Nashville is for the gals! The Tennessee city once known only for country music has reinvented itself to appeal to a wider crowd, reminding us that it’s the city of legends, like Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Taylor Swift, and so many others. While there’s still plenty of country music, honky tonks, and Southern comfort foods to enjoy in Music City, there are also endless trendy things to do and see on a birthday trip, long-distance friends reunion, or a bachelorette weekend in Nashville. To answer your question, where there are lots of ladies, there’s likely to be a few boys hanging around too if you get my drift. 😉
The bustling, friendly city has cute boutiques and cafes and is decorated with colorful murals and street art that are perfect for photo ops. I’ve been on several Nashville weekend getaways and can’t wait to spend Labor Day weekend in Nashville this year!
Things to do on a Nashville weekend getaway
Hit the highlights of Nashville with expert tours
Nashville has four main areas, and each has its own vibe. Lower Broadway is the famous downtown area with most of the top attractions and nightlife. If you’re in town to dance the night away, this is probably where you’ll want to be! West of downtown is The Gulch, where you can enjoy upscale boutiques and chilled-out nightlife. A bit further out, in the Belmont area, is the trendy 12South neighborhood. This is the best area to spend a day brunching and shopping. East Nashville, across the river from downtown, is an upscale, relaxed neighborhood for art and culture.
A tour is the best way to hit the highlights. My favorite is the woman-owned NashTrash tour, which takes you around in a pink converted school bus while the hilarious hostesses keep you entertained! Believe me, it’s a hoot! For a hop-on and hop-off option, get on board Old Town Trolley Tours of Nashville and relax while you take in Music City’s top attractions. Always a great way to get a quick “lay of the land” in a new destination.
Most of the top attractions are open for public tours, and they’re all worth seeing. There’s Ryman Auditorium, the historic music venue (join a guided backstage tour if you can!). The Ryman is the historic home of the Grand Ole Opry, which now holds concerts in its own live music venue. Their backstage tour is also a must-do. Country music lovers will be impressed by the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum (Swifties, there’s a two-story section dedicated to Taylor Swift!). If you have time, you can join a free tour of Music City Center.
Enjoy Music City’s live music and honky-tonk line dancing
You can’t miss the chance to be part of Nashville’s iconic live music scene. After spending the day touring the city’s most historic musical landmarks, join in the fun at one of Nashville’s dozens of venues. There are tons of free concerts in Nashville, so keep an eye on Eventbrite to see what’s lined up during your trip dates.
There’s also live music played every night along downtown’s Honky Tonk Highway. Nashville’s famous strip is lined with these multi-level country music bars, where you can drink and dance from 10 am to 3 am. Yes, live music will be playing as you sip your cup of coffee.
Some of the honky tonks have been around since the 1960s, like Tootsies, while newer bars have been opened by the biggest names in country music, like Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton, Kid Rock and Miranda Lambert’s Casa Rosa. To avoid the huge crowds, you can have your private party on the river aboard a Pontoon Saloon.
Shop at amazing local boutiques
The first thing you have to buy in Nashville is a pair of authentic cowgirl boots to wear to the honky tonks. Boot Country offers buy 1 get 2 free! It’s the best souvenir of your time in Nashville, and they’ll last a lifetime.
For clothing and accessories, Nashville is an underrated shopping destination. There are countless locally owned boutiques across the city, but especially in 12South and the adorable Georgetown area. There are fun girly shops, like Stoney Clover Lane and Kittenish, and authentic Southern gift shops, like White’s Mercantile.
In the downtown area is Fifth + Broadway, a modern twist on a mall. The huge indoor-outdoor complex has everything you could want in a shopping experience, from premier shops to cute bakeries and delicious restaurants.
Nashville’s unique food and drink scenE
Music City has a unique food and drink culture that fuses Southern comfort food, BBQ, modern American, and international fare.
Amazing bites, from brunch to BBQ and more
When it’s a weekend with the girls, you know there will be brunch! If you’re a bride-to-be or just want lots of photo ops, you’ll want to take your crew to the Hampton Social for brunch. It’s the place you see all over Instagram, with flower walls and neon signs. If you care more about the food than photos, check out my favorite brunch at Milk and Honey or The Mockingbird. The best place for a boozy brunch is local favorite Germantown Café, and for a no-frills Southern buffet brunch (with live jazz!) you’ll want to head to Shugga Hi.
For any other meal, you’ll want Tennessee-style barbecue, fluffy Southern biscuits, and Nashville’s famous hot chicken. These foods are local staples for a reason! There are plenty of BBQ options in Nashville, and it’s hard to go wrong, but I recommend Peg Leg Porker for Tennessee-style barbecue. The pulled pork sandwich is addictive, and they serve the best smoked green beans as a side.
Nashville’s other specialty is hot chicken served with homemade pickles and fries. I had the mouthwatering spicy fried chicken at Bolton’s Spicy Chicken & Fish, where I’ve heard the fried fish is equally good. This isn’t the weekend to go on a diet! 😉
A visit to the South isn’t complete without devouring a biscuit, and Nashville does them well. You can try a biscuit breakfast sandwich at Sky Blue Cafe in East Nashville or biscuits and gravy flights at The Butter Milk Ranch in 12South. The ultimate biscuit meals are served at Biscuit Love, where you can have a savory biscuit-based meal and a Bonut (biscuit/donut hybrid) for dessert.
Fun and unique bars
Any girls’ trip to Nashville needs a night of classic Honky Tonk Highway nightlife, but there are other equally interesting places to enjoy your evening. Just steps from Broadway is Printers Alley, a more local street of alternative bars — including speakeasies and karaoke bars. There are other diverse places to enjoy drinks in a unique atmosphere, like Brooklyn Bowl Nashville. They have bowling, great food, and live music. If some of your girls don’t like the booze, why not go somewhere with lots of things to do?
Nashville’s best accommodation for a girls’ weekend
If you’re looking for all-pink-everything and a massive pink sculpture of Dolly Parton, the Graduate Nashville is a no-brainer. The famous hotel and its rooftop bar are near Vanderbilt University in Midtown.
If you prefer to stay in a hotel closer to the booming Lower Broadway nightlife, The Bobby is an artistic choice, with its rotating live music and art and industrial chic design. Next door is The Dream, a Hyatt hotel, in a renovated historic building with luxurious art deco rooms.
If you’re traveling in a larger group, like for a bachelorette trip to Nashville, consider booking a big party house on VRBO that will fit all your girls!