Updated July 2018
I believe in Nashville.
I can’t believe I visited back in 2014 – almost four years ago. The city had such an impact on me that Paul and I seriously considered moving here and it was between Nashville or Portland, Oregon.
We ended up in Portland, but there’s something about Nashville that made me just fall in love with the city. We went back again in February 2018 on our cross-country road trip from Toronto to Los Angeles to launch our new digital agency.
I booked 4 nights into an airbnb here so I could just take my time exploring the city all over again. Since it was our second visit I knew what I loved and had to go back to and what we could skip because we saw it the first time. It was a really nice luxury to have.
I simply can’t resist barbecue, southern cooking, live music and country history! I also love a city that loves food. Here’s what we got up to between our two visits:
Getting There + Around – From LAX to Nashville International Airport, you’re looking at a flying time of about 3.5 hours. I would say that renting a car is a must, it’s the easiest way to get around and everywhere we wanted to go was either a 10-minute drive or a 30-minute walk. There is public transportation, but the travel times could take up to 45 minutes as Nashville is quite spread out.
I wouldn’t recommend staying outside of the downtown core because of the heavy traffic and what you would spend on uber back and forth. We stayed out by Opryland once and it was a 20-minute drive to downtown and all the stuff we wanted to do. Being close meant we could stop by our hotel to freshen up and drop things off.
Where to Stay – We stayed at the very stylish and centrally-located Hutton Hotel on our first visit there. This boutique property was anything but cookie-cutter and the majority of the things we did felt like it was only 10 minutes away from our hotel. Read my full post on The Hutton Hotel.
Hit The Biergarten – OMG this was one of the BEST burgers of my life. The cheeseburger at The Pharmacy Burger Parlor and Beer Garden is now in my personal top three. There’s just something about that soft chewy bun that looks like an English muffin that mushes all together with their 100% Tennessee-raised beef burger.
Not only is the food a hit, the outdoor patio is fashioned after a German biergarten with string lights, communal picnic table seating with great beers and homemade sodas on tap. Don’t forget to add a side of tater tots or slaw and I am still dreaming of that burger bun.
Seating at The Pharmacy can be tough to come by and we waited 30 minutes for a table on a Thursday night around 7 pm. I would avoid The Pharmacy on a Friday or Saturday because of the long waits. Your best best is to come early on a weeknight or sit at the bar. If you’re starving, go across the street to Mas Tacos Por Favor for a quick fish taco while you’re waiting.
Go Bowling! – After our dinner at The Pharmacy, we decided to pay a visit to The Pinewood Social – a sort of hipster playground in an old warehouse in Nashville. It’s part restaurant, bar, coffee shop, outdoor patio with a pool and bowling alley all-in-one. Bowling is $40/hour and includes shoe rentals for everyone in your party. We sipped on a few delicious cocktails before our lane came up and before I killed it at bowling.
Visit America’s Letterpress – On the main floor of the Country Music Hall of Fame is Hatch Show Print, a letterpress that still prints posters by hand. The large workshop offers daily tours ($15) and sells posters in their gift shop for a fun Nashville souvenir. They still design 500-600 show posters a year and have a small gallery of their latest artwork. Definitely a must-visit!
See a Piece of Country History – After wandering out of Hatch Show Print, Paul and I found ourselves in the lobby of The Country Music Hall of Fame. We spent about an hour wandering through this massive shrine to all things country that goes through chronologically. The building itself is stunning and it was great to indulge in some country history in the heart of music city.
Eat at a Meat + Three – After the museum, we walked about 10 minutes down the street to join the long line-up that was already forming at Arnold’s to get our first taste of some real southern cooking.
You get a meat + three sides. For about $10, I got a homecooked meal of meatloaf, corn pudding, turnip greens, fried green tomatoes, fried cornbread, a slice of pecan pie and a coke! All of it was amazing, however Paul ordered the roast beef and it was quite possible the BEST thing I ate on our entire trip – after the burger of course.
ORDER THE ROAST BEEF. Do not think about skipping it.
The fried green tomatoes are not to be missed – perfectly crispy and the pecan pie was some of the best I have ever had. The nuts have a smokey, toasted flavour to them – do not skip dessert! This is not the time to be counting calories.
Arnold’s is only open Monday to Friday from 10:30 AM – 2:30 PM and it’s a local favourite. Get there early! We arrived at 11:30 AM and the line was already 20 people deep – however it moves quickly and we were served cafeteria-style within 15 minutes of arriving. The menu and specials change daily and they even have a James Beard award!
Third Man Records – After lunch, we took a short walk over to Jack White’s Third Man Record’s shop and studio. The small store is packed with lots of interesting oddities, but do make sure you record your own record and take a few photos in the photo booth. Third Man has lots of great T-shirt, posters and CDs for sale.
See the Parthenon. Yes you read correctly. Surprise! Nashville has a replica of THE Parthenon that once existed in Greece. Nashville is considered the ‘Athens of South’ because of the number of educational institutions located here, so the Parthenon was built in 1897 as part of Tennessee Centennial Exposition.
It’s definitely worth a quick peek around and to say hello to the 42-feet statue of Athena Parthenos who resides inside of it. If you have some time, walk along the river or rent a bike to explore the grounds of Centennial park.
Tour an Artisanal Whiskey Distillery – We could not visit Nashville without trying some Tenneessee whiskey. Corsair Distillery is located right in Nashville and their tours ($8) sell out quickly. I booked ahead online and we took a tour of their small facility and learned how whiskey is made and all about the aging process. Included at the end of the tour is a whiskey and gin tasting – yum! Make sure you sample the quinoa whiskey.
Try the Barbecue – Next on my food hit list was some authentic southern barbecue and Peg Leg Porker came highly recommended by my concierge. The smokey dry rub ribs were tender and perfect for dipping in their homemade bbq sauce.
Don’t forget the side of mac & cheese, green beans and baked beans (so good). This is a half rack above – and I could barely get through it – it was so big. You should probably split everything.
Shop it Out – One of my favourite shopping districts had to be the shops in the 12 South Neighbourhood. All of the stores are small, local and independent. You’ll even find some great vintage and antique spots along this strip as well. Not-to-be-missed shops include:
- Imogene + Willie (casual wear and jeans)
- Las Paletas (for the best popsicle you’ll ever eat – try the grapefruit one!)
- Savant Vintage (antiques + vintage clothing)
- White’s Mercantile (home goods)
- Draper James (Reese Witherspoon’s flagship boutique)
If you’re looking for a mall, head out to Opry Mills for a mix of your suburban favourites and outlet stores. It’s right next to The Grand Ole Opry, so just time your visit with that. If you have more time, it’s worth a visit to The Gaylord Opryland Hotel. It’s like an adult Disney World inside a biodome, complete with boat rides, waterfall and a lush tropical forest.
Wander Around The Gulch – Another neighbourhood we really enjoyed exploring was The Gulch. Start at Biscuit Love for brunch and then take your time wandering around the little boutiques. If you’re looking for a workout class, we spotted a few fitness studios here as well. There’s also some great murals and street art to check out too.
Try The Hot Chicken – We LOVED the Nashville Hot Chicken from Hattie B’s and we didn’t have to wait in a super long line. So Hattie B’s has multiple locations and you can order ahead which made it a great experience for us since we were on a tight timeline.
I thought both the hot chicken and the tenders were both excellent. Don’t fear the heat! You can adjust the heat from no heat to HOT AS HELL. Love the crispiness of the chicken, the cool pickles, crinkle cut fries and beans.
Chocolate Tasting – If you’re a chocoholic like us, stop by artisanal chocolate maker Olive and Sinclair for a peek at their little factory and for a tasting of some locally made chocolate. The bourbon nibs brittle is also delicious as well!
See Live Music – One of my must-do’s when planning my trip to Nashville, was seeing a country show at The Grand Ole Opry. There’s just so much country history here and the performers are all top-notch. I went on a Saturday night and it was sold-out.
The variety radio show we watched was very entertaining and well worth the $40 I spent on my ticket. We even saw country greats like Kelly Pickler and Gretchen Wilson perform that night. Do buy your ticket well in advance to make sure you get the seat you want.
If you’re still seeking out some Nashville nightlife – stop in at one of honky-tonk bars on Broadway during a busy Friday or Saturday night. Favourites include Tootsies and Paradise Trailer Park Resort.
If you’re looking for a fancy nightcap, stop by The Crying Wolf for one last drink. If it feels more like a dance party kind of night, book in The 5 Spot in East Nashville for their famous Monday night jam.
EAT The BEST Biscuits of YOUR Life – Are you ready for this? The Loveless Cafe is just 30 minutes outside of Nashville and they served up the BEST biscuit I have ever eaten. The secret recipe is still holding strong after 50+ years and pairs perfectly with their southern fried chicken.
If you’re thinking of making the trip out to Nashville, consider tacking on Memphis, which is only a 3-hour drive away. The cities are very different and it’s SO worth visiting! See my Memphis Travel Guide for trip ideas.
That’s it for Nashville! Have you been before? Are there any places I’ve missed that you recommend visiting?
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