OT-Nashville. Any must do's?

MJG

Headed to Nashville with my bride Wednesday morning and staying thru Saturday night. Are there any must do's?  Neither of us have ever been. Point of the trip is to get out of town and relax. First time leaving our 2 daughters to fend for themselves. Going to hit Hattie B's for hot chicken and have a few taverns scoped out. Thanks in advance for any recommendations. 

Big_Green_Craig

Go eat at the Thunderbird Wings food truck. They just recently won Best Wings in TN by Esquire Magazine. 

Killit_and_Grillit

Thunderbirds is pretty tasty. The Grilled Cheeserie is the "local fav" but you've got to hunt it down and stand in a pretty impressive line. But its worth it.

I wouldn't spend more than an afternoon/evening doing the downtown Broadway thing. And I would do it on Thursday. Fri-Sun is insane downtown. I reschedule meetings after lunch on Friday because of the influx of people that start filling in.

Check out downtown Franklin. I don't think there is an event this weekend so it shouldn't be too crowded. Good food, shops, relaxed feel. They have a place called Puckett's that has a great breakfast. Brisket and cornbread waffles or pulled pork sweet potato pancakes. Both are worthy of a car nap. Also Gray's is a little pricey but good for a great afternoon/evening cocktail.

I've got to head out on a few sales calls this morning, I'll see if I can't find a few flyers with the "weekend music" lists on them. See if anyone decent is playing.

The_Stache

Wow... that's a loaded question!  The original hot chicken is offered at a place called Prince's.  The original location is a bit "in the wrong part of town" but fortunately they have opened a new second location at the corner of Old Hickory and Nolensville Rd in the south side of Nashville.

Downtown Nashville (Broadway between 2nd and 8th) offers a variety of "joints" that cater to Nashville's music heritage (Country Music Hall of Fame, Cash Museum, Patsy Cline Museum near BW on 2nd, Grand Ole Opry just off of Broadway, etc) and has a variety of interesting places to explore.  Safe area day and night.

The Parthenon is interesting place to visit and there is a quaint BBQ place near there that serves good BBQ and I like their turkey and white BBQ sauce sandwiches.

There are a zillion music venues with all types of music.  Pick up a copy of The Scene when you get to Nashville (it's free) and see what they say is happening... you never know who might be playing or just show up!

You may want to take a jaunt over to the 5 points area of East Nashville.  A little more of a hipster area but still has some good food places to venture to.

I'm sure you'll get about 50 more posts.  Have a great time while you're here!!

DoubleEgger

Check out Lanes Motor Museum. 

DieselkW

I love Nashville, 5 hours South of here... but I still don't get there as often as I want.

Good call on Hattie B's, prepare to stand in line.

You have to see the Country Music Hall of Fame, or don't bother going. 
Often missed, is the Nashville Parthenon. Nice park, interesting history, big a$s statue inside.

Vanderbilt University is worth a drive through - stately old well kept campus.

We took a studio tour that let us sit at Elvis' piano, separate tour than OpryLand, but worth spending a half day driving around the various sound studios and who recorded what where. 

I can say I have stood on the very wooden boards where the dust of music legends has been trapped from their boots into the cracks. From Hank Williams to Dolly Partin to Toby Keith - those wooden slats have been there.

I'll say it now, don't like Country Music. Can't stand it, makes my ears bleed. I'm a Doors, Zeppelin, Allman Bros, Pink Floyd kind of guy. But I respect the guitar work of Chet Atkins through Tommy Emmanuel. 

Oh, I'm sorry, were you looking for places to eat? Won't be a problem.

Here's a sample of pictures from my last visit:

Backstage at the Opry^^^^The Piano, where Elvis recorded. ^^^^ Studio B
The Parthenon

Dave in Florida

LOVED the show at the Grand Ole Opry at the Ryman, the Country Music Hall-a-Fame. And of course, stood in line at Hatti-B's. 

TN_Sister_State

If you are staying downtown and want a cool dive bar with 99 taps and 150 different bottles of beer hit up Beer Sellar. Other than that what everyone above said. But there is always "yoga with goats" if youre feeling frisky.


http://nashvilleguru.com/nashville-events

DoubleEgger

The Hermitage if you're a history buff. 

DoubleEgger

You can venture south of town and hit the Jack Daniels distillery tour ( and Dickel too) 

YukonRon

If you like music in a fun town with a foodie back up, I have to tell you Nashville is about as cool as it gets. 
We will head down a few times a year just to hang out, having no plans. Not once have we had a bad time.
Use Yelp once you arrive to find entertainment and places to eat. If you have a bad time, it is on you.
Have fun, we are heading down again for sure in October to the only "planned trip" to see a concert at the Ryman. 
True story:
We were killing time and happened upon a church parking lot sale with many vendors and booths. 
We walked up to one that was selling old LPs. There were dozens of boxes full of albums.
I found one I thought might be interesting, it was a collaboration of work by Mark Knopfler and Chetan Atkins. As I was reading the back, the older, refined lady that was working the booth mentioned her husband considered it his favorite. During the conversation, I found out, her husband, is Chet Atkins.
I bought it.

volminimax

I avoid Nashville at all costs. Other than Predator or Titans games. Its too touristy for me and $$$ otherwise. But I'm a 31 year old homebody, maybe that is it. Peg Leg porker seems pretty good, haven't tried it myself, but I'm going to next time I venture in.

henapple

Loveless Cafe. A little out of town but definitely worth it. Load up on their rubs and jams.... Especially the peach rub. Food is phenomenal. 
Printers Alley 
Wildhorse 

jones2289

We make the trip to Nashville once every year or so, and love the food.

I notice you mentioned Hattie B's, which is great.

A few places we also like:
Mas Tacos in East Nashville for some great tacos and elote (I've heard that The Pharmacy across the street is one of the best burgers in town)
Martin's BBQ (I really like the brisket and beans)
Desano Pizza Bakery for great Neapolitan style pizza (just west of downtown, near Broadway)

The_Stache

I might add a couple of "secret been here forever spots"... Definitely hole in the wall kinda places...

Browns Diner
Elliston Place Soda Shop...

 

Killit_and_Grillit

The flyers weren't out yet this morning at the stand I stopped at. 

+1 on Loveless. Don't go on Saturday morning or you will be in line for 2 hours. 

If you go over to 5 Points go to 5 Points Pizza. It's the only pizza I like in town anymore. 

DoubleEgger

If you're downtown Demo's is a good spot. Mostly locals 

RajunCajun

My wife and I stayed at the Hermitage while we were there.  Pucketts Grocery is certainly a must if you are in the downtown area.  The Country Music Hall of Fame is another I would do again.  And you certainly cannot miss the famous Studio B.  I ate at The Pharmacy while on a business trip and that is another locals spot that I would do again.  Have fun!

TN_Sister_State

I will say this place is great if you want a nice bite of food. Same people that own the pharmacy. 

http://www.butchertownhall.com/

MJG

Thank you all for the recommendations. Looking forward to it! 

MSUladyegghead

Hattie B's Hot Chicken 

TN_Sister_State

I will say the hot chicken taco at sopaphillas in Franklin is freaking killer. 

GrillSgt

DoubleEgger said:

Check out Lanes Motor Museum. 

If you're into cool cars you will enjoy this. 

henapple

Biscuit Love... In the Gulch 

MJG

Had a great time and hit many recommended spots. Headed back home to Boston this evening so we'll do the country music HoF before we go to the airport. A fun little city. I love not needing a car. 

Killit_and_Grillit

@MJG if you haven't had breakfast yet there's a little place in Franklin that makes exceptionally average Mickey Mouse pancakes. 

MotownVol

RajunCajun said:

My wife and I stayed at the Hermitage while we were there.  Pucketts Grocery is certainly a must if you are in the downtown area.  The Country Music Hall of Fame is another I would do again.  And you certainly cannot miss the famous Studio B.  I ate at The Pharmacy while on a business trip and that is another locals spot that I would do again.  Have fun!

The Pharmacy is very good and worth a visit, but it stays packed.   I enjoy their beer selection.