Nashville is best known for one thing: music. The city both embraces its country music roots while welcoming a newer hipster vibe. Nashville also has a vibrant restaurant scene, several annual festivals, and plenty of museums. Lace up those boots and keep reading to learn all the ways to make memories in this joyful southern city.
The Music City’s biggest draws are the Country Music Hall of Fame, Grand Ole Opry, Live on the Green Music Festival, and the Tennessee Renaissance Festival.
Here are some of the best things to do near Nashville:
Devour fried chicken at Prince’s Hot Chicken or Hattie B’s
Peruse rare and collectable records at Jack White’s Third Man Records store
Tour the Country Music Hall of Fame and snap a pic
Spend a day shopping and enjoying the honky tonks along Broadway
Get front row tickets to a touring performance at the Bridgestone Arena
Enjoy all that Nashville culture has to offer. With music acts of all types touring the city throughout the year, an unforgettable live show is just around the corner.
These are a few of the most popular attractions near Nashville:
Visit Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, the #1 honky tonk in the world, for a night of country show tunes and cold brews
Buy tickets for a musical event at the Grand Ol’ Opry
Catch a touring act at the Ryman Theater, which seats 2,362 inside a classic Hollywood-style performance hall
Immortalize your time in Nashville with a photo in front of the famous wing mural on Broadway
Soak in the quaint country charm and good cooking at the classic Loveless Cafe
Nashville is packed with activities to do on a whim. Celebrity-inspired shops, guided tours of the city proper, and ice cream in any flavor imaginable are all activities to explore today.
Here are some fun things to do in Nashville:
Get your fix of high-end lifestyle shopping at Draper James, Reese Witherspoon’s charming country home store
Take a guided city tour of Nashville’s most famous murals in your own private golf cart
Cool down with a bowl of authentic gelato at the Pharmacy in east Nashville
Sip a local brew of your choice at Jackalope Brewing Company
Work while you play at Pinewood social, a co-work space and craft cocktail bar that encourages collaboration
When the sun goes down, the city lights up. Dance into the wee hours of the morning at a local honky tonk or imbibe with friends at one of the city’s many bars and eateries.
Nighttime activities near Nashville include:
Boogieing to all of the honky tonks on Broadway
A pub crawl through the Midtown neighborhood
Luxurious cocktails in view of the cityscape at The Gulch rooftop bar
Savory appetizers in the mellow space at The Patterson House
Late night coffee at Cafe Coco, open for lounging and sipping 24 hours a day
Nashville’s grandeur isn’t all music related, especially with kid-friendly activities. Visit the Adventure Science Center for hands-on experiments and exhibits, or the Nashville Zoo to see giraffes, owls, and even red kangaroos.
Check out these family-friendly things to do:
Visit the clouded leopard cub at the Nashville Zoo
Be a beekeeper for an afternoon on the third floor of the Adventure Science Center
Cool off and catch some thrills at the Nashville Shores Waterpark
Take a self-led tour of the tropical flora at the Cheekwood Botanical Garden
See a live play at the Nashville Children’s Theater
When the weather outside is frightful, indoor activities are pretty delightful. Nashville is home to a variety of activities that can be enjoyed inside all year round.
A few things to do indoors in Nashville:
Get fit at a Berry’s Bootcamp fitness class
Cook something special at a Green Hill Cooking Course at a Whole Foods
Shop for the latest fashions at the Green Hills Mall
Work on a project and enjoy some of the best coffee in town at Frothy Monkey, which offers a variety of vegan and vegetarian food options
Devour the hot and cheesy queso at Bakersfield
Sports and outdoor activities in NashvilleView All
