Nashville is one of my favorite places…. The live music, delicious food & southern hospitality is second to none. I took a quick trip to Nash with some amazing ladies & am finally sitting down to share this travel guide of how we made the most of our time during our trip. I’m including some Covid related topics in this guide, because this is our current situation & I want to share my experience so you can know how to plan & what to expect for your trip.
Nashville does have a little different feel in the midst of Covid… there were some restrictions that we stuck with to stay safe during our weekend & also some regulations that were mandated (eg: masks indoors, no more than 6 people at tables when dining out, & an 11pm curfew for bars)… but this doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy your stay. Compared to my last trip to Nash, I would say that honky tonks, restaurants & Downtown in general were much less crowded. I did appreciate that everywhere we went to was doing their best to accommodate our “new normal” & I felt very safe everywhere we went.
Where to Stay:
I was so grateful that Bode Nashville hosted us for our stay in one of their enormous apartment like suites. I was so impressed by the size of the living room, family room & kitchen, as well as the 5 bedrooms in the suite. This was definitely the most spacious hotel I have ever stayed in, and having a full kitchen was also a huge perk. One of my favorite things about Bode was its awesome outdoor space. They had 2 firepits, giant jenga, corn hole & so much space to hang outside with your crew. This was the perfect spot for our last night in Nashville to relax with some wine before our early flights home. Bode was also walking distance to Broadway which is so convenient.
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What to Do:
Music City Crawler Pedal Tavern: Okay, So I have been wanting to go on a pedal tavern for the longest time & finally got to have this fun experience. This was such a fun few hours spent singing & riding around Downtown with our fun driver & Bartender. This is such a fun event to plan with a group of friends to kick off a day in Nashville.
- Just a heads up… You actually DO have to pedal otherwise you will not make it too far. So make sure to wear a comfy outfit & get ready to lose your voice from singing & cheering so much.
Walk Along Broadway: This is where you will find all the best Honky Tonks in Nashville. Walking through the streets you can hear the live music & either choose to hop around or stay at one spot for the night.
- Some new changes during Covid is limits on the amount of people allowed in the Honky Tonks. The positive part of this is you’re not squeezed into a crowded bar fighting to get a drink…. The only negative was that all I wanted to do was get up & dance to the music but couldn’t.
- If you do go to Nashville at this time, be sure to bring cash to tip the Band. The bands & artists that perform at venues in Nashville get paid solely on tips… with a lot less people traveling to & allowed inside the venues, they are making a lot less money. We have to support these talented artists so that they can continue to keep “Music City” alive.
Visit Painters Alley: Painters Alley is a small street downtown that gives all the feels of the 1920s with speakeasy type bars & bright signs lighting up the entire street. This is one of those places that you visit that just sticks in your head and is a must see in Nashville
Photo Tour: Although we didn’t have time to squeeze a tour of the 12 South Murals, it is another fun activity to do while in Nashville. There are a bunch of murals in this area, & you can easily book a tour with a local photographer. On my last trip I booked a photo tour with Kristen Sheft Photography, it was perfect because she knew where all of the murals were
located so we could get so many fun shots during our session. This would be a great idea to book for a Bachlorette party or girls trip to get fun photos of your group (without having to flag down a stranger to take a photo)… it’s also a perfect option to sightsee in Nashville while being outside & away from large crowds.
Shopping: No trip to Nashville would be complete without a little shopping! I was so excited to discover Molly Green Boutique in Nashville that has some fun & stylish clothing finds. We also enjoyed our trip to Kendra Scott where we got to experience the Color Bar & design some beautiful jewelry pieces! You can also find some great shops on Broadway that sell a huge selection of cowboy boots!
Donuts at Five Daughters: So I am a bit of a donut snob, & I can say honestly that these were some of the most delicious (100 Layer) donuts I have ever eaten! I didn’t take the trip to the shop, but they have some adorable & instagrammable spots to grab a cute photo while you enjoy you one of a kind donut! My favorite was the “King Kong” which had maple glaze & candied bacon!
White Limozeen: Sadly, our reservations to this spot were cancelled due to the venue closing for safety reasons in regards to Covid… but you bet your butt I’ll be making sure I get a reservation to this Dolly Parton themed indoor/outdoor rooftop restaurant on my next trip to Nash. Reservations are made on line and open up 14 days in advance (& book FAST), so be sure to plan ahead if you want to make this spot a part of your trip.
Where to Eat:
Hampton Social: I loved this spot for brunch. Not only is the menu great, but the decor inside is gorgeous! This is the location of the beautiful blush pink ombre “Hey There Nashville” flower wall you see in so many peoples Nashville Instagram posts. I highly recommend the shrimp tacos that are served during Brunch, Lunch & Dinner.
Restoration Hardware: A.K.A.. the furniture store… I didn’t know what I was getting into for this brunch reservation but it sure was an amazing experience. The cafe in RH is GORGEOUS, with a beautiful courtyard feel including a fountain & beautiful chandeliers & natural light.. I felt like I was dining in the courtyard of a European villa. On top of the beautiful ambiance, the food was TO DIE FOR… I’m pretty sure the RH Scramble was the most savory scrambled eggs I’ve ever eaten. I can’t wait to go back here on my next trip to Nashville to try some of their other dishes!
Nada: Who doesn’t love delicious Tacos & Cocktails? On our last night in Nashville we were hosted by Nada for a delicious dinner. I’m pretty sure we tried every item on the menu…. and there was not one thing I didn’t like! This is also the perfect spot to go as a group to share assorted tacos & side dishes. Just a heads up… the queso is AMAZING, so make sure to plan for a double order for your group because it goes FAST!
Honorable Mention to some of my other favorite Nashville food spots from my previous trip:
- Hattie B’s Hot Chicken
- Bisquit Love
- Milk & Honey
Tips for your first trip to Nashville..
My first & most important tip is to do your research in advance. Make a list of the must see sites & things you must do vs. things you can save for your next trip. Nashville is surprisingly big with so many different areas to see & things to do… it’s impossible to do it all in one trip. This girls weekend was jam packed, but didn’t include sightseeing any famous spots like the Country Music Hall of Fame, Grand Ole Opry, Ryman Auditorium, etc. (You can refer to my “Nashville in your 30’s” post for details on these places I visited on my first trip to Nash). Also, it’s a good idea to reach out to spots you’d like to go to for reservations in advance as well as any information in regards to specific Covid rules.
Like my Nashville outfits?
You can find all of my Nashville fashion picks linked on the liketoknow.it app…
Is there any other spots I need to visit on my next trip to Nashville to add to this list? Please share in a comment below!
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