How to spend a perfect weekend in Nashville

10.09.2024 - 01:37 / lonelyplanet.com / Johnny Cash

Sep 9, 2024 • 5 min read

While country music and southern charm make up a good part of Nashville’s DNA, the growth taking hold of Tennessee’s booming capital is attracting artists, developers and hospitality giants from around the country who are adding their worldly flavor to Nashville’s signature down-home style. Here's how to spend a perfect weekend in Nashville.

A two-day stint in the city is just the right amount of time to get a taste of Nashville’s past and its current evolution into a major metropolis. From standing-room-only honky-tonks to swanky rooftop cocktails, Music City wraps up the thrills of big city living in a southern-fried package that just might inspire a return visit.

In Nashville, the early birds get the pastries. That’s because the line at 12South’s The Butter Milk Ranch often winds around the building, so getting there a few minutes before it opens is your best bet for scoring a table or a seat at the counter. Once you’re in, order some of the larger-than-life pastries from the bakery – like salted honey butter croissants, matcha pistachio lime tarts and “Lil’ Deborah” oatmeal cookie sandwiches the size of your head – to go with your ricotta scramble or to take on the road.

After fueling up, make your way downtown to the Ryman Auditorium, a church-turned-concert-hall that originally housed the Grand Ole Opry radio show. This is where Johnny Cash met June Carter and a teenage Elvis attempted to launch his career; it’s the stuff of music legend. Tours start at 9am, but you should purchase tickets a few days ahead of time to secure your spot.

Take a five-minute walk from the Ryman to the Johnny Cash Museum, which houses the most comprehensive collection of memorabilia and artifacts dedicated to "The Man in Black." The space isn’t overwhelmingly large, so you’ll have time to pop into the Patsy Cline Museum directly upstairs and explore the history behind one of country music’s legendary singers.

Continue another five minutes east to the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge and take in the sweeping views of the Cumberland River. It’s also prime real estate for spectacular photo ops – no filter required.

Now that you've walked off that Lil’ Deborah cookie, top up the tank with a visit to Pinewood Social, a comfy hang located in the city’s former trolley barns. Inside, you’ll find plenty of activities to keep your attention – from a bowling alley to a wading pool – alongside hearty salads, sandwiches and grain bowls.

Even if you’re not a country music fan, the Country Music Hall of Fame is definitely worth a few hours of your day. Kids can get crafty in the Taylor Swift Education Center while the adults marvel at Elvis' gold Cadillac and Hank Williams’ Western-cut suit. Don’t miss the Hatch