Country music, whiskey and not a care in the world made for a great mini vacation. Since we can't get enough of "my-wife-left-me-and-my-dog-died" country music, Nashville was the perfect place to visit. The flight was quick and cheap, the hotel was a block away from Broadway (the main strip), downtown was a 20 minute Uber ride from the airport and southern people are just nicer than us northeastern folks.
We went for three nights which was plenty of time. Unless you really enjoy museums, this city is truly for drinking, listening to music and partying... and buying cowboy boots... and none of us should be drinking for more than three days straight. The main strip (really the only strip) is lined with bars and restaurants with their doors open and music pouring out all day long, stores filled with cowboy boots and a few souvenir shops. That's it. But you're not going to find better music anywhere... nearly everyone plays the guitar and sings in that place.
We are not the museum type so we limited our tours to backstage at the Ryman Auditorium. So cool to see the dressing rooms country artists from today and the past prepare for shows in, to stand on the stage they perform on, to look out into the stands and see what they see (except they actually see people in the seats). We walked into the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and decide to walk back out... because let's be honest, we jumped on the country band wagon when everyone else did and don't know the majority of the legends they talk about in there.
One of our days in Nashville, we rented a car and drove a little over an hour to the Jack Daniels distillery... you gotta go here if you're in Tennessee. This place made me a new person. Before, I wouldn't touch whiskey with a ten foot pole. After, I was ordering whiskey at the bar. Weird. I think it was the old man who did the distillery tour that made me appreciate this stuff. Talk about a southern draw and a man's love for "Tennessee whiskey."
The distillery is in Lynchburg, TN which is a dry county... meaning you can't buy alcohol... ironic. But that Jack Daniel was clever and so you buy the bottle and they give you the whiskey as a gift... what a nice guy. The little town looks like it's straight out of a country-western movie.
We even stumbled (not drunk stumbled) upon City Winery which was rustic and beautiful inside with yummy wine and food. And then they told us one was opening in Boston!
We went for three nights which was plenty of time. Unless you really enjoy museums, this city is truly for drinking, listening to music and partying... and buying cowboy boots... and none of us should be drinking for more than three days straight. The main strip (really the only strip) is lined with bars and restaurants with their doors open and music pouring out all day long, stores filled with cowboy boots and a few souvenir shops. That's it. But you're not going to find better music anywhere... nearly everyone plays the guitar and sings in that place.
The distillery is in Lynchburg, TN which is a dry county... meaning you can't buy alcohol... ironic. But that Jack Daniel was clever and so you buy the bottle and they give you the whiskey as a gift... what a nice guy. The little town looks like it's straight out of a country-western movie.
Don't worry, I didn't get whiskey-drunk and punch Ben in the eye... this time it was an eyelash that did it.
Remember I talked about stores filled with cowboy boots? Everyone and their mother were buying them. I felt like such a hypocrite being from Boston and all but obviously we spent plenty of time shopping for boots (while I was wearing Sperrys). They are so comfy and, well, everyone else was doing it. Literally almost two hours picking out and trying on boots until we both finally had a pair we liked. Then got in line, looked down at what we were holding, and realized we were never going to wear these $300 boots and walked out empty handed!
We also went on a ghost tour, ate the world's best macaroni and cheese, frequented the candy store and danced our little hearts outs. If you get a chance to visit, definitely go in the spring or fall when it's not so hot. Also, try to book a trip during the week - the bars are still busy and fun but not overwhelming. We were heading home on Friday afternoon and the lines for bars and restaurants were already down the street. The Bridgestone Arena is on Broadway so maybe plan your trip around a hockey game or show. Oh yeah, rent a car and visit Jack Daniel's... it'll change your life.
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