Famous for its Honky Tonk Highway and Music Row, where all the country greats have graced the stages and studios, Nashville has quite the reputation among country fans. You can see it walking downtown, where every other bar features a famous country musician’s name, a brightly lit cowboy boots sign, or western hats hanging on the walls. And you can DEFINITELY hear it as a cacophony of country music blasts through the open windows of every bar on Broadway. Everyone knows Nashville is the place to go if honkytonks and line dancing and western themes are your jam.
But what if that’s not your thing?
What if country music and western themes are anything but your jam? Is Nashville still worth a visit?
That’s where I found myself as a non-country fan, and I’m here to tell you that yes! Nashville is absolutely still worth a visit, and there’s no shortage of things to do while there, even if you want to avoid the honkytonk bars like the plague! And while I still think anyone visiting Nashville should walk down the famous Broadway at least once (it’s great for people watching if nothing else), here are the top things you can do that don’t revolve around country music!
Visit the Ryman Auditorium
I know, on the surface this seems like it’s connected to country music. But the Ryman has hosted so many artists over the years, including Joan Jett, Elvis Presley, Louis Armstrong, and even Harry Houdini! And beyond entertainment, even historical figures like Susan B. Anthony, Michelle Obama, and Hellen Keller have taken the stage since the theatre first opened in 1892. The Ryman is a historical fixture in the arts, and it’s worth visiting that famous stage while you’re there!
Check out their upcoming shows here. Or if you’d rather just tour the space instead of seeing a show, you can book a self-guided tour or a fully guided tour here.
See a show at one of the many other venues
While Nashville is known for country music, you can find many other venues for different kinds of music all over the city!
Indie and Rock Venues: If you’re more into indie or rock, check out The Basement, The Basement East, The End, or The Blue Room (Jack White’s venue).
Blues and Jazz Venues: Maybe you want something a little more chill than a rock show. Then maybe check out Bourbon Street Blues & Boogie Bar, Rudy’s Jazz Room, or Skull’s Rainbow Room.
Other: If you’d like a smaller, more intimate venue, check out the famous Bluebird Cafe.
Visit the Parthenon
Did you know Nashville has the world’s only full scale replica of Athen’s Parthenon? While the one in Athens has unfortunately been reduced to ruins, this is a way to see the structure as it would have been in its prime!
Situated in the middle of Centennial Park (2500 West End Ave), this is a great way to spend an afternoon away from the bars and music. Enjoy the Parthenon from outside, marveling at the size of the towering columns and the frieze along the top. Then pay the $15 ticket to head inside and see the 40+ foot Athena statue, along with multiple exhibits showing the history of how she was constructed, along with the history of the building she now lives in.
This is a truly unique experience and one you shouldn’t miss while in town!
Take a Whiskey Distillery Tour
Kentucky may be famous for its bourbon distilleries, but Tennessee has no shortage of distilleries that produce bourbon, Tennessee whiskey, and other kinds of that distilled spirit! And while bourbon can be produced anywhere, a whiskey can only be called a Tennessee whiskey if produced in Tennessee using the specific process of filtering through sugar maple charcoal.
So if you’re a fan of whiskey, make sure you book a tour at one of the many whiskey distilleries in the area! While we particularly liked Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery, there are plenty of other options to choose from!
Distilleries in Nashville:
Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery (1414 Clinton St)
Corsair Distillery (1200 Clinton St #110)
Big Machine Distillery (2824 Bransford Ave)
Southern Collective (819 2nd Ave S)
Distilleries Just Outside of Nashville:
Jack Daniel’s Distillery (133 Lynchburg Hwy, Lynchburg, TN 37352)
George Dickel Distilling (1950 Cascade Hollow Rd, Tullahoma, TN 37388)
See the botanical gardens at Gaylord Opryland
While Gaylord Opryland is technically a resort, it offers amenities for guests and non-guests alike, and it’s definitely worth a stop in. Inside the resort are 9 acres of botanical gardens, featuring over 50,000 tropical plants, waterfalls, and streams, all under its massive glass roof.
Grab a lunch at one of the restaurants on the property, or grab a coffee at the Conservatory Cafe to sip on while you stroll through the atrium!
Location: 2800 Opryland Dr
Taste Nashville’s Diverse Food Scene
Nashville is known for its hot chicken, which should absolutely be on your list to try while you’re there! But beyond hot chicken, Nashville offers a variety of different types of food, all worth a taste! Get a sample from multiple different restaurants at Assembly Food Hall just off Broadway, or check out one of these other fantastic dining options!
BBQ
Martin’s BBQ (multiple locations) – Nashville style BBQ
Edley’s BBQ (multiple locations) – Nashville style BBQ (don’t skip the grits or the banana pudding!)
Hot Chicken
Prince’s Chicken (multiple locations) – Classic Nashville hot chicken
Hattie B’s (multiple locations) – Another famous spot for Nashville hot chicken
Breakfast and Brunch
Frothy Monkey (multiple locations) – Excellent brunch spot with great coffee options
The Pancake Pantry (220 Molloy St) – Great spot for, you guessed it, pancakes!
Other Types of Restaurants
Virago (1120 McGavock St) – Amazing sushi and Japanese plates
Butcher and Bee (902 Main St) – Modern mediterranean
Harper’s (2 Lea Ave) – Upscale steakhouse
Ophelia’s Pizza (401 Church St) – Classic Italian dishes in a cozy spot just off of Broadway
The Hampton Social (201 1st Ave S)- Seafood in a stylish setting
Monelli’s (1235 6th Ave N) – Famous for its homestyle southern dishes
Try the many local breweries
When you need a break from the packed bars of Broadway but still want a drink, hop into one of Nashville’s many local breweries! The vibes are a lot more chill and the beer is even more chill! There’s no shortage to choose from, but here are some options based on where you are.
Germantown
Monday Night Brewing (1308 Adams St) – This may be one of the coolest brewery buildings I’ve ever been in. It’s in an old meatpacking plant, and the half crumbled brick walls create a whole vibe! You can even take your beer and wander through the old remnants of the building, or even walk out into a large open square looking out onto the river.
Bearded Iris (101 Van Buren St) – While you’ll find their beer all over town, it’s worth hopping into their taproom just down the street from Monday Night to see what else they have on tap besides the IPA you’ll find on every tap list in the city.
Tailgate Brewing (915 3rd Ave N) – Come grab one of their amazing pizzas and a beer and sit on the patio to catch a bit of a Sounds baseball game! The patio looks right into the stadium, and while you may not be catching a fly ball from there, you can still catch a glimpse of some of the plays, see the jumbo screen, and feel like you’re a part of the game without the price of a ticket! (Tailgate also has multiple locations all over the city, and it’s just as good everywhere!)
Wedgewood Houston
New Heights Brewing Company (928 Rep. John Lewis Way S)- Grab a bite from one of their food trucks and try their coffee and cream ale!
Jackalope Brewing Co (429B Houston St) – Try their Bear Walker Maple Ale – a nice brown ale with just a touch of sweetness!
Fait La Force Brewing Co (1414 3rd Ave S St101) – A good selection of European style beers!
East Nashville
Southern Grist (754 Douglas Ave) – A great option for sours and IPAs, also serving burgers.
Stoke Haus Brewing & Barbecue (948 Main St) – Get your beer and barbecue together!
Smith & Lentz Brewing (903 Main St) – A wide selection of beers, paired with their pizzas and homemade ice cream!
Make your own chocolate bar
Goo Goo Cluster is a Nashville staple, a chocolate bar of nuts, nougat, caramel, and milk chocolate. But maybe you prefer your chocolate bars without nuts? Or with dark chocolate instead? Well, then Goo Goo Cluster is your chance to customize your candy bar!
Stop in the shop just off of Broadway (116 3rd Ave S) and walk right up to one of the kiosks to start building your own chocolate bar. You can choose from white, dark, milk, or even ruby chocolate as your base. From there, add in from the multiple filling options, including basics like nougat, caramel, or peanut butter. Then go nuts with your add-ins to really add character with things like fruity pebbles and golden grahams, or the more traditional coconut, nuts, or other add-ins.
They’ll make your chocolate bar to order, and you have your own personalized souvenir to take home (or eat right there).
Catch a game
Between baseball, football, soccer, and hockey, you can likely try to find some sort of sport to watch while you’re there! Nashville is home to the Tennessee Titans in the NFL, Nashville Sounds for baseball, Nashville Predators in the NHL, and Nashville SC with the MLS. Want to watch a completely different style of sport? See if Nashville Stampede is hosting an event and watch a professional bull riding team!
Visit Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage
While Andrew Jackson himself is quite controversial, there’s no doubt that his home is of historical significance and worth a visit for those interested in history. The mansion, in a Greek style, is beautifully preserved, featuring original furnishings. Take a step into history to learn about life in the 18th and 19th century, and get a glimpse into the life of our 7th president.
Take a trolley tour
Want to see all the sights on a convenient hop on hop off tour? Book with Nashville Sightseeing Tours for the chance to hit the main spots, get off at whichever ones you would like to explore further, and then hop back on when you’re ready to do the next one!
Which experiences will you be doing while in Nashville?!
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