Sales Tax 9.5%
NASHVILLE, NASHVILLE, NASHVILLE!!!
It seems like over night this has become one of the most popular destinations to visit on the east coast. The hype peaked my curiosity and I had to plan a trip of my own and let me tell you Nashville is where it’s at! The vibe there just captivates you and I can‘t wait to go back. I went the first weekend in December and it was absolutely beautiful! I’m so glad I chose to go during holiday time. The decor everywhere and the Christmas songs throughout music city made it even more magical. Summer is Nashville’s busiest time. With all the music festivals, bachelorette parties and school being out I can imagine it’s insane in the summer but if you’re about that life go to Nashville in the summer! Either way it’s guaranteed to be an amazing experience. It was 65-70 degrees everyday I was there and I’m just So grateful for my December visit. All in all, Nashville is a vibe that you’re going to soak up and take with you! Here‘s my weekend in Nashville to give you some ideas for your own trip to BNA...
Where To Stay...
The Gaylord Opryland Resort
Now if you’re looking for an over the top, luxurious Nashville star experience, then you’ll want to book your accommodations here. This stunningly beautiful massive facility is a work of art and especially during Christmas time. Honestly, it put The White House to shame! It is complete with 10+ restaurants, a water park, an ice skating rink, multiple conference centers and home of the Grand Ole OPRY. They have live music EVERYWHERE or site and so many activities you’ll never be bored a day in your life here. I walked around for hours and was so entertained every-time I turned my head! The rooms are gorgeous and roomy and you will 10/10 enjoy your stay here! One great benefit too is that you can also go to the resort even if you’re not staying there and enjoy all the activities. They offer a complimentary hour of parking and after that it’s a flat rate of $38 for the day.
If you’re looking for a more economical way to stay in Nashville, Then I’d suggest The Best Western Plus Nashville Airport. It is located literally 5 minutes from the airport and only 12 minutes from downtown Nashville which is a huge plus! It also has a free airport and downtown shuttle service. So for about a little over $100/night you’ll get very nice updated rooms, free breakfast everyday, house keeping daily, shuttle transportation and a Dolly Parton picture to greet you every time you head to your room. You can’t beat that!
What To Do...
First things first be sure to grab a “Nashville Scene” magazine. It will have all the happenings for the month in it. From music to festivals to food specials. Everything is in there and will give you some ideas for your adventure!
Get Your Honky Tonk on at Broadway
This is a can’t miss activity on your trip to Nashville. Broadway is a mile long street of music venues, restaurants, bars, shops and just pure entertainment. You’ll know you’ve reached Broadway when you hear live music coming from every corner of the street. Live bands play at every single restaurant on Broadway and it’s non stop amazing! Grab your girls, boys, husband or wife and you are in for the night of your life!
Hit Up A Sporting Event!
Nashville is the home of two sport teams. The Tennessee Titans and The Nashville Predators. Both major league sporting venues are within walking distance of each other and both are located downtown. I’m a sports girl so I was thrilled to find out both teams had home games the weekend I was there! Prior to Nashville, I had yet to experience a hockey game (Not even on TV. I know I’m a bad Marylander since the Capitals won the Stanley Cup last year. Sorry!) so I decided to attend a Predators game and that was a level fun I didn’t know existed! The “I like it, I love it, I want some more of it“ goal chant celebration is actually still ringing in my head! The decision to attend the game was completely impulsive and random. I was walking on a Broadway and decided to go so I purchased a ticket from the guys selling the on the street (Yes they are legit. Don’t worry I asked the arena security straight up) $40 later I was in Bridgestone Arena. A highlight of my trip for sure! Hockey fans are no joke!
Find ALL The Murals
Did you really go to Nashville if you didn’t go around the city and get pictures with all the vibey murals? The answer to that is FOR SURE NO! So here’s a list of some of the most popular murals and where they are located so you can solidify your Nashville trip with your mural pics. And don’t worry, if you’re traveling solo, there’s so many nice people who will take your pictures for you!
“I Believe in Nashville - Marathon Village” Mural
o Artist: Adrien Saporiti
"Galatic Gardens" Mural
o Artist: East Side Murals
“Johnny Cash” Mural
o Artist: Bryan Deese, Audie Adams, & Ryan Shrader
Nashville Looks Good On You" Mural
o Artist: TheNash.TN
Make Music Not War" Mural
o Artist: Relax Max Apperal
"Stay Tuned Nashville" Mural
o Artist: Adrien Saporiti
“What Lifts You” Mural
o Artist: Kelsey Montague
Head to the Country Music Hall Of Fame
I’m typically not a museum person but I’ve been forcing myself to visit more and finding that they are so interesting. Now, whether you’re a country music fan or not visiting the Country Music Hall of fame is a must! Admission is $25 per person but if you go for the last hour the museum is open admission is only $15! That’s my kind of deal and unless you’re going to read every single word in the museum and hour is plenty of time to soak it all in.
There’s so much history on how country music evolved from beginning to present day country music and it’s very cool to see. My absolute favorite moment next to seeing Sam Hunt have so many mentions in the museum, He’s my favorite😍, was the interactive recording studios! You can go into one of the recording studios and sing a country song and hear it played back and you feel like a star! Definitely add a visit to the country music hall of fame to your Nashville trip itinerary!
Spend A Day At The Gaylord Opryland Resort
I know I mentioned staying here earlier in the post but if you choose to stay somewhere else you still have to go to this mini city and explore it! We have a Gaylord resort back home in Maryland but the Nashville Gaylord is our Gaylord on steroids. I spent half a day here and still didn’t experience everything. First of all, the decor and ambiance is unbelievable. Now I’m sure this was on another level since it was Christmas time but I imagine during other seasons it’s just as beautiful! There are 20+ restaurants, a water park, ice skating, shopping mall, Concerts and live music wall throughout the place. It was such a wonderful time spent there and never a dull moment!
Head to 12 South
Downtown Nashville is fun but not the only place to go. Make it a point to explore other towns in the city like 12 South! I fell in love with this little town and unfortunately didn’t get to explore it fully because I got in a car accident on the main road (long story) but the time I was there was memorable! There are several murals there, great food spots and the iconic Amelia’s Flower Truck! 12 South just gives you that joyous feeling of taking a walk on a sunny Sunday! Stop by Firepot Nomadic Teas to get a refreshing drink on your stroll! This tea lab is adorable and gives you the opportunity to try hot or cold exotic teas like tea flavor concoctions your mind could never even dream up like they’re not even on Pinterest! The employees are so knowledgeable and able to give you the perfect recommendation based on your palette preference!
Go To Church
Y’all know I’m all about Jesus so going to church whenever I’m traveling is one of my absolute most favorite things to do! While in Nashville, I worshiped at The Belonging Co. I was already a big fan of australian pastors Henry and Alex Seeley so it was wonderful to visit their church in person! The spirit of the God is definitely there and I highly recommend visiting this church if you’re in Nashville on a Tuesday or Sunday! Parking is a little crazy since the church is located in the heart of downtown but not to worry The Belonging Co has literally thought of everything and have a $10 off round trip LYFT code (TBCO011319) so you can get to church and not have to worry about driving or traffic.
Snap A Nashville Skyline Picture
The John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge located downtown gives you the magazine perfect city skyline picture of Nashville. Don’t leave without it!
Where and What to Eat...
Food is one of my love languages and Nashville‘s food game was so strong! Two food items you have to experience when visiting Nashville are Hot Chicken and The Bushwacker! I’ll tell you where I tasted both of these city staple items and some other food and restaurant recommendations below...
Party Fowl
719 8th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37203
Honestly I was a little nervous to try hot chicken. I do not do spicy or hot sauce and well hot chicken is supposedly the spiciest hottest chicken you can taste. Thankfully Party Fowl restaurant gives you the pleasure of picking your level of hot! Y’all are the real MVP! The waitress warned me though to go one level lower than what you think you can handle so I got the lowest level possible and it was still hot but it was tolerable and soooo good! The flavor was amazing!
You can also also get the Nashville famous Bushwacker Drink at Party Fowl. So interestingly enough, I found out Nashville and Wendy’s restaurant chain have a strong connection. I know I was in the right city when I found the frosty obsession was real there like mine! I love a frosty. I typically have 2 a week! And I personally want to give a shout out to the Nashville Predators hockey team for scoring 5 goals because I got a free frosty while I was there because of them! Back to this famous Bushwacker though... so basically it’s an alcoholic frosty. I’m not a big drinker because alcohol makes me sick but I had to try and and it’s really good! The waitress was kind enough to just give me a shot instead a full glass and I still think about it’s deliciousness. The ingredients are a mystery but I do know rum, milk and ice cream are included. Next time I’m in Nashville, I’ll definitely order one of these yummies!
Mas Tacos Por Favor
732 Mcferrin Ave, Nashville, TN 37206
Prepare to stand in a line out the door but your taste buds will thank you for the wait! This was the best tacos I’ve had to date! they have so many options and flavors and I suggest getting a variety! Every single flavor was amazing! Be sure to have cash or check because that’s the only form of payment they will accept. I also recommend trying the iced coffee it’s a unique authentic Mexican flavor. Not only is the food great but so is the vibe and you know I’m all about a vibe! The ambiance is very cultural and you just feel like a really cool person while dining.
Sweet Bean
924 Mcferrin Ave, Nashville, TN 37206
Right next door to Mas Tacos Por Favor is Sweet Bean a unique dessert shop. They offer coffee, desserts and you can hand spin a cotton candy bundle! I opted to do the cotton candy spin and it was so fun! This is the perfect sweet tooth stop after eating some fabulous tacos!
Jason Aldean’s Rooftop
307 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37201
I didn’t actually eat hear but when I heard rooftop I had to check it out. The ambiance and Cityscape views are out of this world! I’m sure the food is great as well since this place was packed out. You can look down on Broadway Street while enjoying live music, fancy fire pits and a fun crowd of people. Definitely make this your lunch or dinner choice when you’re living it up on Broadway!
The Gaylord Opryland Resort
There are 20+ good options at this resort so obviously I didn’t have a chance to sample them all but these are three of my favorite!
STAX Build Your Own Burger
I live for a good burger! STAX was a GREAT burger and you can build your own! They have all the toppings and all the things you need to customize the perfect burger for you! It’s located by the outlet mall.
Jack Daniels
What’s a trip to a Tennessee with out some good ole Jack Daniels and barbecue right?! The actual Jack Daniels Distillery is 1 hour and 20 minutes from Nashville but not to worry the Opryland Resort has a sample of it on their premises complete with the whole whiskey barrel vibe. Be sure to make a reservation in advance here. The wait adds up very quickly.
Frosty’s Pub
If you take my advice and visit Nashville December this restaurants will fill all your Christmas wishes. It’s decked out with Christmas lights and decor galore and just makes you smile when you pass it. They also have live music playing. It’s such a fun atmosphere. If you happen to end up on the long Jack Daniels waiting list, hop on over to Frosty’s Pub. It’s right next door and a great alternative. Lastly, if you find yourself visiting Nashville at any other time than the holidays, this restaurant is called Friendly’s Irish Pub.
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