Last summer I flew into Nashville with my parents so we could spend half our time sight-seeing and the other half of our time seeing our family in Kentucky. I was surprised to find how much there was to do in Tennessee! Here are 10 of my favorite things on my trip that I would do again and again!
1. Robert’s Western World
Two words: Fried. Pickles.
By the time we left California in the morning and flew all the way to Nashville, it was time for dinner. My parents and I headed to downtown Nashville to walk around and find something to eat. We decided to try Robert’s Western World and it did not disappoint! They have live music, and although it was pretty crowded, that’s what makes it fun! We ordered almost one of every fried thing on the menu to try; fries, onion rings, beer…the usual bar food! But their best item was the fried pickle spears with ranch. Next time I go back to Nashville, I’m coming here again!
2. Biscuit Love
I heard about Biscuit love in one of my favorite magazines as an “up and coming” breakfast joint in Nashville! If you come during peak times the line to get in will be wrapped around the side of the building. There are three Biscuit Love locations in Tennessee: one in the Gulch, Hillsboro Village, and the town of Franklin. I went to the one in Hillsboro Village, which is the second location they built after having success with the first.
I had their famous Bonuts – a biscuit and donut hybrid – and they were great! And, for all of those Instragram-ers out there, their cute wall out front of the Hillsboro Village location is definitely Instagram-worthy!
3. Country Music Hall of Fame
If your love of country music runs deep, you have to visit the Country Music Hall of Fame! Expect to spend a couple of hours here as you search for some of your favorite country music singers’ exhibits and learn about the history of country music. I loved the Country Music Hall of Fame because my parents and I were able to visit our favorite country singers’ exhibits from different eras of country music. I also love that you are able to walk through at your own pace and spend more time in the areas that interest you most.
4. Draper James + Nashville Sign
Reese Witherspoon has been one of my favorite celebrities ever since I watched Legally Blonde with my sister 15 years ago. (Whoa, has it really been that long?!)
Upon arriving Nashville, I knew I had to stop by her store Draper James! It is located in the 12 South area of Nashville.
The women working at Draper James were very friendly, offering you sweet tea upon entering the store. A lot of the clothing that was in the store was too pricey for me to shop at on a regular basis, but I purchased a cute sweater to mark the occasion!
If you are also a Reese Witherspoon fan, Draper James has the cutest wall and bench to take photos on right outside of the store. There is also another very popular piece of wall art right next to the Draper James store, which I think is the best place for a photo-op in Nashville!
5. Five Daughters Bakery
A quarter of a mile away from Draper James, also located in the 12 South area, is the famous Five Daughters Bakery! Known for their 100-layer cronut, this croissant-donut hybrid is worth the visit (and the calories, I’m sure!). You can’t miss their vibrantly-colored building and neon signs. I had the maple bacon donut and it was yummy!
6. Jack Daniel Distillery
Anyone that knows me, knows I’m a Jack Daniel’s fan! When I found out that the Jack Daniel’s distillery was in Tennessee I knew I had to make a visit. Located in the small town of Lynchburg, Tennessee, the Jack Daniel’s distillery is about an hour and a half drive from Nashville. Don’t worry, the trip is totally worth it! I highly recommend purchasing your tour tickets ahead of time because you may have to wait a couple of hours for the next available tour opening if you don’t. Trust me, I know from experience. Lynchburg is so small, there isn’t too much to see or do other than the distillery, so keep that in mind.
We took the Angel’s Share tour which included a guided walking tour of the distillery and whiskey samples. This tour cost $25 per person and lasted 1.5 hours. There are a handful of other tours to choose from for different price ranges depending on what you are interested in seeing. Military members receive 50% off of all tours and seniors receive 20% off!
7. DOWNTOWN FRANKLIN – SHOP & EAT!
Downtown Franklin is a short 30 minute drive from Nashville and is a definite must. I had one place on my list to visit in Franklin and ended up stumbling on the cutest little town with a lot of great things to do. The downtown area is a 16-block district including restaurants, boutique stores, art galleries and antique shops. Finnleys is one of the fashion boutiques you will pass when walking around Downtown Franklin and they have a great selection of women’s clothing.
As for food, I absolutely recommend Puckett’s; we have only tried the Franklin location but they also have locations in Columbia, Chattanooga, Murfreesboro and Nashville. When my parents and I were looking on Yelp for somewhere with good reviews, we were a little thrown off by Puckett’s full name, “Puckett’s Grocery and Restaurant”. But don’t let it fool you! This restaurant has amazing food and a great atmosphere. We even went so far as to buy some of their bottles of barbecue sauce to take home with us! Though we only came for lunch, they are also open for breakfast and dinner, with live music on some nights. You have to try Puckett’s if you’re visiting Tennessee!
8. Grand Ole Opry
Whether you’re young or old, the Grand Ole Opry has something for everyone! The Grand Ole Opry is known to showcase a mix of traditional and contemporary country music, providing an amazing live show several nights every week. I recommend checking the Grand Ole Opry website’s calendar often to see what singers are in their lineup for the days you are planning your trip. Some shows will get booked quickly due to the popularity of some or all of the singers that night, and some show “more to be added” to the lineup for shows less than a month away. We saw Chris Young and Vince Gill perform the night we went as well as a few other great country singers!
The Grand Ole Opry is located right next to Opry Mills, a large indoor mall with plenty of shopping and dining options. In front of the Grand Ole Opry there are two large guitars that are perfect for photo-ops!
Tennessee is becoming a very popular tourist attraction, especially in the more densely-populated areas like Nashville. I hope this helped you consider some places that you may have not heard of or thought about up until now!
What are some things on your must-do list for Tennessee? Comment yours below!