Summary
I visited Nashville (3 nights) in September 2016 with my wife & 2-year old along with close friends (husband, wife, 3-year old daughter). We were in search of a family-friendly, casual, walkable destination with warm weather in the Eastern half of the US that neither of us had been to previously. Nashville – with its great live music, casual high-quality dining, museums and lively streets – was a great mix of everything we were looking for.
Accommodations
We stayed at the Omni Nashville in the downtown area. The Omni is one of the few (if only) full-service hotels in the downtown area with an outdoor pool, which we all enjoyed after walking around town and being outside. The lobby and common areas are big and spacious (with spacious-enough rooms) and the hotel is attached to the Country Music Hall of Fame (making it easy to visit, especially with kids).
Select Favorites
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- Activities: Nashville tends to be synonymous with live music and the best place for Honky Tonk bars is Broadway (during the daytime, kids are welcome too). We enjoyed spending an afternoon at Tootsie’s and there are many others – Layla’s, Roberts Western and the most famous Bluebird Cafe. The Country Music Hall of Fame is also a highlight (and it gives a nice break from the hot weather too). Given we had small kids with us, we enjoyed easy walks around the various neighborhoods and loved pool time at the Omni (a surprisingly rare amenity in downtown).
- Dining: This was my first taste of true Southern Comfort food in destination and Nashville did not disappoint. For breakfast, our favorite was The Southern while we also enjoyed the big spread and spaciousness of Kitchen Notes in the Omni itself. Another very popular place in the West End is Pancake Pantry but be prepared to wait. For lunch, BBQ is the preferred choice with popular options including Peg Leg Porker in the Gulch area (trendy, up & coming) and Martin’s BBQ (right next to the Omni). A classic, casual destination is Merchant’s and great vegetarian friendly option we stumbled into during our visit to the Country Music HOF was Bajo Sexto Taco for Mexican. For Dinner, we enjoyed 5th and Taylor in Germantown and Pinewood Social (with bowling and a pool) by the riverfront. A popular local favorite is Puckett’s Grocery and Restaurant and consider Acme Feed & Seed for rooftop drinks after dinner
Recommendation
Nashville was a perfect getaway for a casual, comfortable and easy long weekend. Everything from the dining to the music to local culture is warm and welcoming while generally not being too expensive. Its simplicity makes it nice for a variety of trip profiles – e.g. families or couples – and we noticed it’s a very popular bachelorette party destination. Enjoy the trip!
