Although most travel destinations are in their off-season, music city never sleeps. In fact, one of the busiest times in Nashville is the holiday season, thanks to cozy accommodations, mild temperatures and the heart of southern hospitality that runs deep throughout the city. Yes, winter in Nashville is cold, but not too cold to explore. So bundle up and get ready to take to the streets of music city!
While planning a trip to Nashville, make sure you book a place right in the city for proximity. If you’re looking for the true Nashville experience, book a hotel or rental south of Broadway. While this is a touristy part of the city, no other neighborhood offers an electric atmosphere of neon signs and music in the air at all hours, quite like Broadway. However, if you’re looking to escape the tourists and indulge a bit more, a trendy neighborhood like The Gulch is for you. You’ll still have easy access to all of the things that make music city so spectacular without the noise, lines or traffic.
Of course, Broadway isn’t all Nashville offers. There’s plenty of worthwhile attractions a bit further into the city such as the Grand Ole Opry, Gaylord Opryland (which hosts tons of holiday festivities), Belle Meade Plantation and so much more. If you’re carless, the city offers plenty of ways to reach city destinations like the music city Circuit, a free bus service, Golf Carts which you can find around Broadway, Pedicabs designed to be hailed just like a cab, or of course for quicker transportation you can always Uber or Lyft.
So, what exactly should you plan to do in Nashville for the holidays? Glad you asked! There are endless amounts of food, activities and places in Nashville, but here are a few you won’t want to miss out on during your stay:
STROLL: This seems obvious, but you won’t want to end your Nashville trip before taking a stroll (or lots of strolls) down Broadway. You’ll walk by The Country Music Hall of Fame, Union Station, the Johnny Cash Museum, Tootsie’s (a honky tonk that has launched the music careers of many artists today) and eventually come upon Riverfront Park, which offers a beautiful view. Bonus points if you’re in town on New Year’s Eve! You’ll get a chance to experience Jack Daniel’s music city Midnight, a New Years’ celebration that takes place down the entire Broadway strip.
TOUR: Grab a cup of cocoa and board one of Nashville’s Old Town Trolleys for an incredible tour experience. It’s the best possible way to see and do Nashville’s most popular attractions. The tours last all day and allow you to hop off and on anytime on the day of your tour for free. There are 15 stops along the route that all drop you steps away from attractions. Plus, the drive from stop to stop is filled with behind-the-scenes secrets and trivia to get you in the music city mindset.
CHOW: Nashville’s dining scene is full of delicious food with a unique twist no matter where you choose to dine. Since Broadway is Honky Tonk Central, you won’t want to miss out on the Honky Tonk Scene. Honky Tonks are hole-in-the-wall type country music clubs, and there’s an endless amount down Broadway such as Nudie’s, Tootsie’s and The Valentine. Of course, there’s plenty of dining outside of the bar scene that’s just as unique. For example, try The Loveless Cafe, loved by locals and tourists alike; the cafe is a southerner’s dream. It offers some of the best country cookin’ in the south and an assortment of eclectic southern-themed shops. Or experience Nashville’s incredible brunch scene by grabbing chicken and waffles at Pinewood Social, a brunch-style cafe/bowling alley.
LISTEN: Do we even have to tell you where to catch a show in Nashville? Nope, but we’ll do it anyway. The Grand Ole Opry! You’ll have to take advantage of your chance to witness such an incredible show while you’re in town. Get into the Christmas spirit at the Grand Ole Opry and plan a trip over November 28, December 5, 8, 12, or 25 to experience Opry Country Christmas. A show full of classic Christmas songs, all sung with a country twist. With the biggest names in country music having performed on the stage, every weekly Opry performance makes history.