It’s finally time for a post that’s been a long time coming- my Nashville trip review and travel guide!
Just a heads up, my boyfriend Stephen and I traveled to Nashville during the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. Normally, trips of ours involve sampling a little bit of everything our travel destination has to offer, including local restaurants, festivals, museums, and nightlife Due to shutdowns and our own desire to stay out of crowded spaces, this trip looked a little different than normal vacations! Despite our activities being limited by quarantine, we had a blast exploring the city.
Day One
On our first night in Nashville, Stephen and I arrived late at the Nashville airport. Since we were staying at their apartment, our friends Alex and Nicole graciously volunteered to pick us up!
After unloading our suitcases, we began our adventures by taking a walk around Downtown Nashville at night. Let me tell you- it was beautiful! Not only did I get to see one of the most gorgeous skylines I’ve ever seen, I also took the two best photos I’ve ever taken.
After basking in Nashville’s nighttime beauty, I was even more excited to explore it during the day!
Day Two
Downtown Nashville
Almost immediately after waking up on Day 2, Stephen, Alex, and I took a morning walk around downtown to see it in the daylight.
Many of the spots on our Nashville Bucket List were closed due to the pandemic. Since we couldn’t technically enter them, we decided to walk around them!
First up was Music City Center- a huge convention center. This building was shaped like a guitar, which was really unique!
Next on our bucket list was the Country Music Hall of Fame. Since we couldn’t take a full tour, we took a walk around the Walk of Fame park and found a few names that we recognized!
After walking a couple of miles around downtown and seeing local landmarks and some really beautiful buildings, we stopped by Broadway Street.
Broadway Street is Nashville’s country bar and live music hotspot. To be honest, I didn’t even bother to check and see if any of the bars were open during the pandemic- I wouldn’t have gone inside even if they were. However, it was fun to walk around them regardless!
The Parthenon and Centennial Park
After our downtown walking tour, we returned to Alex’s apartment to pick up his girlfriend Nicole and head on over the Parthenon.
A full replica of the Parthenon in Athens, this building is home to a rather extensive museum depicting key moments in Nashville’s history. It also contains a rather striking gold statue of Athena that was famously featured in the first Percy Jackson movie!
After checking out the museum, we took a long stroll around Centennial Park. Located next to the Parthenon, Centennial Park had a beautiful small lake, extensive walking paths, and a beautiful Japanese garden. If I lived in Nashville, this would probably be one of my favorite reading/picnic spots!
Yee Haw and Prince’s Hot Chicken
For lunch, Alex and Nicole took us to one of their favorite breweries- Yee Haw!
Yee Haw offered a comprehensive drink menu including several delicious local craft beers and moonshine. I did not try any of their moonshine. While I’m sure it’s delicious, moonshine is FAR from my thing. I like to actually enjoy my liquor, and I’m pretty sure only masochistic people enjoy moonshine.
Outside on Yee Haw’s courtyard is a food truck called Prince’s Hot Chicken. According to Nicole, Prince’s Hot Chicken serves the best Nashville Hot Chicken- and it did NOT disappoint! I ordered milk chicken tenders, and they were (thankfully) tolerably spicy- and quite delicious! Like men always do, Stephen ordered hot chicken tenders. I mean, he’s welcome to torture himself, but they were too spicy for me personally!
Finally, we took a look at all of the bottled moonshine offered at the adjoined distillery, Ole Smoky Moonshine. While the product held very little interest to me, it was perhaps the best organized display EVER and made the obsessive organizer deep in my soul very happy.
Urban Grub
After a long day of exploring, there’s no better way to celebrate than by eating a delicious meal!
For dinner on the first day of our trip, Alex and Nicole took us to their favorite restaurant in all of Nashville- Urban Grub!
Everything about this meal was mouthwatering. We began our meal by eating our entire bread basket and ordering a second one. Seriously- this was some of the best bread I’ve ever eaten at a restaurant! They served a combination of freshly baked biscuits and some weird (but mouthwatering) cheesy bread. Even their butter was delicious!
Next, we ordered two appetizers: andouille sausage and crab beignets. I couldn’t pick a favorite between the two- they were both fantastic!
For dinner, Stephen and I decided to maximize the number of dishes we tried and split two separate entrees half and half. I ordered shrimp and grits while he ordered a double cut pork chop served with grilled peaches.
Both of our entrees were fantastic, but I enjoyed the shrimp and grits more! It was a dish unique to the Southern United States, and certainly not something I would expect to find in Arizona or California.
Unsurprisingly, all four of us were too full from stuffing our faces at dinner to order dessert!
Day Three
The Gulch
On the third day of our Nashville trip, Alex and Nicole took us on another walking tour- this time of a cute little neighborhood right next to downtown: the Gulch!
Unlike Downtown Nashville, The Gulch is a bit younger and more artistic. It had a distinctly “hipster” vibe and was filled with trendy restaurants and boutiques instead of office buildings and tourist destinations.
First up on sightseeing in The Gulch was the famous Nashville Wings mural. You’ve seen it all over Instagram, and we got to see it in real life- twice! (We went back a second time after lunch because the lighting wasn’t great the first time around. I’m a blogger, therefore I’m high maintenance).
Of course, I took a photo at the Nashville wings. I also insisted Stephen take a photo because it was hilarious.
Bar Louie
For brunch, our group stopped at Bar Louie.
Typically when travelling, I like to dine at local or unique spots instead of chain restaurants. While Bar Louie is enjoyable, it is definitely a chain restaurant. However, we were looking to eat around 11am and most of the brunch spots in The Gulch were takeout only due to the pandemic. Since Bar Louie is a great spot, we chose to eat there!
Since I was on vacation, a brunch cocktail was an absolute given! I ordered an Effen Good Martini- Bar Louie’s cute name for a cucumber martini. I felt guilty about eating high calorie food throughout the beginning part of our trip, so I tried to be healthy by ordering the lowest-calorie choice on the menu: a Caesar salad with grilled salmon.
Hampton Social
Next up on our list of things to see was Hampton Social!
Hampton Social is a super cute, trendy three-story venue/restaurant. I’m not sure if their food is any good, because we did not bother to eat there.
You see, Hampton Social has two separate Instagram walls. They are so cute, I wouldn’t be surprised if the two Instagram walls are the only reason people bother to show up. It’s the only reason we bothered to show up. We didn’t even pretend to be there for any other reason- Nicole and I simply popped in, asked Stephen to take about 100 photos, and then left to carry on with our day. The two employees at the hostess stand seemed unaffected- maybe they’re used to it?
L27 Rooftop Bar
Our next stop was L27 Rooftop Bar. Located on the top floor of The Westin Nashville, L27 had stunning views of downtown and an even more stunning infinity pool. Sadly, I didn’t bring my swimsuit, but give me a few more cocktails and I may just have gone in anyways! (Just kidding- but am I? You’ll never know!)
Because we don’t only just visit pretty places for Instagram photos, we actually sat down and ordered something this time. Like we usually do when we want to enjoy ourselves but not get drunk, Stephen and I ordered two cocktails and split both of them.
Cocktail Number One was an espresso martini. I’m a huge fan of espresso martinis, but this was one of the best ones I’ve ever had!
Cocktail Number Two was a tall, pretty, purple thing. I remember it being delicious, but I have no idea what was in it. I’ll let you all in on a little secret- because I have a terrible memory, I write blog posts with restaurant menus open on another monitor so I can pick out exactly what I ordered. L27 has updated their cocktail menu to only include fall drinks. Sadly, since I procrastinated writing this post by almost 3 months, the name of my second cocktail is lost to the sands of time. Oh well, you all will live.
While they were roped off due to either COVID-19 or to create an illusion of “exclusivity”, L27 also had several chic cabanas for patrons to enjoy. I don’t like being told no even if it is by a rope, so Nicole and I snuck into one to take- yep, you guessed it- even more Instagram photos!
L.A. Jackson
Because we weren’t tipsy enough, Alex, Nicole, Stephen, and I headed over to yet another rooftop bar for more drinks. I almost instantly loved this one because some amazingly hilarious jackass put a medical mask on a portrait of an old dude.
Important things first- Nicole and I took yet another Instagram photo!
Because I’m basic and I’ve never had one, I figured it was about time I finally tried a Frose. (For non-basic readers, “Frose” is cute/clever shorthand for “Frozen Rose,” aka the most basic drink a bitch could order.
Because my friends and I have good taste, we ordered garlic parmesan fries. I’m assuming they were good, because we finished the entire plate, but I don’t remember. Hey, don’t judge me, I’m a lightweight and I’d had 3 cocktails by this point!
Day Four
Gaylord Opryland Resort
On Day 4 of our adventure, the weather in Nashville was very depressing. Not only was it raining, it was raining HARD.
Thankfully, Nicole is a trip-planning genius. Knowing that Stephen and I love the outdoors, she took us to the Gaylord Opryland Resort- the only place in Nashville where you can enjoy the outdoors indoors!
A cursory Google of the property will tell you that the Gaylord Opryland Resort is a huge resort just outside of Nashville that contains a giant indoor greenhouse, several restaurants, guest rooms, and even an indoor/outdoor waterpark.
Each guest room has a balcony that provides a view of all of the greenery (and very minimal privacy, but in the digital age, privacy is just a concept).
The resort was so large, we spent a couple of hours just walking around and enjoying all of the sights!
One of the most pleasantly surprising amenities of the hotel was a boat tour throughout the largest greenhouse. Had it not been COVID-19, we would have definitely participated! As it stood, we simply watched from the sidelines- and of course took pictures.
Day Five
Lunch at Blue Water Grill
On Day 5, Alex’s dad invited the four of us for a day of boating on Center Hill Lake, followed by a night’s stay at his lake house.
We woke up early to make the drive up to the lake. After arriving, we hopped in the boat right away! Our first stop was to grab lunch at the Blue Water Grill at Hurricane Marina.
Fried catfish is one of my favorite fish dishes, so when I saw it on the menu I just had to order it! Unsurprisingly, it was delicious!
Center Hill Lake
Our afternoon on the lake was beautiful, relaxing, and just what I needed. I’m an outdoorsy girl at heart, and I love the water (lake or ocean) most of all!
Center Hill Lake was very different than the lakes I typically visit in Arizona or California. Instead of desert scenery, the shore was covered in rolling hills of dense green trees. It was also quieter and far more serene than any lake in the Southwest.
After an hour or so of boating, Alex’s dad dropped anchor in a quiet little spot near the edge of the lake so we could swim. Nicole and I poured ourselves floating insulated glasses of wine (seriously the best invention for lake days!) while the guys ate a second lunch on the water.
We spent a couple peaceful hours relaxing in the water before heading back to shore!
Finally, we headed back to the lake house to watch the sunset. Unsurprisingly, it was stunning.
Day Six
Volleyball Game
Let me tell you something about vacations- after a few days of adventures and exploring, you get tired. Really tired.
That was us on Day 6.
We slept in, relaxed, had a leisurely brunch at the lake house, and then drove back to Nashville for Nicole’s volleyball game in a local park.
Downtown Sunset Walk
For our last adventure, our group took a walk down to a cute spot near Alex and Nicole’s apartment to watch the sun set over the Nashville skyline. (And, of course, to take pictures in front of said sunset).
It was a perfect, relaxing, and picturesque ending to a lovely trip.
Sure, we didn’t get to cross off everything on our Nashville Bucket List, but we got to see more of the city than we would have if it hadn’t been quarantine! I truly could not have asked for a better time- or better friends to enjoy our trip with! Plus, now Stephen and I have a great excuse to go back to one of my favorite cities in the United States.
Note: This post was originally published on Ciao by Shay on November 20, 2020. It was migrated to Happy Health Stylish upon my blog’s rebranding.