I just returned from a 4 day trip to Nashville with my mom. I have been to Nashville quite a few times over the past few years due to the capital city being only around 4.5 hours away from me. I usually go around once a year. It is a nice spot if you like country music, history, and honky tonks. We took this trip for a less than joyful occasion (my mom needed to visit Vanderbilt to see a specialist), so we skipped out on a lot of the touristy spots and opted for a more relaxing, yet still fun weekend. I preface this by saying if you have never been to Nashville before, there are a ton of other things to do that will not be included in this blog post. Some of my favorites include touring the stars’ homes via a bus tour, having your breath taken away by the greenery and shops at the Opryland Hotel, seeing the Hermitage (Andrew Jackson’s beautiful historic home), taking a trip to the Parthenon, and partaking in some of the nightlife (Broadway and surrounding areas for bars). These things embody a trip to Tennessee’s capital.
We focused more on food, good sites, and a little bit of shopping.
Accommodations:
Quality Inn Nashville
303 Interstate Dr.
This was the best price on a hotel I could find in the downtown area (Thank you, Priceline Express Deals!.. $78/night). It was super convenient to every area of Nashville because it was right off the interstate and located in a very central location. The continental breakfast bar was superb- basically anything you could want, and breakfast hours were 6-10 am (yay for late risers like myself). Free wifi, parking, and shuttle to Broadway (take advantage of this if you book here!). Located directly across from the football stadium. And the best part of it was the indoor guitar pool! Have you ever seen one? I sure haven’t.. Nothing says “Welcome to Nashville” like walking into your hotel and seeing a guitar pool!
Eats:
The Pharmacy
731 McFerrin Ave.
A pharmacist by profession, I absolutely had to go here. I love visiting places unique to my profession wherever I travel.. This was truly awesome whether you are a fellow pharmacy nerd or just a foodie. Not only is it one of the highest rated restaurants in Nashville, but it was uncrowded, had some parking on the lot, had a great atmosphere (vintage feel with a huge pharmacy-like bar), and had the best burgers for a good price (burger with a side~$10)! I had the farm burger (I love burgers with eggs, and tater tots.. amazing). My mom said this was the best burger she’d ever had in her life. It was that good, folks. Also, if you are also a pharmacy nerd like I am (or just like souvenirs from mom & pop shops, their t-shirts are incredibly comfy and cute).
Pancake Pantry
1796 21st Ave. S.
This place has been around for over 50 years. It has so many different varieties of pancakes it will make your head spin! It’s located on a street with a ton of nice little clothing boutiques and the Hillsboro Village dragon mural. You can park behind the building for free if you’re a customer. I ordered the Parisienne (rolled pancakes with strawberry compote, powered sugar, & whipped cream) with two scrambled eggs + cheese. It tasted just as good as it looked..
Whiskey Kitchen
118 12th St. Ave. S.
I couldn’t leave Nashville without some hot chicken. I was drawn to Whiskey Kitchen because it was offered on the menu along with a lot of other tasty sounding dishes, and was only a few minutes from our hotel. The chicken did not disappoint! Parking was a little rough here.. The restaurant was very busy and all the lots were full. Valet is offered if you drive down below the building, which is helpful. It was also jam-packed with not a lot of seating room inside (we visited on a Thursday night around 7 pm. and had to wait over an hour). I wish I had been more prepared for the wait and lack of parking before visiting, but it was still a nice dinner.
Sites:
Another preface: I have a major thing for murals. I really love the beauty they add to a neighborhood, the artistry involved in them, and of course an awesome opportunity to get a backdrop for a cool touristy photo. I’ve been to see a few of the Nashville murals before (pictured below), but I was also able to add a few more to the list this time.
East Nashville Mural
600 Main St. East Nashville
Obviously my selfie game was pretty strong. I was traveling alone and reeeeally wanted a picture with that mural! haha Parking here was right on this street. Very easy. Some cars were parked directly in front of the mural, but obviously nothing was going to stop my picture game that day. It is right in the same vicinity of the rainbow mural (across the road and down just a little).
Hillsboro Village Dragon
1801 21st Ave.
It’s huge.
There’s a ton of boutiques around the murals. My favorite was the Impeccable Pig, right across the road from this.
Heiroglitches Hallway
Located at Three Brothers Coffee
2813 W End
Wings
The Gulch
Pine St/11th Ave
This is located at the Gulch, which is a subset of buildings in town, including the famous Biscuit Love. I parked in the garage in front of Biscuit Love, which is free up to the first hour, then walked to the red light, and down past Barry’s on 11th Ave. in the same row of buildings. The mural is at the end of the building past their parking/loading zone. Very quick walk!
Across from Biscuit Love, there’s the cutest flower truck, Amelia’s Flower Truck. Men, this would be a great place to get a bouquet for your lady.
Belmont Mansion
1900 Belmont Blvd.
I am also a sucker for historic houses. There’s just a kind of beauty in them that’s hard to find in modern homes. I love the character, the detail, and the stories they hold. When I travel, I find myself looking for historic homes to visit or driving through historic neighborhoods. After all, a girl can dream, right? Luckily, Nashville has at least 3 well-known historic homes: The Hermitage, Belle Meade Plantation, and Belmont Mansion. We planned to visit Belle Meade but didn’t have enough time (it’s a little further out of town) and I’ve visited the Hermitage a number of times, so we decided to make an impromptu trip to Belmont Mansion. We still didn’t have time to tour the house ($12 per person for a 1 hour tour), but we were able to see it in all its magnificence on Belmont’s campus. It’s literally right next to admissions, where you can park right beside of it! It was built in 1853 by a rich heiress. Fancy.
John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge
119 3rd Ave. S. (Cash Museum)
Just type Johnny Cash Museum (address above) in your GPS to get to the base of the bridge. It is almost directly on the opposite side of the road from the museum. The bridge is the best way to get a skyline view of the city. It is free to use. It crosses from Broadway to the Nissan Stadium. I parked in the metered lots right outside of the bridge $20 for 2 hours (eek!). I’m sure there are cheaper options around. I just didn’t feel like walking longer than I had to on such a chilly day. Look into this if you are planning on going.
Broadway
This is what you call Nashville’s downtown. It is lined with restaurants, gift shops, honky tonks with live music, and boot shops. I don’t care how many times you’ve been to Nashville.. a trip is not complete without a visit here. Walking along this strip is how to best get a feel of the city. One of my favorite stops along this strip to eat is ACME. They have great chicken and great views from the roof without having to go across the bridge. Boots in Nashville are pricey, but still fun to look at!
Marathon Motor Works
1200 Clinton St.
It’s almost worth the drive to just take a look at the building. The historic warehouse was once home to an automobile manufacturer. Today it has been converted into a row of shops, including Antique Archaeology. If you’ve ever watched American Pickers on the History Channel, this is the home to some of Mike’s finds. The warehouse also has a number of very unique stores. I liked that you can also walk through the halls and see the remnants of some of the historic machines used during the manufacturing process. This was one of my favorite shopping centers in Nashville.
bedtravels 