After a recent visit to Music City, we have fallen in love with downtown Nashville. This southern town has the perfect mix of nightlife, parks, food, and music! Read our must see spots in Nashville and plan a trip for sunnier days ahead.
Downtown Nashville is everyone’s go-to and for good reason. The town known as Music City has something going on just about any time of day. Take a walk down Broadway and off the side streets and you will be met with the sound of acoustic guitars and the twine of a banjo from an open Honky Tonk door. We are told the real action starts after 9pm at the earliest, but for those who are not nightowls, there are plenty of activities during the day at Honky Tonks and restaurants alike. If you’re looking to fit in a bit more, there’s a million boot stores to choose from. We were shocked to see buying one pair and getting two for free is the usual. Maybe one pair of crazy colorful ones, one pair of normal ones, and one for a friend?
Nashville is known for their music, and for good reason! There are a ton of cool music venues to visit while you’re in town. The Grand Ole Opry has been open since 1925 and is known to host performances by some of the most notable country stars. Guests can also visit the Ryman Auditorium and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, where many country music award shows are typically held.
Nashville also has a ton of great colleges to tour if you’re interested! Our favorite to visit was Vanderbilt University – the campus definitely does not feel like you’re in downtown Nashville! There are trees and grass and beautiful stonework that is a perfect hybrid of Nashville and the many parks in the area.
A really cool feature of Nashville? There is a full-scale replica of the Parthenon in Athens, reconstructed in Centennial Park. The Parthenon was originally built alongside an array of other impressive buildings for Tennessee’s 1897 Centennial Exposition! Put together by many super talented artists, all the stone work was cast directly from existing statues from the Parthenon in Athens or replicated through intensive historical research. Upon entering, guests are met with an extensive history of the Parthenon from the original exposition to its inclusion in the movie Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief. Amongst the fun facts and important dates lie silverware, souvenir glassware, and photos donated by various visitors through the ages. The Parthenon in Nashville also serves as an art gallery, proudly displaying works donated by James M. Cowan throughout the first floor. If you head up the stairs, you’ll be met with what this author thinks is the most impressive room in existence. The super tall ceilings not only work to accommodate the equally tall doors that can only be moved by way of pull-track,
but also a 42 foot tall statue of the goddess Athena! Fun fact, in her hand she holds a statue of the goddess of Victory, Nike, who looks tiny in Athena’s hand, but is actually over 6ft tall! This park is a must visit. Even if you don’t want to go check out the inside of the Parthenon, the park offers beautiful landscaping and trails to take a stroll through.
Where to Dock
Commodore Yacht Club
Commodore Yacht Club is about 10-15 minutes from everything mentioned in this post! The marina offers a variety of amenities – everything you would need during your stay without venturing out, though we definitely recommend it. The marina is also along the Great Loop for those interested in a quick pit stop or a long stay on their journey South or North.
Whatever you’re looking for on your southern vacation, Nashville has it all! Make sure to add this city to your future plans.
Please note: At the time of publishing, due to the rapidly changing situation from the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) throughout the United States, the marina(s) mentioned in this blog post may already be temporarily closed or will close temporarily due to limitations in place by local government authorities.
If you need any assistance making a future reservation or altering an existing reservation, please email hello@snagaslip.com.
