A weekend in Nashville, TN
Nashville, nicknamed “Music City,” as the birthplace of country music, gave rise to such stars as Taylor Swift and Billy Ray Cyrus. With its southern charm and famous music scene, Nashville has become a tourist destination and not only for country music fans. The city has blown up for group destination travel celebrating milestone birthdays, bachelor(ette) parties, and getaway weekends. Tourists are drawn to Lower Broadway, which offers much in the way of night life and Music Row, the historic district which is at the epicenter of Nashville’s burgeoning entertainment industry (recording studios, radio stations, etc). Many bars cater to honky tonk, country and karaoke. Don’t be surprised to hear record-label worthy singers at karaoke bars. And for those looking for debauchery, don’t worry, you will also hear late-night cringe-worthy singing from the plentiful bachelorette parties. Here is a weekend itinerary for a fun, music-filled group destination. Please note: this can be tweaked for couples travelling too.
Friday:
Get settled into your accommodation. Get into the spirit by trying a pulled pork sandwich at Peg Leg Porter BBQ (903 Gleaves St).
Saturday:
Start your morning with BlueGrass Brunch at The Sutler Saloon (2600 8th Ave S). Stroll around and browse 8th Ave and nearby 12th Ave. Draper James, Reese Witherspoon’s shop, is on 12th st which I would recommend that you check out while you are in the area! If you need an pick-me-up, I love Frothy Monkey’s coffee on 12th St.
After brunch, head downtown for a walking tour of the city. You will enjoy Nashville’s rich history and pop culture. I, like many others, went for a bachelorette party. We loved taking a private line dancing lesson, and it included a routine and a video for the future bride.
Kick off your live music-filled evening with dinner at Acme Feed and Seed (101 Broadway). Unfortunately, Ame, like a lot of downtown establishments, doesn’t take reservations. However, Acme has great food and a gorgeous rooftop bar, where you can hang out until your table is ready. After dinner, tear up Broadway! There are a number of fun bars in which to celebrate, including The Stage, Honky Tonk Central, Tootsie Orchard, Robert’s Western World, and Paradise Park, as well as the karaoke bars: Santa’s Pub and Ms. Kellis.
Sunday:
Start your morning off at Centennial Park, which has its own Parthenon, a full scale replica of the one in Athens. Grab a coffee and some breakfast and go for a walk around the Vanderbilt Campus.
Cheers to a great music-filled weekend in Nashville!
