It’s hard to believe this is the first time I’m getting around to writing a Bachelorette post on Nashville, considering my personal love for the city and it becoming the Bachelorette capital of the USA. Even though I’ve gone a handful of times and could have written this (with the help of my Nashville Native Linds) a long time ago, I wanted to wait until I actually attended a Bachelorette in Nashville before posting. As our bride Becca gets ready to get married this weekend, I thought it would be the perfect time to reflect back to #RamsLastRide.
Theme
I don’t think any of us went in with the intention of any particular theme other than two-stepping our way down broadway but then we played Old Town Road, and again, and again, and again. By the end of this ride it was safe to say this was without a doubt our anthem and #RamsLastRide came to life in the best way possible (if only the emoji worked on this site ! 🤘). I don't want to say that we started this trend ... but following this weekend a few Bachelorette accessory websites popped up with Old Town Road themed accessories because Brides gotta 'Bride til they can't no more'.
Where to Stay
Five times in Nashville and I have yet to stay at a hotel, but there are a ton of hotel options for you. But similarly to all of the Bachelorette’s I’ve attended or planned you have multiple options in both hotels or AirBnBs … it is completely up to you and your groups preference.
If you’re going the hotel route I recommend staying as close to Broadway as possible for simplicity sake. Budget friendly Holiday Inn Express has a great location and an outdoor pool. Middle of the road pricing and also walking distance to Broadway is The Hilton (although no pool!) or you can go super lavish for the weekend and checkout The Omni Hotel which is not only all about the location but also has an awesome rooftop pool! Nashville More expensive - The Omni Hotel.
Hotels do typically end up costing a little bit more than the AirBnB route, but it does include daily cleaning service, a pool (especially in the summer!) not to mention you are walking distance to Broadway so can potentially save on Ubers. These are only a couple of options for you, but like I said before there really are dozens that you can find in all price ranges, walking distance to Broadway.
If you opt to go the AirBnB route you will find no shortage of options. The closer you get to Broadway (ie. The Gulch) the more expensive your housing options are vs moving to some of the other popular neighbourhoods (German Town, East Nashville, etc.) the prices * usually * are a little bit more affordable. As for how far away from the action you are … I swear that every uber in Nashville is a 7 minute drive and $10-12 away. And you’ll see below that while Broadway is the most popular, there are some great bar and restaurant finds in these other neighbourhoods as well.
When I went with a group of girlfriends for CMA Fest in 2016 as well as this latest rip for Becca’s Bachelorette we stayed in East Nashville which is a popular spot, especially with the locals (my friend Linds is also an East Nashville native now and swears by it!).
What to Do
There is no shortage of activities to keep you and your group busy day in and day out in Nashville and you can definitely cater it to the vibe your bride wants - whether she wants to go the traditional Bride on Broadway route or is looking to get active or escape the city centre ... Nashville has something for everyone!
Drink Forward Activities:
Day drink on Broadway (see section below)!!
Pedal Tavern - You've heard me talk about this one before in Scottsdale but Nashville was definitely the city that made these popular. Each bike fits 10-12 people so you can do a private tour or accept strangers (there is a strong possibility you will be bff's singing Shania Twain at the top of your lungs together by the end) and costs around $35. There are multiple companies that offer this service like The Sprocket Rocket Party Bike or The Nashville Pedal Tavern.
Music City Trolley - Similar to the Pedal Tavern ... only no work required (unless you count trying to balance on a seat while the vehicle is moving work). BYOB and get driven around downtown and midtown on a Trolley. Similar to the Pedal Tavern they typically make 2-3 stops at popular bars for a drink or two and last around 2 hours. The trolley even picked us up right in front of our AirBnB so no travel was required at the start. Our group opted for the Music City Trolley this last time since many had already done a Pedal Tavern or two. We also opted to skip the bars and have our own Trolley party. Ride til we can't no more was right!
Music:
The Opry is the most obvious. It is a ticketed event that you should purchase in advance. Definitely an experience to check off the ol' Nashville bucket list, especially if there is a big or familiar name playing. Doesn't get too wild but definitely a cool venue to listen to some great artists. For this last Bachelorette we were lucky enough to see both Kelsea Ballerini and her husband Morgan Evans! Besides the Opry if you want to hear good music you can pretty much find that anywhere. From the endless bars on Broadway to the world famous Blue Bird or see other talented artists at The Listening Room or Whiskey Jam (check out their instagram pages to learn more) ... Nashville is nicknamed Music City for a reason! There are also often ticketed concerts at Bridgestone Arena or you can attend the infamous CMA Fest the first weekend of June each year (loved it the one year I went but be prepared for prices to sky rocket).
For the music afficianodo you can check out the Country Music Hall of Fame located just off of Broadway or attend Sirius XM's the Highway Music Row Happy Hour with Buzz Brainard at Margaritaville each Friday afternoon for a chance to get your two minutes of fame on the radio!
Sports and Athleisure:
- My personal favourite activity in Nashville is Top Golf aka the ultimate driving range experience. No golf experience is required, but Top Golf is a fun way to do something a little bit different. Book a bay or two that comes fully equipped with your own personal bartender, order a round (or several) and take some swings. One bay fits up to 6 people and costs around $40-50 USD for an hour. This is great for Bachelor parties too!
- Any Bachelorette fans can check out 'Boothcamp Gym' ie. Shawn Booth's (swoon) gym. If you really want to see Booth himself you can book a special class that he teaches for $50 USD. Word of warning, this is definitely less athleisure and more straight athletic. You will sweat!
- If you like Yoga and animals you might want to check out Goat Yoga. I can't speak from experience but yes, it really is doing yoga with baby goats!
- The Nashville Predators and Tennessee Titans facilities border Broadway on either end. While I have yet to go to a Titans game and tailgate, if you find yourself in the city early on in the season there is definite fun to be had. The Preds on the other hand I've been lucky enough to watch a few times over the past couple of years and let me just say that arena is electric! I love the goal song and while the Leafs have my heart, you can't help but love Music City's passion for their Preds!
Shopping:
Check out 12 South to knock off a lot of the main shopping spots in Nashville. Draper James (Reese Witherspoon's spot), White’s Mercantile (cute t's and great gifts), Madewell (my favourite jeans and some great accessories) are all found along 12 South.
You can also check out these other shops that are famous for their owners - Kittenish (Jesse James Decker) and Uncommon James (Kristin Cavalari) for cute and dainty jewellery.
Other:
Arlington Vineyards - About 25 minutes south of Nashville but you had me at vineyard. Bring your own wine and cheese and set up a picnic for your group on the front lawn. Live music, great atmosphere and beautiful scenery. It is worth the drive away from the hectic streets for an afternoon.
12 South Mural Tour - You aren't a Bachelorette in Nashville if you don't head down to 12 South with all the other Bachelorettes and line up to get your photo taken with the I Believe in Nashville mural. But make sure to check some of the side alleys as well to find a bunch of other hidden gems.
Where to Eat & Drink
I know that Nashville has an incredible food scene, however I’m pretty terrible and never truly capitalize on it. Five times and I have yet to go to Hattie B’s or The Southern (both at the top of the list when you ask for recommendations) and I tend to blame that on the second part of this list (ie. The Drinks) being a priority. That being said this list is curated from the amazing locals I am so lucky to call my friends along with my own personal experiences.
Brunch:
Cafe Roze - a cute cafe in East Nashville.
Flipside - owned by a Canadian and serve Caesars!
Milk and Honey - in the Gulch and one of the top brunch spots in Nashville
Josephine’s - located on 12 South so you can pop by this brunch spot before you go shopping or mural hunting.
Loveless Cafe - a little bit a jaunt outside of town, but a popular spot without a doubt. The Loveless Cafe is the old Loveless Motel where it was rumoured that people would meet for affairs. While I do not condone this (especially as I write a wedding blog), the food is quite incredible and worth the short commute out of town. Be prepared for a wait, but no worries there is lots of grassy areas to hang out as well as a little shops in the converted motel rooms.
Dinner:
The Southern - on the higher end but an absolute Nashville staple.
Martin’s BBQ - walking distance to Broadway.
Bakersfield - Hidden gem, just off of Broadway. Great for tacos and margaritas.
Butchertown Hall - Slightly higher end BBQ. Go early, because everything is fresh, once it is gone it is gone.
Sunda (sushi) - Supposed to be the best sushi in all of Nashville!
Barcelona Wine Bar - great for charcuterie and wine if you've had your fill of BBQ and beer.
Anytime:
Bar Taco - sorry, not sorry but this just might be my favourite go-to spot in Nashville. I make it a point to stop by for lunch or a mid afternoon taco and margarita session. Linds introduced this gem to me on my first trip out to Nashville and I have gone every time since. This last time I was lucky enough to introduce our bride and a few of the girls to the spicy marg. What else was spicy about this two hour hangover cure … the conversation. I don't know if I have ever laughed so hard or felt so bad for the poor timing of our server ... but I’ll leave it at that!
Daytime Drinks
BROADWAY (obviously!) - anywhere that has a really great patio! Tootsies is my personal favourite for daytime fun but you can also check out the patios at ACME, FGL House, Jason Aldean’s, Luke Bryan’s … the list goes on. Seriously our favourite couple of hours from #RamsLastRide was a last minute rip at Tootsie’s where the sun was shining, the beer was flowing, the music was pumping and good times were had by all! I think every time I’ve gone to Nashville some of my favourite moments have been with good people on the top of this purple beauty!
Pinewood Social - for those seeking Pinterest worthy drinks and backdrops, Pinewood Social is your place to go. While the drinks are not cheap, you’re definitely here for the photos and the atmosphere. A little backyard Oasis with Bocce Ball, faux grass and colourful seating, you’ll definitely enjoy a couple of hours here. There’s a pool here if you need to escape the heat but if the weather is not so hot out you can always book a lane and go bowling. The food here is great as well if you would rather take the brunch route. We enjoyed a nice couple of hours drinking them dry of their Babe Rose before heading to Broadway.
Night Time Drinks:
BROADWAY (yes, you will be back here!) - There is a good chance you’ll stumble into many of the same buildings you did during the day (if you can remember!); Tootsies, Stages, Honkey Tonk Central! Plus many of the guys of country seem to have their own bars today: FGL House, Luke Bryan’s, Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row, Jason Aldean’s, Kid Rock … this list goes on. The best part of Broadway and Nashville in general is that there is no cover so you can really just walk up and down the street and find the vibes that work best for your group. No matter where you go you’ll hear incredible musicians playing the best music and so many great people who are looking to have a good time.
Broadway can be super touristy, but there is no denying its ability to generate a fun time. For those of you who want to step outside the Broadway strip there are a lot more options out there for you!
Santa’s Pub - a popular amongst locals. Known for its dollar beers, cash only, karaoke and an owner who very much resembles St. Nicholas himself. Definitely check it out, but don’t be surprised if your tone deaf group hits the stage before some really talented musicians (Linds says that Ed Sheeran and Kacey Musgraves stop by when they’re in town!).
LA Jacksons - a beautiful rooftop patio at The Thompson Hotel that has cute string lights, looks out over the strip and stirs up some delicious cocktails. Slightly more expensive but worth it for the instagram worthy shots.
Urban Cowboy - an East Nashville gem that the locals swearby. I won’t go into details about the private house party Linds and I stumbled upon as we attempted to locate Urban Cowboy, but when we did ultimately find it we were greeted by amazing fire pits and great cocktails.
Pearl Diver - another popular bar with the locals with a great outdoor patio.
Trust me when I say there is no shortage of food, drink and good times in Nashville. Plan for a day of recovery because you will absolutely need it!
Budget
Nashville can cost anywhere between $1100-$1800. The biggest variance in budget depends on your accommodations and how you choose to get there - fly or drive. After the ride home from CMA Fest (picture 8 girls running on 3 hours of sleep in the car together hungover for 14 hours …) I swore I would never drive to Nashville again. Fast forward 4 years and here we are driving again. You can definitely get affordable flights, I typically pay $4-500 for a round trip with West Jet and it is so quick and convenient, however when we were booking flights for May Long they were up around $7-900 with layovers! And to be honest the ride wasn’t that bad. The three of us had enough space and junk food to get us through the 12 hours, not to mention a solid playlist that Jenna pulled together.
Travel (drive from Toronto): $250 gas (split between 3 people = ~$80 each)
AirBnB: $300 (each)
The Opry Ticket: $70
Music City Trolley: $50
Drinks: $300
Meals: $200
Ubers: $40
Bach Supplies: $30
Misc: $50
Nashville has overtaken Vegas as the Bachelorette capital of the world and without a doubt every Thursday/Friday the female population spikes signifcantly as the bride tribes arrive via planes, trains and automobiles. But more and more the guys are getting smart (similar to girls and Scottsdale) and starting to flock to Nashville for their Bachelor parties.
I've never not had an amazing time in Nashville and there is definitely a reason that it is one of my favourite places to travel for the weekend and I hope your bride loves it as much as I do.
Cheers to #RamsLastRide, Sinead, her MOH for planning a fab weekend and an extra special Cheers to the happy couple who will be married in less than 48 hours <3
xx
Nicole
ps. Thanks to Linds for helping to curate the contents of this blog! Can't wait for my next visit :)
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