the Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich and it was delicious! For starters, try out their Southwestern Chicken rolls. SO GOOD!
Biscuit Love: Started as a food truck now they are located in The Gulch. They served biscuits all day long!
Hattie B’s Hot Chicken:I’ve always heard that the line for this particular restaurant always wraps around the building so I had to see it for myself. While I did not eat at this one, their chicken is amazing. We have one in Atlanta! The line for sure was out the door.
112 19th Avenue South Nashville, TN 37203
Other places to try:
BBQ: Peg Leg Porker
BBQ: Martin’s BBQ Joint
Hot Chicken: Pepperfire Hot Chicken
Hot Chicken: Party Fowl
If you are into whiskey, just outside of Nashville you can check out the Jack Daniel Distillery, located in Lynchburg, TN.
Nashville, Tennessee is a place that you must experience at some point in your life. The city is alive, energetic, the people are so friendly and helpful, the food is mouthwatering. I can go on for days. Whether it is a girls or guy’s trip, bachelor/bachelorette party, weekend getaway or whatever it may be, Nashville will not disappoint.