Looking for a weekend of good ole' Country fun? Nashville is the place to go. Not into country music? Nashville is still a great time. The perfect location for a quick getaway or girls weekend, your visit to Nashville is sure to be a trip you'll never forget.
Where to Eat:
Nashville Street Tacos, located just off of Broadway Street, features staple Mexican meats, Nashville's famous hot chicken, pulled pork, and baja fish options, Nashville combines two delicious cuisines into one.
Biscuit Love, located in Nashville's Gulch neighborhood, is famous for their Bonuts (a combination of biscuit and donut). These are absolutely delicious, everything else at Biscuit Love is just as amazing. The most delicious Cheese and Grits and their famous East Nasty sandwhich are just a few of the scrumptious items to choose from. Don't let the line at this place turn you off, there are plenty of tables inside, the line is just to order and moves quickly.
Hattie B's is THE place for hot chicken. With several locations spread out through Nashville, make sure you visit this delicious food spot. Order some chicken and a side or two, the sides are absolutely amazing (I'm recommending their Mac and Cheese, it has pimento pepper in it!)
Where to Go Out:
ACME Feed and Seed was my first and favorite place I visited in Nashville. This rooftop bar had panoramic views of the city, the river, and the bridge to East Nashville. With a restaurant on the first floor, sushi on the second, and a rooftop bar that is open from 10am on weekends... ACME is the go-to place for a good time. This also may be one of the few places that doesn't play country music 99% of the time!
Honky Tonk Central is exactly that: a honky-tonk. This three-story bar features a different genre of music on each floor, ranging from country to rock. We visited two of the three floors and had a great time dancing and singing the night away.
The 5 Spot is located in East Nashville. This bar has different theme nights each day. With live DJs and bands every night, The 5 Spot is a favorite for Nashville locals'. My friends had a blast dancing the night away at Mo-town Mondays!
Tip: People going out in Nashville do not get dressed up the way people in big cities such as New York, Los Angeles, or Chicago do. Casual is the go-to! Dress it down, not up, if you're heading out in Nashville.
What to See:
Honky Tonks and foodie heavens aside, Nashville is home to many cultural and historic sites.
The Farmer's Market is open every day of the week, and while hours say it's open until 6pm, I recommend going before 3pm. The Farmer's Market is also home to a great food court with some of Nashville's best restaurants setting up inside. My friends and tried almost every flavor at Jeni's ice cream and did not regret it one bit.
Near Vanderbilt's campus is Centennial Park. The parks trails are great for running, but the main attraction at this park is The Parthenon. A full replica of Ancient Greece's most famous strucutre, The Parthenon was built as part of Tennessee's Centennial Exposition in1897. The public is welcome to explore the inside of the Parthenon, which is home to a full-scale statue of Athena, everyday except for Mondays.
A fan of New Orleans? Printer's Alley is the small scale, Nashville-version of Bourbon Street. It is home to several bars and music venues, some of which actually originated on Bourbon Street! While this may be the place to go out at night, its definitely worth a quick stroll during the day.
Where to Stay:
After exploring Nashville for 24 hours, I realized Nashville has so many cool neighborhoods to stay in.
Hotels in Downtown Nashville are everywhere. Everything is approximately a 10-15 minute walk away.
If you are looking to rent an Airbnb, The Gulch neighborhood is absolutely the cutest area to stay in. The neighborhood houses many modern apartments, cute boutiques, great restaurants, and great music venues!
For a younger crowd, staying near Vanderbilt University give you easy access to bars and parties frequented by Vandy's co-eds.