Nashville

Airport to downtown(20 minutes)

Uber: $15-20. Hotels downtown or in The Gulch are best

Lower Broadway honky-tonk crawl(3 hours)

Free entry to all. Tootsie's Orchid Lounge (3 floors), Robert's Western World (best for real country), The Stage. Tip bands $5-10/set. Drinks: $6-12

Dinner at Robert's Western World(1 hour)

The Recession Special: fried bologna sandwich, chips, PBR, and Moon Pie for $6. Real country music, no gimmicks

Evening at Acme Feed & Seed(1.5 hours)

Multi-level venue on Lower Broadway. Rooftop bar with river views. Cocktails: $12-16. More refined than honky-tonks

Country Music Hall of Fame(2.5 hours)

Elvis's gold Cadillac, Taylor Swift memorabilia, and interactive exhibits. Entry: $28. Combo with Studio B: $42

RCA Studio B tour(1 hour)

Included in combo ticket. Where 'Are You Lonesome Tonight?' and 'Jolene' were recorded. Stand where Elvis stood. Shuttle from the Hall of Fame

Lunch at Prince's Hot Chicken Shack(1 hour)

The original since 1945. Quarter chicken: $8-12. Start at 'medium' unless you enjoy pain. Order with white bread and pickles. Do NOT touch your eyes

The Parthenon in Centennial Park(1.5 hours)

Full-scale replica with 42-foot gold Athena. Entry: $10. The park grounds are free with walking trails and a lake. 2 miles from Broadway

Bluebird Cafe (if you scored tickets)(2 hours)

90-seat listening room where Garth Brooks was discovered. Tickets: $15-25 via lottery at bluebirdcafe.com. No talking during shows — enforced. Book 2+ weeks ahead

Biscuit Love brunch in The Gulch(1 hour)

Nashville's best brunch. Bonuts (fried biscuit dough): $12. East Nasty biscuit: $14. Line moves fast

What Lifts You angel wings mural(30 minutes)

Kelsey Montague's iconic wings on 11th Avenue. Instagram essential. Free

12South neighborhood walk(2 hours)

Local boutiques, coffee shops, Draper James (Reese Witherspoon's shop). The I Believe in Nashville mural is on 12th Avenue

Lunch at Bartaco(1 hour)

Street tacos in 12South: $3.75 each. The roasted duck is outstanding. Frozen sangria: $10

Third Man Records(1 hour)

Jack White's record label and store. Tour: $10. Record a song in the vintage voice-o-graph booth ($15). Vinyl selection is excellent

Dinner at Hattie B's Hot Chicken(1 hour)

Tourist-friendly hot chicken. 30-60 min waits peak times. Quarter dark: $10. 'Shut the Cluck Up' level is not a joke

Morning in East Nashville (Five Points)(2 hours)

Nashville's creative heart. Vinyl shops, coffee at Barista Parlor (pour-over: $5), and Fond Object Records. Mural-covered streets

Lunch at The Pharmacy Burger Parlor(1 hour)

German-style beer garden with craft burgers. The Farm Burger: $13. Phosphate sodas: $5. East Nashville classic

Grand Ole Opry backstage tour(1 hour)

Daytime backstage tour: $35. Stand in the circle of wood from the Ryman Auditorium stage. See dressing rooms used by legends

Grand Ole Opry show(2.5 hours)

Live radio show since 1925. Tickets: $40-100+. Tuesday, Friday, Saturday nights. The energy of a live broadcast is electric. Book at opry.com weeks ahead

Brunch at Pancake Pantry(1 hour)

Hillsboro Village institution since 1961. Sweet potato pancakes: $12. Line is always long — arrive by 7:30AM or after 10:30AM

Cocktails at Attaboy Nashville(1.5 hours)

Speakeasy-style cocktail bar. No menu — tell the bartender what you like. Cocktails: $15-18. Intimate and brilliant

Dinner at City House(1.5 hours)

Tandy Wilson's Italian-Southern mashup in Germantown. Belly ham pizza: $18. One of Nashville's best

Jack Daniel's Distillery tour(1.5 hours)

Free basic tour. Premium Angel's Share tasting: $20. See the limestone cave spring, charcoal mellowing process, and barrel houses. Book at jackdaniels.com

Lunch at Miss Mary Bobo's Boarding House(1.5 hours)

Family-style Southern lunch in a 1908 boarding house. Fixed menu: $25. Fried chicken, greens, cornbread. Reserve well ahead. Lynchburg's main square is charming

Browse Lynchburg square shops(45 minutes)

Tiny town (population 361). Hardware store, JD memorabilia, and the Lynchburg Cake and Candy Shop

Evening on Broadway(2 hours)

One more honky-tonk night. This time try the lesser-known bars on Printer's Alley for blues and jazz

Breakfast at Loveless Cafe(1 hour)

Legendary biscuits and country ham since 1951. 20 minutes from downtown on Hwy 100. Biscuit plate: $12. Buy preserves to take home

Last King Street shopping(1 hour)

Hatch Show Print (letterpress posters since 1879): prints from $25. Boot shops on Broadway

Hall of Fame(2.5 hours)

$42 combo

Opry backstage tour(1 hour)

$35

Opry show(2.5 hours)

$40-100+

Ryman Auditorium self-guided tour(1 hour)

The original Grand Ole Opry venue (1892-1974). Entry: $26. Stand on the stage. The stained glass and pew seating give church-like acoustics. Check for evening shows too

Germantown neighborhood walk(1.5 hours)

Nashville's oldest neighborhood with restored Victorian homes, restaurants, and the Nashville Farmers Market. Monell's for family-style Southern: $20

Lunch at Rolf and Daughters(1.5 hours)

Modern pasta and wood-fired dishes in Germantown. Hand-rolled pasta: $18-24. One of Nashville's best. Reserve ahead

National Museum of African American Music(2 hours)

Entry: $25. Gospel, blues, jazz, R&B, and hip-hop through interactive exhibits. The Rivers of Rhythm hall is extraordinary

Dinner at Henrietta Red(1.5 hours)

Oyster bar and seafood in Germantown. Raw bar: $18-24. Reserve ahead

Franklin Main Street walk(1.5 hours)

15 blocks of independent shops, restaurants, and galleries in restored Victorian buildings. Named one of America's favorite Main Streets

Carnton Plantation and Carter House(2.5 hours)

Site of the Battle of Franklin (1864) — one of the Civil War's bloodiest. Tour both: $25. The Confederate cemetery and bloodstained floors are sobering

Lunch at Gray's on Main(1 hour)

Farm-to-table in a former pharmacy. Pimento cheese biscuits: $8. Catfish plate: $18

Leiper's Fork village(1.5 hours)

Tiny artsy hamlet 15 min from Franklin. Galleries, antique shops, and the Puckett's Grocery (live music and home cooking). Free Friday night music jams

Music Row walking tour(2 hours)

Self-guided walk past the studios, labels, and publishing houses that made Nashville the music capital. Historic RCA Studio A (exterior), Sony Music, and the Musica statue

Songwriting workshop(2 hours)

Several Nashville songwriters offer workshops for visitors. Nashville Songwriters Association or Bluebird Cafe workshops: $30-50. Learn the Nashville number system and co-write a verse

Lunch at Arnold's Country Kitchen(1 hour)

Meat-and-three institution. Pick a meat (fried chicken, roast beef) and 3 sides from the steam table. Plate: $12. Cash only. Closes at 2PM

Musicians Hall of Fame(1.5 hours)

Entry: $24. Celebrates the session musicians behind the hits — the Wrecking Crew, Muscle Shoals rhythm section, Nashville A-Team. Less famous than the Hall of Fame but more musical

Evening songwriter round at The Listening Room Cafe(2 hours)

Like the Bluebird but with 400 seats. Songwriters in the round performing their hits. Tickets: $10-20. The food is excellent too

Morning at Shelby Bottoms Greenway(2 hours)

5-mile paved trail along the Cumberland River through 960 acres of forest, fields, and wetlands. Bike or walk. Bike rental from Nashville B-cycle: $5/ride

Afternoon reading at a Nashville bookshop(2 hours)

Parnassus Books (owned by author Ann Patchett) in Green Hills. One of America's best independent bookstores

Low-key dinner at Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint(1 hour)

Whole hog BBQ. Pulled pork plate: $14. Redneck Taco (pulled pork on cornbread): $7

Cheekwood Estate and Gardens(2.5 hours)

55-acre botanical garden and art museum in a 1930s Georgian mansion. Entry: $22. The Japanese garden and sculpture trail are stunning. Seasonal installations

Belle Meade Historic Site(1.5 hours)

Former thoroughbred horse farm and plantation. Tour: $24 (includes wine tasting at adjacent winery). The tour addresses the history of enslaved people who built the estate

Lunch at Loveless Cafe(1 hour)

Since 1951. The biscuits are Nashville legend

Natchez Trace Parkway drive(2 hours)

Historic scenic highway starting south of Nashville. Drive the first 40 miles past Civil War sites, forests, and the gorgeous Double Arch Bridge. Free

Nelson's Green Brier Distillery(1.5 hours)

Revived pre-Prohibition distillery in Marathon Village. Tour and tasting: $16. The history is fascinating

Corsair Distillery(1 hour)

Craft distiller doing experimental whiskeys. Tour: $14. Try the Triple Smoke and Ryemageddon

Lunch at Butcher & Bee(1 hour)

Mediterranean-Southern in East Nashville. Whipped feta: $12. Lamb meatballs: $16

Broadway boot shopping(1.5 hours)

Nashville tradition: buy cowboy boots. Lucchese, Tony Lama, and Justin from $150-500 on Broadway. Or vintage at Boot Country

Final honky-tonk evening(2.5 hours)

One last Broadway night. Try the bars you missed. The Wheel at Broadway Brewhouse for craft beer

Final hot chicken fix(1 hour)

Bolton's (local favorite), 400 Degrees, or one more Prince's. You'll crave it when you leave

Hatch Show Print shop(45 minutes)

Letterpress posters since 1879. Prints from $25. They've made posters for every Opry show. Beautiful souvenirs

Farewell dinner at Catbird Seat(2 hours)

Counter-seating tasting menu. 7-10 courses: $115. Book weeks ahead. Nashville's most innovative dining

Ryman tour(1 hour)

$26

NMAAM(2 hours)

$25

Cheekwood(2.5 hours)

$22

Belle Meade(1.5 hours)

$24

Tennessee Aquarium(2 hours)

$40 for both buildings. River and ocean exhibits. The penguins and jellyfish galleries are extraordinary

Walnut Street Bridge(30 minutes)

One of the longest pedestrian bridges in the world. Free. Views of Lookout Mountain

Lunch at State of Confusion(1 hour)

Southern comfort food on the North Shore. Pimento cheese burger: $15

Lookout Mountain / Rock City(2 hours)

See seven states from the top. Rock City gardens: $22. Or hike the Bluff Trail for free views

Graceland tour(2.5 hours)

Elvis's home. Mansion tour: $42. The Jungle Room, trophy hall, and Meditation Garden grave site. It's overwhelming even for non-fans

Lunch at Central BBQ(1 hour)

Memphis dry-rub ribs: $18. BBQ nachos: $12. Better than Rendezvous (locals say)

Sun Studio tour(1 hour)

Where Elvis, Johnny Cash, and Jerry Lee Lewis recorded. Tour: $15. Stand at the microphone. 'That's All Right Mama' was cut here

Beale Street evening (if staying overnight)(2 hours)

Memphis's music strip. B.B. King's Blues Club for live blues. Cover: $5-10. Or return to Nashville (3 hours)

Low-key dinner at Monell's(1.5 hours)

Family-style communal dining in Germantown. You sit with strangers and pass dishes. $20. Fried chicken, cornbread, and 8+ sides. No menu — just whatever they're cooking. Southern hospitality incarnate

Recording studio experience(3 hours)

Nashville has studios offering tourist recording sessions. The Tracking Room, Sound Kitchen, or Nashville Recording Experience: $200-400 for a session. Record a cover or original with session musicians. They'll mix and master it for you

Lunch at Epice(1 hour)

Lebanese-Southern fusion in 12South. Lamb kebab plate: $18

Afternoon at Frist Art Museum(1.5 hours)

Art deco former post office. Entry: $15. Rotating exhibitions. The building itself is magnificent

Dinner at The Catbird Seat(2 hours)

Counter-seating tasting menu: $115. Book weeks ahead

Radnor Lake State Natural Area(2.5 hours)

85-acre lake surrounded by forest. 6 miles of trails. Free. Deer, herons, and the occasional bald eagle. Nashville's best nature escape, 20 minutes from downtown

Lunch at Slim & Husky's(1 hour)

Creative pizza with hip-hop vibes. The Cee-Lo Green (spinach, chicken, pesto): $12. Great playlist

Percy Warner Park hike(2 hours)

2,600 acres with challenging trails and scenic overlooks. The steeplechase course and stone steps up the Allée are beautiful

Evening at The Basement(2 hours)

East Nashville's premier indie/alternative venue. Shows: $10-20. Where Jack White played early shows

Nashville Walls Project murals(2 hours)

Self-guided tour of large-scale murals around the city. Map available online. The best are in The Gulch, Germantown, and East Nashville

Vintage and thrift shopping(2 hours)

Pre to Post Modern (mid-century furniture), Old Made Good (vintage everything), and Star Struck Vintage for Western wear and Nashville kitsch

Lunch at Mas Tacos(45 minutes)

East Nashville food cart turned restaurant. Cash only. Elote: $4. Fried avocado tacos: $4 each. Agua frescas

Johnny Cash Museum(1.5 hours)

Entry: $24. Personal artifacts, costumes, and the story of the Man in Black. The virtual duet experience is moving

Final Broadway night(3 hours)

End where you started. The honky-tonks never close and the bands never stop