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A Day in the Life: My Tips and Must-See Spots for a Quick Day Trip to Nashville, Tennessee

cacharbonneau
Adventurer C

Five to seven days—that’s the average amount of time an American family will take time off of work and school to go on a vacation. But what if you only had five to seven hours to go on a vacation? In the midst of busy work and school schedules, a day trip is all you need to pack in local favorites, sites to see, and things to do in your bucket list cities. Hop on a morning flight out and grab an evening flight home to get the most out of your day trip to Nashville, Tennessee.

 

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     Heart     Interested in sharing your travel inspiration? Leave a comment below or visit our Travel Inspiration Discussion Forum to share your knowledge with Southwest Customers. 

 

Brunch on Broadway

  • Tavern: Kick off your morning in Nashville with brunch at Tavern, a favorite for both locals and tourists. Featuring libations, cocktails, and a killer eggs benedict, this modern American eatery offers a rustic atmosphere with Nashville charm.

 

Noon Brew

  • Rock Bottom Brewery: Claimed as the only brewery on Broadway, Rock Bottom is favored for its impressive lineup of craft beer on tap. After a busy morning wandering around Broadway, stop by this famous brewery for a light beer break–my favorite craft is the Sweet Georgia Wheat. Also, be sure to sit on the rooftop bar for an impressive view of Broadway Street, the Nissan Stadium, and the skyline of downtown Nashville.
  • Broadway Brewhouse & Mojo Grill: Featured as one of Food Network’s Top Places to Eat, Broadway Brewhouse is the perfect place to grab a beer and some light appetizers before a busy afternoon of Nashville sightseeing. From wings to jambalaya to po’boys, the Broadway Brewhouse & Mojo Grill has something for everyone.

 

Afternoon Stroll

  • Country Music Hall of Fame: As the ultimate Nashville experience, the Country Music Hall of Fame offers the history, the fashion, and the all-time greats of country music that we all know and love. With special exhibits also on rotation, you’ll have exclusive back-stage access to a genre and lifestyle that is deeply rooted in Nashville.
  • Bridgestone Arena (Nashville Predators): Home of the Nashville Predators, Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame, and countless concerts since its opening in 1996, the Bridgestone Arena is a must-see for sports and entertainment enthusiasts. Check out their events calendar to try and catch a game or show during your day in Nashville!
  • Nissan Stadium (Tennessee Titans): After checking out Bridgestone Arena, walk over to the Nissan Stadium, which houses the National Football League’s Tennessee Titans in the fall and the Country Music Festival in June. Throughout the year, Nissan Stadium also hosts concerts, the Tennessee State Tigers, and occasional soccer matches for the United States men’s national team and the women’s national team.

   

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Late Lunch

  • Jack’s Bar-B-Que: From its iconic neon sign to its infamous “Bar-B-Que King” owner, Jack’s is often favored as the barbecue joint on Broadway, and for good reason. This home-cooking style menu features Tennessee Pork Shoulder, Smoked Boston Turkey, St. Louis Style Ribs, and Texas Beef Brisket among other American favorites (honestly, the best brisket I’ve had–and I grew up in south Texas!) Jack’s is the perfect pit-stop for a late lunch during your day in Nashville.

 

Last-Call Bar Hop

  • Locals
    • Tootsie’s and Nudie’s: After a full day of brunch, sight-seeing, barbecue, and playing tourist, your last stop in Nashville should be one of Broadway’s famous local honkey tonks–or two! Tootsie’s and Nudie’s are hometown favorites for their funky Nashville spirit. Both feature live bands, crowded dance floors, and a wide selection of adult beverages at all hours of the day. These are great local spots to start the Broadway bar hop for the 21+ crowd.
  • Big Names
    • Jason Aldean’s Kitchen + Rooftop Bar: Although a relatively new addition to the Broadway bar scene, Jason Aldean’s Kitchen + Rooftop Bar is sure to be your kind of party. Live music and southern food compliment the rustic Nashville atmosphere and who knows–maybe you’ll even run into Jason!
    • Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row: Another big name in country music has also found their home on Broadway with Dierks Bentley’s multi-level bar and entertainment venue. With whiskey concoctions, craft beer, and plenty of food options on the menu, Whiskey Row is a great place to kick your feet up to local country music and end your day in Nashville.

 

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While these certainly aren’t the only attractions and must-sees in Nashville, they’re a great start to your day on Broadway. Without the financial burden of hotels or physical burden of luggage, you’ll be free to enjoy your day trip to Music City in the heart of Nashville, Tennessee.

7 Comments
CareforNOLA
Frequent Flyer A

Thanks for the travel tips.  Here are some other family friendly tips for planning.  The Adventure Science Center has good exhibits for kids of all ages with the sweet spot probably being 1st to 4th grade.  Enough information to keep adults from being bored (which can happen at some museums geared toward children).

 

Pancake Pantry is another good spot for a very late lunch.  Too crowded for breakfast for my preference but at 2pm, one can typically glide right in.

 

Finally, the Goo Goo Shop provides info on Nashville’s richest candy treat. Contains nuts so skip that visit if anyone has allergies.  Clusters are oh so tasty.

 

Nashville is a great spot to spend a day or a weekend or as a base to stay longer and explore surrounding areas.  Tennessee Walking Horse Museum, Tennessee Whiskey Distilleries, Mammoth Cave and Dinosaur World in KY or the Space Center in Huntsville AL are all spots accessible from Nashville.

bgubs14
Frequent Flyer C

Nice! Thanks for the tips. Maybe I’ll do a day trip there soon! 

TheBarefooter
Adventurer C

Grab some awesome burgers at The Pharmacy.

 

Fantastic ice cream at Jeni's.

 

Puckett's for southern food. 

 

Loveless Cafe for breakfast.

 

And for creatives and coffee lovers--nothing beats the Frothy Monkey. 

chetnasamant
Explorer C

Great read! 

 

DPontheGo
Adventurer C

Great tips for a fun city to visit!  I also agree with @CareforNOLA on Pancake Pantry and the Goo Goo shop.  @TheBarefooter is also right about Puckett's especially if you can get their for the breakfast buffet.  Also, check out Donatos Pizza in Midtown for 100 pieces of pepperoni on a large thin crust or a hot chicken pizza with pickles and ranch drizzle and then go across the street to the original Gigi's Cupcakes.  Both Donatos and Gigi's were featured on episodes of Undercover Boss in the last five years.

stevenpra
Explorer C
marcusdow
Explorer C

Wow such a great post, really interesting.

 

floorsadvisor