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I'm arriving by plane to Nashville on the 12th of June......soooo I have some time to kill before I head to Bonnaroo! What are some cool sights to see and things to do for the day! I won't have a car so I'll have to hoof it alot that day! Thanks for any info!
Okay...well, there are a few things that are very unique to Nashville. If you take a cab downtown, you can go to Broadway and go to all of the "honkytonks," which is a strip of bars that play country music of various sorts pretty much around the clock. It's down by the river, and it's a fun place to go walk around for a while. In that general area are the Country Music Hall of Fame, which has a really cool Ray Charles exhibit right now, and the Frist Art Museum, which always has some cool modern art exhibits.
You could also go down to Elliston Place, which has lots of more rock/alt clubs. I would advise that at night, as there's not much going on during the day, but hit Rotier's for the best greasy hamburgers ever, or Cafe Coco, which is open 24-hours.
In that same area is the Parthenon, which is a replica of the real thing. There's a big park there...cool to relax.
Hillsboro Village is also nearby, which has some fun shops and coffee places.
There's also Opryland Hotel, which is cool because there are three huge atriums in the middle, which are full of plants...I'm talking huge. They have little riverboat tours, and it's definitely worth seeing once- but, it's a bit out of the way, unless you're staying close to the airport.
Oh! If you want amazing Mexican food, go to La Hacienda, which is not too far from the airport.
Joga covered just about everything generic. It's still a little early to know about specific shows and/or events. Repost in a few months and we can catch you up on any cool things happening those few days you have to kill.
Post by trippindaisy on Mar 1, 2007 8:46:55 GMT -5
Ahhh the Chicken Chimichanga at La Hacienda - so yummy!! Another good Mexican place is Border Cantina on 21st. If you like Indian food, Sitar is wonderful. Joga pretty much covered it. If you want someone to hang out with, please feel free to PM me here and I would be happy to hook up with you and go out to eat or something. I will be working during the day, but free in the evenings.
Oh and on the subject of hotels - I work right by the airport and here are the good ones nearby: Hilton Garden, Spring Hill Suites, Embassy Suites. There is also a Country Inn which is new and pretty cheap.
Last Edit: Mar 1, 2007 8:49:55 GMT -5 by trippindaisy - Back to Top
Joga pretty much covered everything. I'd hit downtown in the early evening/ late afternoon (take a tour of the Rymann if you can swing it), head over to west end around sunset, catch the Parthenon hang out in the park for a bit, then stroll over to Ellison Place, go to the End, then maybe a later trip to cafe coco for relaxin and people watching.
I love nashville, I hope to move back pretty soon.
Also does anyone know how long of a drive it is from Nashville Airport to Downtown Nashville.....and how much a cab would cost...I have limited funds ;D
Downtown is really cool. Touring the Ryman is a must. That place is amazing. You could check out Demonbreun St. and the whole downtown area, but unless you're into clubbing there isn't all that much to do.
21st avenue is around Vandy. There's always something going on there, also 16th avenue and Wedgewood is by Belmont. There's alot there too.
The Opryland Hotel is a neat time-killer. There isn't alot to do, but there is a pretty cool fountain.
Odds are there will be a concert going on at that time. What better way to prepare for roo, right? City Hall is a nice venue, with the nicest bathrooms in middle tennessee. The ryman is a killer venue. Municipal Auditorium is okay, but i'm not really into stadium shows. The GEC isn't that cool. The War memorial is awesome.
To be honest, Nashville is a great city. You shouldn't have to worry all that much on ways to kill time. I'd be more focused on trying to find enough time in the day to do all that you want to.
Go drink beer at the Flying Saucer. It's a UFO-themed restaurant, but all of the waitresses wear Catholic-schoolgirl outfits. Even though I'm female, I think it's awesome.
Post by trippindaisy on Mar 2, 2007 8:20:29 GMT -5
doodles said:
Also does anyone know how long of a drive it is from Nashville Airport to Downtown Nashville.....and how much a cab would cost...I have limited funds ;D
Thanks
It's about a 15 minute drive. Not sure about how much that would cost in a cab though.
Post by magnoliabread on Mar 2, 2007 9:58:58 GMT -5
My first trip to Nashville, in ´05, a friend and I stayed downtown and took cabs everywhere that weekend. After he left, I stretched my wee few dollars and stayed on my own a couple days.
My advice is TAKE THE BUS! I come from a place with no public transportation and I had a blast once I discovered I could ride all day for 3 or 4 dollars. I even rode out to Murfreesboro and back just for the hell of it. You get to enjoy the scenery, observe the people, listen to your walkman. I believe there are even a couple different routes that stop at the airport.
I forget the names of every place we ate at, but.... The Great Escape and Grimey´s are awesome music stores. I think we each came home with a brown grocery bag full of cds that trip. And I really loved this little shop called Pangaea with jewelry, clothes, and awesome stuff. And for the complete Nashville tourist experience, yes, make sure you take a stroll down Broadway one night and do Tootsie´s and the other little honkytonks!
Post by nashvillekat on Mar 3, 2007 19:59:34 GMT -5
After reading this thread, I had to put in my 2 cents. My advice is to check out 5 points in East Nashville. There are about 6 or 7 bars and restaurants that are super chill and laid back. I often frequent the "3 crow bar" which is a favorite. The alley cat and beyond the edge are also great places to chill and hang out. East Nashville looks a little seedy, but it is starting to reemerge as the underground neighbor"hood" of artists and musicians. It's a great place if you don't dig the college bar scene.
You also should check out the Pancake Pantry for breakfast. it's on 21st and wedgewood if I'm not mistaken. Great flippin breakfast, you might have to wait in line though. And there are some cool shops to check out on 21st there too...and you might catch Ben Folds if he's in town.
I'm coming into Nashville the 12th as well! Haven't figured out hotels (or even flights) yet but I thought why not make the most of it and see some of the south since I've never been...well except for Florida but that doesn't count. Maybe we could get a bunch of us together and explore? Something other than the college bar scene (and not crazy expensive) would be great as nashville kat mentioned.
Go drink beer at the Flying Saucer. It's a UFO-themed restaurant, but all of the waitresses wear Catholic-schoolgirl outfits. Even though I'm female, I think it's awesome.
Post by freedomofmusic on Mar 7, 2007 20:26:14 GMT -5
If you have never been to Nashville and want to do something Nashvillishy and you love live music (as you must), I would say the lengendary Tootsie's Orchid Lounge at 422 Broadway downtown. I'm not into country music and I have never had a bad time at Tootsie's. Old school honkeytonk for sure. A smokey hole in the wall with a tiny stage right inside the front door. Loud. Sometimes even dancing on the bartop. I don't remember ever paying a cover and the beers are resonable ($3-$5, I think).
Also, as said before, the Flying Saucer is about 8 or so blocks away in a beautiful old building, Union Station. I never even noticed the Catholic school girl outfits, I guess because I was too busy looking at all that beer. Biggest selection I have seen in town, but not cheap. Enjoy.
Thanks for all the great suggestions guys! ;D I'm thinking I'll probably check out the Opryland Hotel for sure and then swing downtown and hang at some of the honky-tonks.....then I'll have to hit a store of some kind and pick up supplies for Bonnaroo....cuz I won't be bringing much stuff on the plane! It would be cool if we could hook up with some cool locals and check out some places! Keep it on the cheap though....cuz I'll be broke! ;D
Any ideas how much one of the decent hotels in nashville (near the airport i guess) cost per night? And if this was already answered in another thread, then please point me in the right direction.
Oh also, do you guys think it's worth the time and money to come a few days early to nashville and spend some time checking out the different sites (if any...) or is it best to just come in early Thursday?
Post by dabigfranky on Mar 16, 2007 13:17:53 GMT -5
You can get decent hotels from $110 -$200 a night.To me its worth coming in early because if there is airport delays on Thursday, you might miss some of Thursday bands and fun. A friend and I are flying in Wednesday.Staying downtown which is about 10 miles from the airport. Thats where alot of fun places to see and go are.You know alot of others are going to fly in early and us who stay in Nashville should meet up. Explore Nashville,check out the night seen,then meet up for the morning shuttle.It would be nice to make friends before Roo,have people that could look out for each while we are there,and explore a new and fun city while we are at it.
Post by trippindaisy on Mar 16, 2007 15:09:37 GMT -5
There are a few hotels near the airport that you can get in the $60-$80 a night range - The Country Inn, Spring Hill Suites, Hilton Garden. I am sure there are more. All of them are decent.
Post by bermudahwy on Mar 16, 2007 15:52:39 GMT -5
If you love collecting vinyl, like I do, do yourself a huge favor and go to Grimey's. Best record store I have been to ever! Also say hi to Mike Grimey, a great musician and a good guy. Also there is a good place to see shows underneath called The Basement. I also agree with the above post that if you want great mexican food in Nashville go to La Hacienda, been drunk off margaritas there many times.
I'm moving to nashville the monday before the roo so it might be nice to relax after the big move with some fellow inforoosters. make some friends before the roo begins???
Post by trippindaisy on Mar 17, 2007 21:25:08 GMT -5
nshvllbound said:
I'm moving to nashville the monday before the roo so it might be nice to relax after the big move with some fellow inforoosters. make some friends before the roo begins???
Post by hibouxdufromage on Mar 18, 2007 3:14:36 GMT -5
Nobody here mentioned Prince's Hot Chicken Shack. If you spend any free time in Nashville and don't eat there, you've missed out on the best hot chicken in the world. It takes a good chunk of intestinal fortitude, you'll sweat, you might cry a little, just don't wipe your eyes with your hands after touching the chicken. Soemthing in the spices makes you feel euphoric. La Hacienda is decent mexican food if you're not used to authentic mexican. Five points is the hippest spot in Nashville, Elliston is overrun with Vanderbitches and downtown is crawling with redneck tourists. Ever since Windows on the Cumberland closed downtown, there isn't really any reason to check out Broadway and 2nd.
Last Edit: Mar 19, 2007 4:33:04 GMT -5 by trippindaisy - Back to Top
I'm moving to nashville the monday before the roo so it might be nice to relax after the big move with some fellow inforoosters. make some friends before the roo begins???
What part of Nashville are you moving to?
what i have planned for right now is the hillsboro village area, but honest i don't really have a clue. lol
Post by nashvillekat on Mar 20, 2007 8:42:16 GMT -5
Hi Nshvillbound! I know what your going through. I just moved up here 2 1/2 months ago. I only knew one person. I had just graduated from grad school and wanted to move to a city. We chose nashville, cause we visited over the summer and saw tapes 'n tapes and the cold war kids. being from starkville, it just blew our minds that we could see bands that were practically undiscovered (that was before they majorly got big). So we decide to move up here. I'm pretty happy with the decision, everyone has been super nice. and luckily we decided to move in over in East Nashville. My only friend bought a house in inglewood and we really couldn't afford to rent anything decent there, so we moved south a bit and found a 3 bedroom 1 bath house in Eastland for $650 a month. now the neighborhood can be scary but they are working on that...and we are super close to the hip bars and restaurants at 5 points!!! so welcome to nashville, one newbie to another!!
