Everyone lately is going to Nashville. This lively southern city is becoming quite the place to have your bachelorette party or girls weekend. But what about a solo trip for someone who doesn’t even care for country music that much? Well I did just that, and I had a blast! Nashville has something for everyone to enjoy, even if you are not a country music fan.
Because it is becoming such a popular destination, I found the downtown hotel rates to be a little pricey and ended up staying a little on the outskirts in the Comfort Inn West on White Bridge Place. Staying outside of downtown isn’t bad, especially if you have a car, but if you are like me and rely primarily on public transit, make sure you have a backup plan (Uber or Lyft) because I found that a lot of the bus lines ran infrequently and stopped running altogether fairly early in the evening. The awesome thing about getting around downtown Nashville, though, is that they have two public bus lines that are FREE and do frequent loops of the downtown – great for hopping on and off for sightseeing.
By far one of my favorite attractions that I visited in Nashville was the Johnny Cash Museum. Johnny Cash is probably the one country artist I will say I’m a really big fan of, especially now that I’m older because his music reminds me of my late grandmother and running errands with her when I was a kid – she always seemed to have Johnny on in the car. Some of the most interesting memorabilia at the museum to me were pictures and items from his youth and the handwritten pages of lyrics to songs that would go on to be record hits. But the coolest part of my visit wasn’t an item on display, but rather a person. Johnny’s brother Tommy showed up to the museum and walked around chatting with visitors! Rumor has it he frequently drops in like that on Wednesdays, so I guess I picked the right day to go!
I also visited the Country Music Hall of Fame Museum. Even for a non-country music fan, there were enough items in there from people that I was interested in, like Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, and Elvis Presley that it was worth it. Even more, as a history and music fan in general it is worth going because you really get a sense of the evolution of country music from the very beginning.
To get my fill of Tennessee history, I visited the Tennessee State Capitol and the Tennessee State Museum, located on either end of the Bicentennial Mall. The capitol building sits on a hilltop and is one of only 12 state capitols that do not have a dome. What was awesome to me was to learn that it was designed by William Strickland, a renowned architect responsible for a number of prominent buildings in my city Philadelphia! The House and Senate were both in session the day I toured the Capitol and I actually got to peek in on their sessions. At the other end of the Mall, the brand new (as of 2018) Tennessee State Museum walks you through all eras of Tennessee history, including the prehistoric environment and earliest peoples, westward expansion of the United States, the Civil War, through to modern Tennessee culture. Both the Capitol and the State Museum are completely free of charge!
One excursion I’m glad I made was going out to see The Hermitage, the estate of President Andrew Jackson. It sits a little less than a half hour’s drive away from downtown. I was able to get there fairly easy using a combination of bus and Lyft. Whether your thoughts of “Old Hickory” are favorable or not, there is much interesting history to learn at the Hermitage about this president that adds context to his ideologies – not to mention the mansion and lands themselves are beautiful to explore.
If you’re really interested in history, Fort Negley Park is worth a visit. Just south of the trendy Gulch neighborhood, this park includes the ruins of a Civil War-era fortress built to defend Nashville from Confederate troops after the city was captured by Union forces. Today you can see its rock walls and read along the way about the construction and use of the fortress. And if history is not really your thing, the fort sits on a hill that offers some Insta-worthy views of the city.
Because of its focus on higher education, Nashville was historically known as the “Athens of the South.” As such, you’ll see a great deal of Greek-inspired architecture throughout the city. In the city’s midtown area you will find the Parthenon, an exact replica of the one in Greece. Built in 1897 for the Centennial Exposition, the impressive building now houses an art museum.
One thing that you have to do in Nashville is see a Grand Ole Opry show, whether you’re a die-hard country music fan or not. I went because I knew how iconic and historic this live radio show is to Nashville and its music culture. The show lasts about 2 hours and features a variety of performers that only play about 2 songs each, so you will hear all different styles of country music, and if there is an act you don’t care for, you don’t have to sit through a long set. I can’t say there were any acts I disliked while I was there, but there were a few that really stood out to me. For one, I got to see Riders in the Sky, who played a medley of Toy Story songs including their song “Woody’s Roundup” that they did for Toy Story 2! The other act that left an impression on me was Scott Mulvahill, a bassist who has toured with Ricky Skaggs but is now working on a solo career. His song “Himalayas” was chilling to hear live and brought the entire house to a standing ovation. Since that night I’ve bought his album and a ticket to see him again live in Philly this month. Go to the Grand Ole Opry whether you’re a country music fan or not because you just never know when you will find a new favorite artist!
If you’re not seeing a Grand Ole Opry show on a Nashville evening, there’s a pretty good chance you will be out on Broadway. This is the main street that cuts through the center of Nashville and is lined with honky tonk bars and neon signs. It is the heart and soul of Nashville. Even in the middle of the day, on Broadway you are pulled in all different directions by live music flowing out of each bar. By night the street takes on a life of its own. An absolute rite of passage is Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge which has operated across the alley from Ryman Auditorium (the original home of the Grand Ole Opry) since 1960, and has seen such faces as Kris Kristofferson, Faron Young, and Willie Nelson before they were famous.
While you’re on Broadway, stop by Acme Feed and Seed for some good grub. The first floor serves up a unique spin on southern fare, and the upstairs is a lounge that serves sushi. I hung out at the downstairs bar and listened to some music while enjoying their “redneck lo mein” dish, which is lo mein noodles tossed with smoked chicken, collard greens, corn, black-eyed peas, carmelized onions and an andouille soy glaze. Yum!
Hattie B’s should be on your must list. This mouth-watering hot chicken can be found at a few different locations in Nashville, the closest one to downtown being just off Broadway in the Midtown neighborhood, a perfect stop if you are on your way to see the Parthenon.
If you’re in search of good barbecue, Martin’s BBQ right downtown will leave you happy. Don’t be deterred if you see a line out the front door. This restaurant is fast-casual style. You put in your order at a service counter, seat yourself, and then a server brings your food out to you. Despite the line the day I went, I had no trouble getting a table and my food came out to me quickly. My choice of a brisket sandwich and potato salad was delightful.
Nashville has so much to offer for music fans of any genre. If you are open-minded and appreciate musical talent in general, there will be something for you there, and you may even come away with an interest in a new style of music. For me, this trip had a great effect on my view of country music. I used to say I hate country music, but I don’t think I can say that anymore. I’ve realized that country music encompasses so many different styles, and has its roots in so many other musical genres. You probably won’t see me jamming to Jason Aldean or Luke Bryan anytime soon, but I will say I have more respect for the genre as a whole after my visit to Nashville.
For an even greater musical history tour, I recommend combining this trip with a visit to Memphis – read about the Memphis part of my trip here!
C to Shining C 