Howdy, Nashville! by Merle Wilkening | 28th November, 2024 | Destinations
Welcome to the country music capital of the world. A welcoming Southern city where they dance in cowboy boots and listen to singer-songwriters in honky-tonks.
In recent years and especially after the pandemic, the city has experienced rapid population growth and a massive increase in property values. It consistently ranks among the nation’s top real estate markets.
Along Broadway, the vibrant heart of the city’s nightlife, Nashville proudly upholds its “country swing” legacy. You’ll find lots of newcomers, singer-songwriters and even genuine country superstars performing at the honky-tonks (bars with live music). During Nashville’s rapid growth, Robert’s Western World has remained a haven for locals, preserving the authentic spirit of the city’s country music roots. Its menu also stays true to its heritage, with offerings like the Recession Special, which includes a fried bologna sandwich, Lay’s potato chips, a moon pie and cold Pabst Blue Ribbon beer.
Every year, around 15 million visitors flock to Tennessee’s most populous city, also known as Music City. No visit to Nashville is complete without a visit to the home of the legendary Grand Ole Opry, the longest-running radio show in the U.S. Weekly country music concerts have been broadcast from this historic venue since 1925 and continue to this day. For a deeper dive into the city’s rich musical heritage, don’t miss the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and the National Museum ofAfrican American Music.
Or explore the historic downtown district, whose time-honored buildings bear witness to the Southern culture and history that have shaped the city. The district regularly resonates with the sound of rising stars as well as established artists performing at the Ryman Auditorium, affectionately known as the “Mother Church of Country Music.”
The streets are lined with historic storefronts like Hatch Show Print, a legendary poster print shop, the Ernest Tubb Record Shop, and Boot Country, the iconic cowboy boots store (“buy 1 pair, get 2 pair free!”). Before you know it, you could easily find yourself square dancing with the best in the company of new friends.
Away from the performance stages, a trip to Belle Meade Winery or Centennial Park feels like a journey back in time. In Shelby Bottoms Park, locals and visitors relax by the Cumberland River, while just a short walk away, vintage shops and a burgeoning restaurant scene await in East Nashville. The Nashville Farmers’ Market has been offering local specialties all year long since 1802.
