Get the 411 on Visiting Nashville, Tennessee

Have you ever been to Nashville, TN? If you haven’t, add it to your bucket list immediately! If you have, isn’t it amazing? I recently visited the Music City, and it did not disappoint. I will share my experiences, recommendations, and absolute musts here! In this guide discover where to stay, what to do, where to eat, how to get around, and what to pack for an unforgettable trip while visiting Nashville, TN.

Nashville, TN is known as the energetic “Music City”, which is famous for its legendary live music and historic country roots. Can you say cowboy boots and hats are almost mandatory? Please come in and join me as we talk all about Nashville.

The Gist

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Why Nashville Tennesse?

Girl’s Trip

Nashville is the kind of city that practically begs you to bring your best friends; it’s the ultimate girl’s trip destination from bachelorettes to birthday celebrations and even marriage proposals. If you want an over the top experience to celebrate a milestone, this is the place. We saw multiple birthday celebrations, bachelorette parties, marriage proposals, etc. with tons of fanfare. If pomp and circumstance is your thing, Nashville is calling your name!

I visited the Music City at the end of September with my college girlfriends. We graduated from Bucknell University in 1989 so we have been friends for over 30 years. We have made an annual girl’s trip a thing, and when we are all together it’s like we never skipped a beat. Friendships like these are priceless and should be nurtured with trips like this. Gather your besties and head on over to Nashville, you will not regret it!

The Lay of the Land

The main attraction and the hub of all the music craziness exists on the main drag which is Broadway. Location is everything on a girl’s trip, and staying downtown or in The Gulch puts you within walking distance of the lower part of Broadway, the best restaurants, and the city’s liveliest nightlife.

With a little planning, you’ll spend less time stressing and more time making memories. The Nashville International Airport (BNA) is about a 20 minute drive from the downtown area, making it convenient and accessible.

Places to Stay

Location, location, location

Location is everything on a trip where you want to maximize your time, and staying downtown or in The Gulch puts you within walking distance of Broadway, the best restaurants, and the city’s liveliest nightlife. There is no lack of options on places to stay in Nashville from small unique hotels, to larger resort type accommodations and many vacation rental options. Take into account the number in your party, budget and accessibility concerns while deciding where to stay. There are a myriad of options to the sights you want to partake and the environment you wish to experience.

Rentals

We rented an apartment in the Gulch, which had 5 bedrooms, providing each one of us with our own bedroom with private space. The terrace, family room, and kitchen spaces allowed for us to congregate together. It was the best of both worlds. Besides five bedrooms the unit was equipped with 3-1/2 bathrooms, which was perfect for 5 girls. The bedroom layout consisted of two kings beds and 3 full bed bunk situations. Ten adults could easily stay here comfortably, if not maybe more if you’re in your 20s and more flexible, making this an extremely affordable option. Check it out in the link below if you’re interested:

That being said, lean into Airbnbs and Vrbos to find a roomy situation, offering plenty of flexibility and making your stay more comfortable. Rentals allow for lounging and meal preparation in your own space, which is convenient and can save a few pennies. Also having a place to congregate together and catch up in our own space was super important to us so it was the best option for our circumstance.

Hotels

If you prefer to have amenities provided for you, there are plenty of hotel options as in any urban setting. There were many hotels in the Gulch (where we stayed) or in and around Nashville, but I would suggest staying on or near Broadway if you’re going the hotel route, unless you want a quieter environment. It puts you in the hub of things, coming down to the lobby and being in the middle of all the action.

There’s a Hilton right of off Broadway, which is super convenient. Since I didn’t stay there I’m not sure of the room rates, but I would expect towards higher nightly numbers due to location. Boutique hotels like The Joseph and Hotel Indigo offer stylish rooms and rooftop views, while larger hotels near the Gulch make it easy to walk to brunch spots and shops in a quieter environment. 

Dolly Parton also has a hotel, the Dolly Parton Songteller Hotel, which is in the heart of Music City. Just be aware there is no lobby and you can only access the hotel as a guest or with a reservation to its various lounges and eateries. We learned this the hard way when we popped in before dinner one night to check it out and maybe indulge in a cocktail. We were basically denied at the door. Live and learn, and this is definitely on my list for next time. Yup, there will be a next time.

Things To Do

Start with the classics: bar-hop along Broadway, where live bands play from morning until late at night, and take in a show or tour at the Grand Ole Opry or the Ryman Auditorium. Spend an afternoon exploring the Country Music Hall of Fame, or stroll through the colorful murals in the Gulch, snapping photos or browse the boutiques and shoppes.

We toured the Grand Old Opry and attached WSM radio station museum. I highly recommend the back stage Grand Ole Opry tour and we thought of taking in a show but we were not familiar with the artists playing during our visit. The venue is super intimate with church pews as seating and there doesn’t seem to be a bad seat in the house. Grabbing a show there is on my list for next time. Yes, there will be a next time.

The Country Music Museum and Hall of Fame is also a must. It’s right off of Broadway so it’s super accessible, just allow yourself at least a couple of hours to soak it all in. The costumes, handwritten song lyrics and music were some of my favorite exhibits, but there’s so much music history to take in and too much to mention here. Just go and see it for yourself.

Experiencing Broadway is a must with an immense hustle and bustle and live bands every few feet. Although you can go and just pop into any venue that calls your name (and there’s many of them), I recommend making a reservation for any place you have your heart set on. Keep in mind many of these venues have multiple floors and some might require a different reservation depending on the floor and restaurant you want to visit. Do your research since there are many options. I share the restaurants we enjoyed in the section below.

Places to Eat

The Nashville food scene spans from casual pub food to more sophisticated foodie options and everything in between. Nashville is known for its hot chicken and Prince’s and Hattie B’s are apparently the places to go. We didn’t get to this on this trip, but it’s on the list for next time. Wherever you decide to go, I recommend making reservations ahead of time, especially for brunch and weekend dinners. We experienced a few different establishments, including Friends in Low Places, The Hampton Social, The Twelve Thirty Club, and Skulls Rainbow Room. Below are my thoughts on all of them.

Friends in Low Places

Don’t go here for the food. Don’t get me wrong, go here, but know what to expect. This is Garth Brooks & Trisha Yearwoods’ bar & honky tonk in the heart of rowdy Broadway. This is a massive 4-story space. The first floor has a stage with live music, the second floor has a mezzanine to the live stage below with tables for eating. The food options are apparently curated by Trisha herself, which I don’t understand since I love her cooking show, but unfortunately the food here is just ok. The third floor is for private events while the rooftop Oasis is the place to be with fabulous views and an endless amount of celebrations.

We chose to go here on Friday, September 25th since 9-25 (9 to 5) is officially Dolly Day. Friends in Low Places donated all their proceeds to the Dolly Foundation that day. At 9:30 in the evening Nashville had fireworks in Dolly’s honor and we experienced them from the Oasis rooftop. The town was decked out in pink as a nod to Dolly Parton. It was an extra layer of fun on the Nashville experience, which is already amazing all on it’s own.

The Hampton Social

This is a chain you can find in multiple cities, and I highly recommend it. This was my first time visiting a Hampton Social location and it was my favorite meal of the trip. We chose this destination for our Saturday brunch since they have a sing along, which we thought sounded fun. Well, the sing along was on the rooftop, and we ate below in the restaurant space. Who knew? Live and learn. We ended up heading upstairs after brunch, and I think there might have only been two men at most. lol. It was sea of ladies. It was totally fun and very loud so we agreed it was better we ate downstairs where we could talk and actually hear each other.

The Twelve Thirty Club

I want to go back. This is Justin Timberlake’s restaurant and bar with three floors, offering distinct vibes and menus on each level. We ate on the ground floor which is considered the Honky Tonk and features American tavern fare, live music and fabulous cocktails. Everything we tried was great and the music was super fun. We had a birthday in our group on the day we were there, which is always fun.

The second floor (mezzanine) apparently is an intimate membership only, application required situation, which I cannot weigh in on. The upper level includes the Supper Club and rooftop terrace. We ventured up after dinner and this is where I could have stayed the entire time. The band was an eclectic mix of 7 artists, playing anything from country to Pink Floyd (a personal favorite) to Prince to Phil Collins to Waterfalls by TLC. If was amazing! The menu looked pretty fabulous as well and this will be one of my first stops when I go back. I cannot recommend it enough. Well done JT!

Skulls Rainbow Room

This is an old time establishment with combines vintage 1940s glamor, live jazz, and late-night burlesque. We had Sunday brunch here and the food was very good. We were done drinking at this point so I can’t speak to the cocktails but I have a feeling they are good. Skull’s Rainbow Room is located in Printer’s Alley, which is a more intimate, laid-back, vintage, and adult-oriented alternative to the loud, high-energy honky-tonks on Broadway. It’s an iconic Nashville destination, and I recommend a visit if you can fit into your itinerary.

Transportation

Getting around Nashville is simple once you know the lay of the land. Most visitors fly into Nashville International Airport (BNA), which is only about 15 to 20 minutes from downtown by car. Once you’re settled, there are a multitude of transportation options, depending on your need, size of group and destination.

Walking

Downtown, The Gulch, and Broadway are very walkable, and probably the best way to experience the entire vibe. Broadway is full of restaurants, shops, cultural and historical venues, plus more. There are live bands everywhere, sidewalks full of people and the perfect environment to people watch and soak in the energy of Music City. Wear comfortable shoes, because you’ll be walking more than you expect.

Electric Scooters & Bikes

As an alternative to walking, dockless electric scooters and bike-rental stations are scattered throughout downtown and surrounding neighborhoods like Germantown and East Nashville. This is a great way to get around if you want to cover more ground and add a bit of physical activity with more fun to the already fun environment.

Rideshares

Services like Uber and Lyft are an easy way to get around to specific destinations, and splitting fares among friends keeps costs low. We used Uber plenty from the Gulch to our particular reservations. The Grand Ole Opry is quite a distance from the downtown so you will definitely need some mode of transportation to get there. There’s also limo and shuttle rentals if you have a specific need or number of people, which accommodates larger bridal parties, special family celebrations and more.

Party Rides

If you’d like some extra fun, consider booking a party bus or a pedal tavern for a group experience. There’s a hop on, hop off trolley tour, plus pedal buses where you can sit and drink while taking in the sights. There’s also party buses you can rent for bigger groups.

Our Favorite

The PediBike rides turned out to be our favorite! If you’re not familiar, it’s basically a bicycle, which pulls a golf cart type of action. The bicycle drivers are super friendly and it’s such a better way to travel than an enclosed Uber or Lyft. We stumbled upon it on Friday night (Dolly Day) when we were trying to get home. The lower section of Broadway was closed off to traffic and we were walking to an accessible area to call an Uber, when we met the friendly Nashville Bike Cab folks. We became fast friends, hopped on and had the best ride home with our music playing through their hook-up. So fun! So much so, we sought them out on Saturday night and took it home again. This time the driver took extra laps for us because we were having so much fun. Was it more expensive than a ride share? Yup. Was it worth it? Every.single.penny.

What to Wear

Not to state the obvious, but cowboy boots and hats go a long way here. Fringes, leather, and denim are on repeat everywhere. Accessories like bold jewelry, oversized belt buckles and cross body bags fit in seamlessly. If you will be walking and sightseeing plenty during the day, comfortable shoes, rompers and casual sundresses are your friend. Leave the over the top outfits for the night time shenanigans.

Cowboy Boots

Cowboy boots are on repeat and a must! If you don’t own a pair, don’t fret. There are two Boot Barns near the downtown area, plus a ton of other boot shops to find the perfect pair for you. The only drawback is that they will not be broken in for all the walking you’ll be doing. If you do own a pair, I suggest you break them in plenty to provide a comfortable walking experience. One of my friends wore her boots all the time before the trip, meeting her clients wearing them. Talk about a conversation starter. I guess that depends where you live, but I thought that was pretty funny.

I, on the other hand, ordered a pair of orthopedic cowboy booties on-line (because of my mobility issues – more on that below) and they did not arrive on time. When they did arrive almost 2 weeks after my trip, they were horrific!!! I was totally scammed and although they offer a 30-day return policy it’s not really. I could return them if I paid the $30 shipping back to China (mind you, it was free shipping when you ordered them). Oh, and by the way, if I had known they were made in China I would not have bought them in the first place. I will be selling them on FB Marketplace for 50% off. Moral of the story? Do NOT buy from Clara & Stone Charleston. Unfortunately because of this saga I didn’t have the booties I envisioned so I punted. I brought some boots I already owned, and although not cowboy boots, I made them work with the vibe. I leave you with this… buyer beware.

Cowboy Hat

A cowboy hat is the other necessity to go with the cowboy boots. Once again there are plenty of places to buy hats as well. I bought a straw Stetson hat since I figured I could also use it at the beach. The felt hats were gorgeous, but I think I’ll find it difficult to find occasions to sport my cowboy headpiece. There are a gazillion options to fit any style and budget. It was a fun shopping experience! I wore my hat every.single.day….when in Rome!

How to Decorate a Cowboy Hat

So it seems the whole cowboy hat thing is somewhat of an art. There are unwritten rules about how to wear a hat and how to handle it and my favorite part, how to personalize it! There are hat bars where you can embellish your hat with ribbons, and feathers and pins and jewels and more. When I looked at all the stuff it gave me a chuckle since it reminded me of my craft stash. I will be embellishing my hat, and I will dedicate an entire post to it because, well it deserves the attention to detail. Stay tuned. Here are some examples of hats that grabbed my attention for inspiration.

Special Circumstances

Dolly Parton

The unfortunate circumstance of Dolly Parton’s recent passing sparked a plug in Nashville with extra Dolly Parton goodness. To be there on 9-25 was an unplanned surprise, which created a pink cloud over the city, and any Dolly Parton detail became larger than life just like Dolly herself. She was a wonderful human being, who was always unapologetically herself with a kind heart and a giving nature. She will be missed for sure and we need more Dolly’s in this world. On that note, I recommend visiting and seeing anything Dolly Patron related when you visit Nashville.

Dolly Parton’s Songteller Hotel is a must personally for me, including a lounge and the museum for my next visit. Remember, reservations are required; this is not a pop-in, last minute experience. While we were waiting to leave for the airport after brunch on Sunday we had time to kill so we ducked into the White Limozeen Rooftop Lounge in the Graduate Hotel, which had a fun vibe. It was apparently a favorite of Dolly’s and it’s decked out with plenty of pink and over the top. We indulged in some mocktails and sweets. Everything was delicious. We were fortunate to score an outdoor sitting area since we didn’t have reservation.

Ability Aides

So for my regular readers you are aware I have MS, for my new readers, I have MS. My biggest symptom is walking stamina, and I was a bit apprehensive on how I would navigate this trip literally and figuretaively. I knew there would be much walking involved, which stressed me out, and stress is a killer for MS, so it was a circular equation. I am happy to report that it went way better than I could have anticipated. I leaned into a few resources, including my walking sticks, a rented mobility scooter, ADA compliances and last but certainly not least, the nonjudgemental support of my friends.

My walking sticks have been a Godsend since I got them. It was at Mr. Ms urging, he’s an idea guy, which I resisted at first because mentally I had to wrap my mind around the notion that my MS had progressed to this point, and it seemed like a failure to me. Well, on the flip side it has succeeded in allowing me to navigate spaces I might not otherwise. I don’t use them on the daily, and when I go out around home I leave them behind. On an occasion like this they are super helpful. They allow me to walk further and navigate steps and inclines better. They are also a clear indication of my situation, allowing me to use the elevator everywhere we went, even if it means riding the service elevator, taking us through the kitchen and back alleys of establishments. Not gonna lie, we felt like VPs at times. Lol. I guess that’s an upside.

Regarding the mobility scooter rental, the jury is still out on that one. It came in handy getting from the Gulch to Broadway, but once I was on Broadway it was more of a hassle since I could navigate fine with just my walking sticks. The mobility scooter was hard to maneuver in the crowded sidewalks, and I always had to find a place to park it when I wanted to walk around like in a store or at the museum, etc. On Saturday, I decided to just use my walking sticks and left the scooter at home, which worked out fine since we had to Uber to the restaurant and the Grand Ole Opry anyway. Although I rented the scooter for an extra day I didn’t need, it did provide peace of mind. If I had to do it all over again, knowing what I know now, I don’t think I would rent the scooter. Instead I would call the Pedibike service and have them take us from the Gulch to Broadway so we could still see everything and stop when we wanted a photo opportunity. Live and learn; I take it one day at a time.

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Closing Thoughts ~ Visiting Nashville, TN Conclusion

Between the live music pouring out of every corner, the southern dishes, the boot and hat shopping, and the rooftop bars with skyline views, Music City delivers a destination that’s equal parts fun, flavor, and forever memories. Nashville has a way of making every trip feel like a celebration, and it’s even better when you share it with gal pals. Whether you’re dancing in cowboy boots on Broadway, sharing plates at a cozy restaurant, or simply laughing over brunch, this city is made for connection.  

Hope this inspires you to visit the Music City. If you’re lucky enough to have visited already, let me know your favorite part in the comments below. Thanks for stopping by today, and I hope to see you again soon. It’s always lovely having you here.

Au revoir!

Get the Nashville, TN Look

• This is very similar to the hat I bought – Stetson Women’s Straw Cowboy Hat
• This brown felt cowboy hat already comes with embellishments – Cowboy Hat for Men and Women – Cattleman Wide Brim Western Cowgirl Hat 
• This is a great Fedora style hat, loving the vibe – Stiff Cowboy Hats 100% Wool Wide Brim Felt Hat Fashion Western Outback Panama Hat
• If I were to do it again these boots are calling my name although they are a bit spendy – Cleo + Wolf Women’s Fern Western Booties Fashion Square Toe Tan
• This was rated one of they best for 2026 by InStyle – Ariat Women’s Heritage Western R Toe Western Cowboy Boot
• This is absolutely perfect for Nashville – Small Crossbody Bags for Women Crossbody Handbag Fringe Purse Tassel Shoulder Bag
• Love this stacked bracelet action – Fesciory Leather Wrap Bracelet for Women, Boho Western Stacked Cuff Jewelry
• Loving this leather wrap & it’s incredibly reasonably priced – Handmade Leather Bracelet, Symbolic Adjustable Circle Wrap
• Ok- these are totally fun & I wish I had seen them before my trip ‘cuz I would have totally gotten them – Handmade Genuine Leather Earrings for Women – Long Teardrop Boho Dangles, Lightweight Statement Fashion Jewelry

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If you don’t leave Nashville with a cowboy hat, a hangover, and a newfound appreciation for steel guitars, did you even visit?”

Miranda Lambert

sharing @ between naps on the porch