We love our kids very much, but sometimes it’s nice to just
Why Did we Choose a Weekend Getaway in Nashville?
Well, we chose a weekend getaway in Nashville because we took advantage of a sale. I’m the family vacation planner, and when Southwest released their flight schedules, I was alerted with an email. We found very cheap flights on Southwest Airlines, and although I really had no particular desire in visiting Nashville, I am so glad we experienced this city. Sometimes spontaneous trips work out!
Where to Stay in Nashville
We rented an
We often try to rent a house when we are on vacation so that we can experience the city a little differently (being in a local neighborhood). Since we were two couples, we ended up splitting the cost of the house, and it ended up being a little cheaper than splitting a hotel room in the middle of the city (plus we had our own rooms). If you have never stayed in an Airbnb, here are some rules for AirBnB visits. If you are going to use the service, be sure to make sure the owner is highly reviewed and read the comments. If you are a first time user, by using my link you get $40 off your first booked trip.
How to Get to Nashville
Nashville’s airport is not very far from the city. We rented a car only because we knew that our rental house was 2 miles away from downtown and we wanted the freedom to explore outside the city of Nashville as well. If you are planning on staying in the downtown area, you really do not need a rental car for your 2 days in Nashville. You can get everywhere you want by walking or taking short Uber/Lyft rides.
Weekend Getaway in Nashville: Things to Do
There are plenty of things to do and see during your couples trip to Nashville. We enjoyed the food, music, sights, and even had time for a day trip. Check out our long weekend in Nashville itinerary. Here are some options for your Nashville weekend getaway:
Eat at Pharmacy Burger
We arrived on a Saturday morning, dropped off our bags, and walked straight to lunch at Pharmacy Burger. The burgers, fries, desserts, and hand made sodas are delicious here! I highly recommend this place when you are visiting Nashville (it is kid-friendly too if you bring little ones along).
Tour the Downtown Area
After our hearty lunch, we took a driving tour around the city. We drove by the Tennessee Titans stadium, some country music sites (Grand Ole Opry, Ryman Auditorium, Country Music Hall of Fame, RCA Studio B), and Vanderbilt University. The Gaylord Opryland Resort is also a great place to explore, as they have a giant atrium, gardens, and even a small riverboat cruise. We are not huge country music fans, so we did not take any tours inside the buildings, but we at least wanted to see some of the sites where country music got its’ start. Many friends of ours toured these places and loved it, but it was just not for us.
Taste Chocolate
After some sightseeing, we decided to attend a chocolate tasting and tour at an artisanal chocolate shop Olive & Sinclair. The tour was pretty interesting, and the smell was fantastic. The tour only happens on Saturdays and it costs $5 per person (very affordable). We made reservations in advance, but
You learn how chocolate goes from bean to bar in their factory. There are samplings along the way too. If you have never tasted chocolate before they add sugar, you need to try this (the raw cacao nibs are pretty terrible). Luckily, they do let you taste their chocolate once the sugar has been added! We tasted white chocolate, Mexican chocolate, and one with bourbon. Their duck fat caramels were also outstanding!
A bar of chocolate at Olive and Sinclair is pricey ($7.50), although if you are a fan of chocolate, I believe it is worth the splurge. It is understandable as they are a small batch, old fashioned,
Go Bar-Hopping
After our delicious chocolate tasting, we decided to return to the house and get ready for dinner, a night out on Broadway experiencing some live country music and bar hopping. We ate dinner at Puckett’s Grocery which served a great Southern
We then walked over from dinner to Broadway, which was the main street where all of the bars are located. Our first stop was Honky Tonk Central. We stayed for a drink and listened to the band cover some classic country and rock songs ( a lot of fun). From there we walked into several bars, had a drink and listened to the band perform for a while. The streets were packed with bachelorette parties and large groups of people enjoying the nightlife. We even had a drink on the rooftop and took in some nice city views.
Eat at Biscuit Love
The next morning we woke up and went to Biscuit Love for some fabulous breakfast. Advice – get there early – we arrived at 8 AM and it was jam-packed with a line outside the door! The good news is that the line moved fast. Once you enter the doors, you are given a menu so that you can start deciding what you would like to eat. You walk towards the counter and order your food. The staff then seats you and your breakfast is brought to you. Besides the perfectly cooked eggs, biscuits and gravy and fresh jam, you must get the “bonuts” (fried biscuit dough served with a blueberry compote and topped with lemon mascarpone).
Go on a Day Trip From Nashville
At breakfast, we came up with a spontaneous idea…go on a day trip. We ended up driving an hour and a half to Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky! None of us had ever been inside a cave before or had ever visited Kentucky (two wins). We had a fantastic time exploring the cave on our ranger-guided tour.
After our cave experience, we headed to downtown Franklin for a late lunch. I had read this was a cute city just south of Nashville, so we decided to explore. We had a delicious lunch at 55 South and walked around the city a bit.
Taste Wine
No couples trip to Nashville is complete without some wine tasting. While eating lunch, I found there was a winery nearby! We visited Arrington Vineyards (owned by country music stars Brooks & Dunn) and had a nice wine tasting in a beautiful setting outdoors.
We were not in the mood for another meal, so we decided on ice cream before we headed back to the house for the night. We ate at the Pied Piper Creamery and enjoyed homemade ice cream and waffle cones! On the drive back, we stopped by the Parthenon replica (unreal that they have one here) and took a few pictures.
Eat at Pancake Pantry
The next morning before our afternoon flight we had one of the best pancakes ever at Pancake Pantry. We had read that the line tends to get long and we needed to arrive early. Needless to say, we arrived before 9 AM and the line was quite long. The people in front of us who were regular customers assured us that it moved very quickly and we wouldn’t wait more than 20-25 minutes. We hesitated but decided to wait anyway. I am glad that we
Visit a Plantation
After breakfast, we decided to visit the Belle Meade Mansion and Plantation. I found a Groupon for half off a group of 4 and we made our way 10 minutes outside the city to visit this Civil War home. The tour was very informative, and we walked around the mansion and other areas around the plantation. We enjoyed taking pictures of the old wagons, stables, and 19th-century buildings. It was a beautiful place. There was even a wine tasting at the end included in the price.
Overall, our weekend getaway in Nashville was a huge success! We ate well, explored the cultural and historical parts of the city, and even took a day trip and explored the outskirts. I highly recommend visiting Nashville for a weekend. There was plenty to do and definitely plenty to eat! For another great food city in Tennessee, check out: Best Memphis Restaurants and Bars.
If you are looking for other great cities to visit for a weekend getaway, check out: Two Days in New Orleans. To check out our other adventures in nearby Tennessee, check out Hiking the Smoky Mountains with Kids and Visiting Pigeon Forge with Kids.
For other romantic destinations we have taken check out these ideas below:
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Nashville looks like a great place for a kid free holiday (That vineyard!). I love having no set plans and hopping on the cheapest flight available, it’s great to have no expectations about a place.
I absolutely loved Nashville when we visited a good 8 years ago! I would simply love to go back!
I’ve had my eye on Nashville for a while but always debated whether to go kid free or bring them with! Looks like a great time kid free 😉
I’ve never been to the US, but I’ve heard so many good things about Nashville. If I go to the US, this will be one of the places I’ll visit, after I do all the other touristy stuff like see the Statue of Liberty, do the White House tour, etc. I think I would enjoy the chocolate tour and bar hopping. Wouldn’t mind some country music too.
As a mother of three, I am DREAMING of a couples trip like this. Will save for future!
We have been talking about going to Nashville for some time now. I will definitely be saving your post for when that happens. I especially have to remember the chocolate place :).
Consign the Belle Meade tour- take their slave tour. It’s sobering and illuminating.
I’ve been wanting to go to Nashville for years now! It’s on the top of my list – especially since I can drive there! Thanks for sharing these great tips for a perfect weekend in Nashville!
I’ve been to Nashville 3 times and it’s my FAVORITE place to visit in the U.S. I haven’t been there without kids yet, but I hope to someday soon. I’d love to go do the tastings and REALLY get to go to the bars. Thanks for the ideas!
Nashville’s a great place for couples! I was initially skeptical that we’d like it as we’re not country fans in the slightest, but the vibe there is just infectious. Great post!