When visiting Music City get ready for just that, music! As you stroll down Broadway, every small bar door you pass will have tunes pouring from it. Some are quaint hole in the wall dives while others don the name of some infamous country music stars with the décor to match. Even if you claim not to be much of country music fan, this city will have you tapping your toes along to the beat and knocking back beers like your truck broke down right after your dog ran away.
Check out the Street Art Scene
Don’t miss the art scene in The Gulch and 12 South. These neighborhoods are Nashville’s most trendy upscale communities and they have the street art to prove it.
ProTip: If you plan to take a picture with Kelsey Montague’s #WhatLiftsYou Wings, be prepared to wait in line. They are wildly popular and have people queuing even in 20 degree weather.
Eat Hot Chicken
I hate to admit this, but I had no idea Nashville was famous for hot chicken and also had no idea what I had been missing for all these years. This Nashville staple is battered and fried in what I can only imagine is a secret family recipe passed down through the generations. When it comes to heat, there is no need to worry. While the chicken we ate had varying levels of spice, none were actually “hot”. Even the most mild mannered tongue will be able to enjoy this breaded chicken treat.
Taste Tennessee Moonshine
When in Tennessee……. have some moonshine!!! If you stop at Bootleggers Inn on Broadway, you’re in for a show and some shine. They have a good assortment of Tennessee moonshine made in-house and with options like apple pie and cookies & cream, it won’t be hard to find one that agrees with your palate.
Experience Broadway
This is a no-brainer but it has to be said… Take your tip money and get ready to drink and dance the night away on Broadway. I only mention the tip money because cash is frequently absent from my pocket, and most bands will send the tip jar around every few songs to help keep the bar itself cover charge free. If you’re looking for a good old fashioned honky tonk, pay a visit to Robert’s Western World, one of the most notable bars on Broadway. Nudie’s Honky Tonk was also one of our favorites.
Listen to Live Music (off Broadway)
If you happen to be a bluegrass lover, DO NOT miss The Station Inn in The Gulch. Every Sunday, they have a bluegrass jam where musicians come together to play in a very Andy Griffith-esque manner. Banjos, fiddles, guitars, and mandolins all circled around improvising.
Get your Game on at Headquarters Beercade
If you happen to need a break from the live music scene, wander right off of Broadway and into Headquarters Beercade. There you can enjoy a craft beer or cocktail while trying your hand at one (or all) of the dozens of vintage arcade games that the establishment has to offer. From pinball to Pacman, this bar is guaranteed to have something for you… and the best part? THEY’RE ALL FREE TO PLAY!!
Learn Something New at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
No matter your current level of country music knowledge, this museum is not to be missed. More and more, country music has found it’s way onto the pop charts in present day USA and walking the Country Music Hall of Fame gives you a little bit of insight as to what shaped the genre and how it has transitioned into today. You may be surprised how similar the evolution of country music mimics the progression of other popular listening groups.
Split some Pins at Pinewood Social
Swing by Pinewood Social for brunch and some bowling. Be sure to book your spot in advance, because this place is popular! Oh – and Pinewood has a pool… I don’t think this place could get any better.
Take in the Rooftop Views
Head to the roof of Acme Feed and Seed for what are arguably the best nighttime views of the city. While you are there, you can listen to some live music and dine on a wide variety of yummy selections, including hot chicken. FYI – one entire level of this three-story bar is devoted to sushi.
Walk Across the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge
For the best daytime view of the Nashville skyline perched along the Cumberland River, take a stroll across the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge.
