Nashville, Tennessee
The Nashville city slogan (Music Calls Us Home) offers an intentional double entendre, and both meanings are delightfully true; while this verdant riverfront city is a mecca for music of all genres, it calls loudest to the singers, strummers and pickers that make the U.S. the center of the world’s country music market. Nashville is a genuinely friendly place, too—the kind of town where a pleasant conversation with a stranger is nothing out of the ordinary. In fact, visiting this easygoing city is very much like attending a family reunion…where just about everyone can play a mean bass.
The Lowdown
Salad Days: I’ve always enjoyed Martha’s at the Plantation, a little lunch restaurant at Belle Meade Plantation. The fried gulf oyster appetizer (which Martha will put over a salad if you ask nicely) haunts me in my sleep.
Southern Comfort: Hands-down, Margot Café and Bar is my favorite restaurant in Nashville—heck, maybe anywhere. I love, love, love this place. The food is simple and wonderful. Every time.
Pop Stars: The Station Inn is the real deal—everyone has played here. Get a bowl of popcorn at the bar, grab a cold one, sit back and listen to the best singers and pickers in Nashville.
Thread Count
Throughout its 100-year history, downtown’s five-star Hermitage Hotel (888-888-9414) has played host to many celebrities and served as John F. Kennedy’s campaign headquarters in 1960. Another historic jewel, the Union Station Hotel (615-726-1001) offers posh lodgings in a beautifully restored 19th-century railroad station complete with a barrel-vaulted stained glass ceiling. For a more personal experience, try the cozy 1501 Linden Manor Bed & Breakfast (800-226-0317), where refreshments are served on the wrap-around porch every afternoon.
Food Fix
For an unforgettable lunch, head over to Monell’s (615-248-4747), a family-style restaurant where patrons share massive portions of comfort classics like skillet-fried chicken and jam-slathered biscuits. Hamburger connoisseurs should try Rotier’s (615-327-9892), a worth-the-experience dive that serves incredible cheeseburgers. Las Paletas (615-386-2101), a gourmet popsicle store, offers chilly treats in a variety of funky flavors, including pineapple chili and rose—a tasty concoction with bits of real rose petal. Both Rotier’s and Las Paletas are cash-only establishments.
Night Out
Break in your boots at Robert’s Western World (615-244-9552), a traditional honky-tonk in Nashville’s bustling downtown. For a less touristy experience, check out Norm’s River Road House (615-356-6314), a much-loved dive that offers live music, horseshoes and slow-cooked BBQ on the banks of the Cumberland. Both South Street Original Crab Shack and Authentic Dive Bar (615-320-5555), with its open-air tree house, and Bound'ry (615-321-3043), its upscale next-door neighbor, draw big crowds in the evening.
Don't Miss
The stars are always out at the Grand Ole Opry (800-733-6779) and The Country Music Hall of Fame (615-416-2001), two must-sees for first-time visitors. The historic Ryman Auditorium (615-458-8700), the original home of the Opry, hosts festive bluegrass nights every Thursday through July. For some outdoor time, try Percy Warner Park, which boasts miles of hiking trails, bike paths and picnic areas, or Hillsboro Village, a charming retail district with many shops and restaurants worth exploring.
Stone's Throw
The Hermitage (615-889-2941), President Andrew Jackson’s family home, is just 12 miles east of Nashville. Two- and four-hour tours of this historic 1,100-acre plantation are offered daily and include the main house, the Hermitage gardens and President Jackson’s tomb. Three hours down the road, in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, you’ll find Dollywood (800-365-5996): old-school country diva Dolly Parton’s tribute to good, old-fashioned fun. Visitors of all ages flock here for thrill rides, water slides, live entertainment and more.
On The Scene
Cruise the rolling Cumberland River in the charming General Jackson Showboat (615-458-3900)—one of the coolest ways to enjoy the summer skyline. For a decidedly different (and thoroughly entertaining) angle on Nashville, don’t miss NashTrash Tours (800-342-2132): a humorous look at the “lowlights” of Nashville. With the big-hairbig-fun Jugg Sisters as your guides, you’re invited to bring your own spirits (champagne-in-a-can is a favorite), but not snacks; the Juggs are particularly proud of their Cheez Whiz hors d’oeuvres.
Events - Jul & Aug 2009
Head down to the riverfront, where all-day festivities include family activities, great food, live music and a spectacular, symphony-backed fireworks display over the Cumberland.
This open-air bluegrass jam session is held once a month throughout the summer, under the light of the full moon. It’s a truly unforgettable Nashville music experience.
Brewers from around the country flock to Music City for this annual suds-fest, where visitors can sample local cuisine, sip top-tier beer and enjoy live music by local bands.
