Visiting Nashville For The First Time? Some Things You Definitely Must Do While You’re In Music City

The one question that we are asked most often is:

What should we do while we are in Nashville?

Our answer is usually customized like this or this to suit your specific interests. (Be sure to check out both of those lists to see some recommendations that aren’t listed below!)

Generally speaking, our recommendations are typically based on:

• the type of music you enjoy
• whether you are driving or flying into Nashville (thus, whether you’ll have access to a cab or rental car)
• where you are staying (and if you have a car or not)
• the type of food you like to eat
• whether you’re traveling with kids or not

 

That said, the following things tend to appear on our Nashville Visitors Must Do List time and time again.

So if you ever get a chance to do these things… you must!!!

 

Where To Stay…

If you ever get the opportunity to stay at the Opryland Hotel, you should.

I stayed there once during a conference, and I’ve visited the hotel several times since then. (You can never take in everything that there is to see and do there!)

It’s way off the beaten path, but if you have a car, then you could make your way to downtown Nashville for the nightlife. Or, depending on your time schedule and how much you want to do, you may find plenty to do within close proximity to the hotel. Some of my favorites:

• General Jackson River Cruise
• Opry Mills Mall
• Grand Ole Opry
• IMAX Movie Theater At Opry Mills
• Music Valley At Opryland

 

As far as Downtown Nashville hotels, we like the Sheraton hotel, the Hilton , or the Renaissance hotel best — due to their close proximity to the nightlife.

If you’re not staying downtown, then we recommend staying in:

Brentwood, TN – just south of Nashville, there are a handful of nice hotels right near the I65 exit.
Here are some Brentwood hotels worth considering.
Franklin, TN – just south of Brentwood, it’s a real trendy place with plenty of fun things do right there.
Here are some pet-friendly hotels in Franklin. And if you’re bringing your pet, then you’ll appreciate this link to after-hours veterinary services …just in case.

 

Where To Eat…

Of course, our all-time favorite lists of the best restaurants in Franklin and the best restaurants in Brentwood aren’t going to meet the needs of everyone. Those places were chosen primarily because we tend to frequent them regularly as locals, rather than the fact that they’re especially unique.

As far as noteworthy and unique places to eat in the Nashville area, we recommend the following:

• For breakfast: Pancake Pantry - Get there early, there’s always a line to get in. And you never know who you might see there.
• For lunch: Noshville Deli – A trendy dive where everyone who’s anyone goes for lunch at least once when they’re in Nashville.
• For dinner: Mangia Nashville – It’s actually in Franklin, and only open on Friday and Saturday nights. It’s expensive, but worth it! They serve the most luxurious menu in a fun & casual atmosphere.
• For dessert: Sweet Cece’s or GiGi’s Cupcakes – Both have super-large servings, ensuring that your sweet tooth will be satisfied!
• Anytime: Loveless Cafe – Combine this with a short drive on the Natchez Trace Parkway, followed by their world-famous biscuits & gravy and some shopping at the Loveless Shoppes. Or, if you’re already downtown Nashville, then try Jack’s Barbeque. It’s sure to be a hit with everyone, and the place is rich in Nashville history.
• Kids will love: Aquarium Restaurant or Rainforest Cafe - Both are located inside the Opry Mills Mall.

 

These photos show Jack’s Barbeque from the front, from the inside, and from the back:

  

 

 

Fun Things To Do With Kids…

Nashville (And Baseball) Through The Eyes Of A Child

Fun Things To Do With Kids In Cool Springs

Nashville Shores Waterpark

10 Tips For Visiting The Nashville Zoo

Fun Things To Do For The History Buff

Nashville Vacation Ideas With Kids

A Mom’s-Eye-View Of The Adventure Science Center

 

Outdoorsy Things To Do…

To stretch your legs, enjoy some beautiful nature, and get a little bit of a workout, consider hiking on the Natchez Trace Parkway.

There are plenty of lakes around Nashville to enjoy from a boat. Here are the best boating, canoeing & kayaking places near Nashville. And all the best places to rent a pontoon boat.

For a nice change of pace, you might enjoy horseback riding in and around Nashville.

If you want to see some wonderful scenery and a peaceful place to get away, then Radnor Lake is for you. There’s a nice walking trail, and the wildlife is plentiful!

If you like bicycling, then you’ll love exploring Nashville by bike.

Good news: All of the beautiful Tennessee State Parks are free!

Be sure to keep your eye out for celebrities in Nashville when you’re out & about. You may also want to take a drive by some Nashville celebrities’ homes — like Miley Cyrus and Alan Jackson’s house!

 

Fun Ways To Get Around…

Whether you’re looking for a fun way to spend an extra day in Nashville, or you’re just in need of a change of pace, some of these alternative travel options might meet your needs:

• Tips For Seeing Nashville By RV
• Visiting Nashville On Bicycle
• Take A Scenic Drive On The Natchez Trace Parkway (more tips for visitors here)
• Nashville Trolley Tours
• Franklin Transit
• Grayline Bus Tours Of Nashville
• Take A Leisurely Drive Through Percy Warner Park
• Fun Trips & Tours IN And Around Franklin, TN
• Getting Around Nashville By Taxi Cab

 

Unique Places To Shop…

Franklin Factory - a 12-building dining, retail, and entertainment complex that’s listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Opry Mills Mall - over 140 stores and restaurants (…and still growing since the post-flood Re-Opening!)

Loveless Cafe Shops - grab a bite to eat at the Loveless Cafe, then enjoy the surrounding shoppes.

Main Street / Downtown Franklin – more than 150 unique places to explore in the 15-block downtown National Register District, including trendy shops, antiques, and restaurants.

10 Best Places To Shop In Nashville – these shopping spots are the ones that are most often favorited by locals and tourists alike.

Hatch Show Print – take home a one-of-a-kind souvenir: an official Hatch Show Print poster. Even if you don’t buy anything, you absolutely must step inside this unique shop on Broadway.

Boot Country and Boots & More – I can’t tell you  how many of my friends who visited Nashville for the first time took advantage of these stores’ “Buy 1, Get 2 pairs of boots FREE” deal!

 

Best Music In Nashville…

• Ryman Auditorium – You can even tour the Ryman! Take a self-guided tour, or get a behind-the-scenes backstage tour of the Mother Church. View their upcoming events.
• Grand Ole Opry – Get a backstage tour of the Opry House or check their upcoming events calendar. (The tickets are expensive, but worth it!)
• Classic Country Music Locations – These are less expensive alternatives to the Grand Ole Opry.
• Best Small Music Venues – If you’re looking for small and quaint, then you’ll love these intimate settings where you can see some of the best talent in Franklin & Nashville.
• Pub Crawl At Downtown Nashville Bars – We usually stick to the honky tonks on Broadway, but there are lots of fun options here for a Nashville bar crawl!

 

 

 

Seasonal Fun Things To Do…

Most of the above events and activities can be enjoyed any time of year.

These things are seasonal:

 

Spring

Nashville Sounds Baseball – The Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers, and a minor league baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL).

Franklin Main Street Festival - A free event featuring more than 200 artisans & crafters, 3 stages, 2 carnivals and an international food court to round out a full weekend of entertainment.

Iroquois Steeplechase - Drawing an average crowd of 25,000, this is one of Middle Tennessee’s top sporting & social events.

 

Summer

Franklin Bike Tours & Rentals - You can tour Franklin on foot, or on 2 wheels.

Tips For Viewing Nashville’s 4th Of July Fireworks - If you’re in town over the Fourth of July, here are some insider secrets for viewing the fireworks.

Franklin Rodeo - Fun for kids of all ages, and a great opportunity to wear your favorite cowboy and cowgirl attire!

 

Fall

Leaf Peeping In Tennessee – From late September through late October you’ll see the most colorful leaves in Tennessee.

Haunted Franklin Walking Tours - These take place year-round, but they’re more exciting around Halloween! They also have ghost tours in Nashville.

Nashville Corn Mazes – Venture into some of the most amazing corn mazes located in Nashville and Middle Tennessee.

 

Winter

Holiday Lights At Opryland Hotel – Many people make this an annual family tradition.

Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland - Another popular holiday light show that happens to be very near the Opryland Hotel.

Franklin Trolley Holiday Lights Tour – A fun way to see all of the Christmas lights is to let the locals chauffeur you through town to gaze at all of the glittering decorations.

 

 

Even More Fun Things To Do In Nashville…

• Here are 365 things to do in Nashville, plus 365 more fun things to do!
• See all of the upcoming events in Franklin, TN & Nashville right in one place.
• Mrs. Cheap’s personal picks for 102 fun things to do in Nashville.
• Here’s an itinerary to help you see the best of Nashville and Memphis.
• Don’t miss what others said about Nashville after their first visit to Music City!
• Check out Jimmy Carter’s Nashville Guide. After all, he’s you’re source to the stars.
• Here’s a guide to sophisticated fun in Nashville, with tips from Gwenyth Paltrow.
• And just for fun, check out the most overrated and underrated things to do in Nashville.