Before COVID, Rashna and I used to travel quite a bit with a few biggish domestic trips (4 or 5 days) and maybe one international trip each year. With our first visit to Europe since 2018 booked for the summer, we decided to dust off our luggage and take a 5 day trip to Nashville. It was my first time there and Rashna's second (although the first time she was mostly sequestered in a hotel for a conference). The warmer southern weather we had hoped for never really materialized but we got a brisk preview of spring and the opportunity to explore a new city.
Food: Rashna put in the work ahead of time, bookmarking a raft of vegan or vegan-friendly establishments. There were actually an impressive number and we sometimes structured our day around various culinary experiences. Avo was probably our favorite but we also enjoyed several delicious vegan/vegetarian options at the Assembly Food Hall (a modest walk from our hotel). Other spots we loved: vegan sushi at Blue Sushi Sake Grill, brunch at Milk and Honey, and the coffee at Frothy Monkey.
Music: It took us a while to visit a honky tonk bar on Broadway but we enjoyed it very much when we did. We listened to one of the famed cover bands and were astounded by their skill and repertoire. We spent an evening at the Grande Ole Opry and every single act was amazing. A visit to Printer's Alley and a blues bar was also a fantastic experience. The amount of musical talent in Nashville is certainly not overstated.
Culture: Our hotel was just a few blocks from Broadway which was a blessing and a curse. It was easy to get to the downtown sites but when the evening party crowds really got going towards the end of the week, we could hear the hootin' and hollerin' (and copious sirens) from our hotel. The cacophony of overlapping bands, roving bachelor/bachelorette parties, and a variety of souvenir shops dominated the Broadway area.
The Museum of African American Music turned out to be a real gem and a great place to spend a few hours (and wait out a tornado warning). We also enjoyed the Frist Art Musuem.
Getting around: We walked a lot and especially enjoyed strolling around the neighborhoods of East Nashville. A walk on/walk off tour bus was a good way to see the sites in western part of town and we used lots of Lifts to get to more far-flung spots (the Opry and certain restaurants).
Overall, we had a great trip. Good food, plenty to do, and some of the best randomly chosen music I've ever experienced.
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