A couple of months ago I spent just 48 hours in Nashville as part of a much bigger trip to the states. Although 2 days was definitely not enough, I did manage to get a good chunk of things done. From line-dancing in an old town saloon to wandering around the Country Music Hall Of Fame, I definitely have a taste for this incredible city.
To help those with just a few days in Nashville, I thought I’d share some of the best things to do on a short break. Depending on how slow you like to travel you may not be able to do everything on the list, you can definitely give it a good go. I know I tried, even with an injured foot!
Enjoy Some Fried Chicken At Hattie B’s
When we first arrived in Nashville we headed straight to the famous Hattie B’s for some delicious fried chicken! Although the queue was absolutely huge, it was definitely worth it! I had spicy chicken tenders, mac and cheese, coleslaw and chips. The portions were so huge it felt like I’d barely touched the sides by the time I was done. It was amazing!
If you’re a big fan of spice, I’d recommend trying the ‘Shut The Cluck Up’ spice. WARNING: It is not for the faint-hearted.
Location: 112 19th Ave S, Nashville, TN
Go Mural Hunting
One of my favourite things to do when travelling is to hunt down some of the incredible murals that local artists have created. Although we didn’t have time to visit all of the walls as we only had 48 hours in Nashville, we did take some snaps at the ‘I love Nashville’ wall and ‘What Lifts You’ wings.
This particular mural was painted by Kelsey Montague as part of her world-famous “What Lifts You” series. The wings are representative of something bigger than just wings as they are filled with tiny significant images or memories.
Location: 302 11th Ave S, Nashville TN, USA
Try Line Dancing In A Local Bar
I’ve always wanted to go line dancing and I think Nashville was the perfect place to give it a go for the first time!
There are loads of different bars that offer classes, however, we made our way to Wild Horse Saloon where every hour or so they give a fifteen-minute tutorial. You only learn one dance but it is 100% worth it as it is so much fun. I’ll don’t think I’ll ever forget the moves. Definitely a must if you’re visiting the city for a bit of country music fun!
Visit The Grand Ole Opry
Although this isn’t something I had time to do during my 48 hours in Nashville, it was something that came highly recommended by the locals.
Founded in 1925, the Grand Ole Opry is known as ‘Country Music’s Most Famous Stage’. Dedicated to honouring country music and its incredible history, the Grand Ole Opry showcases a mix of famous singers and contemporary chart-toppers performing country, bluegrass, folk, and gospel music as well as a small number of comedy performances and skits.
Past performers include Dolly Parton, Carrie Underwood and Luke Combs.
Price: Backstage Tours start from $33, show prices vary depending on the artist
Location: 600 Opry Mills Dr, Nashville TN, 37214, USA
Wander Around The Country Music Hall Of Fame
One of the most popular tourist spots in Nashville is the Country Music Hall of Fame. With a HUGE country music history, Nashville is the perfect location to see some incredible exhibits about country artists both old and new. From Dolly Parton to Taylor Swift, I loved learning about the history of one of my favourite genres. The tickets are quite pricey but personally, I think it’s worth it to pay extra for an audio guide.
Price: Museum entry starts from $29.95
Location: 222 5th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37203, United States
Spend The Evening Listening To Live Music On Broadway
My absolute favourite experience in Nashville (and my whole trip to America) was spending the evening listening to live country music on Broadway. The XX long street is filled with XX bars and each and every bar has an incredible live band playing on almost every floor. I’ve honestly never experienced anything like it before.
Although not every bar has a rooftop bar, it’s worth hunting down the ones that do as I can’t explain how incredible it was to watch Broadway down below whilst listening to some of the cities most talented musicians.
Visit The Incredible Replica Of The Parthenon
When I arrived in Nashville I honestly never expected there to be an exact replica of the Greek Parthenon just outside of the city centre. Whilst we didn’t go into the museum, we did spend some time walking around the outside of this incredible building.
Today the Parthenon, which functions as an art museum, stands as the centre of Nashville’s Centennial Park. The cities nickname, the Athens of the South, certainly influenced the choice of the building as the centrepiece of the park, with the Parthenon being as close to the original as it can possibly be.
Price: Museum entry is £6
Location: 2500 West End Ave, Nashville, TN 37203, United States
Take A Walk Around The Gulch
If you’re looking for something a little bit different during your time in Nashville, the Gulch is definitely the best place to start. Although we only had the opportunity to drive around during our mural hunt, I certainly got a feel for the area. With independent stores, local coffee shops and unique restaurants, the Gulch is the place to go if you want to escape the hustle and the bustle of the city.
For more information, you can visit this site here.
See A Game At The Bridgestone Arena
Again, this was something I didn’t get a chance to experience but a couple of other people in my group did. Located just a few minutes away from the Country Music Hall of Fame in Downtown Nashville is the Bridgestone Arena. Known as the arena for the Nashville Predators hockey team, this is the perfect activity for sports fans! If you love music, live bands are also known to play here.
Location: 501 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203, United States
Walk The John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge
If you want incredible views of Nashville’s skyline, a walk along the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian bridge is a must. Whether you go during the day or take a walk over during the evening, the views are uncomparable. Crossing the Cumberland River, it is also one of the longest pedestrian bridges in the world.
Location: Nashville, TN 37213, United States
