What to Read, Watch and Listen To Before Your Nashville Vacation  

Planning a Nashville vacation? There is so much to experience in Music City—live concerts, historic sites, swoon-worthy Southern dining and outdoor adventures—that we recommend you do a little homework before you get there. In the days and weeks leading up to your trip, follow our trip planner for the best things to listen to, read, eat and watch. Before you know it, you’ll be ready to rock by the time you roll into town.  

Watch how Nashville became Music City

The Grand Ole Opry, which began in 1925, is the world’s longest-running radio program.

Lined with recording studios and publishing houses, Music Row is the heart of Nashville's entertainment industry scene. Before you arrive, watch the TV show Nashville—specifically the third episode of the first season—to get an idea of how hits are made here. Once you arrive, carve out time to tour RCA Studio B. This historic studio is responsible for creating the Nashville sound that was popular in the 1960s, and iconic artists such as Dolly Parton, Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson have all recorded albums there.

If you’re a music history buff, download For the Love of Music: The Story of Nashville, a free documentary about the town’s musical roots. You’ll get an inside look at the city’s historic music sites, including Fisk University’s Jubilee Hall, the Ryman Auditorium and The Grand Ole Opry. Once the credits roll, you’ll be inspired to grab tickets to a backstage Ryman tour or an evening performance at the Opry.

Tune into country: From the classic to the contemporary

Today in Nashville, you’ll find that some of the best music is made away from Music Row, in hole-in-the-wall bars and clubs where local singers and songwriters play. Get a feel for the local scene by checking out the artists featured on the blogs Ten Out of Tenn and Music City Unsigned, and listen to this Real Nashville playlist. Before you arrive, check out the calendars at venues such as The 5 Spot, The Basement and The High Watt so you can catch a local act live while you’re in town.

Once your Nashville vacation begins, you’ve also gotta honky-tonk. Downtown, Lower Broadway is lined with honky-tonk bars that host live music and serve cold drinks all day every day. Before you go, get a taste for the classic country hits you’re likely to hear at these spots by listening to Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn and Hank Williams. Then stop by Robert’s Western World and Tootsies Orchid Lounge, two historic honky-tonk bars where country music greats like Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson began their careers.

Once you’ve tapped your toes to both classic and contemporary country, visit the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and stroll through the ongoing exhibition, Sing Me Back Home, which documents the soulful evolution of the genre—all set to a killer soundtrack.

Get hungry for Southern comfort food

Taste the difference of whole-hog barbecue, west Tennessee-style, with this pulled pork sandwich from Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Nashville Convention & Visitors Corporation

Nashville has long been known for country music, but in recent years it has earned a reputation as a serious food town. Before you eat your way through the city, pick up a copy of Nashville Eats: Hot Chicken, Buttermilk Biscuits, and 100 More Southern Recipes from Music City. Read about classic Southern foods and whip up a few recipes in your own kitchen. When you arrive, you can try the hot chicken from Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack, the biscuits from Loveless Cafe and the barbecue from Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint. For a truly authentic Southern meal, make a reservation for brunch at Husk, where every ingredient is sourced from the South.

Read up on Nashville now and then

Two Rivers Mansion, one of the oldest sites in Nashville, is also one of the best preserved, making it a popular stop for tourists seeking a glimpse into the past.

Traveling with kids? Get them excited to take in the sights and sounds of the city by reading Sleep Tight Nashville, which follows the adventures of a dog named Banjo as he visits a number of city landmarks and attractions. Once you arrive, follow in Banjo’s paw prints and spend an afternoon at the Adventure Science Center, the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere, or The Parthenon at Centennial Park.

Many hotels in Nashville are conveniently located near areas rich in Civil War history, thanks to the city's many historic plantation homes, monuments and battle sites. If you’re interested in mixing some history into your music and food-filled vacation, read A Guide to Historic Nashville, Tennessee, to learn more how sites like Fort Negley and Belmont Mansion contributed to Nashville’s place in American history. The book includes recommendations for walking tours, including a stop at Two Rivers Mansion, that can help give context to the locations you visit.