Wanderlust {Nashville}

After Chattanooga and Knoxville, the next city on our “Tour of Tennessee” itinerary for next spring is Nashville!  Honey and I have only been to Music City once for a wedding and are super excited about heading back.

skyline15_500

I’d love to hear your suggestions for…

  • where to stay – specifically what part of town
  • where to eat
  • what to see / do
  • thoughts on the Grand Ol Opry, line dancing and doing a studio tour with kids

Y’all are always full of the very best ideas!

signature

Dixie Delights Tour of Tennessee

in collaboration with
Dollywood  |  Visit Nashville  |  Memphis Travel

Chattanooga
Part 1 – Read House, Ruby Falls, Rock City + More
Part 2 –  Wild Cave Expedition, Tennessee Aquarium + More

Dollywood
Part 3 – Dollywood + Dixie Stampede
Part 4 – Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort

Knoxville
Part 5 – a quick morning in the city

Nashville
Part 6 – Hattie B’s, Grand Ole Opry, Country Music Hall of Fame
Part 7 – Hermitage Hotel, Wildhorse Saloon, Draper James

Memphis
Part 8 – Peabody, Beale Street, Graceland
Part 9 – BBQ, Civil Rights Museum, Sun Studio

DIXIE DELIGHTS DELIVERED

| Filed under travel | Tags: ,

22 thoughts on “Wanderlust {Nashville}

  1. My family loves the Opryland Hotel!! And it’s obviously convenient to the Grand Ol Opry. You should definitely try some hot chicken while you are there, we love Hattie B’s. There is so much to do and see downtown – The Ryman, Country Music hall of Fame, Johnny Cash museum, etc.

  2. You must do Hattie B’s hot chicken and pancake pantry. Yummy!! grand Ol Opry is just ok in my opinion but it’s been many years since I’ve been.
    Glad to see y’all enjoying my home state :)

  3. We enjoyed Hatch Show Print; it is an additional admission fee at the CMHF, but so worth it! Really cool history of the company…and you get to make your own screen print to take home! It’s a quick, but very interesting tour!

  4. I like the Music City Sheraton, it’s a older hotel but nice. The science Museum is good, and the Country Hall of Fame Museum and the Parthanon . I love Jacks Barb-B-Que. Hope you enjoy your visit to Music City.

  5. Hi Amanda. Lots to see and do in Nashville. We live two hours south and travel there frequently for lots of great concerts at Bridgestone Arena, The Ryman Auditorium, Grand Ole Opry and lots of other cool music venues! For your family, I would suggest staying at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center. Google them and sign up for their emails because they offer specials that can get you a better rate. Lots of nice, new hotels in the Downtown area but I think your family would enjoy the Opryland hotel the best. I would also visit the http://www.visitmusiccity.com website. There is lots of good information here. Here is a link to the Nashville Shores newest attraction, the Treetop Adventure Park. It is close to the Opryland Hotel as well. http://www.visitmusiccity.com/media/pr_swingbreak032515?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Choose%20Your%20Adventure&utm_campaign=Harmony032515. From what I’ve read in your blog, you guys seem to enjoy sports so definitely catch a Nashville Predators hockey game at Bridgestone arena https://www.nhl.com/predators/schedule/2017-03-01/CT. Also, Nashville is hosting the men’s SEC Basketball Tournament in March. Not sure exactly what days you will be in Nashville but you might be there during the tourney? https://www.secticketoffice.com/events/secmbb.html. I think John and Whit would enjoy touring the Parthenon and Centennial Park. It’s pretty cool! As you can probably tell, we love Nashville!

  6. Cheekwood Botanical Gardens and eat lunch at the Pineapple Room. Donuts from Fox’s Donut Den. Visit Parnassus Books. Loveless Cafe. If you want to be close to all the action, I would probably want to stay downtown on or near Lower Broad. For a nice dinner, City House. Reese Witherspoon’s store – Draper James.

  7. Some of the best places:
    Cheekwood
    Loveless cafe
    Adventure science center
    Frist Art museum
    Parthenon
    Opryland Hotel
    Country Music Hall of Fame (if you’re fans)
    There are lots of historic homes to visit in Nashville and the surrounding suburbs. The Hermitage, Rock Castle, Carnton Plantation, and Belle Meade and Belmont mansions are just a few.
    I hope you have a wonderful time in Nashville.

  8. Forgot to mention Pinewood Social! Fun restaurant with great food, cool atmosphere and bowling and bocce ball.

  9. I’ve lived in the Nashville area 13 years. Gaylord Opryland is a beautiful hotel. It’s not downtown but it’s not far from it. It’s huge with pools and beautiful indoor gardens. Places to eat would be Hattie B’s for some hot chicken and Biscuit Love for brunch. You can tour the Ryman, Country Music Hall of Fame, Frist Center for the Arts, Cheekwood Botannical Gardens, Bicentennial Mall & Farmers Market, Adventure Science Center, Belle Meade Plantation, walk the Shelby Street pedestrian bridge…so many things! If you have time, head a few miles south to Franklin. The downtown area is beautiful and there are lots of shops and local restaurants.

  10. I forgot to mention Pinewood Social! Fun restaurant with great food, beat atmosphere, bowling and bocce ball.

  11. Just returned from a girls weekend in Nashville – so, so fun! We had a *fabulous* lunch at The Southern, late night apps at The Stillery, and a great mexican lunch at Saint Anejo. Did some shopping at 12 South area, Draper James is there. We stayed at the Hampton Inn Downtown – close to the action, free breakfast. Have fun!

  12. Hi! I visited Nashville a few years ago and loved it. I know you will too. Be sure to tour the Belle Meade plantation for a history break from all the music fun. It is a lovely plantation with lots of history and fun period costumed tour guides. There is also a wine tasting at the winery and horses.

    Ilene

  13. Lots of great fun in Nashville and I agree with comment above that the Gaylord Opryland resort is really nice, but if you have the opportunity, visit Franklin, Tennessee just below Nashville for a charming small town feel with great shopping.

  14. I second The Southern but I’ve never been there with kids, only dinner but I’ve definitely seen kids there. As far as hotels – I go to Nashville about once every 6 weeks for work and my advice is book early! I recommend staying downtown and then you can always drive out to the other parts of town. I love the Omni but also had good experiences at some of the more “moderate” hotels like the Hampton Inn right by it. Be prepared that hotels there are pricey. They just can’t build enough fast enough. It would also be walkable to stay somewhere listed as by Vanderbilt. Very close. Also check out the Nasvhille Sounds schedule – minor league baseball team, brand new stadium that is very nice and close to downtown.

  15. If you will be in Memphis, you are only an hour from Oxford, MS (home of the Ole Miss Rebels). If you have not been to this adorable, Southern Town, you must make the 1-hour drive. As a frequent reader of your page, you will absolutely love our little slice of heaven!

  16. I’ve been to Nashville a few times in recent years and just got back from there 3 weeks ago. I LOVE it!!!
    Hattie B’s – the BEST chicken!!! There is normally a long line here, but i’m sure it varies depending on the time you go. I went around 1:30 and waited 45 minutes to order and almost 20 minutes for food, but it was SOOO worth it. I’m sure if you go earlier it’s not as bad. This was also during a very busy weekend for Nashville. during typical waited 45 minute
    Pancake Pantry – delicious breakfast place!! Another place that I’ve seen with long lines. I went on a Sunday right after it opened and there was no wait. I think this is a famous place to go
    Parthenon – located in a nice park. I haven’t gone inside, but the outside is really neat
    12South Area – super cute, trendy area! Has bakeries, coffee houses, restaurants, and unique shops. Draper James is in this area. Went there for the 1st time on my most recent trip and questioned how I haven’t been there before. Love this area!
    Loveless Cafe – I haven’t been, but it’s on my to-do list. Family has been and they love it. Known for their biscuits
    Downtown Area – touristy area, but something to do for first timers. This is where the Country Music Hall of Fame is, which I’m not a huge fan of country music but this is a cool museum. If there is an event at Bridgestone Arena, the area caters towards that. The Ryman is here too which you can tour and is really cool.
    Grand Ole Opry – haven’t been, but something I would like to-do
    Franklin – cute neighborhood right outside of Nashville
    Hotels:
    I personally wouldn’t stay in the Grand Ole Opry area. I would stay closer to downtown, which is closer to things you’d want to do, plus I find it to be nicer. I have stayed at a few different hotels in the Nashville area and my favorite has to be the Hampton Inn Vanderbilt. It’s clean and around things you’d want to do. It’s less than a 5 minute drive to downtown. Hattie B’s is a block away and so are other restaurants. I think it’s a great central location for getting around Nashville. Parthenon, Pancake Pantry, 12South Area are all within 10 minutes.
    Hope this helps!

  17. Your family will love Nashville!!
    Our favorite BBQ restaurant hands down is Puckett’s followed closely by Jack’s.

    For a fun, kid-friendly breakfast/lunch stop, the Pfunky Griddle lets you make your own meal as you sit around a tabletop griddle. Pancakes for breakfast or sandwiches for lunch–okay food, but a lot of fun!!

    If you want to get a little more educational, President Andrew Jackson’s estate is here and there is a self guided walking tour through the grounds with a great kid-friendly tour option on the headset. The Parthanon is also a pretty neat stop along the way and is equally as impressive at night when of is all lit up.

    Opryland is a little bit from Downtown, but it will definitely have more of a “Disney Resort” feel to it with several areas to explore. It’s right next to The Grand Ole Opry and Opry Mills–giant movie theater/outlet mall.

    If you’re looking for a “Sprinkles” stop…12 South area right next to Draper James (Reese Witherspoon’s boutique)…there are also a few other great restaurants and finds along this stretch.

Leave a Reply to Allison Ford-Wade Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *