The Girls’ Weekend Away Guide to Nashville (in Search of Hot Chicken and Cool Music…)
The Girls’ Weekend Away Guide to Nashville (in Search of Hot Chicken and Cool Music…)
Our Marylyn McLaughlin recently organized a much-needed weekend with dear friends, and Nashville was just the right venue for this close knit group to kick up their heels. Their trip combined immersion in the Nashville lifestyle (drinking beer and listening to country music), sampling old and new culinary traditions of the town, and learning as much as they could about country music…..all in 4 days! Enjoy Marilyn’s recap of their laugh-filled girls’ getaway weekend:
IMG_3327Landing in the heat of Nashville and convening at our beautiful digs, The Hermitage Hotel, we quickly plied our concierge with questions on the best boot store, where to get the true Nashville Hot Chicken, and what honky-tonks were not to be missed. The Hermitage is a genteel, old world hotel, where staff members greet you with Southern charm and a welcoming smile, and you’re enticed to sink into a comfortable chair in its welcoming lobby or to belly up to the Oak Bar for a classic bourbon cocktail. After dancing in your boots all night, you’ll find a wonderful treat waiting at your bedside, as well as much needed bottles of water. The beds were heavenly to fall into!
What were the highlights of our trip, and what should you do with four days in Nashville?
Make sure you see a show either at the Ryman Auditorium or The Grand Ole Opry: That first evening, we had tickets to the Ryman, which had housed the original Grand Ole Opry from 1943 to 1974, during some of the most formative years of country music. We were going to be treated to some of the old and some of the new in the country world. The Gatlin Brothers were the guest hosts for Opry Country Classics. The show was inspirational, featuring Ashley Campbell, Glen’s daughter, Mo Pitney, The Gatlin Brothers, and Lee Greenwood of “God Bless the USA” fame. What struck me most was the pure delight in Larry Gatlin’s face as he watched and sang along to the guest artists’ performances. They were one big joyful family, and they were patriotic and faith filled.
Visit as many honky-tonks on lower Broadway as you can! You don’t have to drink yourself silly, as there is no cover and no minimum drink requirement. Just pop in and enjoy the amazing talent that is present in each bar. Some of our favorite spots were Roberts Western World, Tootsies (rooftop is quite the party), Swinging Door, and Full Moon Cafe. Upon entering Roberts, immediately the mood overtook me. The amazing music coming from the band on the ramshackle stage was enveloping the crowd. We found a spot near the back and ordered a round of Chasers (the local brew) as well as some fried bologna sandwiches. I would not be caught eating this in NJ, but somehow the bologna, and the white bread drenched in butter was like a delicacy complimented by the ice cold beer! The talented artists, from young to not-so-young, had everyone singing along to their infectious performances.
Visit the Country Music Hall of Fame and take the RCA Studio tour. This museum is not to be missed, even if you are not a country music fan. Walking along with an audio guide, you are treated to the history and “characters” of American Country Music, which spurs a walk down memory lane in your own life. Listening to the varied audio exhibits and viewing the displays, I was entranced at how intertwined country music has been in American culture. We spend two hours here, but I could have stayed longer. Highlights for me? The solid gold Elvis Cadillac and the Johnny Cash/Bob Dylan exhibit (who knew they were pals and collaborated often). The RCA tour is very interesting and gives you an opportunity to stand in the same space that Elvis, Patsy Cline, and host of other immortals stood while recording many classic songs. Don’t let the non-descript building fool you – it’s a powerful experience.
Take the Pedal Tavern. The Pedal Tavern is a cross between a bike ride and a bar crawl down Broadway. You are seated around a bar that has built-in cup holders, with pedals below to power the “vehicle”. The vehicle is a surrey of sorts, with a lovely awning, the bar, and most importantly, two good looking young guys who serve as the brakeman and the bartender. It’s BYOB and the bartender pours your beverages along the way. You’ll be treated to an array of country music blaring at a deafening pitch and will surely find yourself singing along at the top of your lungs. I saw the Pedal Tavern on my first day and thought, how ridiculous!!! Well, upon taking our own journey the next day, I thought, how fun!!! We stopped at 3 honky-tonks for about 15 minutes each and enjoyed a PT drink special. It was a great way to enjoy Broadway and I’d do it again.
Have some Nashville Hot Chicken – Go to Hattie B’s and plan accordingly. Hattie B’s is uptown, in “the gulch”. The hours are 11am-11pm and you WILL WAIT in line to enjoy this amazing Nashville delicacy. There are other chicken shacks in town, such as Prince’s and 400 degrees. Make sure you get to one of them and give it a try.
Try out some of the newer, hipper culinary and cocktail spots. We went to Patterson House for cocktails one day. Patterson House opens at 5pm and my advice is to get there early. It builds a line quickly because this “decadent” cocktail experience has become a staple in the Nashville experience. The interior is intimate, with lots of velvet, low lighting, crystal chandeliers, and cozy curved banquettes surrounding an exquisite bar. The cocktail menu is one of the best I have ever seen and the cocktails did not disappoint! Try dinner at Adele’s (a Jonathan Waxman venue), Rolf & Daughters, or 5TH & Taylor, all newer on the scene and excellent culinary venues. Finally, get to Pinewood Social one day for some bowling and a cocktail. This is a kitschy spot that gives you a break from the honky-tonk circuit.
Buy some boots! I bought mine at French’s which is located on 2nd and Broadway. They are service oriented and have a great inventory of western boots. You will find “booteries” all over town, so go in and enjoy the trying on experience. Then wear them out with shorts, a skirt, or some skinny jeans!
There are a host of other things that I did not cover, such as biscuits at Loveless Cafe (which we did not get to), and having some comfort food in any of the honky-tonks. All-in-all, in Nashville, find yourself a relaxing hotel then just get out and play!
Related Blogs
Why choose Travelong of Summit for your Winter Escape?
By Kris T. | Island Vacation
When planning your winter getaway to a warm island, trust us at Travelong of Summit to make your dreams a reality. Our experienced travel experts specialize in crafting personalized itineraries that cater to your preferences. From luxury resorts to adventurous excursions, we handle every detail, ensuring a stress-free and memorable vacation. Ready to escape the winter chill? Contact our travel consultants today, and let us turn your island dreams into a reality. Your warm winter getaway awaits!
Africa… a Magical Journey
By Travelong | Our Blog
Africa… a Magical Journey Africa has become a popular destination for many of our travelers – with good reason! Here we share some accounts of their fabulous journeys. This will surely help others planning to experience the continent…. February 2015, travelers Diane and Ted shared a lively account of their African Adventure with our Ginger Morrissey: The gorilla trekking was absolutely over the top for each of us. That we could get so close and be completely ignored (I think that there were about 11 of us) was spectacular. Cameras were clicking. After our treks, and with lovely accommodations in each place we stayed, we’d arranged for a flight to Ethiopia, to visit the single mom of the student we are supporting through our local private university. Mekdi is now half-way through her junior year, all As, which makes us feel proud for her. I am completely well from the bout of stomach problems, and am waiting for my raised bruise on my right shin to heal after a mother gorilla and her baby came careening down the trail and bumped into me. We’d been warned by Cyn that the way back we would expect slip and slide, but it apparently hadn’t rained for a couple of weeks, so the ground was blessedly dry. No slipping! I wish we’d had time when in Rwanda to see the Memorial Museum as you had suggested. Not pleasant, but definitely part of its history. We did take two hikes up the mountain, and even Ted remarked on how difficult it had been–tiring, but accomplished. That was the easy part. The hard part was when I was standing to the right of the trail when out of the blue came a 350 lb. mother gorilla down the path, and there just wasn’t room for both of us, so her 350 lb. heft bashed into my right shin. The gorillas seemed so passive and secure, knowing that we humans wouldn’t do them any harm. Thank you SO much for making the trip possible. It was just perfect in every regard–even the hotels were spectacular. But the best part was actually being with the gorillas, who seemed to contentedly pretend that we weren’t even there! The babies were adorable! We were knocked over by the luxury of our hotel(s), and the organized drives to the gorilla areas were smooth and positive. It was sad to observe the obvious signs of poverty, but we have been all over Africa in the past, so it was no surprise…only sad. You outdid yourself in providing the best possible experience. Ben was a fabulous driver/guide, and our rooms were comfortable and luxurious. The organization to put all eleven of us in separate vehicles to get to the animals was handled without flaw, and best of all, our gorilla trekking was a “one-off” experience that was made permanent in our memory banks. We definitely had plenty of time to quietly observe the gorilla families in their encampments. Thanks for everything you did to make the trip so positive! The trip materialized beyond expectations. As neither of us had time to read to read Gabriella’s itinerary it was a sequence of delicious surprises. The first day’s “speedboat” ride with Chris to Jane Goodall’s Chimps was the first unforeseen thrill. The next day it was the little plane across the equator into the luscious south. The trek after Uganda’s gorillas was one of the most strenuous hikes I’ve had since my summers in the High Sierra, and WELL worth it. The animals were very real! That morning we met our exceptionally capable and sagacious driver/guide, Ben, who on the next excursion ushered us into Rwanda with illuminating dialog. Our second gorilla trek was fortunately somewhat easier, and just as rewarding, but felt the same back at the truck….. Rwanda was an eyeopener. Nearly as neat as Switzerland, thanks to a tidy dictator, and its infrastructure impressive, the population crunch, as with much of the undeveloped world, hinted at the roots of their genocide, so well dealt with in Kigali’s Memorial Museum. It was hard saying good bye to Ben. He was like traveling with your own professor/Indiana Jones. We regard this expedition amongst our most rewarding, and it’s all your fault! Many & most sincere thanks, Diane and Ted A special trip to South Africa, 2014: Recently, we returned to South Africa on a magical journey (they always are) and wanted to share some of the highlights. SA Airways took good care of us in their Business class section; no sleep but the movies and the service were up to expectation, with French Champagne and a marvelous South African wine. Upon arrival in Cape town, our Ellerman House driver whisked us off to our residence for two nights; unfortunately not more, as this property is everything their web-site says it is – Moet on arrival, cocktails before lunch and dinner and a view to die for. Cape Grace for two nights, elegant, on the waterfront and their car is available for local trips, as in Table Mountain, which was spectacular, as it always is. The Blue Train overnight was fun, the accommodations ample and the food ample, not great – the local wines made up for it. The Saxon Hotel driver met us and transported us to this modern, sophisticated establishment with large rooms and the best restaurant in the country, the 500. Their service is, as expected, impeccable. Onwards to Rattray’s at Mala Mala, wonderful accommodations and the animals always turn out to impress us. Our young, knowledgeable ranger took every precaution to ensure we weren’t the lion’s next meal and it is always amazing to experience wild animals up close. At Ulusaba, the Branson camp, we had an affable, loquacious ranger who regaled us with his many close encounters, mainly with elephants. Their chef, Jess, made every meal a special culinary delight and the view from the property is stunning. Back to the Saxon, then on to Botswana, Savute Elephant camp, where our ranger, Watch, took us wherever game had been spotted and we sighted a pair of lion cubs frolicking on top of a termite mound, determining who was going to retain possession of the fabulous viewpoint. Back to Johannes burg, two nights with relatives and then back home on the non-stop SAA flight. This time I took a sleeping pill and was rewarded with 8 hours – enough to be back at the office on the day of arrival at JFK. As the saying goes: You can never brush the dust of Africa off your shoes… So… I know you will return someday.
Escape to the Allure of Seychelles
By Kris T. | Island Vacation
Seychelles, with its untouched beaches and granite rock formations, offers a unique and remote winter escape. Disconnect from the world and discover the beauty of nature in this Indian Ocean paradise. Dive into the vibrant marine life, hike through lush jungles, and experience the charm of a destination untouched by mass tourism.
