Nashville
Nashville, the music city that never disappoints.
Thanks to the infamous bachelorette and bachelor party scene in Nashville most of us have probably already been, but I’ve going to tell you about it anyway.
Had to snap a pic at this mural in 12 South!
Where we stayed…
Inside our Airbnb
Per usual, let’s talk about where we stayed. UrbanNashville via AirBnb was both affordable and convenient. We stayed right off of 8th Ave, which was close to the famous 12 South shopping district and some great local restaurants!
Most people feel like they need to be in the Gulch or downtown, but I promise you- save your pennies and a couple of miles can leave you plenty of cash to truly splurge when in town!
Bolton’s rec: take it to-go! The hot chicken smell sticks to your clothes… we learned the hard way.
Too bad it was 45* during our visit. This pool area was great!
Where to eat…
Much like most of my other journeys, I like to indulge in a local favorite drink or dish and in Nashville this was no one different. Like any Anthony Bourdain wannabe, first thing was first, go to a place that Anthony Bourdain had visited and of course it was for the Nashville staple: Hot Chicken. If you’ve been to Nashville, you know what Hot Chicken is. Fried chicken with a spiciness that one must try, as it is indescribably delicious. Mild = Hot. Medium = Deadly. Trust me. I thought I could handle it too, but just go with Mild and don’t ruin you meal thinking you’re a badass who can handle the heat!
Bolton’s was on my hit list, and it did not disappoint! This is was to be our first Hot Chicken experience, but certainly not our last.
Bolton’s doesn’t look like much… but don’t let that scare you :)
Here’s a link to the Conde Nast Traveller article on Bourdain’s visit:
https://www.cntraveler.com/story/anthony-bourdain-in-nashville-hellfire-hot-chicken-and-hard-rock
Still eating…
The next day, for a quick and yummy breakfast we visited Proper Bagel practically in the heart of Belmont University. Delicious food and a gram-worthy aesthetic make it a popular option for students and visitors. We opted for bagel sandwiches and a coffee, which were both delicious!
Late night we made a visit to another famous hot chicken place, Prince’s. We got medium spice and it was HOT. I powered through and went for it anyway, but be warned. Another thing to note is that Prince’s was busy! We waited (and our Lyft driver) about 45 minutes for our meal, so just something to keep in mind.
Proper Bagel really knew how to tempt us…
So yum! Be prepared, there could be a line at this place.
Just because :)
& obviously we had to get the donut because #allthetreats.
Explore Nashville…
We spent the rest of the day “Birding” around 12 South and spending money we didn’t have. 12 South is home to coffee shops, boutiques, and a few famous murals. Definitely worth a visit and I’d spend anywhere from 2-4 hours here! Savant Vintage is always a must - at least have a look!
Go do something fun…
One thing I’d call unique about this trip is that for the first time in a while when traveling we made it to an NHL game. The Nashville Predators and the Chicago Blackhawks was a great match up and did not disappoint! We grabbed inexpensive tickets on StubHub the day of and had a blast!
Another fun thing to check out while visiting any city during the holidays doing a little research on the holiday pop-ups that are around town. At Hotel Noelle in downtown Nashville, there was a fun and festive holiday speakeasy that was a fun treat before our game!
Inside Savant Vintage… I mean!
https://explorethegulch.com/go/what-lifts-you-wings-by-kelsey-montague
Storefront of Savant
On our last day, we checked out Frothy Monkey for a coffee and went “Birding” all the way to the Gulch. So much fun!
Frothy Monkey
For a pre-dinner bev, we checked out the Mocking Bird. I highly recommend this hidden gem we stumbled upon in search for dinner! The bartender was great and their cocktails were super fun!
Nashville never disappoints, seriously. Zero dinner reservations, no real plans, & you can still have an amazing trip. Always ask your Lyft driver for recommendations if you’re not sure where to go!
Stay tuned for my travels & let me know your thoughts! (& sorry for the epic delay on posting this one!)
xx, Sami