Curator’s statement
Plenty of travel guides exist for folks who are visiting Nashville to see the country music sites and stay out late in the Broadway bars—but what if that isn’t your scene? Is it still worth it to visit Nashville if you prefer a quieter, calmer sort of trip with wellness and relaxation in mind? The answer is yes! Nashville is a diverse city with beautiful green spaces and access to natural areas. Read on for suggestions on how to spend your Nashville trip connecting with nature, eating nourishing food, and getting to know the city’s vibrant and creative neighborhoods.
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Things to do in Nashville
Photo of Burgess Falls by Melissa Jean
Go for a paddle
Cumberland Kayak offers a 3-mile paddle down the Cumberland River with views of the Nashville Skyline. If you have a full day and want to have the ultimate kayaking experience in middle Tennessee, join Kayaking Adventures of Tennessee for a paddle to the base of Burgess Falls. You have to drive over an hour for this one, but it’s worth it!
Take a hike
In East Nashville, head to the Shelby Bottoms Nature Center and take a walk or bike ride on the greenway that runs alongside the Cumberland River. Or head south and take a leisurely walk around Radnor Lake. For a long hike or trail run, Beaman Park has over 12 miles of trails through hilly terrain. And Warner Park has miles of trails, both paved and unpaved, and historic picnic shelters perfect for hosting groups outdoors.
Or, if you want to get further out of the city, check out the Tennessee State Parks website to learn more about your options for outdoor recreation around Nashville and across the state.
Get creative!
Nashville is a hotbed of creative folks. You can view (and make!) art at The Frist Art Museum, or take a pottery class at Potluck Teahouse, or learn aerial dance at Movement Lounge, or check out the programming at the Nashville Jazz Workshop.
And remember, folks in Nashville are pretty chatty—try asking someone where they like to go for live music or karaoke, and then follow their advice!
Places to eat & drink in Nashville
Photo of seasonal latte and Etch-a-Sketch art, by Melissa Jean
Visit the Nashville Farmer’s Market
In addition to grabbing some fresh local produce, you’ll find a food court with every kind of food you could possibly want: Wood-fired pizzas, fresh-squeezed juice, boba, coffee, crepes, ice cream, and a range of international cuisines, from Jamaican to Indian to Mexican to Korean. (My go-to here is Succulent Vegan Tacos!)
Get to know Buchanan Street
There are tons of great dining options in historic North Nashville. Check out Slim & Husky’s for pizza, Tio Fun for tacos and margaritas, Bag Lady’s Fry Joint for loaded fries, and Crossroads Cat Café, where you can drink coffee with adoptable kitties while supporting a business that provides job training and support for young people overcoming homelessness.
Explore Nashville’s plant-based options
Sometimes folks are surprised to learn that Nashville has a vibrant vegan scene, but it does! Try Avo for a nice night out with cute cocktails, The Be-Hive for satisfying sandwiches and crunchwraps, Sunflower Bakehouse for brunch and baked goods, Sunflower Cafe for salads and bowls, Vegelicious for soul food, Graze for brunch or dinner, and Guerilla Bizkits for pretty much the best biscuits of all time. You can also find Morsel baked goods at Matryoshka Coffee, which is my favorite place in town to grab a sparkly, expertly-crafted latte.
Enjoy creative cocktail bars
Get your drink on at local spots that are dedicated to the art of the cocktail. My favorite cocktail bar in town is The Fox in East Nashville, which has amazing vegan charcuterie options and an extensive and ever-changing menu of creative drinks. Other creative spots to grab a cocktail include The Tiger Bar for circus-themed drinks, Attaboy for a speakeasy-style bar with no menu, Chopper for robot tiki drinks, and Sid Gold’s Request Room for piano karaoke.
Need to know
Transportation note
Nashville does not have a particularly robust public transportation system, so you may want to consider renting a car. The upside of this is that it will open up space for you to explore natural areas and interesting neighborhoods outside of the city center. If you can avoid being on the road between about 3:30 and 5:30 p.m., you can avoid the worst of the traffic in this car-congested city.
Hotel neighborhood notes
The Russell is a boutique hotel in East Nashville with tons of character and technological touches. Plus, because their Rooms for Rooms program means every stay helps someone experiencing homelessness in Nashville, you can feel good about giving back to the community that is hosting you.
East Nashville is one of the creative centers of Nashville, with endless bars, restaurants, music, entertainment, and community events. If you come in August, you can experience the Tomato Arts Fest, a quintessentially East Nashville event with a parade, art exhibitions, and food and drink dedicated to that late-August favorite, the tomato.
Soho House Nashville, located in an old sock factory in the Wedgewood-Houston neighborhood, has artistically-decorated rooms and an art collection featuring work by 41 artists, designed to tell Nashville’s complex story.
Wedgewood-Houston is a rapidly-developing neighborhood with a long history as one of Nashville’s art epicenters—and it is also the gateway to South Nashville, the city’s most vibrant international community; drive south on Nolensville Road and you’ll discover incredible restaurants with cuisine from all over the world.
The Hutton is a stylish hotel on West End in Midtown which offers on-site live entertainment and writers’ studios for rent.
Midtown can be a good choice if you want to keep your easy access to downtown while staying in a calmer area near Vanderbilt University, Centennial Park, and the Parthenon. Keep your eyes open for the many community events and festivals that often happen in Centennial Park, or take some time to walk around the pond and have a picnic under a tree.
If you want to get even farther out of the city, Southall Farm & Inn is nestled in the rolling hills near Franklin, less than an hour’s drive from the Nashville airport. Here, you can experience luxury surroundings on a working farm, with Michelin key dining and spa offerings designed to give you the ultimate experience of wellness.
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Melissa Jean
Melissa Jean
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