Nashville

From trendy spots and local dives to the Grand Ole Opry, Music City delivers the perfect girls’ getaway

Story and Photos by Cynthia Reeves

Like an old country song, Nashville is a hot mess — a little mix of nostalgia and pizzazz. Think mama’s country cooking and a rowdy tailgate party juxtaposed with trendy, stylish cocktail bars, restaurants and boutiques.

My travel friends and I set out looking for a happening place for a four-day weekend and found it in Music City. We call ourselves the “Out of the Blue Society” since we met in random places while traveling solo. Miranda Lambert’s “Bluebird” ended up as the theme for this adventure — a perfect setting to “turn the light on in my soul and keep a bluebird in my heart.”

Get Off the Beaten Path

We opted to stay outside the bustling downtown area — way off Broadway. We found a cute bungalow Airbnb in the heart of laid-back East Nashville.

In the walkable neighborhood, we were able to sample the no-frills Mas Tacos restaurant or relax at a popular beer garden called The Pharmacy, known for its locally sourced burgers and German-style bratwursts. For dinner, Lockeland Table was a lovely, cozy spot. Try the juicy bone-in pork chop with mac and cheese and collard greens for a Southern delight.

In search of the local music scene, we took a short Uber ride to Dee’s Country Cocktail Lounge. Dee’s lived up to its reputation as a popular, retro-themed dive bar. The 1970s-inspired decor took us back in time, as did several of the patrons dressed as Lorretta Lynn look-alikes. Dee himself was on the stage with local guests performing a tribute to the legendary country-folk singer John Prine.

Experience Broadway

No trip to Nashville would be complete without hitting lower Broadway, packed with country star-branded bars, live music, souvenir shops and boots. We opted to do Broadway during the day to avoid the crowds of bachelor and bachelorette party-hardy tribes of revelers. At Boot Country, they promote “buy one pair of boots, get two free.”

Sitting down at the counter at Roberts Western World is a must-do experience. The little bar prides itself on being “Nashville’s Home of Traditional Country Music.” The short order cook will fix you up a basket of fried bologna sandwiches with a side of Pabst Blue Ribbon and a MoonPie.

The Stage is a renowned honky-tonk and an amazing live music venue. Blake Shelton’s Ole Red offers a high-energy, two-story LED stage. We also liked Jelly Roll’s Goodnight Nashville.

Since this was a girls’ trip, we also sought out some bars with a feminine vibe. We loved relaxing at Lainey Wilson’s Bell Bottoms Up bar, which featured a nice rooftop space. Miranda Lambert’s Casa Rosa was a great spot for a margarita and Tex-Mex food. Note: Tamales are the Friday special. Sit upstairs under the pink lights and a huge silver sequined saddle.

For something sweet, stop by the Goo Goo Cluster candy store downtown. The mound of caramel, nougat, peanuts and chocolate is known to be America’s first combination candy and it’s yummy!

Secret Nashville

Being intrepid travelers, my group tried a tour we found on Viator called “Nashville Speakeasy Secrets: Murder True Crime Cocktail Crawl.”

We met in Printer’s Alley, and as the name suggests, our guide took us into the secret backrooms of Nashville. At one stop, we were required to enter a red phone booth and whisper the secret code to enter a clandestine lounge in the back. Other speakeasies were tucked behind closed doors in upscale hotels. Shh, we can’t reveal the locations!  

At each stop, we sipped on scrumptious cocktails or coffees while our energetic guide regaled us with macabre stories from Nashville’s murderous past.

Shopping and Snacking

Nashville has no shortage of shopping opportunities, and the 12 South area is ideal for a Saturday stroll. Start off with mini doughnuts or pastries at Five Daughters Bakery — the lemon blueberry doughnut is delightful.

The street is dotted with pop-up shops and boutiques. We all found something on sale at the Wild Iris pop-up. Other notable shops included Ya’ll Come Back, Molly Green, and Reese Witherspoon’s Draper James, where customers are offered a little “mommy break” with prosecco and sorbet or a cup of ice cream.

Lunch at a cute little spot called The Play Date was a surprise. In addition to tasty flatbread pizzas and salads, guests can go through a big tube slide from the deck to a grassy patio below. Fun!

The Opry

No trip to Nashville is complete without visiting the Grand Ole Opry, which features several musicians each night. We saw The Oak Ridge Boys, the Gatlin Brothers, Trace Adkins and Brad Paisley, among others, performing a tribute to the legendary Little Jimmy Dickens.

To get the most out of the experience, we toured the Ryman Auditorium the day before to understand the rich history of the first location of the Opry. The admission price includes an opportunity to stand on the stage like a star for a photo in front of the microphone.

Dinner at the Old Hickory Steakhouse at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center set the stage for a beautiful Tennessee night.

One Last Thing

Saying goodbye to Nashville was as rough as a Johnny Cash song, but we managed to soften the blow with some fluffy biscuits and grits at the Nashville Biscuit House on Gallatin Road. A sign there read, “Mind your own biscuit and life will be gravy.” Life was certainly gravy in Nashville, and these Bluebirds are planning a trip back.

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