Nashville Travel Guide Summer 2021

If you’ve been keeping up with my YouTube videos and life updates, then you’d know I’m really trying to break my way into the travel industry. I’m set to study abroad in Florence, Italy the fall of 2022, and am eager to get some more travel experience and adventure time beforehand. Plus, I’m doing the whole content creation thing full time this summer, so why not take advantage and create in new places?!

I know I just visited Nashville in May but I had so much fun that I just had to get back. My sweet mama has been dying to visit Tennessee for years now so as a belated Mother’s Day gift, I booked her a plane ticket and we headed to Music City for a fun little girls trip. Between an incredible sponsored stay at the new Gallatin Hotel and The Holiday House Airbnb, thousands of photos, and seeing the sights I couldn’t have asked for a better trip.

We packed so much into our four-day stay and made memories that will last a lifetime. Today, I’m breaking down everything we ate, saw, and shopped. For reference, we visited in early June and everything there was fully open with few workers wearing masks.

WHERE TO STAY 

I was lucky enough to partner with The Gallatin Hotel yet again for the first night of my stay! Located in East Nashville, The Gallatin has an electric vibe with photo ops at every corner. The creative energy I felt here was unmatched. Plus, The Gallatin participates in Rooms for Rooms, remaining one of the few hotels that donates a generous portion of each night’s stay to supporting the homeless of Nashville.

Interaction with others was very limited at this property. There is no front desk here, just an incredibly photogenic lobby equipped with a coffee bar, free luggage storage, and a photo booth. Everything here operates by personalized key code to keep you safe + socially distant during these Covid times.

This time around I stayed in the Standard King. This room was far more spacious than the King Economy I was in last time. With the comfiest bed ever, a large window to let in natural light, and tons of floor space The Gallatin provided a comfortable stay. Oh, and let’s not forget the bathroom. Their showers are huge with incredible tyling and a Dyson hairdryer. It’s such a treat staying here. Make a reservation for your next trip to Nashville here!

HOW TO GET AROUND

I’ve been to Nashville twice now, and both times it made no sense to consider getting a rental car. If you’re only in town for a few days, I highly recommend skipping out on one—especially if you’re party is three or fewer. There are plenty of ways to get around the city and since the heart of Nashville is just a fifteen-minute drive from the airport, you’ll end up spending less by just Ubering throughout your trip. 

There are a few ways to get around: 

★ Uber: I’m sure everyone and their mother (literally) knows what Uber is by now. They are definitely the most popular form of transportation here. Prices with Uber range depending on the time of day so keep checking back. Even a five-minute time difference can jack the prices up/down $10. 

★ Lyft: Lyft is another route worth pursuing. This app tends to be a little cheaper than Uber, however, there are fewer cars available since most drivers are affiliated with Uber in this area. 

★ Earth Ride Share: Earth Ride Share is brand new to this business and is currently only available in Nashville. This women-owned business is reducing its carbon footprint with electric car pick-ups. We rode in the nicest Tesla for the same price as your typical Uber. These tend to take a bit longer to arrive at your destination, so start looking for a vehicle about 30 minutes before your intended departure. 

PLACES WE ATE

I hate to say it, but I was a little underwhelmed by the food in Nashville throughout both of my trips. Perhaps it’s because most people come here to drink so they don’t really care what they’re eating, but nothing really wowed me food-wise. Nonetheless, I thought I’d share all the places we ate throughout our stay. Regardless of if this inspires you to check out a place or steer clear of somewhere, I hope it gives you something, lol. 

★ Tower Deli: Tower Deli had the best bagel sandwich of my last Nashville trip so naturally I had to go back. I needed a prop for a photo shoot, and a bagel sandwich from this place was the perfect option, lol. I got a bacon, egg, and cheese on an everything bagel with cream cheese on the side. It was good but it’s definitely better on a blueberry bagel. Extra points to them for crispy bacon! 

★ Kid Rock Bar: We stopped by Kid Rock to listen to some live music and ended up eating some loaded nachos while we sat. We toyed between them and the chicken tenders and ultimately wished we’d gotten the tenders. The people next to us got them and they looked incredible. These weren’t bad, but I’m more of a shredded girl rather than nacho cheese. 

★ The Pharmacy: We were out of options for dinner since most places card after 7 pm (I’m only 20!) so we went to The Pharmacy again (I also came here the last trip). Luckily this family-friendly place has the cutest atmosphere and the most amazing food. I gave my cheeseburger and tater tots a ten! Nothing beats this place and the portions are huge for such a low price. Would come here again and again because it’s just that good. 

★ Five Daughters Bakery: Our sweet Airbnb host surprised with donuts from Five Daughters Bakery and they were delicious. I’m not sure what the flavors were called since we obviously didn’t pick them up but whichever one has orange and pink frosting was by far my favorite. The perfect mix of sweet with a hint of tart. Not to mention these are a mix of croissant and a donut so they have the most amazing texture to them. 

★ Burger Up: Stopped by Burger Up along 12 South for a few mid-day appetizers. We got the chips and peach salsa, fry-flight, and mac and cheese bights. All were very yummy. The chips were much different than we expected but so tasty. I loved the truffle fries from here too.

★ The Pub: The dining options were slim along The Gulch since most restaurants don’t open until a bit later, however, the Pub was welcoming people in with open arms. This place has a really unique atmosphere—I can see why men like to day drink at the bar, lol. I got the Coswald sandwich per the waiter’s recommendation and it was unlike anything I’ve ever had. With a mix of bacon, Swiss cheese, pesto mayo, and a vinegar-based chicken it was a unique flavor combo. Fries were average. 

★ Bar Taco: So many people recommended this place to me and I was craving tacos by day four so here we went! I got a chicken, rice, and pepper bowl and It was quite yummy. We also got chips and guac to go with and both were delicious—the guac is definitely worth the extra money. The portions here are super small, so I highly recommend getting 3-5 tacos per person if you go this route. My mom said their brisket taco was the best thing she had throughout her trip.

★ The Listening Room: I hate to say it but the food here is just truly not good. I ate the chicken tenders and fries the last time and they were eh. This time around we opted for chicken wings, a turkey sandwich, and some mac and cheese. The sandwich was awful, mac and cheese had zero flavors whatsoever, and the wings were soggy. I really like the atmosphere of this place, but do yourself a favor and just spend your $15 minimum on alcohol. 

★ Margaritaville: We shared some fried shrimp poppers and a hot pretzel from Margativaville and they were less than impressive. Our pretzel was burnt and the shrimp were average. The fruity drinks looked delicious though!

★ Christi Cookie: I’m always craving sweets so I picked up a half dozen cookies from Christi’s. The sugar and white chocolate macadamia are definitely my favorites but the peanut butter deserves an honorable mention.

★ Wings and Things: We were desperate for take-out after a late-night back from The Opry, so this place it was. I’ll be the first to admit that delivery food is only ever so good. The chicken tenders were below average but the mozzarella sticks were some of the best I’ve ever had. Were they though… or was I just starving after eight hours of an empty stomach, LOL.

*This isn’t to say that the food in Nashville is terrible, because it’s not but I wish I’d done a little more research to find more hidden gems like The Pharmacy. 

THINGS WE DID 

If I’m being honest, there’s only so much to do in Nashville besides eating and drinking. Well, that is if you’re not interested in seeing the historic sights. Luckily, I was more than happy to revisit the same sights as the last trip, as my mom wanted to get the true tourist scoop. We added a few new things to our itinerary that were definitely worth the visit. 

★ Pedestrian Bridge: Anyone who comes to Nashville is bound to stop along The Pedestrian Bridge. It is a must-see and less than a mile from one end to the next. If you’re in need of a good time-killer before your next meal or Uber ride, come walk along The Pedestrian Bridge. It’s perfect for photos and looks out along the Cumberland River. I wish we had more time here; I definitely would love to paddleboard out there someday. 

★ Broadway: So here’s the verdict. I’ve gotten a lot of messages about how Broadway works when you’re underage, which as you know, I am. There are a lot of places along Broadway that will deny you access all hours of all days without a 21 ID. However, there are also several places that do not card at all before a certain hour. If you arrive somewhere before 4ish, you should be good. However, once you creep into those later hours, you will be denied everywhere even if you are with your 50-year-old mother, and just want to enjoy a meal. And no, I did not attempt to get in anywhere as 21 years old.

Because I’m not 21, we didn’t spend our entire days here but we did still see some awesome live music. The Lucky Bastard Saloon was by far our favorite place. Their rooftop is so quaint. With few people knowing about this place, it’s a very intimate experience with the performer. We saw Vince Alten and he was incredible, playing over 15 songs we requested. He knew every genre, every song, and put on quite the show for us. We sang and danced up here for four hours, making some of the best memories.

We loved him so much that we followed him to Johnny Cash Saloon the next day. This is another family-friendly place. Although there is no rooftop here, it’s quite large with lots of space to sit down and enjoy a meal. Of course, Jason Aldean’s rooftop is a must-see as it looks out over all of Broadway. This place has a good mix of bar + dining depending on what you’re looking for. 

★ Opry Mills: I was dying to go to The Grand Ole Opry on the last trip to Nashville but we just couldn’t find the time. Luckily, this time around we did! We went to a 7 pm showing and got two hours of awesome live music from various artists including Lauren Alena and Carrie Underwood. I’ve only ever been to one other concert but this was so cool. I loved the mix of people and the performers did an amazing job. Each performer sings 3 songs and the whole show lasts about 2.5 hours. I highly recommend scheduling an Uber for the departure time, as prices were nearly $80 back to our Airbnb since the demand is so high. Of course, this area also has the largest mall I’ve ever seen if you were wanting to dome shopping, a few food trucks, and a cute little area to walk around in. Definitely, worth coming here, even if you aren’t seeing anyone perform.

★ The Listening Room: The Listening Room is a unique experience where you get to see a bunch of rising artists performs their originals in a *listening* setting. It’s definitely not something I needed to do again, but I’m glad my mom got to go and experience it. Personally, I prefer a more casual, chatty setting like live music at the bar.

★ Amelia’s Flower Truck: If you’re wanting a fresh bouquet of flowers or some cute Instagram photos stop by the flower truck. It moves locations daily but most times it can be found around the 12 South strip.

★ Tour The College Campuses: There are so many colleges in this area, including Belmont, Vanderbilt, and Lipscomb. We had a sweet Uber driver take us by them and we got to see part of each campus. I would have loved an in-depth look at one of them. Makes me wish for just a second that I’d considered a school in the south, lol. 

★ Hillsboro Village: Right around Vanderbilt’s campus is the cutest area called Hillsboro Village. There are a handful of boutiques, restaurants, murals, and places to sit around here. It fives off similar (yet smaller) vibes as 12 South and I was a big fan. This seems like a great place to meet fellow twenty-somethings and is a much mellower part of Nashville. 

STORES TO CHECK OUT 

Last time I simply touched on areas to find cool vintage stores and cute boutiques (12 South, The Gulch, etc) however, this time around I want to highlight some favs! 

★ Black Shag Vintage: This vintage store is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. It’s got everything you could imagine for expensive prices—mostly because it’s all authentic! Incredible photo ops in here and so many hidden gems, including an entire wall of Levis.

★ Finnely’s: There are two locations of this store in Nash and both are worth checking out. They have tons of cute boutique clothes and the best Nashville merch of anywhere we went. If you want a souvenir that isn’t tacky, check this place out.

★ Kittenish: Located in The Gulch, the most Instagrammable store on planet earth is Kittenish. There are tons of photo walls within and lots of small chatchkey type items. The clothes aren’t super cute, but it’s still worth the visit.

★ Uncommon James: I’ve been dying to check out Uncommon James jewelry for ages now and stumbled across a store in Nash. I didn’t buy anything but I loved getting to check out some rings + bracelets in person.

★ Imogene + Willie: This suitable store has the coolest atmosphere ever. With handmade patterns lined along the wall and its very own denim cutting room in the back, this is a must-see. The stuff is expensive because the materials are ethically sourced but it’s worth it if you’re looking for a piece that will last you many years. 

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★ Posh: A higher-end boutique, this store is HUGE. It’s very similar to E Allen, carrying similar brands and tons of shoes. They have the hugest saleroom you’ve ever seen and insane dressing rooms. I could have spent four hours trying on clothes here.

★ E Allen: I absolutely love this store! They have a mix of popular brands including Spanx, Lack of Colors, Show me Your Mumu, and Levis. It’s expensive but everything is incredibly trendy yet timeless at the same time. I can’t wait for the day I can truly afford places like this, lol.

★ Dress Up: Dress Up is a boutique with no item over $50. We scored an adorable Nashville tee and a wedding guest dress here—both for Madison. They have super trendy items and the workers were the sweetest. It’s located in the Hillsboro Village area and was probably my favorite shop in Nash!

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Phew, I know that was a ton of info but I wanted to give you a one-stop-shop for all things Nashville. Even being here twice, I know there were definitely things that I still missed out on. If you’ve been and have any recommendations, please leave them below to add to this ever-growing list. 

Cannot thank you enough for fueling my dreams and being the reason I get to go on these incredible trips. It’s been so fun making this content for you all. I cannot wait to be in Charleston— stay tuned for all that content coming your way next! 

With love, McKenz 

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