Katie turned the big 4-0 in May and in our books, that’s reason to celebrate. We believe everyone should travel to a fun location with 20 of their closest friends on their 40th and for Katie, that fun place was Nashville, Tennessee. She’s been there twice before and knew for a long time it was the place to celebrate! It’s was drivable for everyone and you can’t beat live music and a place where wearing cowboy boots and fringe is not only acceptable, but expected! Katie LOVES a good theme and Nashville provided that in a big way!
It was very much a ‘choose your own adventure’ kind of trip. Some friends flew in for 5 nights and others drove and stayed for two. This trip was planned by Katie’s best friend, Laura. An email was sent out one entire year prior to Katie’s birthday telling people that this trip was being planned. This allowed them to get it on their calendars and plan accordingly. About four months out from the trip, another email was sent out with an itinerary of what reservations would be made for the trip. People could opt in or out and all reservations were then made accordingly. Everyone was in charge of booking their own flights and hotels. We were a little nervous about places being able to accommodate such a large group (one night we had 20 people) but it all worked out! At a few places we had to split into two tables, but it was fine!
Nashville provides live music, beautiful weather, FABULOUS shopping and some of the best food we’ve ever had. To make a long story short, we highly recommend it!
Now we take our job seriously over here! Even when we are celebrating we are taking notes to provide a resource for you. We have outfit recommendations galore in our snapshots! If you are planning a trip to Nashville, here are a few recommendations for your trip planning. Giddy up!
Activities in Nashville
Hop On Hop Off Nashville Tours
There are a lot of areas in Nashville to check out. If you want to explore and plan, one great idea would be the Hop On Hop Off Tour Trolleys. They take you to all of the popular stops and provide history of various areas. It also saves on Uber and parking costs!
Green Fleet Bike Tour
Brett and I had heard quite a few people recommend doing a Nashville bike tour and I’m so glad we did. A friend of mine recommended Green Fleet. It was a short drive from our AirBnb, and we had the BEST time. It’s such a fun way to see the city. They have regular and e-bike options! I also loved their store cat – Biz!
Hermitage Golf Course
Playing up to 7200 yards, The President’s Reserve at Hermitage Golf Course can offer any golfer as much challenge as one might desire, yet be a pleasurable golfing experience for even the occasional golfer. The course trails through 300 acres of natural Tennessee wetlands and along the banks of the beautiful Cumberland River. One of the highlights for him was the sheep on the course!
The Listening Room
Our group enjoyed a songwriter show at The Listening Room before dinner and it was lovely. It’s a great opportunity to see live music in a smaller venue and hear something new.
The Grand Ole Opry
Try and catch a show at the Grand Ole Opry. It’s such an iconic spot and the home of country music.
Suzy Wong’s
Part of Katy’s 40th festivities was a Dragn’ Brunch. It was a HOOT! If you have a large group, make sure to make reservations. Now, the food is nothing spectacular, but the drag show is! It is a fun way to celebrate a birthday, engagement, or just a bunch of friends getting together!
Buffalo Exchange
Thrift shopping while on vacation is always a fun activity. Especially if you are looking for a fun outfit. After the drag brunch, a bunch of us went to Buffalo Exchange and found some gems!
Places to visit in Nashville
Nashville Farmers Market
While on our bike tour, we rode by the Nashville Farmers Market and our guide said how much he loved going there for Jamaican food. So after our tour, we stopped! We actually grabbed some BBQ and went outside to eat. They have live music, dozens of places to grab food, and on that particular day it was Strawberry Fest, so they had a large outdoor market with fresh strawberries, drinks, baked goods, and more! I highly recommend stopping here for lunch if you can!
Nashville Public Library
The Nashville Public Library is a great stop if it’s too hot or rainy outside. One thing to note, you can search your genealogy and receive your report for free!
Country Music Hall of Fame
Maker sure to plan a visit to the Country Music Hall of Fame! The exhibits are fascinating, showcasing the history and evolution of country music. From vintage guitars to stage costumes, the museum was a treasure trove for any music lover.
Ryman Auditorium
Touring the Ryman Auditorium, known as the “Mother Church of Country Music” is also a must! Standing on the stage where legends like Johnny Cash and Dolly Parton once performed is a surreal experience. The guided tour was informative and gave a deep insight into the venue’s storied past.
Centennial Park
Plan an evening at Centennial Park! It is a lovely spot to relax, people-watch, and enjoy the beautiful weather. The 132-acre park features: the iconic Parthenon, a one-mile walking trail, Lake Watauga, the Centennial Art Center, historical monuments, an arts activity center, a beautiful sunken garden, a band shell, an events shelter, sand volleyball courts, dog park, and an exercise trail.
16th and 17th Avenue // Music Row
If you really loved the history of music recording, plan a stroll down 16th and 17th Avenue. A drive down the street could also suffice if you want to catch a glimpse of the legendary road.
Fifth and Broadway
Fifth and Broadway is a one stop shop with various local retailers, restaurants and bars, multiple performance stages, and a food hall with 30+ eateries. It’s a one stop shop!
Food & Drinks
Nashville had so many great coffee shops, desserts, drinks, and restaurants. Here are just a few we establishments we visited while in Nashville!
Acme Feed and Seed serving elevated food and cocktails on lower Broadway. Great stop to prepare a night on Broadway!
The Baked Bear – warm cookies and made to order ice cream sandwich? Yes please! This was delicious and the sandwich can easily be split with two people.
You cannot go to Nashville and not have a good ol’ biscuit and grits! Biscuit Love probably had one of the best breakfasts! Still dreaming about the biscuit.
Our group did a dinner at Butcher & Bee. The restaurant for small or large groups and the rotating menu of inventive, seasonal cuisine made with local ingredients can be served family style for a fun evening in a beautiful spot!
The Diner is a six floor diner serving American classic fare & drinks, plus sushi & oysters, in modern digs. Another great food option on Broadway.
Going to Emmy Squared Pizza was the best decision we made while in Nashville. It is the BEST gluten free pizza I’ve ever had – no joke. The crust was 10/10. We went to the one in the Gulch one night before meeting everyone else out and I can’t recommend it enough. Brett and I split a salad and a pizza and still had leftovers.
We stopped at Five Daughters Bakery after shopping in the 12 South Area! They are famous for their 100 layer croissant donuts which were delicious. They also have a case of gluten free and (some) vegan options as well!
Frothy Monkey is great for coffee, breakfast, or happy hour cocktails. There are a couple locations with great indoor and outdoor dining spaces.
Hathorne is a casual fine dining restaurant and bar in Sylvan Park neighborhood. The menu focuses on seasonal and locally sourced produce and meats. Throughout the restaurant you’ll find nods to the building’s history as a church fellowship hall.
Hattie B’s Hot Chicken is a Nashville must! Do not skip the pimento mac & cheese! They have various degree of heat when it comes to their chicken. I witnessed a gentleman try the Shut The Cluck Up and he was in tears! Be advised!
Jenis is not a Nashville specific spot for ice cream, but a great one nonetheless! Brett and I stopped for some ice cream on our last night and loved all of the flavor options. A lot of GF options as well!
Pinewood Social is a great spot for a group to eat, drink, and hang out by the pool or engage in a game of bowling!
Retrograde coffee is a fancy coffee connoisseur’s dream! They take their craft and coffee very seriously and their shop is beautiful as well. Enjoy!
Brett loves good coffee and did some research to find a good coffee place near us! Sump Coffee wasn’t within walking distance, but a short drive and we each grabbed a Vanilla Oat Milk Latte on the way to our bike tour. One of the best lattes I’ve had!
White Limozeen is a stylish, all-pink venue on the roof of the Graduate Hotel serving global bites, seafood & cocktails. It is a picturesque spot that screams Dolly Parton and Nashville glam! Grab your gals, your camera, and have a blast!
Bars & Night Life
The night life in Nashville is obviously top notch! There are so many spots to choose from it’s hard to go wrong! Here were a few night life spots we ventured to!
Chief’s
Chief’s on Broadway is imagined by the legendary artist Eric Church. It’s a six-story restaurant, bar, event space and live music hub in downtown Nashville. Live music there is top notch, make sure to check out their calendar to see what artists are playing and see a concert. While we were there, Eric was performing and came down to the main bar and stood right behind us!
Printer’s Alley
May be slightly less chaotic than Broadway but still has the Nashville bar feel and a ton of history! Printer’s Alley is full of great bars, hotels, and shops to check out!
L.A. Jackson
Voted Nashville Scene’s Best Rooftop Bar 5 years in a row, LA Jackson indoor and outdoor rooftop is the perfect destination for an evening of celebrating or just an end of the day cocktail! Located in the heart of the Gulch.
Kid Rock’s Big Honky Tonk Rock N’ Roll Bar
Nashville’s biggest new honky tonk bar. With five floors, four stages, and six bars, this spot can accommodate almost two thousand people! The sky-high 5th story rooftop boasts the most stunning views of downtown Nashville. Hungry? Their kitchen serves mouth watering steaks daily, including a signature 36oz. Tomahawk Ribeye.
Tootsie’s
A world-famous honky-tonk, Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge has operated across the alley from the Ryman Auditorium almost continuously since 1960.
Places to Stay
Brett and I decided to stay in an AirBnb a little out of the city since we had a car. We wanted to be in a neighborhood and it was only a 7-10 minute drive to get downtown. It worked out perfectly. We stayed in this one bedroom apartment and loved it! It was perfect for the 2 of us and we would absolutely stay there again.
Katie and a handful of the group stayed at the AC Hotel Downtown. The hotel was convenient for walking to Broadway bars. Part of the hotel was under construction while we there, but overall a good spot and super fun pool!
Abby stayed at the Virgin Hotel while in Nashville, located on Music Row. The location was about a 20 minute walk from Broadway. If you are looking for super fancy and fun with some peace and quiet. This is a great option. Food, coffee, and roof top bar were all great!
Gaylord Opryland is a vacation in itself! Now you would probably need a car to travel to Broadway and other Nashville sights. This hotel is HUGE, has indoor and outdoor waterpark, different atriums with an indoor river, and many more things to explore! Great option for families!
