{"id":27192,"date":"2018-08-15T06:00:22","date_gmt":"2018-08-15T13:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wearetravelgirls.com\/?p=27192"},"modified":"2025-08-27T08:51:26","modified_gmt":"2025-08-27T15:51:26","slug":"nashville-tennessee-first-visit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wearetravelgirls.com\/nashville-tennessee-first-visit\/","title":{"rendered":"8 TOP STOPS FOR YOUR FIRST NASHVILLE VISIT"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nashville, also known as Music City, is the home of country music. There’s no denying that music is everywhere you turn!<\/p>\n

But in addition to the famous music scene, those interested in history, art, and food will find plenty of ways to stay busy on their first trip to the land of Elvis and Dolly.<\/p>\n

Here is my list of the top eight things to do on your first visit to Nashville, Tennessee!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Nashville\"<\/p>\n

1) Take A Walk Down Broadway<\/h3>\n

First things first, take a walk down Broadway to get your bearings and get into the Honky Tonk spirit.<\/p>\n

Start at the Honky Tonk Highway<\/a>, where there\u2019s music all day, every day. Even if you arrive at 1am as I did, don\u2019t worry, the party\u2019s just getting started.<\/p>\n

Honky Tonk generally refers to a bar in which country music is played. In Nashville, however, it\u2019s not only country music that\u2019s played. You\u2019ll also hear rock, blues, and pop music.<\/p>\n

\"8<\/p>\n

2) Visit Nashville’s Country Music Hall Of Fame And Museum<\/h3>\n

A short walk from downtown Nashville, you will find the Country Music Hall of Fame<\/a>. Two hours should be enough to explore.<\/p>\n

Be sure to record a cover single of You Belong with Me<\/em> at the Taylor Swift recording booth while you\u2019re there.<\/p>\n

Your visit will take longer if you\u2019re going to take part in the Hatch Show Print. This is one of America\u2019s oldest working letterpress poster shops, and I highly recommend visiting it.<\/p>\n

Although booking isn\u2019t required, to make sure you get entry at the time you would like you can book in advance<\/a>.<\/p>\n

There is an additional tour run by the Country Music Hall of Fame at the Historic RCA Studio B. If you love Elvis you have to go here, considering he recorded more music here than anywhere else.<\/p>\n

You can also visit Elvis\u2019s Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee. This is roughly a 3-hour drive, but it\u2019s definitely worth it for Elvis fans.<\/p>\n

Related Post: <\/strong>The 6 Best AirBnBs In Nashville, Tennessee<\/a><\/div>\n

\"Records<\/p>\n

3) Brunch At Pinewood Social<\/h3>\n

A short walk outside of the busy center, you\u2019ll find the Pinewood Social<\/a>. It is the perfect combo of brunch, cocktails, and bowling, as recommended by locals.<\/p>\n

There is even a pool and they have a movie night on the last Tuesday of every month. Pinewood Social is a great way to experience the hip food scene that’s developed in Nashville over the past several years.<\/p>\n

\"Brunch<\/p>\n

4) Take A Tour Of The Johnny Cash Museum<\/h3>\n

For all the Johnny Cash fans, visiting this museum is a must. It features the largest collection of Johnny Cash artifacts in the world.<\/p>\n

The museum celebrates the musician\u2019s life through the decades. It will make you want to watch Walk the Line<\/em> (or re-watch it).<\/p>\n

It’s open seven days a week and costs $20. Skip the queue when you purchase your ticket online<\/a> beforehand.<\/p>\n

\"Johnny<\/p>\n

5) Spend An Evening At The Bluebird Cafe<\/h3>\n

Some might recognize this from the show Nashville. If you don\u2019t, this small 90 seat venue is a great opportunity to get up close to some of Nashville\u2019s best songwriters.<\/p>\n

The likes of Carrie Underwood, LeAnn Rimes, and Taylor Swift have all played there before.<\/p>\n

A typical nightly performance consists of a few songwriters seated in the center of the room, or sometimes on the stage, taking turns playing their songs and accompanying each other instrumentally and with vocals.<\/p>\n

\"Two<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re quick enough, there are 20 available tables in the small venue available to book online. Tickets come out the week before each show, normally at 8am CST.<\/p>\n

The FAQ page is very helpful with guidance on booking your ticket. Check out the Bluebird Cafe website<\/a> for more information.<\/p>\n

However, if you don\u2019t manage to get one of the advanced online tickets, be prepared to head over and wait outside the venue two or three hours before the show begins.<\/p>\n

This way you might be able to get one of the 10-12 first come, first served seats available at the door only. I did this, and it was definitely worth the wait to hear Lennon Stella and Aubrey Peeples, from the cast of Nashville.<\/p>\n

A lot of people don\u2019t realize that the Bluebird Caf\u00e9 is located in a small strip mall about 15 minutes car drive from of downtown Nashville. Remember to take this into consideration when planning your schedule.<\/p>\n

6) Visit The Belle Meade Plantation Outside Of Nashville<\/h3>\n

The Belle Meade Plantation<\/a> is a beautiful country mansion and estate situated 20 minutes outside of downtown Nashville. It was built in 1807 and is an opportunity to learn about Tennessee\u2019s Victorian architecture.<\/p>\n

You’ll also be able to learn about the history of the family and slaves that worked there over the years. This is a sad point of Tennessee history but important to learn about nonetheless.<\/p>\n

\"Belle<\/p>\n

7) Watch A Show At The Grand Ole Opry<\/h3>\n

This is another famous must-visit for those coming to Nashville for the first time.<\/p>\n

One of Nashville\u2019s longest running shows, the Grand Ole Opry<\/a> started as a radio broadcast in 1925, and today it\u2019s a live music concert where multiple country artists play in the one night.<\/p>\n

There are performances every Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday. Advanced booking is required for these shows.<\/p>\n

\"Grand<\/p>\n

8) Go Line Dancing<\/h3>\n

Get your cowboys boots on and head down to the Wild Horse Saloon. Don’t know how to line dance? No worries.<\/p>\n

Wild Horse Saloon has regular line dance lessons so you’ll be able to join in on the fun. And even if you don’t learn the organized danced, it won’t be hard to find a two-step dance partner there who will make sure you have a blast and feel like a pro.<\/p>\n

Check the schedule on the Wild Horse Saloon website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Where To Stay In Nashville<\/h3>\n

For both of my visits, I stayed at the Downtown Nashville Hostel<\/a>. It’s the perfect option for touring Nashville because of its great facilities and central location along the Cumberland Riverfront. It is also a historic warehouse that was built in the 1800\u2019s and has been renovated over the years, re-opening in 2005.<\/p>\n

Also, there are a ton of great AirBnB options in Nashville<\/a> if you want to book your own place with a kitchen and other amenities!<\/p>\n

If you are looking for more upscale accommodation in Nashville<\/a>, some of the best reviewed luxury hotels include:<\/p>\n