Beer, boots & blackberry moonshine: Do Nashville like a local

Broadway in the morning

Nashville, Tennessee is a buzzing city with endless things to explore and a rich culture to dive headfirst into. Make no mistake, you can’t do all of Nashville in one day - it’s a colossal American city and there’s way too much to see and to do in one go! That said, one day is enough to get a flavour. Take in the music, the food, the buzz and get lost in this exciting modern city. Here are our highlights from the time we spent there.

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Where is Nashville located?

You’ll find the city of Nashville right in the centre of the long, parallelogram-shaped state of Tennessee, about 3 hours from Memphis in the west and about 3 hours from Knoxville in the East. It’s the state capital and acts as a buzzing hub for country music fans, bachelor and bachelorette parties alike. It has an airport if you’re looking to fly in. Otherwise, all roads in the state lead right there. We drove from Charlotte, North Carolina, through the Smoky Mountains and it was smooth sailing all the way - but that’s another story!

Making our way through the Smoky Mountains

Where to park in Nashville, Tennessee

Parking, like in any American city, is plentiful, but competition is high. Finding a spot on Broadway will be tricky any time of day, so we thought it’s not worth the trouble of driving in, getting stuck in traffic, and retreating with our tails between our legs. What we did instead was head to Nissan Stadium, home of the Tennessee Titans. Many people don’t know this but, if it’s not game day, parking there is free! What’s more, once you’ve found a spot (to our pleasant surprise, we found one immediately), you can walk across the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge and you’re right in the middle of Music City.

Posing and moseying (ignore my dry-ass lips)

Why is Nashville called Music City?

For the music, of course! Country music took wing right here in Nashville, with all-time Country and Rock ‘n’ Roll icons like Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash making their names on Broadway before moving on to global superstardom. You’ll see the footprints of country all throughout the city and, more than that, you’ll hear it too!

Nashville Broadway: Music Central

When we’d crossed the bridge and started making our way into the city itself, we thought there must have been a funfair in town, with rollercoasters. Not so! What we were hearing was all manner of different artists plying their trade in the bars on Broadway, with party buses tearing past at full tilt - the whole street is one massive party!

Single city

What else is Nashville famous for?

If country music isn’t your cup of tea, there’s so much more to get involved with. The food and drink scene, in particular, is something to really get your teeth into, with Nashville being the home of the world-famous Nashville hot chicken sandwich! Now, when you get to Nashville, you have a decision to make…

Prince’s or Hattie B’s?

The two titans of the Nashville hot chicken sandwich scene go head to head in the Assembly Food Hall THIS SUNDAY ON FOX SPORTS. Sorry, got carried away. They do, however, both make a top-notch sandwich and you’ll find them both in close proximity. The debate on which is the best has raged on for years, but what’s the difference? Prince’s is the original - the first! Their sandwiches are crisp and hot, with a touch of cinnamon in the batter, giving them a little sweetness. Hattie B’s, on the other hand, is more commercial and more like the typical sandwich that you’d get from some of the larger chicken fast food chains in the US. Both taste great, however, and are worth a visit when you’re in town!

Prince’s hot chicken sandwich, accompanied by pickle

They’re both extremely popular, so be prepared to queue! We promise it’s worth it. Side note: When you order your sandwich, be sure to double-check that you’ve got the right order! We ordered the classic chicken sandwich with medium heat and, when we took a bite, we were met with super hot fire. It was delicious but painful. She was almost killed.

Is Nashville a good place for tourists?

Short answer: yes! So good. The second we arrived, we were instantly immersed in the music, the culture, the food and the fun. You could spend the day on Broadway alone, taking in the sights and getting lost in the atmosphere. However, if you’re looking for more, you’re in luck…

Are there other things to do in Nashville?

Yes.

Visit Ol’ Smoky Moonshine Distillery

A short walk from Broadway, you’ll find the Ol’ Smoky Moonshine distillery. A large, dark building, we thought it might even be closed when we approached from the outside. Don’t be fooled! Get inside to find a huge bar, packed with people. There are tastings of all different kinds of moonshine styles they make (there must have been close to 40 in total), there’s lots of merch, the music is pumping and the atmosphere is great fun. Check it out!

The moonshine wall at Ol’ Smoky Moonshine Distillery

Boot Up

Nashville may be the highest-concentrated area of cowboy-booted individuals on the planet. We wore comfy trainers, perfect for a day spent walking around the busy city, and we felt completely out of place. Luckily, every other shop on Broadway is a boot barn! Row upon row of cowboy boots are stacked up to the ceilings, all made of leather, all with different patterns. If you’re feeling the need to boot up, there’s plenty of choice!

If you didn’t take polaroids, did it even happen?

Hit 12 South

If you fancy some shopping, head to 12th Avenue South. It’s full of boutiques and independent sellers, each with something different to offer. There are also restaurants and coffee shops, for if you’re looking to take a seat and regroup before heading back into the city proper.

Arcade time

Visit Game Terminal

If you tire of the middle of town, a little way from the centre, you can enter the Game Terminal - a huge retro arcade with over 130 classic arcade games and pinball machines. To say that this was a nostalgia trip would be an understatement! The pinball machines are a dollar a turn, and most of the arcade games are free to play! They also do great burgers and cocktails, and the general atmosphere is great fun.

Long story short, if you’re looking for music, booze, food and fun, you can’t go wrong in Nashville. Get a hot chicken sandwich, enjoy some moonshine, get your cowboy boots on and hit the town!

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