Tennessee (Nashville)
Trip Summary
Nashville is probably one of the most popular destinations for a bachelorette party, a big birthday bash, or just a wild night on the town–and that is all for good reason! It’s an awesome city with so much to offer–great food, plenty to see and do, fantastic music, and a large walkable downtown area that is full of everything you could want in a vacation destination!
Luckily, I have been here many times during the summer and on school breaks and will likely be in Nashville again, so I can give you the full scoop! And this is a post that will probably be updated regularly as I find more spots to visit and review!
One of the things you need to know, though, if you visit Nashville is that accommodations are very expensive. The first time I went there, I had a heck of a time finding anywhere to stay that was within my budget (a teacher’s budget, no less!)–but then I figured out the best spot–by the airport! The airport is on the east side of the city and is a quick Uber ride downtown, so this has been my go-to strategy since!
You can certainly stay downtown and drive around yourself, but just know that this option is more convenient, yes–but not near as cheap. Parking is very expensive downtown (and hard to find in certain spots), so after paying an arm and leg to park downtown (after already paying for parking at my hotel), I just decided that Uber was going to be cheaper in the long run–and less stressful.
The best hotel I’ve found by the airport is Hotel Preston. It is right next to the interstate, has convenient parking, nice rooms, and a lovely staff. The hotel even offers fun extras like a pillow menu and special accommodations (like a goldfish for your room!). Also, if you request a room on the side farthest from the airport, you actually don’t notice the airplane noise too much.
They also have a pool, so if you go in the summer, you can enjoy the sun to your heart’s delight! I am usually there in the winter and spring, though, so I have not been able to enjoy the pool but rather the other parts of the hotel–the lounge and bar/restaurant area. The bar actually underwent a serious renovation recently–and is far better because of it. It has much better seating now, a more convenient layout, and is easier to access via the front desk area.
They used to have a restaurant, Cafe Isabella, but it was rebranded as Blackwood as opened as part of the renovation, and this was a good move and shows that the hotel is making good improvements to better the experience of those staying there. While I have not had food at Blackwood, I did have a drink there, and the staff/cleanliness/service was much better than Cafe Isabella.
So for its great accommodations, Uber-able distance to downtown, lovely staff, and reasonable rates (even with the daily resort fee that covers things like parking, the rates are a fraction of what you would have to pay downtown), this hotel gets a good score. The renovations they made recently were much-needed, and I am glad that they made them, because my more recent stays have been even better than the first few!
Hotel Preston: A-
Now, let’s get to the best part of Nashville! The music! The food! Broadway! I’ll review my favorites here (and will update often when I find more favorites!), so here goes!
The one spot that EVERYONE recommended when I asked for restaurant recommendations was The Pharmacy. It is a spot a little north of downtown and is more like a restaurant/beer garden. They have an assortment of food options, but they are probably best known for their burgers and bratwurst. They also have an extensive drink menu that includes old-school style sodas, milkshakes, and beer.
Parking was very hard to find there, and the place was packed, but since I was by myself, I didn’t have to wait too long. They have plenty of seating inside and outside, and the service was quick, so if you want to try a Nashville classic, try this place!
The food was good and served fresh. I tried the cheeseburger with tater tots, and everything was delicious (and plentiful!).
The prices were also reasonable, too, especially for a popular place like Nashville, so that was an extra perk and just adds to the already high marks for this place!
The Pharmacy: A
Another Nashville classic that a lot of people will recommend is Hattie B’s Hot Chicken. They have several locations in Nashville, but you are looking at a significant wait at any of their restaurants. I was intrigued by the place, but I had never had Nashville Hot Chicken and wanted to try the staple, so I set off for the closest spot.
The line was about an hour long to just get in the place, but when I was able to order at the front, I was happy to see that they let you split your order into varying amounts of spiciness if you wanted. I tried the medium and hot (their spiciness level goes all the way to “Shut the Cluck Up!”) with their crinkle-cut fries, and they gave me a number to wait for the order. It didn’t take too long for the food to be delivered, and it looked and tasted fresh.
One thing I guess I didn’t realize about hot chicken is that the spices are added as a dry rub/coating, and the spicier something is, the greater the amount of spices piled on the chicken. I was expecting just spicier ingredients, not necessarily a pile of sandy grit, so while the chicken itself was good and cooked well, the mouthful of powder around it just kind of ruined it for me. I like spices and hot-flavored things, but the amount of grit to get to the actual chicken was unappealing, and I ended not eating all of the meal.
The fries were good, though, and I imagine all the other items on the menu are good, too, because even though I went shortly after the place opened, they were already out of certain menu items, so that just shows you how popular those items were! I will probably try hot chicken again at another place next time I am in Nashville, but I just wasn’t that impressed with the hot chicken here.
Hattie B’s Hot Chicken: B
If you are open to trying a chain restaurant, Jack Brown’s Beer and Burger Joint is a good spot to hang out. I had tried this place before in Chattanooga and liked it, so when celebrating with family, we all decided to go here where we could enjoy the ambience and delicious food.
The Nashville location is just as fun as the Chattanooga one, and the service was excellent with the waiters eager to suggest food and drinks that they liked. There are a lot of choices and topping selections for the burgers which makes it fun to try new combinations that you had never tried before (and that end up being scrumptious!). The drink menu is also extensive, and they have dessert selections, too. The waiter had actually brought by some fried oreos by mistake (we didn’t order them), but left them for us to eat, and they were tasty as well!
For its plentiful food and drink options, fun atmosphere, and great service, it gets a good score!
Jack Brown’s Beer and Burger Joint: A
There are a lot of spots on Broadway that serve food, too. The bars have menu options if you want to eat a snack there, and just about every spot has live music playing, so they are fun places to hang out. The scene totally changes from day to night and having been there at both times, I can say that daytime is more family friendly, more relaxed, and chill. At night, people are very drunk, the police presence is a lot higher, and you have to be a lot more watchful. It is still totally safe, but if you go then, keep a very close eye on your drinks, walk purposefully, and be aware of your surroundings (especially if you are alone).
One of my favorite spots to hang out was Jason Aldean’s Kitchen and Rooftop Bar. They played great music all night (and at a manageable volume where you could enjoy it but still carry a conversation if you wanted to–a lot of places on Broadway blast music so loudly that you can’t even yell a word to your friends and have a chance of being heard). They also had one of the best bartenders I had ever experienced as she was sweet and very attentive to everyone at the bar. She was especially mindful of you if you weren’t drinking alcohol and took special care to refill your water at any point you might need it–I don’t think I had ever had a water glass that wasn’t full! The food was also enjoyable there, and they have a wide assortment of food options from snacks to fancy faire. Prices are on the expensive side, but for its ambience and great service, it still gets great points!
Jason Aldean’s Kitchen and Rooftop Bar: A
However, there are a ton of spots on Broadway that are great to stop in. Margaritaville is fun and has live music (their Lightnin’ Strike drink is fantastic). There are also a lot of BBQ places (I’ll try some next trip and review them for you!) and other assorted cuisines all along the downtown area. Shops selling boots, western wear, and souvenirs are everywhere, too, and those are fun to explore between bars/restaurants.
If you wander away from downtown, there are lots of sights to see from the Grand Ole Opry to the Ryman Auditorium to the Belle Meade Plantation. Being a teacher, I thought it would be fun to check out Vanderbilt University, and it is actually a gorgeous campus.
The buildings are beautifully designed, the walkways are pretty, and I happened to go when all the trees were in full bloom.
The facilities are also very nice, and it was neat seeing another school and all their fancy classrooms and faculty offices.
So if you need a nice stroll, this is a fun place to go (and it’s close to one of the Hattie B’s Hot Chicken locations if that is your thing!).
So all in all, I really like Nashville and no matter how many times I visit, I always find new favorites to enjoy. I can see why it is such a popular place for fun gatherings–there is no place like it!
Favorite Experiences
Everything in Nashville has been enjoyable, but I think what makes Nashville especially unique is that stretch of Broadway downtown. Broadway actually extends a fair bit across the city, so when I visited Vanderbilt, I walked along the bottom end of it and honestly didn’t see what all the fuss was about as it seemed like any normal street. Then the next day, I was walking around downtown and came across THE part of Broadway that was famous and saw that it indeed lived up to its name.
I like the more relaxed feel of Broadway during the daytime and probably think that afternoon just sitting and listening to live music was the best part. It’s a fun spot in a fun city, so definitely pay it a visit!
What I Wish I Knew
Having been to Nashville a bunch of times, I don’t think there is a ton that I would do differently. I am always finding new spots to visit, but I think the only main thing I haven’t done is hit all the Instagram spots around the city–and there are many!
The #WhatLiftsYou wings mural is probably the most famous, and every picture I have seen of someone posing in front of those wings looks so neat. There is even a smaller version for dogs (which I think is adorable), but I haven’t visited that part of Nashville yet. I often visit alone, too, so my picture taking abilities from afar are limited, so maybe that means it’s finally time to invest in a tripod like all you other smart people? Maybe so…
There are a lot of other places nearer to downtown that are Instagramable, so definitely check those out. One thing I have started doing is searching for popular picture spots around town, and I find all sorts of new gems this way.
Instagram aside, though, there is plenty to see and do in this great city! This forum here has a lot of great suggestions, too, so take a gander there and ask questions, and you’ll be able to come across even more ideas.
I also post reels and TikToks regularly of all the places I’ve reviewed on here, so if you want to see some videos of what to expect, check out my social media here:
TikTok: @touristyteacher
Instagram: @touristyteacher
Facebook: @touristyteacher
Happy travels!
