Boots, Babes and Balloons in Nashville {a city guide}

A city that’s overrun by bachelor and bachelorette parties in peak season had me skeptic, but I’ve done this weekend away twice: first with my boyfriend and second on said bachelorette party, which included all my favorite food and shopping spots that I can’t wait to share with you!

My city guide includes some of the expected sights as well as alternative activities and spots for those who don’t want to spend every day/night on Broadway. Music city is worth the trip.

{things to do}

For your traditional Nashville experience, downtown has pretty much everything you could hope for. The bars on Broadway are open day and night, and almost every bar has live music 24/7. More on the drinking spots later. One of the iconic spots in the area, which is great for picture-taking is the Pedestrian Bridge. From it, you can overlook the city and even see into the Tennessee Titans stadium.

When I visited the second time, the Preds were in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Bridgestone Arena, which also serves as the venue for big name concerts in town has become a center for this new hockey town. The atmosphere was electric and worth checking out a game if scheduling permits.

If you like country music, the Ryman Auditorium offers a tour that is predominantly voiced by Charles Esten – that’s Deacon from Nashville the TV show that’s soon coming to an end. #TeamDeacon for life. The venue offers a taste of the city’s rich music history without going far. You’ll have to travel a bit farther to see the Grand Ole Opry, within its own dedicated area in town.

One of the most unique spots downtown is Wildhorse Saloon, which boasts the city’s biggest dance floor, and has line dancing lessons available throughout the day and night, of course.

Another distinct spot is Pinewood Social, which also serves up amazing brunch and cocktails. I used Pinewood as an alternative to a night out on Broadway during both of my trips. If you enjoy neon signs and good old-fashioned fun bowling, this is your spot. They have a killer playlist {not typically country}, and I basically danced and bowled the night away.

For a very exclusive evening event, make your way to the Bluebird Café, where Nashville’s up-and-coming stars and the writing behind your favorite country songs come alive. I’ve already mentioned I’m a huge Nashville TV show fan, and this little place plays a big part in that show, too. Be sure to check out the site at least a week before your visit as reserving a spot is as stressful as searching Ticketmaster for your favorite artist’s stadium show, but it is SO worth it – definitely the highlight of my first trip.

Last but not least, let me quickly recap some of the off the beaten path spots to visit in the city. On a gorgeous day, pack a picnic and head on over to Centennial Park, which is two miles west of downtown and in close proximity to Vanderbilt’s campus. It is a beautiful, serene location away from Broadway’s high energy and worth checking out. On the trip with my boyfriend, we also spent a morning kayaking on Percy Priest Lake. Nashville Paddle Company was incredibly accommodating with rentals, and we saw almost no one else on our 2-hour jaunt on the lake.

Since you’re on vacation, it’s more than okay to make time for pampering. The ladies of the Gulch’s Blowout Co. were fabulous, and our styled locks were great for photos and a girls’ dinner out. If you’re traveling on a bachelorette party or just really enjoy flowers yourself, make sure to follow Amelia’s Flower Truck on Instagram. They’ll keep you informed on where their three trucks will be out for the day, and I always love to treat myself with a bouquet – their trucks are DARLING!

{food}

There is so much amazing food in this city, there’s no way to experience it all in one trip, but you can try!

Start your day at Proper Bagel, where I ate one of the best breakfast sandwiches I’ve had in my life with a side of sweet potato mash, which was equally as amazing. If that’s not enough to sell you, they have 20+ varieties of cream cheese available, and I wish I could’ve sampled every one.

I can’t go anywhere without donuts, so Five Daughters Bakery is my choice in Nashville. It’s owned by a cute couple with five daughters and definitely has that small town, baked-with-love feel. The 100-layer donut is my favorite, and they also have Paleo varieties if that’s your thing.

Milk & Honey in the Gulch serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, but my favorite items were their lattes and pastries, specifically a homemade Nutella Pop tart, Nutella latte and any of their cupcakes. My other coffee pick is Frothy Monkey – a super trendy spot to enjoy a meal with a friend or grab and go.

For a good burger: Burger Up on 12 South is a must visit. Pro tip: visit during happy hour at the bar to taste their sliders and fries. They have an amazing chipotle aioli I could eat all day, and then you can save room for the other food spots on the street {read Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream and Las Paletas}.

The Pharmacy Burger and Mas Tacos Por Favor are across the street from one another in Eastie. If you’re feeling up for it, split a burger and a beer at the bar with your travel companion at The Pharmacy and then head on over to Mas Tacos for true, authentic Mexican fare. Bring cash!

Finally, City House in Germantown is a quaint spot for pizza and other delicious small plates. The restaurant it literally a house so it feels like you’re gathering around the table with family. Reserve a spot at Sunday Supper for a particularly memorable experience.

{drink}

On Broadway, the classics include Tootsies, The Stage and Crazy Town. Crazy Town happens to be my favorite because it’s a bit more spacious and has a great patio. I’ve also had good luck with live music there. Acme Feed & Seed has a great roof deck right on the corner of the street and has a fantastic vibe. Day or night it’s a great spot to grab a drink and do some people watching.

Two of the newer bars I really enjoyed on the street were the FGL House (owned by Florida Georgia Line) and Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row.

Outside of Broadway, Yazoo Brewing is a local brewery where you can take a tour or enjoy a flight in their taproom. Small bites are available at the taproom and they occasionally have food truck visits.

Last but certainly not least is actually a gourmet market and café {which includes a Yay Wine! Floor} called Caviar & Bananas, where craft wine and beer is available for purchase along with an evening wine bar.

{shopping}

My two favorite areas to shop in Nashville are hands down 12 S and Hillsboro Village.

On 12 S you’ll find Reese Witherspoon’s Draper James, Imogene & Willie and Emerson Grace.

In Hillsboro Village, check out past favorite in NOLA The Impeccable Pig and Altar’d State – also a chain if you frequent the South.

Gulch standouts have to be Two Old Hippies – featured in Nashville the TV show – can you tell I’m a huge fan?! Kristin Cavallari’s Uncommon James, now featured in her new show Very Cavallari, which debuted on Sunday night, is a must stop for gorge jewelry, affordably priced as well as one of my favorite new murals. I wear the necklace I purchased there almost daily.

{bonus – murals!}

For those of you who don’t know me, one of the things I’m absolutely obsessed with is wall murals/street art! There’s just something so special to me about an artist sharing their soul so publicly, and as Nashville is home or a destination to so many talented artists, there’s really no shortage of these.

My absolute favorite artist is Kelsey Montague, and her wings in the Gulch {302 11th Ave S} are the first and one of the latest visits I’ve made.

The Nashville Walls Project {11 Ave S and Laurel Street}

Draper James wall {2608 12 Ave S} w/ balloons {I mentioned balloons right?! Order from balloons by Vroom Vroom Balloon for a special occasion or just for fun – their stuff is AMAZING!}