I’ve been a country music fan ever since I was a young girl riding around in my dad’s car listening to Kenny Chesney, Phil Vassar and Alan Jackson. Shania Twain was my first concert and I got up early practically every weekend to watch country music videos on CMT. Country was, and still is, my musical genre of choice.
As I grew up, I quickly realized the majority of my peers didn’t share the same musical taste. The genre I loved was often considered the downfall of music altogether by many of my friends. I didn’t understand why, but it didn’t matter because it was part of me. When I met Jeff and found out he listened to Faith Hill and Brantley Gilbert on a regular basis, I knew almost instantaneously that he was a keeper.
A year or so after we began dating, he got me hooked on a show called, you guessed it, “Nashville.” Week after week I would excitedly wait until the show aired so I could listen to more country music and fall in love with the cast as they took on Music City. Even though the show was scripted, the characters inspired me because they lived in a place with so much possibility, and passionately pursued their dreams. Shortly after I started watching the show, a small dream of my own was born. I told Jeff that we would go to Nashville someday and experience the home of country music together for the first time. While this isn’t the same sort of dream as becoming a pop star or a pro athlete, it was a dream that meant something to me. Country music not only played a part in molding my values, but helped me bond with my dad from a young age and eventually with my husband.
Just this past week, my dream came true. My husband and I finally made it to Nashville! This trip was different and sentimental on its own for so many reasons. A dream that formed years ago finally came to fruition, and it was so special to experience this city together. I also felt a sense of pride in taking this trip because, as newlyweds, we were able to prioritize and budget accordingly to afford it. Life’s expensive, but so are excuses. We knew we could make this trip a reality if we really wanted to, so we cut back accordingly and it all worked out.
All in all, we enjoyed our time in country music’s favorite city. Here’s a recap of our favorite places in this lively town. There is so much to see and so much to do. While we didn’t see it all, we definitely made the most of our trip!
Nashville’s Nice List
Bar: The Stage
Location: Broadway
You can’t go wrong with a place that has four different music stages, quality talent and no cover charge. We didn’t hear one bad set at this place and we went two nights in a row! Also, one of the stages opens up to an outside patio that overlooks the skyline! Pretty nice view if I do say so myself.
Brunch: Bar Louie
Location: The Gulch
Initially, we were headed to Biscuit Love which seems to be all the happs’ these days. We walked by the eatery multiple times during the week and it didn’t look overly crowded, but the moment Saturday rolled around, the line was a mile long…Okay, maybe not quite a mile, but you get the point. We opted for a brunch place next door that offered a modern setting and a loaded menu. Let me just say, the brunch was on point and so was the Skyy Lemonade Sangria. 10/10 would recommend.
Tour: Old Town Trolley Tours
Location: Throughout Nashville
For $30 a person, this tour is totally worth it. With 15 stops, you have the opportunity to see all of downtown Nashville and the surrounding areas. The tour guides are great and you can hop on and off the trolleys all day long in different areas!
Urban Eats: Burger Republic
Location: The Gulch
After a long day touring the city, we opted for some good ole American food. Burger Republic did not disappoint. With a savory menu of burgers, fries, milkshakes, salads, wings, etc., you can’t go wrong here! Both your salty and sweet cravings are sure to be satisfied.
Transportation of choice: Joyride
Location: Throughout Nashville
For those of you that don’t know, Nashville boasts a tip-based transportation system. Golf carts are the vehicle of choice. The rides are pretty fun and lighthearted (think pedicab) if you enjoy wind blowing through your hair and don’t mind a few bumps along the way. Do note, we did not have any success requesting a driver through the app. We also noticed that the drivers primarily hung around Broadway and didn’t go too far past the main tourist areas. Therefore, available service depends largely on where you’re at when you’re looking for a ride.
