Heads up: a number of the hyperlinks on this web site are affiliate hyperlinks. If you click on and make a reserving or buy, I’ll make a fee (at no additional value to you). I associate with corporations I personally use and the $$ goes in direction of creating extra superior, free journey content material.
When I noticed on the Visit Tennessee web site that they have been providing free flights to numerous locations throughout the state, I instantly jumped on the deal. I imply who can flip down a free $200 flight voucher? All I needed to do was be one of many first 10,000 individuals to e-book a resort keep of two nights or extra and the journey needed to embrace a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday night time. I suppose they launched the deal to encourage tourism post-pandemic, so I fortunately booked a visit to Music City.
It seems that there’s at all times a celebration in Nashville it doesn’t matter what day of the week it’s. I spent 2 days in Nashville on a Tuesday/Wednesday and day by day the bars on Honky Tonk Highway have been enjoying dwell music from 11am. Even if you happen to’re not into nation music (I wouldn’t think about myself a rustic music fan, I’m extra of a techno gal) the vibe is so enjoyable and it’s nice to listen to dwell performances it doesn’t matter what style it’s.
If you’re searching for the sort of journey the place you eat a lot of yummy meals, go to rooftops and like dancing and ingesting, then Nashville is certainly the place for you. The metropolis is small and simply explored on foot, so you’ll be able to positively cowl virtually all the pieces there’s to do in Nashville in 2 days if you happen to rise up early.
If you want some pointers for what to do, right here’s my urged itinerary for two days in Nashville:
Perfect Nashville Itinerary: 2 Days
Day 1: Country Music Hall of Fame, Johnny Cash Museum and Honky Tonk Highway
Breakfast at Another Broken Egg
Start your day with breakfast at Another Broken Egg, which is within the downtown space. This common breakfast spot opens at 7am, so it’s excellent if you happen to get up early like we did. The restaurant has a diner-style vibe and serves some nice eggs benedict dishes, together with hash brown benedict, crab cake benedict and smoked salmon benedict. They additionally serve typical breakfast objects like buttermilk pancakes and French toast.
Country Music Hall of Fame
Next, make your strategy to the Country Music Hall of Fame, which is devoted to the preservation of the historical past of nation music. This monumental museum holds the biggest assortment of nation music artefacts on the planet – over 2.5 million of them! Inside the museum you’ll be able to discover a variety of everlasting and altering reveals.
Johnny Cash Museum
Afterwards, it’s time to go to the Johnny Cash Museum. Although I’m not a giant nation music fan, I do love Johnny Cash, so I actually loved this museum. It’s a lot smaller and extra intimate than the Country Music Hall of Fame and is particularly devoted to his life story, which is extremely attention-grabbing. Johnny Cash is without doubt one of the few musicians on the planet to have offered over 100 million information and he recorded over 1500 songs throughout his profession.
You can see a lot of outfits that he and his spouse June Carter wore whereas performing, in addition to guitars and different memorabilia. Certain components of the museum characteristic movies of Johnny Cash singing a few of his greatest songs. My specific favourite was the video of Johnny singing the tune, Hurt, which he recorded shortly earlier than his dying. Tickets to the museum value $22.95+tax and will be bought on-line or on the door.
We achieved all the above by 11am, and by this time, the music had began on Honky Tonk Highway. Yes, the social gathering actually begins that early in Nashville! We dropped by the Johnny Cash Bar subsequent door for a drink, the place there was a very good dwell band enjoying nation music.
12South Neighborhood
After you’ve spent a while downtown, it’s time to hop in an Uber to the 12South avenue space of Nashville. It appears far on the map however in actuality the Uber value $10. That’s the wonderful thing about Nashville – Ubers are fairly cheap contemplating the gap you journey.
This very cute neighborhood has a way more relaxed, small city vibe in comparison with the busy streets of downtown Nashville. Here you’ll discover a number of murals the place you’ll be able to have your picture taken, together with the “I Believe in Nashville” mural and the blue and white striped wall outdoors Draper James, which is a clothes retailer owned by actress Reese Witherspoon. Dolly Parton additionally has a property on this space, which our Uber driver identified alongside the best way.
The fundamental avenue has a couple of nice cafes and eating places, in addition to boutiques and a small farmer’s market. I’d suggest grabbing espresso and one thing to eat at Frothy Monkey, which is a well-liked all day cafe.
Drinks at Lou/Na Rooftop
After exploring 12South it’s time to hop again in an Uber and hit up a rooftop. Lou/Na, which is situated on the twenty fifth ground of the Grand Hyatt, gives a number of the greatest views of the town and serves some actually inventive cocktails. Just bear in mind it doesn’t open until 4pm Sun-Thurs and 3pm on Fridays and Saturdays.
Dinner in Downtown Nashville
For dinner, there are many nice selections in Nashville. Nearby you’ll discover Adele’s, which is a farm to desk restaurant with a heated outside patio. Dishes are inventive and have loads of contemporary substances – suppose burrata salad with strawberry and pea French dressing, or salmon with blood orange, rice, leeks and watercress.
Another nice possibility is Hampton Social, which has a brilliant and ethereal “Hamptons” theme.
If you need some good images, the restaurant has a flower wall and fountain within the entrance, together with a Rosé All Day wall. It’s extremely photogenic and the meals is sweet too. I ordered the tuna tartare and the shrimp tacos, each of which have been nice.
Honky Tonk Highway
In the night you positively have to take a look at the brilliant lights of Honky Tonk freeway, which is type of like Beale Street in Memphis or sixth Street in Austin, solely far more crowded and energetic. Music blasts from each single bar and it’s virtually troublesome to decide on which one to go to.
There’s completely no cowl cost, so that you mainly get to see dwell music for the worth of a drink. If you don’t plan on going to catch a present on the Grand Ole Opry, then you’ll be able to nonetheless discover loads of nation music and dwell bands right here.
I like that a whole lot of the performers rise up and stand on the bar – it’s tremendous enjoyable to observe! There are so many bars, so spend your night time simply bar hopping from place to position.
Day 2: Pinewood Social, Grand Ole Opry, Gaylord Opryland
Breakfast at Pinewood Social
Once you’ve had a great night time’s sleep at your resort, it’s time to kick off the second day of your 2 days in Nashville! Don’t miss the possibility to have breakfast/brunch Pinewood Social, which is a big, industrial model restaurant that includes a bowling alley, a espresso store and loads of area if you wish to work in your pc. I ordered the brûléed grapefruit and avocado toast, which have been each scrumptious!
Grande Ole Opry
After breakfast, take an Uber to go to the Grand Ole Opry. This well-known nation music venue is dwelling to the longest-running radio broadcast in US historical past. You can take a tour inside, or just cease by and have your picture taken in entrance of the large guitar that stands in entrance of the constructing.
Gaylord Opryland Resort
From the Grand Ole Opry you’ll be able to stroll to the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, which is a sprawling luxurious resort that options 9 acres of indoor gardens. The gardens characteristic tropical vegetation, bushes, bridges, waterfalls and guitars suspended from the ceiling. It’s very spectacular and value a go to. In addition to the gardens, the resort boasts a spa, golf course, occasion venues and eating places.
Rooftops and Dinner in Downtown Nashville
In the afternoon you’ll be able to go to but extra rooftops. Jason Aldean’s Kitchen + Rooftop on Honky Tonk Highway is a superb place to take in the solar and luxuriate in a beer or two whereas listening to dwell music.
Another nice rooftop is Zeppelin Nashville, an extremely fashionable rooftop with a light-weight, brilliant (and really pink) inside. I can think about it might positively be common with Instagrammers! This stylish rooftop bar has an out of doors terrace and is sweet for cocktails and light-weight bites.
For dinner I visited Ellington’s, which is situated on the 4th ground of the Fairlane Hotel. While I discovered the appetizer parts to be on the small facet, the smoked rooster fundamental course is to die for! Really juicy and scrumptious. The restaurant has an aesthetic indoor eating space and a wraparound terrace if you wish to dine outdoors.
Other Things to Do in Nashville if You Have More Time
If you’ve gotten greater than 2 days in Nashville then there are a number of extra issues you are able to do. You can:
Try scorching rooster at Hattie B’s – Hattie B’s is a well-known Nashville restaurant chain serving scorching rooster, which is mainly spicy fried rooster that’s been marinated and lined in a cayenne pepper sauce. It’s an area speciality and positively one thing you must attempt a minimum of as soon as.
Visit the Parthenon – Located in Centennial Park, the Parthenon is a full-scale reproduction of the Parthenon in Athens, which was constructed for the 1897 Centennial Exposition. It appears a bit random that there’s a Parthenon in Tennessee of all locations, however there it offers you a really feel of what the Greek Parthenon seemed like all these years in the past. Inside there’s even a gold-coated reproduction of the 42-foot statue of Athena, similar to there was in historic Greece. Inside you’ll be able to browse artwork reveals, whereas outdoors you’ll be able to stroll round Nashville’s largest city park.
Watch a present on the Grand Ole Opry – If you don’t thoughts spending the cash on tickets then one of many high issues to do in Nashville is watch a present on the Grand Ole Opry! This nation music live performance has been operating since 1925 and is broadcast on radio and tv. While I didn’t watch a present, I’m advised that it’s actually enjoyable to observe, even for individuals who wouldn’t think about themselves nation music followers.
Tips for Visiting Nashville
You don’t really want to hire a automotive – Uber is comparatively cheap in Nashville in comparison with New York. An Uber from the airport to my resort was about $20. Most Ubers we took round city have been about $10.
Take an Uber from the airport – The rideshare pickup space is simple to seek out at Nashville airport, simply comply with the indicators. The journey from the airport to downtown Nashville is barely round quarter-hour and prices round $20-$30 relying on site visitors.
Stay downtown – If you select a resort downtown you’ll be able to simply stroll to most locations and discover all the pieces on foot. There are inns additional out however you then’d most likely be Ubering/driving extra.
Where to Stay on Your 2 Days in Nashville
21c Museum Hotel – This is the place I stayed throughout my journey. 21c Museum Hotel is a resort and artwork museum all rolled into one, so it’s one thing a bit bit completely different. I cherished the truth that it was so centrally situated inside strolling distance of Honky Tonk Highway, plus the rooms have been very spacious. The resort additionally has its personal restaurant referred to as Gray and Dudley, which serves impressed consolation meals from native producers.
Holston House Nashville – Housed in a 1929 artwork deco-style constructing, Holston home can be situated downtown and options an out of doors swimming pool, which is helpful if you wish to cool off through the scorching summer time months.
Dream Nashville – If you want hip inns, you then’ll like Dream Nashville, which offes artwork deco-inspired rooms with excessive ceilings and glossy finishes. The resort is housed in two historic landmark buildings in Printer’s Alley space. Best of all it boasts its personal experiential nightclub referred to as Dirty Little Secret, which contains a host of shock acts all through the night.
When to Visit Nashville
The greatest time to go to Nashville is from spring to autumn, so mainly April by means of October. During these months the climate is heat sufficient to sit down outdoors and benefit from the rooftops. Winter is off-season, though you may rating a greater deal on inns and flights. Weekends are very busy in Nashville because of the variety of bachelor/bachelorette events that descend on the town, so in order for you cheaper inns and fewer crowds, you may wish to go to on per week day.
A Final Word…
So there you’ve gotten it! A whole itinerary for two days in Nashville. I actually cherished Nashville due to the dwell music. Even if it’s not my traditional kind of music, any dwell music is nice! Nashville makes for a fantastic weekend getaway as a result of the airport is so near the town and it’s pretty small, so you’ll be able to see just about all the pieces in 2 days. Music City doesn’t have the identical variety of points of interest as someplace like New York however there’s sufficient to maintain you occupied for a weekend. Best of all it’s only a enjoyable and energetic place to eat, drink and dance.
More USA itineraries: