Every few years, my college girlfriends get together and pick a city to explore. So when we were throwing out ideas, Nashville hit the radar. I’m a country music fan, so this was a no-brainer for me. Warm weather, lots of activities, plenty of charm. Check, check, and check!
Enter the most fun I have had in a long time. Nashville has very laid back, down home vibes with so many fun activities, this made it the perfect spot to get together!
We booked a house using VRBO and it was the perfect place to fit all our friends and still have room to chill. So we shopped, we walked and we soaked up all that Southern Charm!! Bonus points if you make cute matching shirts to wear around town!
12 South: Cute Shops, Great Food & the Perfect Stroll
If you want a neighborhood that feels effortlessly cool, 12 South is where you want to be. It’s one of those places where you can spend an entire afternoon wandering without a plan and still leave happy. You’ve got adorable boutiques like Draper James, Imogene + Willie, and White’s Mercantile, plus fun little spots for grabbing gifts, candles, and locally made finds. When it’s time to eat, you can’t go wrong with Edley’s BBQ, Urban Grub, or a sweet treat from Five Daughters Bakery (their 100-layer donut is basically a rite of passage and worth the trip alone). Add leafy sidewalks, colorful murals, and plenty of outdoor seating, and you’ve got one of the most walkable and charming pockets of Nashville.
Another great activity I wish we would have had time for is the Country Music Hall of Fame. I have heard such great things and it is going on my must see list for next time.
Downtown Broadway: Live Music, Neon Lights & the Best Night Out With Friends
If you and your friends want the full Nashville experience, Broadway is the place to be—just be prepared for the energy level to be high. The best time to go is late afternoon into the evening, when the neon starts glowing and live bands spill out onto the street from every direction. Honky-tonks like Tootsie’s, Jason Aldean’s, Ole Red, and Legends all have multiple floors and rooftop views that are perfect for group hangouts. For food, grab hot chicken at Hattie B’s (just off Broadway), tacos at Pancho & Lefty’s, or a classic Southern meal at Acme Feed & Seed before wandering into whichever bar has your favorite sound.
The best part? There’s no cover charge for most live music spots, so you can hop around, dance, sing along, and make a full night of it without overthinking a single thing. It’s crowded, chaotic, and completely unforgettable—in other words, the perfect Nashville night out. Not knowing that Nashville has become the bachelorette party capital, it seemed like there were endless cute photo ops and fun group activities.
If the party scene isn’t quite your scene, I would recommend the Nashville Evening Trolley Tour, hitting all the notable landmarks twinkling by the city lights. It’s the dreamiest way to spend a the evening hours.
We didn’t forget the hot chicken (note: the mild is still pretty spicy). We were told to give Prince’s a try and the whole scene was worth visiting. Lawn games, music and relaxed vibes, all while enjoying the best of the Nashville hot chicken scene. If I had more time, I would have liked to take the Local Food Tour!
For a 3 day weekend trip, we agreed to stick with the main attractions, but I can definitely say I would go back to explore even more. There is no shortage of daytime and evening activities, live music, good food and great shopping. It is a destination worth visiting anytime of year. Also, take people you love…. pretty much makes everything better!
Long weekends can be such a great amount of time to get a taste for a destination. Check out a very different version of a long weekend we had in Bangkok.
exploring:
Such an amazing time. Can’t wait for the next trip!! Lets start planning 😉
I’ll go anywhere with you ladies! 😘
Great pictures! I keep hearing only lovely things about Nashville lately. Who knows, maybe someday I’ll also go there 🙂
You should! Soak up all that southern charm!