Nashville Travel Checklist: 7 Essential Things to Do in Nashville

Are you planning to go on vacation in Nashville, Tennessee? Are wondering what sights and sounds you can enjoy in the city? Or perhaps you are completely in the dark in regard to your Nashville travel checklist?

Among the numerous cities in the United States, Nashville is one of those that are bustling when it comes to tourism. In fact, 15.2 million tourists visited the city in 2018. 

As a first-timer, you need to make sure that your checklist is a good one. Continue reading below as we look at some of the things to do in Nashville. 

Things to Do in Nashville: The Magic 7

Sometimes, preparing a travel checklist is challenging. This is most true if your destination has a lot to offer. 

There is, of course, the option to hire tourist guides. These experts know the ins and outs of Nashville. Regardless of your choice, here are seven important places you need to see when in the city. 

Trip to the Parthenon

Is the Parthenon part of your bucket list? If a trip to Greece is too expensive, you can enjoy the Parthenon’s full-scale model in Nashville at least for now. Head on to the Centennial Park and marvel at the full-size replica of one of Greece’s marvels. 

The model also doubles as an art museum. It is home to a group of paintings by various American artists from the 19th and 20th centuries. 

The idea behind erecting a Parthenon in Nashville is the city’s rich history. Nashville boasts of numerous colleges and universities. This earned the city the name “Athens of the South.”

Right at the heart of Nashville’s Parthenon lies a statue of Athena. The statue stands 42 feet tall. In addition, gold leaf covers the statue.

Some of that Hot Chicken

A trip to Nashville is incomplete without trying the city’s hot chicken. Head on to Prince’s Hot Chicken. The restaurant serves the original hot chicken of Nashville. 

The secret to the taste of the chicken lies in the preparation. The cook marinates the chicken in a water-based blend of seasoning. He then covers it with flour before giving it a good dose of frying.

Prior to serving, the cook douses a special cayenne pepper sauce over the chicken. To finish the presentation, the cook places the chicken in between pickle chips and a slice of white bread.

Hunt for the Golden Pheasant 

One of the best things to do in Nashville is to visit the Shelby Bottoms Greenway. There, you can join the hunt for the elusive golden pheasant. This colorful bird is one of the main attractions of the greenway.

Bikers, rollerbladers, and walkers take on the trail. All of them hoping to get a glimpse of the golden pheasant. 

Thereafter, you can go up the Butcher & Bee. There, you can enjoy some of the best brunches you will ever experience while in the city.

A Sip of Genuine Tennessee Whiskey

Nashville is also home to some of the best whiskeys in the country. Then why not take a sip straight from the source? 

For craft spirit-lovers, take a stop at Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery in Marathon Village. The place is rich in history apart from the spirits. Brothers Andy and Charlie Nelson revived the place after the Prohibition.

Here, you can taste some of their sherry cask-finished bourbon.

You can also pay a quick visit to Corsair Distillery on Merritt Avenue. You can enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at how they create different spirits. These include gin, whiskey, and absinthe. 

You can also visit the Jack Daniel’s Distillery. There, you will see how they craft the nation’s best-selling whiskey. Regardless if you are a Jack lover or not, you will certainly enjoy this stop.

Visit the Belle Meade Plantation

Another interesting stop is the Belle Meade Plantation. The place once housed Nashville’s wealthiest family in the 19th century. 

The location used to boast of over 5,400 acres of land. The Harding family manages the now 24-acre property. They welcome visitors from various countries and social status.

Presidents, celebrities, and southern gentleman are common guests of the Plantation. Tourists can get a glimpse of how the affluent of the 19th century lived during the Civil War onward.

A tour will take you to key areas like the slaves’ quarters and the carriage house. You can also experience the old dairy, as well as the smokehouse.  

Country Music at the Ryman Auditorium

If you’re in Downtown and you love country music, make sure you visit the Ryman Auditorium. Residents of Nashville call this place as “The Mother Church of Country Music.”

Some of the most revered names in once performed in the auditorium. Some of them include Bill Monroe and rock and roll legend Elvis Presley. Current bands like Foo Fighters also perform in the Ryman.

Interestingly, the auditorium started as the Union Gospel Tabernacle. This was back in 1892 when it first opened its doors. Apart from music icons, the auditorium also showcased other performances.

It was home to The Grand Ole Opry in 1943. It also hosted entertainers like Bob Hope and Harry Houdini.

Check Out the Farmers Market

Lastly, don’t miss Nashville’s Farmers Market. The place is not exclusive to farmers and their harvest. It is also home to crafters, restaurateurs, and artisans. 

You can find a variety of sellers offering cheese and dairy products. You can also dine and shop in any of the 16 restaurants and stores inside the market.

Even if you don’t dine, you will likely take home something before leaving Farmers Market.

Enhance Your Travels with Knowledge

Now that your list of things to do in Nashville is complete, there’s nothing left to do but to enjoy your stay in the city. As for your future trips, you can enhance your experience by learning more about your destinations.

We invite you to check our different blog posts. We tackle various topics about different places in and outside of the country. We also share valuable tips that will help make your trips more exciting and enriching.

The List Love

The List Love is the home of high quality top 10 lists on everything from movies and TV to history and science. We offer interesting, entertaining posts to broaden your mind and smile. Follow us today on Facebook and Twitter for more amazing listicles!

You may also like...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.