My husband and I are going to be spending 2 days in Nashville in August. We have never been there before, and so we'd love some suggestions on what to do, things to see??? We'd love to maybe do a hike or something, as well as see what the city has to offer. Let us know what you recommend, thank you!
Update: We are going without the kids. We're looking for specific help here....what is there to do? Is the General Jackson Riverboat tour fun and worth the money? Where are the parks? We have never been there, so we need some detailed ideas, thanks!
If you do plan to go for a hike ( walk in nashville) in august, you might need an extra set of clothes ( you will be soaked, in Utah terms). But you might want to spend your time at the opryland hotel with air conditioning indoors.
Huge place if it hasn't been flooded that is.
It's not close to downtown, but it's worth the little drive - Find the Loveless Cafe - It's totally awesome, and a Nashville Tradition! It's famous for being a Nashville staple, and is too delicious for words. Look it up and check it out.
I see many suggestions for opryland and just wanted to point out that it is closed due to the floods from may.
Where are you staying? There are some great hiking trails away from downtown - Percy Warner Park in Bellemeade and Radnor Lake in South Nashville. Walking around downtown and visiting the honkytonks is fun. Cheekwood has beautiful gardens and art exhibits. It is hot and humid in August - so something indoors is needed as well. I don't think Wildhorse Saloon is open again yet, but Country Music Hall of Fame downtown is open. Do you like history? The Hermitage, Home of Andrew Jackson is a very nice tour and is about 15 minutes from downtown.
There are some great restaurants in an area downtown called The Gulch. Loveless, as mentioned, is a great stop for breakfast. Or if you want southern style food there is a place called Monells in Germantown. It is family style - meaning you sit at a large table with other people and the food is passed around. It's always great and you meet interesting folks from all over.
Go to one of the many bars in downtown Nashville on their country music row, or something, and listen to some really good live music.
It is beautiful there. Hiking in August may be too hot. It is sooo humid and hot down there and with you from Utah, you might want to hike super early in the morning if at all. The hilly areas around there are beautiful but not a high elevation like in Utah, so they don't really cool down at night or in the morning. 100 degrees in Utah is about the same as 80 to 85 degrees in Nashville.
The zoo and Children's museum are fun if you have kids.
The Frist art museum is really nice, and right now they are having a Chihuly exhibit: http://delevantecreative.com/chihulyinnashville.com/
Cheekwood (botanical gardens) are also great, but go in the morning or evening to avoid the heat.
The Adventure Science Center is also fun, even without the kids, and they have a planetarium show.
Bluebird Cafe, as mentioned, is also cool, but be sure to buy tickets in advance. There is a minimum food/drink purchase ($7 I think) but I would recommend not actually eating a meal there, as the food is not so great.
As far as restaurants, what kind of budget are you on? There are lots of small, cheap places, like the Loveless Cafe as mentioned. Also Open Table, Zacky's, Provence, Calypso Cafe. There is a lot of ethnic cuisine, if you like that. Indian - I like the one on 21st St, Sitar. Ethiopian - Abay, near the zoo. Some good Persian and Thai places too. If you're looking for fine dining, try: The Acorn, Tayst, Flyte, Midtown Cafe, Radius 10, Sperry's. It's usually pretty easy to get reservations.
Have fun!
Opryland Hotel is beautiful
Wild horse Saloon is so fun!!
Country Music Hall fame
Bluebird Cafe- where lots of country singers where founded.
The area is awesome!! Good luck with the hiking, it is so hot and humid!
