Nashville Off the Beaten Path

So you’ve probably read a ton of other blogs and seen too many Instagram or TikTok posts about Nashville things to do like visiting the Grand Ole Opry and the Gaylord Opryland, dancing in bars on Broadway, visiting the Country Music Hall of Fame, going to a show at the Ryman Auditorium, listening to live music at the Bluebird Cafe, walking down Music Row and experiencing the history of RCA Studio B where Elvis and Dolly Parton recorded hits, taking in the grandeur of the Parthenon (a full scale replica of the original in Athens Greece), and walking through the campuses of Vanderbilt and Belmont. So we aren’t going to cover the above must-see and dos in Nashville because everyone else does. Instead, we are sitting down with a local to get some more interesting and unique things you can do on your next trip to Nashville and the surrounding area. Without further ado, here is our Nashville Off the Beaten Path with a local guide! 

My brother has lived in Nashville for 12 years which means we have an inside perspective into fun things you can do in the city that aren’t touristy. We’ve visited over the years and love experiencing the local things now that we’ve experienced the touristy things. We are hoping your next visit to Nashville will be equally as enjoyable. If you’re looking to visit Nashville, here are some off the beaten path things you can try by area: 

Downtown – Nashville Off the Beaten Path

Downtown is probably most famous for all the bars on Broadway. Yes, you can catch some amazing live music there but in recent years it’s been inundated with so many bachelorette parties and insane parking fees/traffic. 

Our recommendation for live music is The Listening Room Cafe. You’ve probably heard of the Bluebird Cafe from the show Nashville. It’s famous for songwriters performing their own original songs in a small intimate environment. Taylor Swift got found there when she was just 14 years old and you can often catch famous people in the audience. Due to this fame, it’s really crowded and the lines are super long for the few tables inside. So our recommendation is to check out the Listening Room Cafe. It’s easier to get tickets and the music is absolutely incredible. They have some free live shows during the day and night shows are decently priced. Check out their website for more details. You often won’t find big names or headliners, but you will find the songwriters who write for the famous. Also don’t miss the food, it’s actually quite good! 

While you’re in the area, check out a show at the House of Cards for a magic show and dinner. I know what you’re thinking, but honestly it’s so well done and so professional. We were amazed at the up close sleight of hand tricks and all the shows come with dinner. It’s inside the Johnny Cash Museum which makes for a great night for dinner and a show! 

The Gulch – Nashville Off the Beaten Path

Just a few blocks southwest of downtown is the fun neighborhood called The Gulch. Think glitzy downtown chic apartments, new buildings, amazing restaurants, and a trendy neighborhood. 

If you are looking for something other than country music, check out Rudy’s Jazz Room. It’s cozy, romantic, dark vibes are perfect for a date night. The jazz music is absolutely incredible. It’s closed on Tuesday but open every other day of the week so add it to your schedule! Speaking of different varieties of music, The Station Inn, just a few blocks away has some of the best bluegrass music in town. This quaint, cozy, intimate venue gets you right up close and personal with some of the best bluegrass musicians. It’s the perfect way to experience a different side of Nashville. These two locations seem to be from a different era as they look so different than the new flashy buildings around them.

East Nashville – Off the Beaten Path

East Nashville is a great alternative to Broadway with funky bars and live music. It’s a bustling neighborhood with a cool contemporary vibe. It’s a pretty hip area. The Basement East is a great place to check out some live music as the venue hosts nightly shows. 

We love the restaurants in this area. A few recommendations are: The Pharmacy Burger serves burgers and bratwurst. Their buns are made from Frothy Monkey (another cool coffee shop you should check out). With house made sauces and handmade sodas, it’s a delicious meal! If you are looking for fun Mexican food, Mas Tacos Por Favor has amazing tacos including the fried avocado taco and we love their Saturday morning chilaquiles on their colorful outdoor patio. Another delicious spot is Rosepepper Cantina which has won Nashville’s best Mexican Restaurant and best margarita 11 years in a row! Don’t forget to check out their billboard for silly, funny sayings that change so often they have their own Instagram account (https://www.instagram.com/therosepepper/) If you’re craving Japanese, check out Two Ten Jack. This ramen inspired pub is a cozy spot featuring small plate sushi, ramen, and other flavorful main dishes. Top off your meal with some dessert at Brightside Bake Shop. It’s a small batch artisan bakery featuring flaky pastries like croissants, tarts, and Danishes. You won’t regret it. 

If you haven’t gotten your fill of sweets yet, check out Olive and Sinclair for delicious chocolate treats. They have weekly factory tours on Saturdays to see how the chocolates are made. Their shop includes samples! Pro tip: try their Mexican-Style Cinnamon Chili Chocolate Bar and their Duck Fat Caramels. You won’t regret it. 

Germantown – Nashville Off the Beaten Path

Known for its Victorian architecture and one of the oldest neighborhoods in Nashville, this historic neighborhood is super walkable. There are lots of amazing restaurants, but we recommend Monell’s. This family style, all you can eat restaurant is a fun experience. Located in an old Victorian house, you feel like you’re eating grandma’s good old home cooked meal. Check their website for daily menus as there is only one thing served every day with all the sides and as much as you want! If you want a little more upscale, check out Butchertown Hall for upscale tacos, BBQ, and great vibes. 

If you want a unique shopping experience, check out Marathon Village. It’s an old automobile factory turned into a trinket and gift shopping area. They kept the history of the factory with old cars and parts on display amidst jewelry stores, leather goods, antique shops, and general store vibes. While it wasn’t our favorite type of shopping, if you enjoy automobile history, it’s worth checking out. 

Restaurants with Multiple Locations 

There is no doubt who started the famous Nashville Hot Chicken, that honor goes to Prince’s Hot Chicken founded in the 1930’s. However, by far our favorite place to get Nashville Hot Chicken is Hattie B’s Hot Chicken. They have multiple locations throughout Nashville and the surrounding area so try the one closest to you! Pick your level of spice but just be aware that the Shut The Cluck up is too hot to handle. If you want some delicious BBQ, check out Edley’s Bar-B-Que. With multiple locations around the area, you’re bound to devour a delicious brisket or rib platter when you need that BBQ fix! 

If you want to venture outside of the city area, check out these off the beaten path things to do near Nashville. 

If you are looking for any sort of ethnic food or grocery store, take a drive down Nolensville Road (officially named Nolensville Pike but locals don’t call it that) from Interstate 440 on the northern end to Highway 254 on the south end. You’ll find communities of people from all over the world including Kurdish and Mexican and people from Bhutan, Burma, and Rwanda. Everyone brings their local culture and shares it here. We recommend Edessa Restaurant Kurdish Turkish Cuisine! The mix grill has the most delicious meat, so juicy and flavorful while the pide was better than the pide we had in Turkey. The crust of the pide was incredible! 

Radnor Lake State Park is located just 10 miles south of Nashville. It has almost 8 miles of beautiful hiking trails that really makes you feel out of the city. There are many opportunities to see wildlife with the lake and forests. If you want to give yourself an extra challenge, add on the 1.6 mile trail called Ganier Ridge Trail. Pro tip: visit on weekdays if possible as weekends get really crowded and parking gets difficult.

Most tourists only go to the Percy Warner Park Allée due to the massive limestone steps that’s not only a fun photo stop but also makes for a great workout walking to the top. But we’ve found the hiking trails behind it like Mossy Ridge Trailhead and Harpeth Woods Trailhead are more adventurous with fewer people. The trails are really well marked and range from paved to unpaved. The trails also intersect at multiple places so it’s easy to jump from one to the other or get off the trail wherever you’d like. We love this area as well because it’s fully shaded which makes it a great place to do some hiking in the summer. 

If you want a real local experience, check out the Full Moon Pickin Party at Percy Warner during the summer. For $25, you can get a ticket to watch the main stage shows. But pickin parties pop up all around so bring your own instruments to jam along. 

If bicycles are more your style, check out the Music City BikeWay. This 26 mile long route uses both greenways and city streets to get you from one side of the city to the other. It’s a great way to take in the city via bike. 

Leipers Fork is a quaint, folksy, small town. It’s famous for many singers and songwriters who have written music here. Many celebrities either have homes down here or spend time here so you could even run into people like Justin Timberlake or Chris Stapleton. While there aren’t a ton of shops and restaurants, the galleries, antique stores, and small cafes are worth the drive through the rolling hills. 

Stretching 444 miles across three states, the Natchez Trace Parkway offers a scenic and recreational route that traces the path of the historic Old Natchez Trace. Once traveled by Native Americans, European settlers, slave traders, soldiers, and future presidents, this historic two lane road now invites visitors to explore its beauty by car, bike, foot, or horseback. Starting in Nashville, Tennessee, cutting across the northwest tip of Alabama, and ending in Natchez, Mississippi, you can drive as much or as little as you’d like. Pro tip: It’s the prettiest in the fall when all the leaves are changing color. 

Located 22 miles south of Nashville is the adorable city of Franklin, Tennessee. A civil war battle that took place here is etched in history and you can visit many civil war sites. The downtown area, especially Main Street, is adorable with tons of shops and cafes. It’s worth the drive. I mean Justin Bieber even filmed his iconic Mistletoe music video on Main Street. New places like The Factory, an old 1920’s stove factory turned retail and restaurants, is a fun place to walk around, shop and eat. 

Finally, if you are looking for an idyllic picnic spot, check out Arrington Vineyards. With picnic tables to bring your own food and nonalcoholic drinks (you can buy all their delicious wine there), they offer live music entertainment. Check out their calendar here. They even have Food Truck Fridays if you don’t want to bring your own food. It’s a fun, casual spot to hang out.  

Don’t get me wrong, there are a million other fun things to do in Nashville. Whether you’re into sports (Titans NFL football, Predators NHL hockey, Sounds Minor League Baseball, Nashville SC soccer, Nashville Cats indoor arena football), bars, nightlife, live music, and all things country, there is something for you to do here. There are so many things to do and experience in Nashville. But hopefully this Nashville Off the Beaten Path With a Local Guide has given you some ideas of interesting things you can do on your next trip to Nashville!