How to Spend 3 Days in Nashville, TN

A Girls' Trip

Guest Post by Lisa Mickley

There is nothing better than a trip away with a group of girlfriends. If you are looking for a getaway that includes a combination of history, music, and good food … then consider Nashville as the perfect destination. Note: This 3-day itinerary does not include travel days. We traveled from California, so we spent one full day getting there and one full day getting home.

Day One

  • Breakfast at Biscuit Love
  • Grand Ole Opry
  • Orypland Resort
  • Andrew Jackson's Hermitage
  • The Bluebird Cafe

 

Start your day with breakfast! Let’s talk about southern food. Biscuits are a must-do, so why not start with a breakfast of bonuts – yes bonuts! A cross between a doughnut and a biscuit, this is pure carb heaven! Give these a try at Biscuit Love in “The Gulch” neighborhood. The line can be LONG so get there early. If you just want to grab an order of bonuts to go – you can put in an order for take-away. 
Next on the agenda, a Backstage Tour at the Grand Ole Opry. We loved our tour of this historic venue in Music City. The tour lasts about an hour. You learn about the history of the Grand Ole Opry, hear stories of the famous country music artists, past and present – from Minnie Pearl to Garth Brooks. You get an exclusive look behind the scenes of the show that made country music famous! We did not have the opportunity to take in a concert at this legendary music venue – but I would highly recommend it if you can.

While we were in the area, we also went over to the Opryland Resort. We explored the nine acres of indoor gardens, and cascading waterfalls inside the stunning atrium. There are shops and restaurants in this beautiful space as well. If you are hungry – this would be a good spot for lunch.
For all the history lovers out there, Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage (home of the 7th President of the United States), is a beautiful place to spend an afternoon. We toured the historical mansion and the surrounding grounds. Our mansion tour was docent-led, and it was well- done. The gardens were beautiful and peaceful. We could have spent even more time than we did. You won't run out of things to see here and could easily fill a day.



Our Evening Plans… The Bluebird Café

This experience was a highlight for our group. The Bluebird Cafe is a listening room where you can hear songwriters perform in an intimate setting.  We took in an “In the Round” show where the songwriters sat in the middle of the room and shared their songs and stories with us. It was so much fun! Getting tickets for this venue is not easy and it does require some planning. Visit their website and view their calendar. For the show you are interested in seeing, click on the calendar and follow the instructions. If you tend to be a spontaneous planner, then all hope is not lost, you may stand in line for the limited, first-come-first-served, seats they have available. But do plan to be in line at least three hours ahead of showtime.

 
Day Two

  • Breakfast at Barista Parlor
  • Ryman Auditorium
  • Honky Tonk Row
  • Country Music Hall of Fame
  • Hattie B's
  • The Station Inn

Breakfast… because coffee first! Barista Parlor won our hearts! The ambiance was charming, their coffee hit the spot, and those biscuit sandwiches are to die for!

Today was our day to explore downtown Nashville. Our first stop was the historic Ryman Auditorium – where bluegrass was born. This is truly a special place. They have many tours to choose from – we opted for the self-guided tour. We were able to go at our own pace and explore the exhibits at our leisure. Again, if you have a chance to see a concert at this venue, I would highly recommend it.
Next up – we strolled down Broadway, also known as Honky Tonk Row. There are several bars and clubs along this stretch of downtown that play music all day long. There are many to choose from, and we stepped into Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge. We had some typical bar food for a snack and listened to the band. Our favorite part was when one of our own got up to sing, “Friends in Low Places,” with the band – what an absolute hoot!

 

After we were fueled up, we headed on over to the Country Music Hall of Fame Museum. This place is huge, with a ton of exhibits to see with so much history! We loved learning more about our favorite musicians.
We were ready for another snack, SOOO… we crossed another Nashville bucket list item off our list – Hot Chicken! We decided to try Hattie B’s. There was a line, but it wasn’t too long in the mid-afternoon. It was worth it! We tried a few different spice levels, but nothing too crazy. Take their word for it – they do not mess around with spice here.

Evening Plans... Music at The Station Inn

Another listening room experience, we headed over to the “The Gulch” neighborhood to spend some time at The Station Inn. They feature bluegrass music and often have a line out the door depending on who's playing. What a fun place to listen to music, hang with good friends, and sip local brew. This venue is first-come-first-served – so plan accordingly!
 
 
Day 3

  • Breakfast at the Loveless Cafe
  • Franklin
  • Arrington Vineyards
  • The Capitol
  • Dinner at Virago

We started our day with breakfast at the famous Loveless Café – good ole country southern cooking in this quaint roadside restaurant. You will not be disappointed. Loveless Cafe is a true gem that has stood the test of time.
The adorable town of Franklin is rich with history, quaint shops, a historic main street, cafes, distilleries and more. It is definitely worth a visit! You can easily spend a few hours here.
Arrington Vineyards – What a wonderful place to spend an afternoon. Pack a picnic, sip wine and just “be” with good friends. The views are spectacular of the Tennessee rolling hills. We found this to be such a peaceful spot to spend some time in.
 
One last stop to wrap up the day – The Capitol. We were there on a Sunday, so it was closed, but it was still a beautiful spot to take pictures and soak in some of the history with their outdoor displays and beautiful grounds.
Dinner at Virago was a great spot for our final dinner. If you like sushi, you will love this place! The restaurant has a cosmopolitan vibe, and the food was delicious.
 
Where we stayed

We chose the neighborhood known as “The Gulch” for our home base. There were many locations we wanted to see within walking distance from this neighborhood. The streets were lined with cute boutique shops, upcoming and trendy restaurants, and the Station Inn.
 
We found Nashville to be a fantastic destination and a perfect spot for a girls' getaway. What are your favorite things to do in Nashville? What did we miss?

 

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Add Comment
Sarah says... (Reply)
"I think I love all of this - what a really fun trip! Even your breakfasts sound fantastic. I love the look of Franklin in particular, but would have to take in the country music museum too, or otherwise there's surely no point going!" (8/13/19)
Dianne Sivulka says... (Reply)
"Thanks Sarah! I would love to visit again and see more." (3/23/20)
Tamara says... (Reply)
"What a fun spot for a girls' trip! I took my daughter a couple of years ago and we also loved Biscuit Love and the Loveless Cafe -- so much LOVE." (3/23/20)
Dianne Sivulka says... (Reply)
"Hi Tamara - perfect for a girls trip! But I would also like to introduce my family to Nashville someday." (3/23/20)
Elisa says... (Reply)
"Where in Nashville did you take the picture with the map of Nashville, It's so cool." (2/13/23)