My daughter, Cassidy, this past spring asked me to go with her somewhere and we decided on Nashville, Tennessee. As you well know, Nashville is the center of the country music universe.
Truthfully, I am not much of a country music fan but Nashville isn’t a one trick pony. As you can imagine there is plenty to do pertaining to country music but there is also much you can do that is not related to the genre.
Places to Stay
There are many different places that you can stay in the city. Here are a few of the areas in the city and some of the hotels in each one of the areas.
Some of the links may be affiliate links. I may get a small commission if you book through one of the links. There will be no additional cost to you.
Downtown
Homewood Suites by Hilton Downtown
Sobro
Drury Plaza Nashville Downtown
Airport
Home2Suites by Hilton Nashville Airport
Hampton Inn and Suites by Hilton Nashville Airport
Best Western Plus Nashville Airport
Sonesta Select Nashville Airport
Holiday Inn Express Nashville Airport
Day 1 – Centennial Park – Frist Art Museum – Radnor Lake – AdventureWorks ZipLine Forest
Centennial Park
We started off our first day by visiting Centennial Park. The park is 132 acres and was built in 1897. It was home to the 1897 Tennessee Centennial Exposition. The main feature in the park is the full replica of the Parthenon from Athens.
You will also find a one mile walking trail, a lake, an art center, events shelter, sand volleyball courts, a dog park and an exercise trail.
The parthenon was pretty impressive. The columns are huge and you surely can’t miss seeing it when visiting the park. There is an art museum located in the Parthenon. It costs $10 for adults and $8 for kids and seniors to see the museum.
Make sure to take a stroll on the walking path that goes around the lake. We also walked around and took in some of the different statues in the park.
We visited on a Monday morning and it wasn’t too busy in the park. I am sure that during the weekends and summer months it is much busier.
Address: 2500 West End Avenue, Nashville, TN 37203
Cost: Free
Frist Art Museum
Just down the road from Centennial Park is the Frist Art Museum. At the time of this writing, they have 3 different exhibits. The first is titled Guitar Town.
It features 10 Nashville photographers who took pictures of some of the musicians in Nashville playing guitars.
The second exhibit is about Beatrix Potter. You learn about Beatrix and how she came to write Peter the Rabbit and her other children’s books that she wrote through her career.
The Beatrix Potter exhibit was great. It was pretty extensive and you could learn a lot about Beatrix and her life. It was geared for the young and old.
Finally, there is an exhibit called Elise Kendrick Salon Noir. This exhibit is about the Nashville artist Elise Kendrick. It focuses on the beauty of African American women. This exhibit was closed when we were there.
If you have kids, they have an interactive area called the Martin ArtQuest. It had a bunch of different interactive stations geared towards kids but adults could also do them. It was very well done.
Cassidy and I felt a little short changed with the one exhibit not being open. If you have kids, it would be a great spot to visit.
Address: 919 Broadway St., Nashville, TN 37203
Hours: Monday, Friday, Saturday 10:00am-5:30pm – Thursday 10:00am-8:00pm and Sunday 1:00pm-5:30pm
Cost: Adult $15 and 18 and under are free
The Frothy Monkey
My daughter, Madison, recommended stopping into the Frothy Monkey. While we were on our way to Radnor Lake State Park, we saw one of their locations and stopped in for some coffee and a snack.
I got my standard black coffee and my daughter Cassidy got a lavender latte. We split a Triple Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookie. The coffee was really good. Cassidy really liked the latte and the cookie was delicious.
Address: 2509 12th Ave. S, Nashville, TN 37204
Ratings: TripAdvisor 4.5 – Google Review 4.5
Radnor Lake State Park
On the south side of town, you will find Radnor Lake State Park. It is a 1,368 acre park. They have 7.5 miles of trail to enjoy in the park.
While you are at the park, you would never know that you are so close to the city of Nashville. We were there to take in the scenery and do some walking. The trail around the lake is pretty wide and was asphalt in the area where we walked.
There is a parking lot at the bottom of the hill. You can also park along the left hand side of the road that leads up to the lake.
If you like to take in nature, then this will be a good stop for you.
Address: 1160 Otter Creek Rd., Oak Hill, TN 37220
Hours: 6:00am to 20 minutes past sunset all year round
Cost: Free
Hattie B’s
I talked to a number of people before we headed to Nashville. When it came to eating somewhere, they almost all said to eat hot chicken at Hattie B’s. So, that is what we did.
We were in the downtown area on Broadway. There is a Hattie B’s right there. It took us about 30-35 minutes to get into the restaurant. They have varying degrees of hotness that you can get.
I got the hottest one in the middle section of hotness. There are two levels above that with the hottest one being “shut the cluck up.” I wasn’t brave enough to go there.
I got a fried chicken sandwich with fries and Cassidy got chicken strips with double fries. The sandwich came with coleslaw and cheese on it. I didn’t know what to expect but after taking one bite it exceeded my expectations.
I can honestly say that it was the best chicken sandwich I have ever eaten. It had just the right amount of heat and it was nice and crispy. I would definitely recommend trying one of their locations out.
Address: 5069 Broadway Pl Ste A-103, Nashville, TN 37203
Ratings: TripAdvisor 4.5 – Google Reviews 4.6
Walk around Broadway
Broadway is where you are going to find all kinds of bars and other things to sightsee. After we ate, we strolled down one side of Broadway and up the other side.
It was a beautiful day, so most of the bars had their windows open. So, you could hear all of the different bands playing.
If you are into checking out different bars and bands, you will probably want to hit the Broadway part of town. Just realize that it will be busy. We were there a couple of different days during the week and it was packed.
Ben and Jerry’s
On the way to our next activity, we both felt like some ice cream so we stopped into a Ben and Jerry’s store near Vanderbilt University. If you like Ben and Jerry’s, it is worth a stop.
Address: 416-A 21st Ave. S, Nashville, TN 37203
Ratings: TripAdvisor 4.5 – Google Reviews 4.2
AdventureWorks ZipLine Adventure
Cassidy found AdventureWorks ZipLine Adventure a couple of days before we were to go to Nashville. I have never been ziplining so I was totally game for it.
They are located on the north side of town. It is about a 20 minute drive from the downtown area. The zipline takes place in the woods on the former property of Barbara Mandrell.
The van that they took us back to the woods parked at the 30,000 square foot log cabin she used to own. Can you say large?
There were 8 total ziplines that we did. The longest one was 1,000 feet long and you could get up to 35 miles an hour.
If you are into a little adventure, it is well worth the money that you will spend. The two girls that led us did a great job and were very personable.
There were 8 people in our group and it took around 1 hour and 15 minutes from the time we got suited up to when we got back to the main office area.
Address: 4129 White Creeks Pike, White Creeks, TN 37189
Cost: $75.95 which includes taxes and fees
Rosemary and Beauty Queen
We stopped here to have a light dinner. It was kind of hard to find the place since it was a former house turned into a restaurant.
Once you enter the house there is a seating area to hang out. There is a bar and on the other side of the room there is seating to eat. Once you go out the back door there is a large deck.
There is seating outside down in a courtyard. There is also another house with some rooftop seating. They even had a disco ball with some nice mellow music playing in the background. If you like atmosphere, this place has it.
They serve tacos, burritos, oysters, crunch wraps and other things. We both got some soft shelled tacos. They were really good.
Address: 1102 Forest Ave., Nashville, TN 37206
Ratings: TripAdvisor 3.5 – Google Reviews 4.3
Day 2 – Cheekwood Estate – Ryman Theater
Pancake Pantry
I am a sucker for breakfast. I could actually eat breakfast for every meal. So, when someone from Nashville recommended this place to me I was in.
The restaurant is near the downtown area. There is parking behind the restaurant which made it nice. The restaurant is open for breakfast and lunch.
I ended up getting the namesake of the restaurant along with some turkey. Cassidy got two eggs, bacon and it came with a side of two pancakes. I got 4 pancakes with my order.
We both really enjoyed the meal and I actually couldn’t finish all of mine which never happens. The waitress that we had was very good and personable.
We were at the restaurant during the week so there wasn’t much of a wait. I heard someone say that there is usually a line out the door. So, you may want to factor that in if you go.
Address: 220 Molly St., Nashville, TN 37201
Reviews: TripAdvisor 4.5 – Google Review 4.5
Cheekwood Estates
If you enjoy being outdoors and you like different styles of gardens then Cheekwood Estates should be on your list of places to visit while in Nashville.
Cheekwood Estates is a 55 acre complex that has a mansion that was built in the 1930s which you can tour.
You will also find 13 distinct gardens on the property, an arboretum with over 130 different styles of trees, an art exhibit, and a 1.5 mile woodland sculpture walking trail.
Everything is very well maintained and is really beautiful. I enjoyed the walking trail the most. Cassidy enjoyed the different gardens out of all the different things.
Parking is free. They run different events on the grounds throughout the year so you will want to check out their website to see if any special thing is happening when you are there.
Address: 1200 Forrest Park Dr, Nashville, TN 37205
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 9am-5pm
Cost: There are two different tickets. You can get just the gardens or the gardens with the mansion. The cost varies depending on what is happening that day. You can click the link to see the cost.
Ryman Auditorium
I am not really a country music fan but there were a number of people that suggested seeing Ryman Auditorium. Even though I am not a country music fan I can appreciate places that are important for many people.
There are two different types of tours that you can take to see the Ryman. You can do a self guided tour or a guided tour.
We opted for the self-guided tour. First, you will watch a 10-15 minute video giving you the history of the Ryman. It was well done and it was interesting.
From there you are on your own. They have areas to see different memorabilia and read about the Ryman and artists that have performed there. You can walk around in the upper and lower seating.
Even though it was interesting to learn about the history of the Ryman and its place in country music. Cassidy and I didn’t think that it was worth the money that we had to pay.
If you are a country music fan, it wouldn’t probably matter what you would pay to see this part of country music history.
They do have all kinds of acts that perform at the Ryman. I wouldn’t mind seeing someone perform at the auditorium. There really isn’t a bad seat in the place for a concert.
Address: 116 Rep. John Lewis Way North, Nashville, TN 37219
Hours: Every day 9:00am-4:00pm
Cost: Self Guided Tour $30 plus tax – Guided Tour $70 plus tax
The Frothy Monkey
Since we ate at the Pancake Pantry, we didn’t eat lunch. So, it was around 2:30 when we got to the Frothy Monkey. We went back to the same location that we had stopped at the day before.
They have seating outside in front of the restaurant but we decided to eat inside. Cassidy got the Gail salad and I got the french toast. Both of the dishes were really good.
Address: 2509 12th Ave. S, Nashville, TN 37204
Ratings: TripAdvisor 4.5 – Google Review 4.5
I Believe in Nashville Mural
Nashville has many different murals all over the city. The “I Believe in Nashville” mural was just down the street from the Frothy Monkey. So, we walked down and got a few pics.
Address: 2702 12th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37204
Cost: Free
Five Daughters Bakery
Right up the street from the mural is the Five Daughters Bakery. My other daughters and a few other people suggested coming here.
I got a chocolate covered donut and Cassidy got a strawberry donut with sprinkles. It was worth the walk to get a little dessert.
Address: 1110 Caruthers Ave, Nashville, TN 37204
Ratings: TripAdvisor 4.5 – Google Reviews 4.6
Drive to Franklin to look at homes
When it comes to trips, I like to have a pretty good idea of what we are doing. I at least like to know where we are going and how to get there.
My oldest daughter, Maddie, suggested driving down to Franklin to look at some of the homes that some stars own. I didn’t do any research or anything beforehand. It was a fly by the seat of your pants moment.
We got down to Franklin and Cassidy was trying to find some of the homes. Needless to say, we got to see a lot of Franklin and the surrounding area but we didn’t see any of the big homes we were looking for.
So, my recommendation is to do some upfront research before trying this endeavor.
Day 3 – Gaylord Opryland and Convention Center – Murals in the Gulch Area – American Picker Store – Percy Warner Park
Gaylord Opryland and Convention Center
The Gaylord Opryland and Convention Center is unique in the fact that you have a hotel, waterpark, convention center, restaurants, and stores along with streams, plants, waterfalls and even boat rides under one roof.
There are 3 main areas in the hotel that have all kinds of plants, streams, shooting water and waterfalls. You will find shops and restaurants in those areas as well as other areas in the complex.
We were there in the morning and so it wasn’t terribly busy. So, it was nice to sit down and soak in the sounds of the water and all of the plants.
If the setting sounds like something that you would enjoy, you can obviously stay at the hotel so that you can be in the heart of all of the action.
If you don’t stay at the hotel and just want to visit like us when you go to park, it says that it is $30. You can get your parking validated if you eat at one of the restaurants. We were there for about an hour and a half. We ended up paying $9 for parking.
There is free parking in a lot that is close to the Grand Ole Opry which is right behind the Gaylord. I believe there is a shuttle that you can take to the hotel. It is a bit of a hike if you are going to walk.
Address: 2800 Opryland Dr, Nashville, TN 37214
Barista Parlor
On our way to our next stop, we made a stop at the Barista Parlor. There are a number of different ones around the city. The one we stopped at was pretty cool. The outside of the place was all purple.
You could tell that it was a garage at one time. There were 3 large glass garage doors. Two of them were open since it was a nice day. The place had an industrial look to it.
You ordered in the center of the room with seating all along the walls of the place. There was also a seating area on the outside.
Cassidy got a latte and I got my standard black coffee and a chocolate muffin. Both were very good.
Address: 519 Gallatin Ave B, Nashville, TN 37206
Ratings: TripAdvisor 4.0 – Google Reviews 4.3
Murals in the Gulch Area
We stopped in the Gulch area of town to take some pics of a number of murals. The Gulch area of town is an upscale area with hotels, shops, and bars.
They do have parking meters in the street. So, it was nice not having to go into a parking garage.
The murals that I got some pics of are “What Lifts Your Wings”, “Candy Hearts” and “Hear This Nashville”.
Murals Addresses: What Lifts You Wings – 302 11th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37203
Candy Hearts – 601 8th Ave, Nashville, TN 37203
Hear This Nashville – 901 Gleaves St, Nashville, TN 37203
Cost: Free
Antique Archaeology (TV Show American Pickers Store)
I used to watch American Pickers all of the time on TV. So, we had to stop by the Nashville shop. It was kind of cool to see what I have seen on TV for all of those years.
There is parking along the street that you can use. If you like shops, there is a building right beside Antique Archaeology that has a bunch of different shops in it.
Address: 1300 Clinton St. Ste 130, Nashville, TN 37203
Cost: Free
Percy Warner Park
The Warner Park system is 3,100 acres and is around 9 miles from downtown Nashville. We went by the GPS and it took us on a little bit of a wild goose chase.
We ended up driving a loop that was through the woods for about 5 miles. After awhile, we finally found a parking area and went for a nice walk.
This is worth a stop if you like to do some hiking. You definitely don’t feel like you are near the city when you are in this park. If you go to the Cheekwood Estate, the park is basically connected to the estate. There are numerous areas to park and walk.
The following address is to the Warner Park Nature Center. There are numerous trails to walk from there.
Address: 7311 TN-100, Nashville, TN 37211
Cost: Free
True Food Kitchen
If you are into healthy eating, then the True Food Kitchen will be a place for you to try. They run a seasonal menu. So, the foods that are available for a given season will be in their dishes.
The restaurant has a laid back feeling with a yellow and green throughout the restaurant. There was indoor and outdoor seating.
Their spring menu has burgers, sandwiches, salads and bowls, pizzas and paninis, wine and beer and desserts to choose from.
Cass and I both got pizza. She got the Margarita pizza and I got the chicken sausage pizza. The pizza has a thin crust. It was very delicious. I would definitely get it again.
This is a chain restaurant so you will find them in various cities and states.
Address: 3996 Hillsboro Pike, Nashville, TN 37215
Ratings: TripAdvisor 4.0 – Google Reviews 4.5
Other Things to Do in Nashville
There are many other things that you can do in Nashville. Here are a few suggestions that you may want to check out if you go to the city.
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Grand Ole Opry House Guided Backstage Tour
Discover Nashville City Tour with Entrance to Ryman & Country Music Hall of Fame
Nashville Evening Trolley Tour
Best of Nashville City Sightseeing Tour on Double Decker Bus
Helicopter Tour of Downtown Nashville
Explore the City of Nashville Tour by Golf Cart
Mural Art Tour of Nashville by Golf Cart
Nashville’s RCA Studio B & Country Music Hall of Fame
National Museum of African American Music
Belle Meade Guided Mansion Tour with Complimentary Wine Tasting
Downtown Nashville Walking Food Tour
Guided Segway Tour of Downtown Nashville
Final Thoughts
No matter if you love country music or not, Nashville has something for everyone to enjoy. Cass and I both enjoyed our time in the city.
So, if you are looking for a great place to go, you should definitely put Nashville on your lists of cities to visit.
If you would like to learn more about places to visit, how to save money on travel and other things travel related, click on this link to visit my blog.
