Things to do in NashVegas

[Rocknrolltide]

Looking for suggestions for things to do in Nashville this weekend (other than some football game I heard about). I know its more of a matter of what to try and fit in in a small amount of time. I just wanted to get some suggestions from those who have done this trip before.

Thanks!

rTr

 

[dabamafan]

You can go downtown and wander around,there are even a couple of fine dining establishments near the stadium,Zola's for one. 21st ave has bars and restaurants,Opryland hotel can easily kill half a day just park at the mall and walk over cause thats free. heck there is even a couple of places to drink a cold beer if'n you like *S*Also Broadway has lots of places to eat :I think the Predators are even practicing over at the ice rink across from Vandy!

 

[capnfrog]

I'm looking for suggestions for lodging, reasonably close to the stadium, and entertainment afterwards. Taking my sons (3) ages 21-25 and I know after the game they will want to find the girls and party. The old man just follows them around and keep everyone out of trouble but I want to be close enough to not have to drive that night.

 

[Bama Reb]

You can go downtown and wander around,there are even a couple of fine dining establishments near the stadium,Zola's for one. 21st ave has bars and restaurants,Opryland hotel can easily kill half a day just park at the mall and walk over cause thats free. heck there is even a couple of places to drink a cold beer if'n you like *S*Also Broadway has lots of places to eat :I think the Predators are even practicing over at the ice rink across from Vandy!

While you're at Opryland, you must visit the Grand Ole Opry. Then you can take in a movie at the Regal Opry Mills Cinema and IMAX. There is a restaurant and game room next door that you and your entire family will enjoy. The Opry Mills mall has 5 huge sections and to say that it can take up a half a day is an understatement. You can even visit the Gibson's store and buy/order a custom made guitar or banjo. There's a Bass Pro Shop there that you can get lost in. Down the hall there's even a BAMA store where you can buy authentic Bama wear and gear.
When you get tired of walking in the mall, there are several areas where you can sit and enjoy the "scenery". Or you can go to the food court and order from over a dozen different food counters. When you leave the mall, just walk across the parking lot and enjoy a nice ride on the riverboat "General Lee".
If you exit on the northern end of the parking lot, you'll run right into the Willie Nelson museum.
And of course anytime you're in Nashville, there's no telling which country music legends you're liable to see or meet.
College rivalries apart, Nashville and the surrounding area is a very nice place to visit. :cheers2:

 

[Nash-Bama]

I'm looking for suggestions for lodging, reasonably close to the stadium, and entertainment afterwards. Taking my sons (3) ages 21-25 and I know after the game they will want to find the girls and party. The old man just follows them around and keep everyone out of trouble but I want to be close enough to not have to drive that night.

I think everything lodging-wise near the stadium is probably booked up by now. You might be able to get something downtown, as the hotels down there are pretty expensive and probably would have vacancies. It's pretty close to Vandy from downtown. There would be lots to do down there especially if you like country music. There's a sports bar down there too called Bailey's. Lots of clubs. I personally can't stand the country bars and try to avoid them.

There is a great sports bar on Demonbreun (Music Row area) called Longshots as well as some other bars and restaurants in that area. Longshots always has a good crowd on the weekends. Patricks is one of my favorite restaurants, and it's on Division Street. Mirror is great as far as fine dining on 12th Ave South, not too far from the Vandy area. They have a great tapas menu. I also like Bound'ry on 20th Avenue.

As far as other less expensive options for lodging, if you are coming from the south you might see what's available in Brentwood/Franklin (I-65) or Smyrna area (I-24). If you are coming from the west (I-40) might check out Bellevue or east (I-40) around the airport. There are tons of hotels in the Vandy area, if you check online, but I'm afraid they're probably all gone now unless you can find one with a cancellation. From the north (I-24 or I-65) you'd probably need to check the Rivergate/Hendersonville/Goodlettesville areas.

 

[pajaro324]

Here's a list of hotels in the Vanderbilt area. They might be booked, but here's the info for what it's worth:

Vanderbilt area hotels

 

[MOBILE-BAMA]

Try Extended Stay America - Vanderbilt. Walk to campus and they offer one night stays

 

[Baryugin]

I have to recommend Chappy's on Church, for restaurants. Some of you South Alabama people might even know the guy - he used to own Chappy's Seafood Kitchen in Long Beach, MS, before being wiped out by Hurricane Katrina. Some of the best food in Nashville, IMO. The service can be slow sometimes, though...my only complaint about the place. It is at Church St. and 17th Ave, near the Broadway/West End Ave split. Here's the website.

Also - another food place for those that are in town before 3 PM Friday. The Greek Touch, which is in the Arcade downtown. The arcade is an open retail area connecting 4th and 5th Avenues, downtown between Church and Union Street. This man serves some of the best Greek food in the country, bar none...and I have eaten Greek food all over these United States. It doesn't get better than this, but he's only open from 10-3 weekdays. Right next door to him is The House of Pizza, which is run by a guy named Manny Macca. Manny came from Brooklyn to Nashville to be a country singer, and well, you see how that worked out. Great pizza. But if you are in the Arcade area and skip The Greek Touch, you're an idiot. Sorry, but that's how it is. Here's a map of the Arcade area. As a point of reference, for those of you staying at the downtown Courtyard by Marriott, that hotel is on the Southeast corner of the Church St/4th Ave intersection. Straight south on 4th Ave is the Ryman Auditorium, the Hilton and the Country Music Hall of Fame.

That ought to do ya!

 

[Vinny]

Also at the mall is the Alabama restaurant. We ate there two years ago. Yes, do park at the mall and walk over to Opry Land Hotel. Downtown is nice too, the Ryman. We are lunch one day at The Wildhorse Saloon. Have fun.

 

[CRIMTIDE]

I tried everything within walking distance and the only thing available besides where I am staying was out at the airport (10 miles). I am staying at the America's best value inn. Here is the link. http://www.bestvalueinn.com/bestv.cfm?idp=1101. It was cheap. Not extremely nice, but cheap and close (5 miles).

 

[MOBILE-BAMA]

If you don't mind spending some money and want to do some more trendy things, I'd suggest Hillsborough Village. Apparently there's lots of cool shops, bars and restaurants in this neighborhood. I've been told dress is dressy-casual. No shorts and t-shirts, but you don't have to go overboard. They've got a good sports bar, a dive bar and some trendy bars.

 

[ShadowUA]

2nd Avenue downtown is THE place in Nashville. Lots of bars and restaurants. Printers Alley has a few neat little bars with some local music, but be careful which ones you stumble into...some aren't quite as nice as others!

 

[Baryugin]

Okay, I thought of a few more. Look at my above post for my top recommendations, though. I tried to pick places that you can't find just anywhere...click the names to see the CitySearch sites (if available)

• Ted's Montana Grill - West End Ave, near Vandy stadium
• Bricktops Cafe - West End Ave, past Ted's (from Vandy Stadium) - try a flatbread pizza
• Broadway Brewhouse and Mojo Grill - 2 locations, both on Broadway...I am more familiar with the one downtown, which is between 2nd and 3rd Ave
• Piranha Brothers Bar - Great wings...2nd Ave between Broadway and Commerce
• Big River Grille - corner of Broadway and 2nd Ave, across from Hard Rock (kind of Generica, if you are up on traveler's lingo, but the beer is good)
• Jack's Barbecue - it isn't Dreamland, but it's pretty good...Broadway between 4th and 5th Ave
• Old Spaghetti Factory - cool decor, pretty good food...2nd Ave between Commerce and Church
• Demos - Has won the "Best Restaurant" category in the trendy rag "Nashville Scene" for about 11 years straight, which says more about the Scene's readership than the restaurant. Still, decent but heavy food...Commerce and 3rd Ave - try the chicken soup.
• Monell's - Great Southern, family-style cooking, but it is a bear to find, especially if you don't know your way around. It is north of downtown a bit, in the Germantown area. Click the link to see the Citysearch site. This would be one of my top recommendations, if it was closer to downtown.

As for entertainment, I can't recommend anything more highly than the General Jackson Showboat at Opry Mills. I don't even know for sure that they have a dinner cruise that night, but if they do, you won't be wasting your time if you go.

Enjoy Nashville, fellow Tidefans!

 

[TidePrider]

Looking for suggestions for things to do in Nashville this weekend (other than some football game I heard about). I know its more of a matter of what to try and fit in in a small amount of time. I just wanted to get some suggestions from those who have done this trip before.

Thanks!

rTr

Try this link, I have found it useful in the past.

http://nashville.citysearch.com/find/section/nashville/bars_nightlife.html

 

[CapstoneStan]

Blackstone is a micro brewery with the best beer I have ever drank. It is on West End not far from Vandy. The food is decent as well.