Nashville Travel Guide

I visited Nashville with my mom following my graduation. We went for 3 nights which I feel was the perfect amount of time. I wanted to share more about where I stayed, where I ate, and what I did during my trip.

Where to Stay:

Hotels in Nashville can be really expensive, especially if you want to stay downtown. To save money, my mom and I chose to stay in an AirBnB. We picked a tiny house which was adorable. It was the perfect size for 2 people. The host was amazing and gave us a ton of restaurant recommendations. It was located in a cute neighborhood within walking distance of a few places and a short uber/lyft ride downtown.

The link to the tiny house is: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/13098951?source_impression_id=p3_1560296687_UyUR%2Boc3nRTG1svI

Where to Eat:

Nashville has a lot of great food options and we tried to make a point to check out a popular restaurant for each meal (except one where we were on a time crunch and ate at the museum cafe, Here are my favorites my trip-

The first night we went to Monell’s for dinner (they also do breakfast &lunch) which was amazing. The food is served family style and included meat plus a bunch of side dishes. My mom and I were seated at a table with 10 ministers who were great company. They have 3 locations and I went to the one in Germantown. Their prices are also really reasonable, ranging from $15-23/adult depending on day and time (and it is all you can eat). I would call this a must do! You can find more information at https://monellstn.com/
The next morning we went to Puckett’s where I had a strawberry pancake the size of my face and a yogurt parfait. It was really good but I wouldn’t consider it a must-do. Their website is https://puckettsgro.com/nashville/
We just picked something out in the museum cafe for lunch because we were on a time crunch but then we went to an Italian restaurant called Mangia for dinner. I hadn’t heard about it but it was walking distance from where we were staying so we figured it was worth trying. And it was so good. No pictures were taken of the meal because it was eaten so quickly but if you go-get their homemade chips & dipping sauce as an appetizer. I highly recommend eating here if you are nearby. Their website is https://mangianashville.com/
We went to the Five Daughters Bakery the next morning and it was amazing. If you only eat one place in Nashville, this should be it. They have so many different donut flavors, including a whole case for those with dietary restrictions. I recommend getting a 100 layer donut. My mom and I ordered 2 different flavors and shared. They were so sweet and fluffy. I would go back to Nashville just for these donuts. Go check out their menu at https://fivedaughtersbakery.com/
We went to Martin’s BBQ for lunch. I usually am not the biggest barbecue fan but decided to just order something and go for it. My mom and I both really liked our sandwiches. Also, the staff was super nice and they have a ton of seating. Check them out at https://www.martinsbbqjoint.com/
For dinner that night we ordered from Hattie B’s Hot Chicken, which was within walking distance from our AirBnB. Once again, no pictures were taken because it was that good. Nashville is famous for their hot chicken and I would highly recommend having it while in Nashville! There are a few different places that have hot chicken but Hattie B’s is really good. I recommend ordering a plate which comes with chicken (you choose the heat level) and 2 sides. Their website is https://hattieb.com/
Our last meal in Nashville was at Fenwick’s 300 which was a really cute, kinda retro, diner. I ordered french toast which came with fresh berries and was delicious. You can find them at http://fenwicks300.com/

What to Do:

Nashville is known for country music. My mom and I are both country music fans so we made sure to check out the country music attractions. But I will mention a few things to do that aren’t related to country music below-

Our first night we went on a Hearse Ghost Tour which definitely sounds weird but was really fun. We didn’t see anything creepy but our tour guide was great and told us a ton about the history of Nashville. The tour started at the Union Station Hotel which is a really cool, old, converted train station. If you are nearby, I recommend checking out the hotel. If you want to do something out of the ordinary, you can find out more information (and about their other tour options) at https://amerighost.com/
We went to the Ryman Auditorium the next day which was great. It was fun to learn about the history of country music and see where so many big stars performed. More information at https://www.ryman.com/
We then went to the Country Music Hall of Fame which is huge. I loved seeing all the outfits that different celebrities wore. Their website is https://countrymusichalloffame.org/
Within the same building as the Country Music Hall of Fame, is Hatch Show Print, which has made posters for the stars for years. My mom and I took a tour and got to make our own posters with the printing press. Check them out at https://hatchshowprint.com/
We then made our way to the Grand Ole Opry for the Backstage Tour which was really fun. You get to see the dressing rooms where the celebrities get ready. You also get to go on stage which is really cool.
We went back to the Grand Ole Opry at night for a show which was amazing. Kelsea Ballerini and her husband, Morgan Evans, performed as well as a bunch of other country singers. While I didn’t know all of the performers, they were all amazing. If you are in Nashville, make sure you get tickets to the Opry. Tickets for the Opry, as well as the backstage tour, are available at https://www.opry.com/
We also went to the Johnny Cash Museum. While, I did not know a ton about Johnny Cash before the trip, I really liked the museum. I wouldn’t call it a must-do, but worth checking out if you have extra time. You can learn more at https://www.johnnycashmuseum.com/
See the Honky Tonks. You can’t go to Nashville without seeing the honky tonks the city is known for. My mom and I just walked up and down the streets, listening to the live music, and going in and out of the bars.
Check out all the murals. I happened to stumbled upon the #whatliftsyou mural. The “I believe in Nashville” mural is next to Draper James.