It is no surprise that the city famous for being the Music City of the country has to one of the liveliest, most popular cities to party in. Bosting of amazing country music, an eventful history, and thriving nightlife, Nashville has everything to capture your attention. And of course, the scrumptious southern food and mind-blowing drinks will keep you wanting more.
If you’re planning a weekend getaway to this thriving city and want to have a great time without missing out on any essential places to visit, here is the definitive guide to spending a fun and exciting weekend in Nashville.
1. Start With A Dinner At Henley
Ideally, you should be heading to Nashville after work on Friday to make the most out of your weekend getaway. If you wait until Saturday, you’ll just have less time to have fun in Nashville. At the same time, avoid filling up on junk food on your journey – whether it’s those roadside snacks or those plane peanuts.
Instead, work up your appetite to have dinner at Henley, which is located in Kimpton Aertson Hotel. It has a farm-to-table menu, so it changes regularly on a seasonal basis – what you loved during your trips last winter may not be available when you visit again in spring.
However, whatever you find on the menu is bound to be mouthwateringly delicious. To make things better, they also serve insanely fantastic drinks. Just make sure to take an Uber to your next location if you drink one too many.
2. Visit Ryman Auditorium – The Original Venue of the Grand Ole Opry
The rest of the trip can be scattered according to your preference and convenience, but we recommend heading over to the Ryman Auditorium before anything else. Once upon a time, this used to be the venue for the Grand Ole Opry.
While the fanbase and memorabilia collection eventually outgrew the Ryman Auditorium, it is still considered a National Historic Landmark due to its impact on the reinvention of country music. If you can only do one thing in Nashville, it must be to take a behind-the-scenes tour here.
3. Attend a Show at Grande Ole Opry
One of the favorite activities of Nashville residents is to attend a show at the Grand Ole Opry. This clearly means that this should definitely be on your weekend to-do list. While you are most likely to hear country musicians perform at this famous musical venue, over the years, it has hosted musicians across various genres including folk, gospel, and bluegrass.
If you’re lucky enough, you may even end up catching famous stars such as Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Kelsea Ballerini, and Rascal Flatts. In addition to that, you can also take a tour through the backstage and dressing rooms before the performance.
4. Visit the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
It is only natural that the music city has one of the richest collection of music history, and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum doesn’t fall short on that assumption. This massive museum is packed with a recollection of country music and memorabilia from some of the country artists in history.
Not only can you learn everything you need to about the evolution of country music and admire every single gold and platinum country record that has ever been created, but you can also pose for a picture with the solid gold Cadillac Limo originally owned by Elvis himself. Who wouldn’t want that picture in the photo album?
5. Brunch at Pinewood
If you want to settle down after an exciting Saturday and do something more relaxing, head over to the Pinewood Social for brunch and maybe some coffee. It won’t be an exaggeration to say that this is what an Instagrammer’s dreams are made of. Aside from offering some incredibly picturesque opportunities, the Pinewood Social has almost everything you need for a relaxing Sunday; a restaurant, a coffee shop, a bar, a pool, a bowling alley, a bocce ball, a court, and so much more.
With so many things to do, you can easily spend your entire day here and still not have a second to spare. And don’t forget, the coffee here is delicious! So, if you’re only there for brunch, don’t miss out on trying their coffee.
6. Explore 12South
Sometimes, you just want to take a stroll down the city and take in everything that you come across. If you’re in such a mood, head straight to 12South. The best way to explore this area is to wander around without having a set plan in mind. 12South is full of delicious places to eat, cool vintage stores, and street art to marvel at. Also, it has enough dessert option to keep you full until next weekend. For a photo op that will make the perfect souvenir for your trip, make sure to stop the I Believe in Nashville mural.
Nashville is one of the best cities for a weekend getaway. It is the kind of place that will make you want to sing even if you can’t hold a tune, make you dance even if you don’t know the steps, and drink at 3 pm without any regrets. So, if you haven’t had your rendezvous in the music city so far, it is never too late.
