Things to do in Nashville
If you’re planning a trip to Nashville for more than one day, here are some helpful ideas for planning your trip. Suggestions are prioritized according to the number of days you will be visiting.
Day 1
Hug the center! Hit Broadway and hop from bar to bar letting your ears be your guide. Live music starts at 11am and ends at 2am, so don’t miss a beat. Now downtown Nashville doesn’t have many local restaurants, mostly chains. But the locals are great. Have lunch at Puckett’s Grocery or Arnold’s for some great southern food. Visit the Tennessee Museum for a self-guided history lesson, or visit the Country Music Hall of Fame if you’re really into country music. There are numerous attractions and tours in the city center, so you won’t miss anything to keep you busy. Treat yourself to a prime rib dinner at Jack’s or a fancier dinner at Merchant’s Restaurant, both on Broadway. If you’re downtown on the first Saturday of the month, explore the art district on 5th and in the Arcade. The art tour is from 6 to 9 pm and you can enjoy complimentary drinks and food. It shows a different, eclectic and sophisticated side of Nashville that people don’t normally get to see.
Nashville loves its sports and is passionate about its teams. Also join in the excitement of a Titans, Predators or Sounds game.
Day 2
Book a show at the Grand Ole Opry and head to that part of town. This is also where the Gaylord Opryland Hotel is located, as well as the Opry Mills Mall and where the General Jackson cruise ships originate. This area of the city is a bit tired, except for the above, because in the 70’s and 80’s many hotels and attractions were built to house all the visitors of the Opryland theme park. When Gaylord knocked it down for a discount mall (albeit a good discount mall), the area took a direct hit in visitor counts. It’s a safe area anyway, but there are very few local places to eat. You’d probably be better off eating inside the Opryland Hotel. Now, if you park outside Dave & Busters at Opry Mills Mall, which is right across from the Grand ole Opry, you can make your way back to the Opryland Hotel and avoid the $20 parking fee they charge people to park for 1 -2 hours. . After walking through the beautiful hotel (and it’s a sight), you can do some shopping at Opry Mills, splurge on a lunch cruise on the General Jackson, or hang out in the plaza area outside the Opry. People start congregating there about 2 hours before showtime and usually have some entertainment outside, weather permitting. There are food and beverage vendors (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) on the premises.
Day 3
Head to the Pancake Pantry on the 21st in Midtown for breakfast. Arrive before 10 or prepare to stand in line. This is a Nashville tradition. I’m not sure if the pancakes justify a two hour queue, but no one seems to care. Hillsboro Village is a great area of town, located between Vanderbilt University and Belmont University. It is about 2 miles from the city center and is included in what people call the Midtown area. After a hearty breakfast, head to Belle Meade Plantation and enjoy their winery. Then take a stroll through the Cheekwood Botanic Gardens or walk through Percy Warner Park. You can also visit the Parthenon in Centennial Park, where you can see the largest indoor statue in the Western Hemisphere!
Then you can have an early dinner at any of Midtown’s great local restaurants (which, unlike downtown, have endless local offerings here). Favorites are Boundry, Sunset Grill, Cabana, Jackson’s and Bosco’s. After dinner, enjoy the local music scene with fewer tourists. In Division, there is Red Door, Losers, Blue Bar and Rebar. 21st has even more picks. They’re all within walking distance of each other and there’s still a $5 cab ride from downtown.
Day 4
Head south 15 miles to Franklin for the day. It has a great civil war history and is very picturesque and pristine. It is included in the manual “1000 places to visit before you die”. It’s located in Williamson County, which is consistently ranked in the top ten most prosperous counties in the US Soak up all the civil war history in downtown Franklin and browse all the specialty shops on Main Street. Unfortunately, there is very little live music in Franklin, even though it is where most of the country music stars live. However, you can venture to Kimbro’s Pickin’ Parlor (closed Sundays and Mondays) or the Bungernut Pig on Columbia Ave. Head to Factory for more unique shops and have lunch at Saffire. Their blueberry martini is so delicious. To round out your Williamson County experience, head to Kix Brooks’ winery, Arrington Vineyards, for a free wine tasting. Before you go, stop by Merridee’s Breadbasket in downtown Franklin and pick up some boxed lunches. Arrington Vineyards has Music in the Vines on the weekends. The rolling hills in the background are amazing.
Day 5
Retrieve! But if you really want to do something, head to Lynchburg, TN for a tour of the Jack Daniels Distillery.