We are coming to Nashville from Motown with another couple 10/22 - 10/25 to see Music City. Aside from the usual touristy things, what could you recommend that only locals would know about? Thanks
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I'm not a local, but on a recent visit to Nashville I found a visit to Cheekwood to be my favorite part. It's a large mansion situation on rolling acres with many kinds of gardens. Great place to read or picnic in. Well worth the price of admission.
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Originally Posted by rubesl
We are coming to Nashville from Motown with another couple 10/22 - 10/25 to see Music City. Aside from the usual touristy things, what could you recommend that only locals would know about? Thanks
I dont live there...but my brother and his family has since the mid 90s so I have been there 50+ times.
The tourist stuff is on 2nd and broadway with the music and ryman theater.
As the other side you have Cheekwood
In terms of restaurants there is a site called nashvilleoriginals that lists a bunch of locally owned decent restaurants.
There is the Vanderbilt campus area which has a few places not on the list...Rootiers (50s style diner --have the grilled hamburger/cheeseurger) and Pancake Pantry which is a breakfast place open from around 6am to 3pm that does mainly breakfast fare then around lunch then areound lunch they add some lunch stuff. Near here on 11th/12th street there is a new condo/multiuse development where on the ground floor are a few good restaurants.
Other place to find in nashville are called meat N threes. They are local mom/pop restaurants that you buy a meat and 2-3 side dishes. Because of the economy Im not up to date on what has survived.
The East side of Nashville over the last decade has started to go through a redevlopment...there was a few stories about it through the NY Times and other places about new restaurants and arts stuff.
In Nashville you have a farmers market that is a permanent structure so vendors operate there all the time...this is right near the state capitol and govenors mansion. There is also a state history museum and they have an art museum too.
Another place to see is The Hermitage---home of former president Andrew Jackson.
Just to the south of Nashville is Franklin, TN...its known for some arts/antique stores and there are some decent restautants.
If you decide to go to Cheekwood Gardens near there in the Forest Hills area is where the really wealthy live....the music producers and the succesful musicians. You can drive through this area and see the large estates and mansions.
Along Briley Parkway which meets I-40 near the airport is where the Opryland Hotel is,,,you can walk through here...there are interior gardens and little boat rides you can take. Opryland is no more---they shut it down and turned it into the OpryMills shopping mall. The theater is still left there.
Im not certain---but when you are traveling you could be getting some fall colors. I havent travelled there much in October (Usually I travel in May/June, November/December).
In terms of easy drives outside of town here area few to consider:
1. Shiloh Civil War battlefield
2. Chattanooga Aquarium (IMHO top 5 in the country)
3. Mammouth Caves National Park in Kentucky
4. Smokey Mountains NAtional PArk (though this is farther 4 hr drive) but the drive could be great at the time you are traveling with fall colors. It could be a worthwhile long loop driving trip for the day.
5. To the South is the home of Jack Daniels...in a dry county no less...they offer tours of the plant--it is very entertaining and funny---at least the tour I did--the person had a long grey beard in the farmers overalls.
6. Also to the South in Huntsville is NASA missile and spece HQ with its space camp.
Thanks for the suggestions. I especially liked the links to the foodie news article (we're going to try to get reservations for The Catbird Seat & maybe Margot Cafe). If anyone has any other restaurant or music suggestions I'd appreciate them.
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On the north side of Nashville (Hendersonville actually) is the best local BBQ restaurant, Centerpoint Barbeque. It is excellent and well worth a drive up.
Also, the Hermitage is worth seeing if you've never been there.
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Originally Posted by rubesl
Thanks for the suggestions. I especially liked the links to the foodie news article (we're going to try to get reservations for The Catbird Seat & maybe Margot Cafe). If anyone has any other restaurant or music suggestions I'd appreciate them.
I spend a fair amount of time there and also was there for undergrad, and have grown to really love the scene that is coming out of Nashville. Less country, and more refined.
For steak, Kayne Prime is one of the best restaurants I have eaten at. As is the Catbird Seat. I highly recommend both, as well as grabbing a drink at the Patterson House beforehand (located below the Catbird). I also make a point to hit Prince's Hot Chicken Shack, which is superior to any of the other hot chicken places in town, IMHO. Monell's is good for typical southern meat and three. East Nashville is more on the coming side of up and coming, and the restaurants reflect that. Rosepepper Cantina is good Mexican, as well as Mas Tacos (who also operate a food truck). While you're there, check out Imogene and Willie's for some new duds.
City House is always a favorite, and has a pretty inventive menu. Burger Up! sources local ingredients and has killer sweet potato fries. And if you're in the 12South area, Mafiaoza's on Monday has 2-for-1 pizza slices and beer by the Mason jar.
Head to the Bluebird Cafe for open mic night, and you'll never know who will show up. The Stage is a great place for people watching and the traditional Nashville crowd. Demonbraun is the less touristy, more college bar scene, as well as Hillsboro Village. Sam's Sports Bar or Sportsmans on 21st are great places to see a game if you're there on a Sunday. Also, if Vandy is in town, cheap tickets can be had for SEC football on a wet campus with decent tailgates.
Sorry for the rant - Nashville is where I have a second home, and I will likely pull the trigger on full-time residency sometime soon. Have a great trip!
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Speaking of Food Trucks, Nashville has some really good ones now (my favorites are the Cupcake Bus and DegThai). This website will show you their locations:
Thanks to all the locals for all the food, music & "attraction" recommendations - keep 'em coming! I'm keeping my fingers crossed to get a reservation at The Catbird Seat because you can only make them online & not more than 30 days ahead.
In my neighborhood of East Nashville, I recommend Marche, which is behind and cattycorner from Margot. Same chef - we see her there most nights, but a less formal, bistro atmosphere. Best country French cuisine I've had in the U.S. within easy walking distance. How did that happen. Park on Clearview Avenue (it's one-way). The Woodland Street Studios lot is now a pay lot.
If you have time for an easy day trip, I always recommend the City of Franklin, by which I mean the old town square and its collection of old and new shops and restaurants, as well as the Carter House, and Carnton Plantation which was the inspiration for the Widow of The South. Both of these are very nearby.
Both downtown Franklin and downtown Nashville have walking and ghost tours.
You're coming at the peak of our fall color season. See you next week.
Last edited by JeanFromBNA; Oct 18, 12 at 9:27 pm..
We get in about 1 on Monday afternoon & may go right to the Country Music HOF, check in (Sheraton/points) & then go to the Blue Bird at 6. Tues. we are going to the tourist sights & have tickets of the Opry Tues. night. Wed. morning we have a private tour of Gibson (I know the CEO) & we have reservations for The Catbird Seat for dinner. Thurs. our plane leaves at noon.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rubesl
We get in about 1 on Monday afternoon & may go right to the Country Music HOF, check in (Sheraton/points) & then go to the Blue Bird at 6. Tues. we are going to the tourist sights & have tickets of the Opry Tues. night. Wed. morning we have a private tour of Gibson (I know the CEO) & we have reservations for The Catbird Seat for dinner. Thurs. our plane leaves at noon.
What tourist sites were you thinking of doing on Tuesday?
The bluebird and catbird are going to bring you near Vanderbilt and Centennial park.
Make sure when you drive to those places try to avoid the interstates to get around at evening rush hour...its a parking lot. When you drive to the bluebird from downtown...broadway to 21st Ave/Hillsboro Pike you are going to have heavy traffic because that when Vanderbilt employees start to leave.
Look to drive 11th/12th then cut over.
If there is parking issues at the catbird if you go a few blocks in you have residential streets that you could find a spot to park. If you drive up prior to the catbird you could go and check out vanderbilt campus and/or centennial park. I am not up to date on how the fall colors are now. it should be around peak now.
If you drive through some of the residential areas you will notice many dont do driveways in front. either they park on the street or the homes have backyard driveways that they get to through alley streets.
Thanks to everyone who replied. The trip was fantastic & everyone in Nashville was very friendly. Trip report:
Monday: DTW - BNA was delayed 2 hrs (DL mechanical) & we were switched from a CRJ900 to a 700 (yuck!). Walked from the Sheraton to Bridgestone Arena to buy our "All Access" passes (discounted passes for 4 of 15 venues) & walked along Broadway & had a drink at the Honkey Talk Saloon & listened to a band. Drove to the Blue Bird & got in line at 5 p.m. for open mike night & were the second to last to get in (& there was still a long line behind us) - really neat place.
Tues.: Walked to Country Music HOF & also did the RCA Studio B tour - great. Walked to Broadway & had lunch at Merchants (same people own the Catbird Seat) - very good. Drove out to Opry & did backstage tour & then had tickets for the Opry - very cool & walked over to see the Opry hotel at 10 p.m. & drove back to Sheraton (on Union).
Wed.: Had a private tour of Gibson Guitars manufacturing (I know the CEO) & then drove to Vandy's campus & walked around & walked to the Parthenon (a little strange in the middle of Nashville) & had lunch at Jackson's in Hillsboro Village (very good) & shopped a little. Had drinks at Patterson House - what a bunch of pretentious snots for staff - also, no olives & only Prairie vodka - avoid! Dinner at The Catbird Seat - very interesting experience, but I wouldn't do it again (dinner for 4 was $650 including a $120 bottle of wine & tip) - I think it's overrated.
Thurs. Walked across from the hotel to the government plaza & walked down to the towers with a viewing bridge - very nice. Drove back to Hillsboro Village & had breakfast at the Pancake Pantry (an experience) & then drove to BNA (where we were switched from a CRJ900 to a 200 - double yuck!).
