What we did…

Hatch Show Print: Letterpress workshop plus a shop in front to buy posters made there, soak in the history of the space and check out some awesome country music posters (316 Broadway)

Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum: A must if you’re into country music- take a walk through the history of the genre, checking out music samples, displays of wardrobes and other memorabilia. (222 5th Ave St)

Nash Trash Tour: Our most favorite thing to do in Nashville! Take a tour through town on a big pink bus with 2 hilarious sisters who rip on everything and everyone, singing and dancing included and you can drink on the tour. Plus, tell Brenda Kay that Rufus the Hipster Archivist from Brooklyn sends kisses her way and watch her faint. (must make reservations in advance- book early!)

Belcourt Theatre: Indie theatre with a great vintage feel. Check out a flick when you’re looking for a mellow afternoon or evening (2102 Belcourt Ave)

Centennial Park: Huge urban park with a Parthenon replica as the centerpiece. Super pretty to wander through on warm days, and a great picnic or afternoon nap location.

Downtown: Wander around the streets of downtown, checking out the famous music venues, like Tootsies’ Orchid Lounge, and all the shops. The Times Square of Nashville, but definitely a must to explore.

East Nashville: Neighborhood with mixed-use areas with businesses to check out- antique shops, art galleries, and restaurants.

On our list for next time…

The Catbird Seat: Make reservations a month in advance for this artistic 9 course meal where the cook decides what you eat that evening. Pricy, but you’re paying for the experience that lasts about 4 hours while you watch the chef cook in front of you (1711 Division St)

Rymon Theatre: You can take a tour, but the best thing to do would be to see a performance to experience the amazing acoustics of this theatre (116 Fifth Ave North)

The Hermitage – Home of President Andrew Jackson: Take an audio tour through the house and grounds of Andrew Jackson- 90% of the furniture and belongings are original. Costs extra, but the scenic wagon ride and guided tour through the Tulip Grove Mansion are worth it. Beautiful place to spend an afternoon! (4580 Rachels Ln, Hermitage TN)

Cheekwood Botanical Garden & Museum of Art: Explore the Japanese Garden and grounds, plus check out the art in the mansion- both with a permanent collection and temporary exhibits. (1200 Forrest Park Dr)

Belle Meade Plantation: Guided tour through the mansion that covers the history of the family and lasts about an hour. Tour ends in the winery where you can sample 4 different wines. (5025 Harding Pike)

Roberts Western World: Honky Tonk bar with great drinks and an old school country feel. Located downtown, so will be mostly filled with tourists. If you’re looking for a snack, try the onion rings! (416B Broadway)

FOOD

What we ate…

Loveless Café: Mmm mmm good! Fill up on tasty southern cooking- famous for their country ham and their secret recipe biscuits. Fried chicken also highly recommended! (8400 Highway 100)

Swett’s: Cafeteria style restaurant filled with everything soul food. Can’t decide? Get a bunch of everything and split it- cover all your bases that way! (2725 Clifton Ave)

Pancake Pantry- Get their early to miss the lines, but worth the wait all the same! Famous for their sweet potato pancakes, but really you can’t go wrong any way you decide. (1796 21st Ave S)

Cabana Casual Southern Comfort Cuisine: Sunday nights are trivia nights with 2 for 1 beer and pizza- how can you go wrong? Huge menu with lots of tasty options- like blackened Mahi over cheddar grits and thin mint cheesecake.(1910 Belcourt Ave)

On our list for next time…

Mike’s Ice Cream: Old-fashioned ice cream parlor with classic flavors plus some fun ones thrown in, like Red Velvet Cake and Nutter Butter (208 Broadway)

Cori’s Dog House: Huge range of hot dogs! Texas toast buns and hot dogs such as the Buffalo (wing sauce, bleu cheese crumbles) and the Maine (onion sauce, onion, mustard, celery salt).(106 29th Ave N)

The Bluebird Café: Open only for dinner/late night, check out a wide range of local songwriters and musicians. Don’t come here expecting to talk, but expect to be moved by the music (4104 Hillsboro Pike)

What we did…

Graceland: A d’uh, must visit! (Elvis Presley Blvd)

A. Schwab’s: Great shopping for locally made and themed products with a traditional ice cream parlor look. (163 Beale St)

Withers Collection Museum and Gallery: Gallery showcasing the photographs of Ernest C. Withers, who was famous for documenting the Civil Rights Movement. Worth stopping in! (333 Beale St)

Sun Studio: Tours of the classic studio, every hour from 10:30- 5:30pm, about 1.25 hrs. At the end, get a chance to hold the same mic used by Elvis, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and many more. (706 Union Ave)

National Ornamental Museum: “It was metal,” says Rufus. Check out a huge range of metal works (374 Metal Museum Dr)

On our list for next time…

Stax Museum of American Soul Music: If you’re into soul music, definitely worth the visit to explore their collection. (926 E. Mclemore Ave)

Pink Palace Museum: Both a science and historical museum- T-Rex, replica of a Piggly Wiggly, huge train set, planetarium, and an IMAX theatre. Fun stop, especially if it’s too rainy to walk around downtown. (3050 Central Ave)

Brooks Museum of Art: Check out what current exhibits they have when you go, worth checking out if the theme is something up your alley. (1934 Poplar Ave)

Full Gospel Tabernacle Church: Church where Al Green has his sermon each Sunday, when he’s in town. (787 Hale Rd)

Peabody Hotel: Beautiful hotel from 1869 that has the “March of the Ducks”- ducks make the daily walk to the fountain in the morning at 11am, and then leave in the evening at 5pm (149 Union Ave)

ROADSIDE ATTRACTION

Statue of Liberation Through Christ: the Statue of Liberty, sans a torch plus a giant cross. (Winchester Rd, Memphis. World Overcomers Outreach, Southeast corner of Kirby Pkwy and Winchester Rd)

FOOD

What we ate…

Dyer’s Burgers: Diner/burger joint that’s famous for deep-frying burgers in their “ageless cooking grease” (205 Beale St.)

The Pig on Beale: Get their ribs! Smokey and tender- they’re amazing. (167 Beale St)

Gus’ World Famous Fried Chicken: Hands down, the best fried chicken we’ve ever had. Your pick of white or dark meat (730 S Mendenhall Rd)

On our list for next time…

Charles Vergos’ Rendezvous: Famous for their dry ribs (52 S 2nd St)

Cozy Corner Restaurant: Cornish hen and more ribs! (745 N Pkwy)

HOTEL

Embassy Suites Memphis: Great rates for the amenities and size of rooms. Indoor pool and hot tub, plus a huge range of breakfast options that includes omelets and pancakes made to order. Cute factor are the ducks and a stream with koi fish in the huge inside courtyard garden. Downside is it’s a bit far from the downtown area, 25-minute drive with light traffic, if that area is your main focus. About $90 a night. (1022 S Shady Grove Rd)

ROAD BETWEEN MEMPHIS AND NASHVILLE

Billy Tripp’s Mindfield: Totally a must if you’re doing the drive to/from Memphis and Nashville. A man’s artistic and bizarre sculptural monstrosity- 3 stories of metal with a canoe, watchtower, bathtub, toy cars, and decapitated baby dolls. Take the time to soak it all in. (344 W. Main St, Brownsville)