You’ll find so much to do in Music City with this four-day itinerary that hits all the right notes!
Nashville is not the kind of place where lazy afternoons spent with the latest bestselling mystery novel slip into leisurely sunset strolls and quiet dinners before a good night’s rest. No, Nashville is wall-to-wall revelry, where you can spend upward of 17 hours straight watching dozens of live music acts at the tens of famous honky-tonks that line Lower Broadway, a major thoroughfare in the city’s downtown.
This is not an exaggeration. The last time I was there, we sauntered into Robert’s Western World around 10:30 a.m. because a local act was doing a solid rendition of Waylon Jennings’ “Theme from The Dukes of Hazzard (Good Ol’ Boys).” Next thing I knew, we were buying a last-call round of beers at Tootsies Orchid Lounge for a band that was covering “Something in the Orange” by Zach Bryan — and it was approaching 3 o’clock in the morning.
My point is twofold. First of all, Nashville is a lot of fun, and you don’t have to look hard to find a really good time. But … there are a lot of very worthwhile things to see and do here (that don’t involve all the hootin’ and hollerin’), so it’s best to put together at least a tentative itinerary to ensure you visit the top attractions and mix up your activities a bit. Otherwise, the next thing you know, you’ll be closing down your new favorite honky-tonk without having seen the Ryman or sampling the city’s best hot chicken sandwiches.
Here’s a loose four-day schedule to get you started.
Day 1: Country Music Heritage
Morning
You’ve got a lot of sightseeing to do today, so fuel up with breakfast at Biscuit Love in the hip Gulch neighborhood. Order The B-Roll — a biscuit-cinnamon-sticky-bun hybrid that is exactly as decadent as it sounds — to share and an East Nasty — the signature biscuit and gravy breakfast complemented with a fried chicken thigh and cheddar cheese — for yourself.
Less than a mile away (and walkable to burn off the hometown meal you ate), the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum should be your next stop. Permanent displays, such as Sing Me Back Home: Folk Roots to the Present, tell country music’s full story with photographs, stage outfits, audio recordings, interactive media, and more. Rotating exhibits focus on specific artists, time periods, locations, and other segments of the genre. You can even see Historic RCA Studio B (upgraded admission ticket required), where Dolly Parton recorded her tear-jerking rendition of “I Will Always Love You.”
Afternoon and Evening
The Ryman Auditorium and Grand Ole Opry are two more requisite Nashville attractions. Both offer interactive tours during which you might find yourself onstage or backstage. For groups of four to six aspiring entertainers, the Ryman VIP Tour includes a stop in the Air Castle Studio to record a song.
Just entering the Ryman and Opry can be a spiritual experience for many fans. Ideally, though, you’ll catch an actual show one night while you’re in town. Both venues maintain a busy schedule of live entertainment, so check the calendar before you go, score some tickets, and plan your itinerary accordingly.
Other cultural sites to consider today include the Johnny Cash Museum and National Museum of African American Music.
Scroll to the top and click Day 2.
Take advantage of special Getaway offers — or find deals on hotels through Interval Travel anytime — to make your own Music City memories.
