Nashville
Tis the holiday season and I know a lot of people are traveling this month. It’s always a busy time since everyone is visiting family and friends or looking to do a quick getaway. I just took a little road trip to Nashville and I forgot what a great city it is! And it’s the perfect weekend trip from Atlanta at less than 4 hours away. If you like live music, great food, shopping and beautiful sites, Nashville is the place for you. If you go in December there are a lot of fun seasonal things to do too.
Here’s a recap of my trip. I partnered with Chevrolet for the experience driving the new Chevy Trailblazer there and back and loved it! If you are in the market for a new car, you should definitely check out the Chevy Trailblazer. It drives so smoothly, is spacious and packed with so many great features like WiFi (4G LTE), Apple CarPlay, and Chevy Safety Assist!
Where to Stay in Nashville
I stayed at two different places in Nashville, which I really enjoyed because it made the trip seem longer and more adventurous since they were located in different areas of the city.
The Belle Air Mansion and Inn
The first two nights I stayed at Belle Air Mansion and Inn which is a Bed and Breakfast located about 6 miles from Downtown Nashville and very close to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Grand Ole Opry. The rooms at Belle Air Mansion are filled with charm and elegance. I stayed in the Paris Blue Room and the bed was so comfortable that I had a hard time getting out of it every morning.
They offer a nice breakfast that is included with your stay, it’s just the right start to your day. Coffee, tea, and meals like French toast with bacon, made with love by the thoughtful staff. And take the time to walk around the mansion because it is filled with history dating back to the 19th century! It can be a little tricky to find but is conveniently located right by the highway – easy access to everything.
Belle Air Mansion is part of Select Registry, which is a diverse collection of independent, boutique properties that deliver a level of personalized service unheard of at chain hotels. Each location is very authentic and offers a completely different experience and is staffed by people who love to take care of you. Their locations are located all over the US so there are so many to check out. I stayed at one in Vermont a couple years ago. Staying Select is all about a warm welcome and the opportunity to relax in the sanctuary of your own private room to create memories that will last a lifetime. Check them out to explore more of their properties.
The Fairlane Hotel – Nashville
And the second place I stayed for just one night was the beautiful Fairlane Hotel located in Downtown Nashville. This is a luxe that gives you all the feels right when you walk through the lobby. It has the personality of the 1960’s but with a modern twist that you’re sure to fall in love with instantly.
They offer incredible service and I think my favorite thing about The Fairlane was that they have several dining options on-sight. There is BAGELSHOP for coffee and bagels in the morning, CHEESE GAL, for wine and charcuterie snacks during the day, and Ellington’s – a must for dinner. They are serving elevated American dishes like Shrimp & Grits and I had the Caesar Salad, Burrata Toast, Harvest Risotto, Bone-In Pork Chop and the Brussels Sprouts. It was a fantastic meal to end the trip! Don’t forget to order dessert, we got their take on Apple Pie and it was stunning!
There is also a rotating themed bar on the top floor, which was decked out as a Christmas bar when I went – called Misfit Bar – so fun!!
The rooms at The Fairlane are modern and classy with the best location if you are looking to walk to some places nearby. Overall, a truly wonderful stay at both places.
Where to Nosh in Nashville
Jasper’s
Located right next to the Graduate Hotel, Jasper’s is a casual eatery serving American comfort food. It’s named after the owner’s beloved Jack Russell Terrier, which I thought was so cute. I was surprised by how good the food here was! I thought it would be good but everything was super tasty! I would recommend the Caulipoppers, Seared Salmon, Steak & “Egg” and the Crème Brulee Cheesecake!
Butcher & Bee
For brunch, I can’t recommend Butcher & Bee enough. Make reservations early because they fill up fast. We sat outside and I loved the ambiance out there. We had apple cider mimosas, Mushroom Breakfast Tacos and the B & B Biscuit with Bacon, all incredible. Great way to start a Saturday.
The Optimist – Nashville
I enjoyed a truly phenomenal dinner at The Optimist in Nashville. There is one in Atlanta too so I was familiar with it but found out that with the exception of two items, they have completely different menus. The Optimist is a seafood-centric restaurant from Chef Ford Fry and Chef Ryder Zetts, located in Germantown. My menu recommendations: Burrata, Smoked Oysters, Mahi Mahi, Scallops, Crispy Cauliflower, Baby Sweet Potatoes and the Gulf Shrimp A La Plancha. I don’t think you can order wrong here though, every dish was amazing and the service was top notch.
Nashville Farmers’ Market
The Nashville Farmers’ Market was a fun stop for a coffee and snack during the day. They have a variety of places to eat and you can shop local produce, coffee and other small businesses.
Goo Goo Chocolate Co
If you’re a sweets lover like me then a stop at Goo Goo is a must. The original Clusters are my favorite, made of nuts, caramel, chocolate and marshmallow. Yum! It’s cool to see where they are made though and you can even have custom ones made there on site!
Where to Get Your Drink On
White Limozeen
I feel like White Limozeen is a must if you have never been. It’s cute and cheesy and Dolly Parton themed. The view is pretty great though and we had fun stopping in for a drink. It’s definitely an Instagram spot perfect for pics and a night out with the girls.
Ole Smoky Distillery
Can you go to Nashville without tasting some moonshine?? Probably but it won’t be as much fun! We did a moonshine tasting at Ole Smoky Distillery that was fun. You get to try 6 different flavors to decide which one/s you want to purchase to take home of course! And they serve some really delicious tacos too so we had lunch there before a day of shopping.
The Rooftop Bar at The Fairlane Hotel
I mentioned that they change the theme every season and they go ALL out with the décor. I went for the Christmas theme which is Misfit Bar and oh my gosh it was so much fun. Christmas music, all the decorations, and plenty of seasonal drinks and snacks. And it’s on the rooftop so you’ll be able to see a great sunset if you time it right.
Shopping
There are so many shopping options in Nashville! My mom and I started off by going to DryBar for blowouts, then to the shops. Some of my favorites were Uncommon James for jewelry, Kittenish ( it’s so cute) and Vici.
Cheers to Nashville – stay bubbly!
*If you are heading to Charleston, check out my recent blog post about my weekend there.