Have a Booth-Stompin' Good Time in Nashville

Nashville is one the hottest destinations in the United States. Lonely Planet named it one of the 10 best cities in the world in 2016, and everyone from National Geographic to the Huffington Post has added it to their list of must-visit cities. It’s known as the “bachelorette party capital of the U.S.” because so many women host their pre-wedding bashes there. The population is increasing at a rate of about 90 people per day, making it one of the fastest-growing cities in the country.

Nashville will also be home to the 2019 International Window Coverings Expo (IWCE). The event will take place at the Gaylord Opryland National Resort & Convention Center from March 8 to 10. It’s packed with priceless information and networking opportunities, which makes it a worthwhile experience for everyone in the window coverings industry. But if Nashville is on your travel bucket list—and it should be—you should definitely make a point of attending. Just add on an extra day or three because you’ll want to spend some extra time here.

My husband and I had the good fortune of vacationing in Nashville earlier this year. Here are some of the amazing places we found during our stay.

Sites Near the Gaylord Opryland National Resort & Convention Center

You don’t have to venture far from the expo to find fun things to do. The Gaylord

Opryland is a resort-style convention center with multiple gardens, several pools, a full-service spa, a golf course, 19 restaurants and bars, a fitness center and more. It’s just a few blocks from the Grand Ole Opry, the most famous destination among all of Music City’s great concert venues. The Opry is a live radio show that’s been on the air since 1925. Shows feature anywhere from six to a dozen acts on any given night, including classic country acts and big-name modern artists. You don’t even have to be a country music fan to enjoy the experience. On the night we attended there were bluegrass, gospel and rock acts in addition to several country stars.

Across from the Opry is the Opry Mills Mall, which has a wide range of stores and attractions, including a Madame Tussauds Wax Museum. The Willie Nelson and Friends Museum is just down the road.

Restaurants

If you crave some authentic Southern food during your time in Nashville, you won’t find a better destination than Husk. The farm-to-table restaurant is in a beautiful brick home that’s been retrofitted with an open kitchen, a glass-fronted room for smoked hams and an enormous wine cellar. We enjoyed shrimp and grits, Johnny cakes with pimento cheese, catfish, and steak with okra and pecans before diving into a chocolate cake topped with caramel corn for dessert.

Nashville’s most notable contribution to the culinary world is hot chicken, which is fried chicken doused in copious amounts of hot sauce. The spicy dish originated at Prince’s, which still offers the most authentic take on it. Hattie B’s Hot Chicken has several locations and more comfortable surrounds, so it tends to be popular with tourists. We enjoyed hot chicken at the smartly named Party Fowl, which has a location not far from the Gaylord Opryland.

Other eateries that came highly recommended were The 404 Hotel and Kitchen, which offers European-inspired cuisine and the community’s most celebrated whiskey bar; Little Octopus, a hip destination for tapas and cocktails; and The Catbird Seat, a small high-end restaurant with a set menu.

Nashville has a vibrant microbrewery scene, with over a dozen joints that serve their own locally brewed suds. Our favorite was Yazoo Brewing Company, which has a tasting room in The Gulch, an up-and-coming neighborhood on the outskirts of downtown. Jackalope Brewing Company and Tennessee Brew Works are within easy walking distance should you want to set up your own ale trail.

If you stop at the Yazoo Brewing Company, take a quick jaunt across the street to Colts Chocolates, which is run by former “Hee Haw” star Mackenzie Colt. Her Colts Bolts—chocolate stuffed with peanut butter and roasted almonds—are a local legend. The Bumble Bees, which are similar to turtles, and chocolate-covered hazelnut marshmallows are delicious too.

March isn’t the season for fresh fruits and veggies, but it’s still worth paying a visit to the Nashville Farmers Market. The indoor portion of the market has a number of great restaurants and shops. Our favorite places were Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream, which offers delicious flavors such as brown butter almond brittle and whiskey pecan, and Batch, which sells darling home, kitchen and gift products.

Cultural Experiences

Nashville is home to several plantations and country-homes-turned-public-parks. Cheekwood Estate & Garden was built in the early 1930s by the Cheek family, which make their fortune from an early investment in the Maxwell House coffee company. The home was recently restored and includes beautiful furnishings and fixtures (some of which are original to the house, some of which are authentic replicas). The grounds are surrounded by botanical gardens, one of which includes a sculpture garden. There is an art museum on the home’s third floor.

President Andrew Jackson retired on a plantation called The Hermitage, which is located about 16 miles from the Nashville city limits. Check out the home’s original furnishings and wallpaper and learn about “the people’s president” during a guided tour. The Fontanel Mansion (a 27,000-square-foot log cabin) is the former home of country music star Barbara Mandrell, who is known for songs such as “(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don’t Want to be Right” and “Till You’re Gone.” Her daughter sometimes gives the tours, which gives visitors an inside look at the famous singer’s life.

During the 1896 Tennessee State Centennial, the City of Nashville built a full-size replica of the Parthenon at a local park. Today it’s home to several art galleries and a 42-foot statue of the goddess Athena. The Frist Art Museum is another noteworthy destination for fine art. After your visit, walk a few more blocks to the new Union Station Hotel. Located in the city’s former train station, the building still has a spectacular stained glass ceiling, opulent chandeliers and many other features that are original to the train station.

Nightlife

The nightlife in Nashville rivals that of any large city, especially if you like live music. In the evening a two-block stretch of downtown’s Broadway Street comes alive with sound and people. Nearly every storefront is a honky-tonk, and every honky-tonk has at least one band. Grab and drink or some food and settle in to hear covers from some of your favorite bands, or wander from place to place to people watch and take in the whole crazy scene. Again, you don’t have to be a country music devotee to enjoy this experience. Anyone who appreciates talented musicians will enjoy hearing them share their craft.

The alternative to honky-tonks is listening rooms. They differ from other bars in that there’s an expectation to sit quietly and listen to the performers (most of whom are songwriters). The Bluebird Café is the most famous, but we had an out-of-this-world experience at The Listening Room Café. Tickets were $5 and there was a $15 drink minimum, and it was well worth it. For people whose tastes run more to rock than country, check out 3rd and Lindsley instead. Make sure you review the ticketing rules for each establishment well in advance. In most cases you’ll need to purchase entry ahead of time, so plan to reserve your spot when you purchase your IWCE pass.