Music City. Nashville , TN has a special place in my heart. Besides being one of my favorite cities, it is the only city that I can go back to again and again and never get sick of it. Mom and I took a quick little road trip this past weekend and it was the perfect girl’s weekend. We ate, drank, and danced our way through music city.
Where to stay
The Graduate
If you haven’t noticed, I have been trying to find the girliest, pinkest, most Britt hotels around the country to stay in this summer. Nashville was no exception. Welcome to the Graduate. The Graduate is a Dolly Parton themed hotel, with the most adorable Dolly themed roof top and pool called White Limozeen.
I have been eying this hotel for years, and knew that this would be the perfect place for our girl’s weekend. Not only was the hotel the cutest thing ever, the staff was so friendly, the rooms were nice, and the attention to detail was amazing. From the sparkle wallpaper in the hotels, to the fluffy feathered chandeliers in the lobby, even your first cup of coffee each morning was free. This hotel screamed Dolly Parton, and I was here for it.
The only downside to take note of is that it is off of Broadway. The Graduate is located in Midtown, so you will need to Uber to get to Broadway. We had a car so that didn’t bother us. Just be prepared that if you do walk it is about a mile and a half walk to Broadway. But there are some cute bars and places around the hotel!
One note about White Limozeen. You will need to make a table/pool reservations in advance, and they are extremely hard to get. They go on sale 2 weeks before the day at midnight. I barely got a pool reservation, and the line is about a mile long in the lobby on weekends, and they will turn you away if you do not have a reservation. You are not even able to take pictures without a reservation.
What To Do
Honky Tonks on Broadway
If you are going to do one thing in Nashville, it is probably visit all of the Honky Tonks on Broadway. One of the best parts about Nashville is all of the live music. Especially on Broadway when there is bar after bar with a different band on each floor. You are surrounded by live music. Broadway during the day is completely different than Broadway during the night. We experienced both. During the day it is more “family friendly” I would say, and at night expect to see hundreds of bachelorette parties.
A few spots that are my favorite are:
- Tootsies World Famous Orchid Lounge
- Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row
- Acme Feed & Seed – get the moonshine slushies on the rooftop, trust me!
- Honkey Tonk Central
- FGL House
- Kid Rock’s Big Ass Honky Tonk
Pedal Tavern
The Nashville Pedal Tavern was hands down one of the funnest things to do in Nashville. It is essentially a 1.5 hour bar crawl, however you pedal your way throughout the streets of Nashville singing, drinking, and having a good time. It is seriously so fun! I recommend booking in advance, so you can secure your spot. It is also BYOB, so grab a couple brews and travel down Broadway in one of the most unique ways ever!
Explore the neighborhoods
There is so much more to Nashville, than all of the Honky Tonks on Broadway. I definitely recommend taking some time to explore the different surrounding neighborhoods. I love taking a day to see what a city has to offer outside of their downtown. My favorite Nashville neighborhoods are: the Gulch, 12 South, and Hillsboro.
Gulch
Home of the famous “Nashville Wings” and “Biscuit Love”, the Gulch is an area not to miss. Full of boutiques and restaurants, this area is adorable to walk around. Be sure to hit up the adorable boutique Kittenish, and I also bought my cowgirl boots in the Gulch at Lucchese. I will touch more on the restaurants below! Be sure to check out Amelia’s Flower truck for the cutest vintage fresh flowers. Follow them on Instagram so you know where they are located for that day! If you want to take photos with the Nashville wings, the earlier the better. The longer you wait, the longer the line. I went right at 8:30am and not a soul was in sight!
12 South
This is an extremely cute area to walk around in during the day! 12 South is filled with amazing cafes and restaurants including The Frothy Monkey, Five Daughters Bakery, and Bartaco. There are also so many fun boutiques to shop around in. Be sure to check out Reese Witherspoon’s boutique, Draper James as well as White’s Mercantile. There are also tons of murals around, so be sure to look around each corner so you don’t miss them! The famous “I Believe In Nashville” mural is located right next to Draper James. Be sure to snap a picture next to it! Also be sure to grab a cookie from Christie’s. So GOOD!
Hillsboro
The areas surrounding Belmont University and Vanderbilt University are Belmont (naturally) and Hillsboro Village. Hillsboro Village might have the best shopping in Nashville, and so much of it is super affordable. With a few exceptions, actually all of the shopping in Nashville is totally affordable. Some of my favorite boutiques I visited there are: The Impeccable Pig, Molly Green, Posh, and Dress Up.
Grand Ole Opry
Coming to Nashville, and not experiencing the Grand Ole Opry at least once, is just something you cannot not do. This was my first time going, and it was such a cool experience. Being in a room and looking at the wooden circle (original floor from Rymann Theater) and thinking about all of the amazing musicians, new and old, that have performed right there gave me chills. The energy in the room was just indescribable. I highly recommend buying tickets for one of the nights you are there to experience it first hand. We did not do the backstage tour, but if I go back that would be something I would like to do.
Quick tip: Gaylord Opryland resort is next to the Opry itself, and don’t waste your time going. We thought it would be nice to grab a drink, but it felt like a cheesy Vegas resort. There were so many people, and just do me a favor and don’t waste your time going.
Country Music Hall of Fame
Any country music fan will enjoy and appreciate the Country Music Hall of Fame. It is just something cool to experience and walk through. It took us maybe an hour to get through the whole thing, and I think it was definitely worth it – if you appreciate the music!
Johnny Cash Museum
If there is one person you associate Nashville with, it is Johnny Cash. Johnny Cash is a legend, and the face of Nashville. His music made such an impact on country music, and will be remembered forever. It was extremely well done. It was informative, and fun. I would definitely choose between this or the Country Music Hall of Fame. But if you have time, both are close to each other and Broadway. It is a great excuse to cool off and get out of the heat!
Where To Eat
Breakfast/Brunch
I have a thing for biscuits. They are my favorite, and it is one of my favorite parts about being in the south. Low and behold I definitely went to scout of the best biscuits in Nashville.
- Biscuit Love – Biscuit + Donut = Bonut. They are served with lemon mascarpone and on a bed of blueberry compote. They are little fried balls of delicious-ness. They were hands down our favorite!Just order them, you will thank me later. Pro tip: get in line before 8:30am. We waited about 25 mins, but when we were leaving, the line was wrapped around the block.
- Maple Street Biscuit Company– Not only was their staff some of the friendliest people ever, the food was a 10/10. I ordered the Sticky Maple, a flaky biscuit, all-natural fried chicken breast and pecanwood smoked bacon covered with Bissell Family Farm’s real maple syrup.
- Five Daughter’s Bakery – Located in 12 South in the most adorable little house. I had the brownie batter donut, and it was impeccable!
- Milk & Honey – Another Gulch breakfast place that is a hot spot. The Nova Lox Bagel or Fig and Prosciutto Toast won’t disappoint. They also have craft coffee drinks, smoothies, and juices if you prefer a liquid breakfast.
- Hampton Social – The original is in Chicago, so I have not been to the Nashville location, but it is an adorable brunch place for any girls day/trip! This 3-story restaurant features a first-floor “Rosé All Day” lounge, second-floor dining with a private dining space and a brand new rooftop terrace with indoor and outdoor seating. Known for exceptional coastal-inspired food, cocktails and live music in a beautifully designed atmosphere.
Lunch/Dinner
- Hattie B’s – If you go to Nashville and don’t try Nashville Hot Chicken at least once, it is considered a sin. The holy grail of Nashville Hot Chicken is Hattie B’s. Be prepared to wait in line, but it is the best hot chicken in Nashville.
- Pucketts Grocery – A perfect lunch or dinner spot depending on what your itinerary looks like. The farmhouse chic restaurant has a homestyle feeling with southern classics. The chicken BBQ sliders were everything I wanted, and the country fried chicken with mashed potatoes and green beans instantly put me in a southern state of mind. From the homemade bbq sauce, to the live music playing at dinner time, this is a must try!
- The Pharmacy -No I am not sending you to go get a refill on your prescription. This East Nashville burger joint is a must! We enjoyed a couple German beers in their outdoor biergarten which was so cute. With twinkling lights hanging from all the trees, it felt like you were in a treehouse. The burgers were as good as everyone was saying, and I am so excited that we stopped here. Would work for lunch or dinner!
- Bartaco– Looking for someplace to eat in 12 South? Don’t skip out on Bar Taco. Some of the best Mexican food in Nashville!
- Woolworths – The history alone should bring you to Woolworths on 5th, but the food is amazing too. The vintage lunch counter where the Civil Rights Movement sit-ins took place has been restored and the restaurant is now a vintage mash of 1920’s art deco with a 1950’s style soda counter. Thankfully, today everyone gets seated. The food is a unique blend of southern fare, some with a southwestern twist.
- Husk – Located in a historic home on Rutledge Hill, it was worth the walk from downtown (always trying to balance out calories with miles/steps, right?) But if you go for dinner, I recommend calling ahead for a reservation. Husk has a rule about food, “If it doesn’t come from the South, it’s not coming through the door.”
- The Farm House – Located right off of Broadway, so a great option if you are not looking to eat on the main drag. This small intimate restaurant felt like a hidden gem. Away from the bustle of Broadway, but the food was delicious. We enjoyed the shrimp and grits – so yummy! Also don’t leave without trying the cookie plate.
Nashville quickly turned into on of our favorite cities. From the live music around every corner, the great food, and southern charm it is a great place for a long weekend trip.
What is your favorite thing about Nashville?
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