Let me go ahead and preface this post by stating something bold. Hands down, Nashville is one of the coolest cities I’ve ever been to.
The entire experience reminded me of how I feel when going to New York City. There’s a certain energy to it that is invigorating. It’s the kind of energy that fuels you. Do you know what I mean?
I left there wanting to learn guitar, singing the lyrics of countless country songs, hungry for more biscuits, and eager to strap on some cowgirl boots and dance the night away again. I think it’s safe to say that you can’t not have fun in Nashville, which is why it was the perfect place to go for my bestie’s bachelorette party back in July!
Our crew had lots on our agenda, and while we barely scratched the surface of all there is to do there, we definitely covered a lot of ground in 48 hours.
Below is a breakdown of our itinerary and a few photo highlights from along the way! I also included some spots that we weren’t able to visit but have heard wonderful things about.
Two side notes. First, I wish I would have taken more photos but we were honestly too busy having fun! So beyond a few taken with my DSLR, excuse the grainy phone-quality images. And, I went right after moving and all our stuff was packed so I only brought a few outfits. Excuse the outfit repeats. 😉
48 hours in Nashville
Friday – Day 1
I arrived in Nashville and went straight to Barista Parlor Golden Sound on Magazine Street from the airport. Not only was I impressed with their keen eye for aesthetics, but their latte was just what I needed to kick-start the day after taking the red eye in. If you’re looking for a cool coffee shop to take pictures, this place is it!
Once the group arrived, we walked to our Air B&B, which was about 10 minutes from the area, which is also known as The Gulch. We got settled, grabbed refreshments and snacks from a local store, and refreshed for our first night out.
The first night
We explored The Gulch. Dinner was at Sambuca, which was definitely one of our most elevated dining experiences of the weekend. Great food, a wide assortment of cocktails, live music, and lively atmosphere. After Sambuca, we went to Up Rooftop Lounge, where we looked out on the beautiful Nashville skyline. An honorable mention that we walked by but didn’t have the chance to go into was Station Inn, which is famous for their live bluegrass music.
We were all pretty tired for our day of travel. So after Up, we went back to our Air B&B and hung out on the rooftop, showered our bachelorette with some gifts, and then called it a day relatively early to be sure we were rested for Saturday.
Saturday – Day 2
Our group of ladies love nature, so we were excited to wake up, grab coffees, and head to Radnor Lake State Park. The hiking trails were a refreshing twist to experience the area beyond the city, but one of the parts I loved most was the drive to and from the park. The houses and neighborhoods we passed were the definition of southern charm — we’re talking huge estates with immaculate landscaping and and rolling lawns. The stuff that you can’t help but wonder, “What do I need to do in life to have a house here!?”
After our hike, we headed back to The Gulch, and had a late brunch at Biscuit Love. (There was a long line that we waited in, which we heard was to be expected, but it went pretty fast and the meal was absolutely worth it!)
Now, one thing to know about me is that I have a very deep and fond appreciation for biscuits and gravy.
To the point where my friends make fun of me because if it’s on a menu, even at the local diner, I’ll likely order it. So to have a meal at a place that was famed for their biscuits was pretty much my version of heaven. I got the “Eat Nasty” and lots of our group got the “Princess”. Both were exceptional.
After Biscuit Love, we again headed back to our Air B&B, relaxed for a bit, and prepped for our big night out!
Before I get to where we went at night, I want to give a shout out to the Country Music Hall of Fame. Some of our group chose to go there instead of the park earlier in the day, and they had rave reviews of it. I was in particular nerding out over their photos of Taylor Swift’s “Tim McGraw” song lyrics on the original paper. As one of Tay’s self-proclaimed biggest fans, I couldn’t help but gawk at the photo of the paper and wish that there was just a few more hours in the day so that I could make my own stop over. Next time!
Alright, so, night time.
We kick-started the evening with what Nashville is most famous for: live music. We chose a 6 pm showing at the Listening Room Cafe (make sure you get tickets ahead of time – it was packed), which I can’t recommend enough. Our show featured 4 singer/songwriters who played original songs and also some of the songs they had written and are now hugely popular. It was crazy cool to hear some of their stories behind their songs, and we loved getting an authentic feel for the music scene in the city.
After the show at The Listening Room Cafe, we walked to Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint, which was a relaxed, come-as-you-are atmosphere with southern-style barbecue cuisine. It was perfect because it was on the way to lower Broadway Street, which we were walking to from the Listening Room Cafe. After dinner, we kept on our walk, and soon hit Broadway. Yup — where the real fun happens.
Going out on “Honky Tonk Highway” is absolutely something everyone needs to experience in their lifetime. It’s a literal street that is lined with bar after bar of live music, dancing and more people than you can begin to imagine. Favorite bars of ours included The Stage, Tootsies and Robert’s Western World, though you really can’t go wrong with any of them!
After dancing, dancing, and more dancing….we went to bed. I don’t remember what time. It was late, though. (Ha!)
Sunday – Day 3
Some of our flights left early, while others (mine) were later. After seeing off the girls who left early, the rest of us set off to explore another area that we’d been wanting to see: 12 South Street, where Draper James is headquartered. We grabbed coffees at Portland Brew, swung by Amelia’s Flower Truck which was parked right down the street, and then shopped at Draper James for a bit.
I was so excited to see Reese’s lifestyle brand and shop in person, not just because I love her, but also because I knew she’d deliver on the ultimate grace and charm in her brand that she grew up with in Nashville. And, let me tell you, she didn’t disappoint. Everything in the shop was flawless; I was “Ooh-ing” and “Aah-ing” over pretty much everything. See more photos in front of the famous Draper James wall here!
Before we made our departure, we headed back to see lower Broadway during the day, which was definitely a more relaxed vibe than the night prior. We sat for a soda or two and listened to more live music for a few hours, enjoying the artists and the slower pace. If you can, I definitely recommend experiencing Broadway this way in addition to a night out.
…And that’s all she wrote, my friends. I hope this breakdown was helpful if you are thinking of, or are currently, planning a trip to this amazing city. It was the best weekend with our girlfriends, and I can’t recommend spending time there enough. Seriously, I love Nashville, and can’t wait to go back again!
