Music City is a place that must be visited at least once in your lifetime. If you just have a weekend to explore, here is our itinerary for your first intro tip into Nashville
How to get to Downtown Nashville from the Airport: Downtown Nashville from the airport is about 10 miles away, about a 20-minute car ride. We took the ride-sharing service Lyft which was slightly cheaper than a taxi. Taxi trips to and from downtown and the Nashville International Airport (BNA) are a flat $25 rate. Or you can take the Nashville MTA Downtown Express Route 18 a 30-minute bus ride to the city
Accommodations: There are plenty of hotel choices in Nashville. We choose to stay at Union Station Hotel Nashville by the Autograph Collection. It is located on 10th and Broadway which is about 5 blocks away from Honky Tonk Central (Broadway Street). Union Station is a boutique hotel with 125 rooms, including 17 suites. This hotel is beautiful, it use to be a railroad station in the 1900s and they were able to keep a lot of architecture from that era. There are plenty of amenities in this hotel, gym, bar, restaurant, and poker table in the lobby.
Friday
After landing, get your appetite ready to try some amazing food. Head over to Monell’s for their all-you-can-eat lunch. They specialize in southern classics and comfort food like fried chicken, catfish, pork chops, cornbread, green beans, etc. The menu changes daily so check the website to see what's the dishes for today. The price also includes a salad, drinks, and dessert. The one thing cool about this restaurant is you'll be eating with strangers, Montell's has these large tables and they'll seat everyone at once then serve up the food family style. If the food is running low at the table, just ask for a refill and a piping hot plate will come from the kitchen. Once you are completely stuffed, take your ticket to the front and pay. Expect to wait 45 minutes to 1 hour to eat here, especially during peak hours because this place is a favorite for tourists and locals.
After lunch, you'll definitely need to walk it off so head over to Centennial Park. It has a full-scale replica of the original Parthenon in Athens. It was built in 1897 as part of the Tennessee Centennial Exposition. The Parthenon also serves as Nashville's art museum. The focus of the Parthenon's permanent collection is a group of 63 paintings by 19th and 20th century American artists donated by James M. Cowan. Additional gallery spaces provide a venue for a variety of temporary shows and exhibits. Centennial Park also has a walking trail, Lake Watauga, the Centennial Art Center, historical monuments, an arts activity center, a beautiful sunken garden, a bandshell, an events shelter, sand volleyball courts, dog park, and an exercise trail. Thousands of people visit the park each year to visit the museum, see exhibits, attend festivals, and just enjoy the beauty of the park.
Head back to the hotel and get some rest before heading over to a live show. What Nashville is known for is its live music, so you have to take in a show. If you can find a show at Ryman Auditorium 2,362-seat live performance venue and is best known as the home of the Grand Ole Opry. This is the exact spot where bluegrass was born, where Johnny Cash met June Carter, and where tons of famous musicians have graced the stage.
Saturday
Saturday morning, or late morning, walk around The Glutch neighborhood. Originally housed the downtown railroad terminal but now it's a hotspot filled with shopping, coffee shops, restaurants, and bars. Then have lunch at the awarding-winning Peg Leg Porker. A family-owned and operated restaurant that started off as a catering company then in 2013 opened up shop at the Gulch. The menu has appetizers, sandwiches, BBQ plates, and sides. We tried the pulled pork sandwich and the dry ribs both were so delicious and amazing. Lines are long, we approved right before opening (11 am) and there was a line out the door. FYI there are two ways of ordering at this place, the line a the counter, or you can sit down at the full bar and order your meal. Seating at the bar and restaurants is first come first serve and they will call your name or number when your order is ready.
In the afternoon, you have to try some Tennesse Whiskey. Jack Daniel's is the most famous Tennessee whisky but there are some other distilleries you have to try. If you can only visit one, go to family-owned Nelson's Green Brier Distillery at Marathon Village. Nelson's Green Brier offers a short tour where you can learn about the history of the distillery, tour where the whiskey is being made, and then sample four of their delicious whiskeys. Tours are daily and scheduled at the top of each hour. Book your tickets online and in advance for ensured availability. Although, walk-ins are available. Kids are allowed in the distillery and there are some seats nearby while your taste the whiskey. Love the whiskey? Whiskey and some gear are sold at their gift shop.
While you are visiting, take a picture "I believe in Nashville" mural.
After whiskey tasting, you might need something to eat for a snack or early dinner. Might be closer to an early dinner because lines are always long at any of the fried chicken spots. It's a must to have Nashville Hot Chicken. There are two spots that have the best fried chicken, Prince's Hot Chicken and Hattie B’s Hot Chicken. We didn't get to try Prince's but we did try Hattie B's. We got there right before dinner time and the line was long, it was about a 40-minute wait. This is a fast-food casual, the menu is simple Chicken Sandwich and Fried Chicken, Small or Large Portion. Then pick your heat level from Southern (light spice) to Shut the Cluck Up (very hot). The fried chicken was fall off the bone good, you just need a fork to cut it open. Lines are long but if you don’t have time, order online or the phone for pick up, walk straight to the front and pick up our order. Seating is first come first serve, either inside or on the patio.
Head back to the hotel and get ready for a night of Honky Tonky on Broadway. What is the definition of Honky Tonky? We had to look it up (lol) it is a bar that provides music and the bars on Broadway all provide amazing music. Don't be surprised if you see a famous country star or two get on stage and sing. Many of the singers at these places you'll probably recognize from the TV show the Voice or American Idol. Three places we visited were Tootsies World Famous Orchid Lounge, a three-story lounge with three different stages that opened in 1960! Grab a drink and you have to hang out on the patio for the views of Broadway. A more modern place to go is Acme Feed and Seed, another three-story venue with amazing music, drinks, food, and a rooftop. You have to end your night at Roberts Western World for some live music and fried bologna sandwiches
Sunday
After a night of Honky Tonky on Broadway get up and catch a quick breakfast at Puckett's Grocery Store and Restaurant in downtown Nashville. The original location opened up in the 1950s in Leiper’s Fork Tennessee and then in 2010 opened up its downtown Nashville location. Puckett's Grocery & Restaurant serves up Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. For breakfast, you have to get Bubba Eggs Benedict- A split biscuit topped with bacon or sausage, two fried eggs, and white pepper gravy on a bed of home fries.
Right before your flight home, check out Pinewood Social. Where else in Nashville can eat, drink, bowl, and swim all under one roof. Pinewood Social is a place where you can work on your website or have girl talk with a friend that you haven’t seen in forever. It’s a little away from the Nashville City Center, but it is worth the walk to this place. We stopped here for some drinks and they were delicious.
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