A BLONDE VINTAGE

I wasn’t sure what to expect for our road trip from Louisville, Kentucky to Nashville, Tennessee…but there was one thing I knew I wanted as soon as we drove onto Tennessee soil. Biscuits. Yep. Biscuits. And not just any biscuits, specifically biscuits from The Loveless Cafe. I’d heard about these magical soft, flaky biscuits years ago from Martha Stewart (I know, probably not the most reliable source, but when it comes to food I think she knows her stuff!) and I was hell bent on heading towards the cafe for our first meal. That’s why for this travel guide to Nashville, Tennessee, I’m starting with the good stuff- the biscuits.

We arrived around 4:30 pm, which was perfect timing because pretty soon the place had a line out the door and around the corner. We were seated quickly and soon piping hot biscuits were placed in front of us. I dove right in (after taking a photo, you’re welcome) and mmmmm, let me tell you, I’d drive back to Nashville a million times over, just to have more of those biscuits. Now, I seriously could write this entire blog post about the biscuits, but I’ll save you – our entire meal at The Loveless Cafe was ahhmazing. The BEST BBQ I’ve ever had, hands down…and, for the record, I’ve had some really darn good BBQ. Anyway, the whole point is that if you are planning a trip to Nashville, Tennessee you cannot leave without going to The Loveless.

Moving on. Overall we had a good time in Nashville, however, I was not prepared for how much of a PARTY this town is. This place is Vegas gone country. I was pretty happy we rented a car for our trip so that we could get out and about to explore all the small towns surrounding Nashville, it was definitely the highlight of our time!

When To Go To Nashville

The best time to visit Nashville is from April through October, when the warm weather brings the city to life. Although December is also quite charming with Christmas decorations at the Opryland Hotel and the Belle Meade Plantation, winter is low season and not as popular.

Getting Around Nashville

I’d suggest renting a car for your trip to Nashville, unless you plan on staying downtown and not exploring anything outside of the city. Otherwise, you’ll want to have a car as it’s pretty spread out and Ubers would get expensive.

Where To Stay In Nashville

With so many amazing hotels in downtown Nashville, it can be difficult to know how to choose the best hotel! I’ve rounded up the best hotels, walking distance from all the ongoings!

Union Station Hotel, Autograph Collection – We chose this hotel for our time in Nashville, mostly because we wanted to stay somewhere historically significant that was walking distance to Broadway. This hotel was the perfect fit! Union Station was originally a railroad terminal and it was built in 1900!

JW Marriott Nashville – The newest hotel to adorn the Nashville skyline, the JW hotel offer modern luxury and all the amenities. It’s walking distance from Broadway and The Gulch and during the summers they offer outdoor movies. Fun!

Omni Nashville – Nestled beside the Country Music Hall of Fame, this hotel is in a prime location! The high end touches and luxury bedding makes this hotel a great place to hang your hat for the evening.

21c Museum Hotel Nashville – This contemporary art museum and boutique hotel is set in a redbrick building dating from 1900, and is a 9-minute walk from the Ryman Auditorium and Broadway.

Where To Eat & Drink In Nashville

The Loveless Cafe – This 50 year old cafe is a landmark and must-go during your time in Nashville. Don’t make me tell you twice!

Hattie B’s – You cannot miss Hattie B’s Hot Chicken. If spicy isn’t your thing, then at least do yourself a favor and order the friend chicken. It is the BEST I’ve ever had. In fact, we came so close to missing out on Hattie B’s that at 11 pm the night before we were leaving, we ended up placing a rush Uber Eats order just so we could say we tried it. It was stinking delicious.

Acme Feed + Seed – This place has the best view of the river in downtown Nashville and the food is delicious! We came around happy hour for some cocktails and appetizers and then stayed to enjoy the live music which started ramping up. It was perfect.

Silo – This place, located in Germantown was super delicious for brunch one morning! The seasonally-inspired Southern food, hand-crafted cocktails, and ambiance made it the perfect place to get our grub on.

5th + Taylor – This place has incredible food, We enjoyed a relaxing evening eating in their expansive outdoor dining area, our cocktails were yummy and the service was spot on. You don’t want to miss this Nashville spot!

Things To Do In Nashville

Before you get to Nashville, decide what is important for you to do doing your time in music city. If it is to go to a handful of the places I mention below, then it will be worth your time and money to buy the Music City Total Access Pass through the Visitors Center. This pass will allow you entrance to the most popular sights around Nashville. Make sure to purchase your pass before your trip so that you can begin making arrangements and booking your activities ahead of time!

Visit Belle Meade Plantation – This historic plantation mansion is a museum that you can visit to see how life was like back in the 1800s. We had a great time strolling the property and delving into the rich history of the property and surrounding area.

Visit the Ryman – The original Opry, this iconic piece of music history is a must-see while in Nashville!

Stroll Lower Broadway + listen to live music – Nashville’s Honky Tonk Highway, located on Lower Broadway, is a row of honky tonks pumping live music into the streets from 10am to 3am. So take a stroll and pop into one of the bars. Order a drink and dance around to live music. You’ll have the time of your life.

Visit the Country Music Hall of Fame – One of the world’s largest museums and research centers dedicated to the preservation of American music. We literally spent hours here.. as one could, so plan accordingly!

Watch a show at the Grand Ole Opry – I was shocked how far outside of town the Opry is and was so happy we had rented a car.

What Lifts You Up – Located in The Gulch! Make sure to stop and get your photo taken before you grab a bite to eat, or come early in the morning to avoid the lines!

Stroll through Marathon Village -We stopped here and hung out a while to enjoy the shops, Marathon Museum and grab an ice cream. This was the perfect break from being in the busy tourist areas.

Take a walk around the Parthenon – Before we left town we decided to go for a Sunday morning stroll through Centennial Park. At the center of the park is the Parthenon, which is a re-creation of the 42-foot statue Athena is the focus of the Parthenon just as it was in ancient Greece. The building and the Athena statue are both full-scale replicas of the Athenian originals.

Visit Franklin – My favorite part of the whole trip was visiting the town of Franklin. We grabbed lunch here, strolled through the historic town center, popped into the tiny museums along the way and finished with a tour of the Carter Hour. Franklin is a key site of the American Civil War and is home to 2 properties exploring the 1864 Battle of Franklin: Carter House and Carnton Plantation.

Visit Arrington Winery – Wow. When they do wine in Tennessee, it’s a “go big or go home” mentality. Let me tell you. This place was gigantic. The property featured three huge buildings and sprawling lawns where you were invited to bring your own picnic, purchase a bottle of wine and stay a while. During our visit, they had three different bands set up in each building for you to choose which music you felt like hunkering down and listening to. It was super fun and we had a great time! Fun fact – all the grapes they use in their wine comes from California, Oregon and Washington. So the wine was great!

As you plan your next trip, consider reading my post highlighting the best websites + resources for travel planning! Save yourself time and money!

XO,

M

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