Nashville

Nashville has been one of my favorite quick getaways ever since I first got my flight benefits.  The flight is about an hour from Chicago, the weather is always much nicer, and there's always a lot to do within a few miles of downtown.  Most of my favorite tips have been recommendations from Uber drivers. Listed below are a few of my favs!

Pinewood Social~I usually stop here as soon as I get in because it's on the way to downtown from the airport.   The hostess will gladly take your bags for you so you can get right to grabbing a latte, a cocktail, lunch or bowling.  It's great their their menu really has anything you'd want for any time of day.  The lanes were taken from a 1960's bowling alley in Indiana and the building itself is what used to be a trolley station and a lumber yard.  In the summer you can lounge by the pool and drink rosé from a juice box!  The coffee is from nearby CREMA and is excellent, my favorite thing to order is one of their seasonal coffee cocktails.

Tootsie's Orchid Lounge~After running to my hotel or AirBnb I usually go to Tootsie's.  No matter the day or night, there's always live music and usually three floors of it.  I love the Apple Pie Moonshine but beware, it creeps up on you and is $9 per shot.  

Tootsies is the lavender building and was opened by Tootsie Bess in 1960.  She was known to accept I.O.U.'s from those down on their luck and to slip 5 and 10 dollar bills into the pockets of 

down-on-their luck writers and pickers.  Some of the biggest names in country music were and are known to stop in for a drink and hang out with friends including Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton, Trisha Yearwood and Billy Ray Cyrus.    

Where to stay?  Any Airbnb!~Out of any city I've stayed in, some of my favorite Airbnb's have been in Nashville.  I've stayed in a tiny home, a  beautiful guest house with it's own entrance and complimentary Jack Daniels, and guest house on a little chicken farm with a record player.  My favorites have all been across the river in East Nashville.  East Nashville is a hip/low-key neighborhood with a lot to do and is about a $10 Uber ride to the honky tonks on Broadway.    

 East Nashville Guest House with Chickens:

East Nashville Guest House with Liquor and Snacks!

East Nashville Tiny Home:

Looking for a hotel?  

21c Museum Hotel~ This hotel is not only in a great location (a few blocks from Broadway), but is also a contemporary art museum.  You might just end up part of the live exhibits!  The resturaunt Grey & Dudley is excellent, the rooms are spacious and beautiful.  Each guest room has a nespresso maker, great toiletries, a rubber ducky in the spacious shower, and luxurious bathrobes.  I think as far as downtown hotels go, it's the best price as far as modern, convenient and affordable.  

Barista Parlor~My first stop any morning in Nashville is Barista Parlor.  They have amazing quality, hip decor, play records and some of the best breakfast biscuits I've ever had!  Any location will do.

 Bluebird Cafe~Want to check out some of the best singer/songwriters in the place where Garth Brooks got his start?  The Bluebird Cafe is world famous for highlighting songwriters, a.k.a. the heroes behind the hits.  The cafe was often featured on the t.v. show Nashville, so if you want to catch a show you'll have to book well in advance, usually a week or two.  

Pharmacy~Ready for the best burger you've ever tasted?  Be sure to hit up Pharmacy in East Nashville.  The buns are magical.  

The Grand Ole Opry and The Opryland Hotel~This is about a 20 minute and $17 dollar Uber ride from downtown.  The Opryland Hotel is huge and has some beautiful Christmas decorations and holiday activities (mostly for children).  It may be worth a stop before the Opry, even if just for a drink.  The Grand Ole Opry backstage tour is worth the $25 to learn the history of the Opry and to see where the dressing rooms where the singers get ready to perform (the t.v. show Nashville also does a lot of filming here).  

Where to shop? ~Some of my favorite areas are The Gulch and 12th South.  The Gulch has my favorite store, Two Old Hippies (be sure to check out their website for live music), as well as plenty of hip restaurants and bars.  Hit up 12th South for a cronut at Five Daughter's Bakery, a complimentary sweet tea at Reese Witherspoon's store Draper James, and grab your new favorite pair of jeans at Imogene + Willie.  A lot of the best restaurants in Nashville are in this neighborhood, as well as the iconic "I Believe In Nashville" street art/photo op.  

The Ryman Auditorium~ Try to catch a show at this historic landmark that is a block off of Broadway.  The Ryman was built in the 1890's and was the location of The Grand Ole Opry from 1943 to 1974.  

Honorable Mentions~ 

Schuba's~Grab dinner then catch a burlesque show at this speakeasy style tavern off of Printer's Row.

Ascend Amphitheater~I haven't been, but it's an amphitheater located right off of the river downtown Nashville that hosts warm weather concerts and has been recommended to me by many an Uber driver.    

Hattie B's Hot Chicken~Most people ask me if I went when they find out I've come back from Nashville.  Truth be told, I'm just not a fried chicken kind of girl, but I've heard it's the world's best!