The anticipation builds because the temperature plummets, and Christmas lights glow in Nashville, Tennessee. With quite a lot of occasions to select from, together with live shows with high-energy music or procuring ’til you drop (or simply window store), one of the best issues to do in Nashville in December are limitless.
What Are the Finest Issues To Do in Nashville in December?
When most individuals consider Nashville, a number of issues usually come to thoughts: nation music, shiny lights, spicy sizzling hen, and Bachelorette events. Whereas all these items are actually synonymous with the Southern metropolis I do know and love, that is only a small piece of it confined to rowdy Broadway Road.
I’m not right here to discourage you from visiting Broadway, it’s a enjoyable place to let free and dance with your pals, however I encourage you to discover Nashville past its well-known downtown bars. I’ll allow you to in on a number of native secrets and techniques that most individuals coming to city for a fast weekend in December may not in any other case learn about.
With eating places galore on twelfth Ave S, quaint neighborhood bars in Germantown and quirky spots in East Nashville, town is larger and extra numerous than you may suppose.
So, pull in your cowboy boots (though most Nashville locals would go), and let’s plan your winter getaway with these high issues to do in Music Metropolis.
1. Catch a Predators Recreation
Hockey continues to be catching on within the U.S., however one metropolis that hasn’t had any bother embracing the ice is Smashville. Yep, when the Predators have a house recreation, town is affectionately often called Smashville.
The followers are loud, the beer is chilly, and actually, catching a stay recreation is just a extremely enjoyable factor to do in Nashville. The Bridgestone Area, the place the Predators play, is situated proper on Broadway, making it a simple jaunt throughout your night time out to relaxation your toes from dancing bar to bar.
No matter who the Predators are enjoying, our fan base is loyal, so the sport is certain to promote out. So if you happen to’re enthusiastic about checking the motion, don’t wait to purchase tickets proper earlier than puck drop.
2. Order Tickets To Stay Music on the Bluebird Cafe
Though most individuals consider Nashville as a city for under nation music followers, town is dwelling to unbelievable bands, artists, and songwriters from all genres. There’s no higher likelihood of seeing up-and-comers than catching a stay efficiency at The Bluebird Cafe.
Located in a small procuring middle on Hillsboro Pike within the Inexperienced Hills neighborhood, this unassuming spot is one most individuals drive proper previous with out realizing its significance. A good way to spend a cold night time in Nashville in December, you gained’t quickly overlook your first time seeing somebody play at The Bluebird.
When you may not know the artist or be accustomed to the songs they’re enjoying, you’re assured to listen to unbelievable expertise, and who is aware of, you may simply hear the subsequent huge hit earlier than anybody else does.
Be sure you reserve your tickets with loads of time prematurely for the reason that venue is so small.
3. Browse the Exhibitions at Frist Artwork Museum
One other top-of-the-line issues to do in December in Nashville, TN, and preferrred for a chilly December day, is to browse the exhibitions on the Frist Artwork Museum. Situated a number of blocks up from the bar scene on Broadway, a go to to the Frist needs to be on any artwork lover’s record.
The exhibitions change usually, so even if you happen to’ve been earlier than, it’s value trying out once more. It’s sufficiently big so that you can spend hours if you happen to’re an actual tradition fan, however if you happen to’re merely searching whilst you heat up your toes, an hour can be sufficient to walk by the museum.
Most days of the week have various opening hours however do notice that the Frist is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
4. Get Some Recent Air at Cheekwood Property & Gardens
In true Southern trend, some December days in Nashville can be beneath freezing, full with ice and snow, whereas different days can be comparatively heat and filled with sunshine. For these sunny days, I like to recommend placing in your tennis footwear and strolling round Cheekwood.
Cheekwood isn’t only a park; it’s a museum, botanical backyard, occasion area, and youngster’s studying middle. For a fast go to to get some recent air and tranquility, I like to recommend selecting one of many backyard trails to walk by.
A substitute for Cheekwood is Percy Warner Park. The paths listed below are extra wooded than gardens, however the paths are paved and well-maintained.
5. Make Reservations at Rolf and Daughters, the Optimist, or Sinema
Nashville has a few of my favourite eating places on the planet. Though I spend a lot of my time shifting all over the world, touring from metropolis to metropolis, at any time when I’m going dwelling to Nashville, the primary job on my agenda is to go to my favourite eating places.
Whereas I always try to go to new eating places or ones I haven’t tried earlier than, I’ve three that I simply maintain going again to. After all, I’m not the one one who loves these locations to eat in Nashville, so that you’ll need to make reservations nicely prematurely, particularly if you wish to dine on a weekend with a bigger social gathering. With cozy interiors, they’re additionally nice locations to keep away from the winter chill and dine in consolation.
My favourite eating places in Nashville are:
- Sinema: Situated on eighth Ave S, this fashionable, intimate restaurant is ready inside an outdated theater. You may’t go fallacious with any of the entrees, though the scallops are my go-to. Simply remember to save room for the Skillet Cookie for dessert. When reserving a desk, I like to recommend you ask to take a seat upstairs.
- Rolf and Daughters: Situated in Germantown, I’ve by no means seen this tiny restaurant not utterly packed. Seating on the bar is walk-ins solely however to seize a seat right here, you’ll must get in line nicely earlier than opening. They’ve out of doors heaters and blankets within the winter to make the wait a bit simpler. Fly proper previous the road with a reservation, although.
- The Optimist: Additionally in Germantown, The Optimist is the place to go if you’d like high-quality seafood so removed from the coast. With nice meals, nice cocktails, and nice ambiance, what’s to not love?
6. Go Ice Skating
If watching the Predators gave you confidence in your individual abilities on the ice, go to Centennial Sportsplex. Right here, you possibly can hire skates and showcase your greatest Michelle Kwan strikes, or if you happen to’re something like me, merely shuffle across the ice as ungracefully as attainable.
It is a enjoyable exercise for anybody to take pleasure in in December in Nashville. Well-liked with youngsters, {couples}, teams of pals, and even solo vacationers, it’s a pleasant solution to get some train in when the climate isn’t so nice exterior.
7. Get Into the Christmas Spirit at Grand Ole Opry
Grand Ole Opry is one among Nashville’s icons, however it’s not truly situated proper in Nashville, as you may suppose. As a substitute, it’s a couple of 20-minute drive northeast of town, however as top-of-the-line issues to do in Nashville in December, that drive shouldn’t deter you.
The Grand Ole Opry is the place to go if you wish to get into the Christmas spirit. Annually they outdo themselves with their indoor Christmas show. That is one other enjoyable for the entire household exercise.
Together with its lights show, it’s additionally an important place to catch a present. As the house of nation music, right here you’ll be hard-pressed to seek out music that doesn’t have a twang. Individuals flock to the Grand Ole Opry to catch their signature present, the place nation legends and new voices share the stage for a 2-hour occasion you’re certain to like. Get your Grand Ole Opry present ticket right here.
The Grand Ole Opry additionally has a lodge, Opryland Resort, if you happen to’d like to remain an evening or two earlier than or after the present.
8. Eat, Drink, & Take heed to Music at Fifth + Broadway
In the event you didn’t get your fill of music at Grand Ole Opry, to not fret, Nashville doesn’t lack nice stay music, and Fifth + Broadway is not any exception. However, as one of many newcomers to Broadway, Fifth + Broadway (aptly title for the intersection it sits on) is a glorified meals court docket.
A few of Nashville’s hottest eating places have stands right here alongside signature locations you possibly can’t strive wherever else. With flooring of meals selections, deciding what to eat may be robust, however since everybody dines collectively at one of many middle tables, it additionally means everybody in your group can get what they need. There are additionally a number of bars to seize a drink and nearly at all times a stay music efficiency so as to add ambiance.
9. Embrace Your Inside Little one at an Arcade
What’s a greater factor to do in Nashville in December than heat up with a number of drinks and a few basic arcade video games? Personally, I believe visiting an arcade bar is among the most enjoyable issues you are able to do throughout an evening out, particularly when it’s wet or chilly exterior.
There are a number of arcade bars in Nashville that I actually take pleasure in:
- Headquarters Beercade: Situated within the coronary heart of downtown, this arcade bar is my favourite just because the video games are free to play. It may possibly get crowded as a consequence of its location, however it’s a great place if you wish to bar hop.
- Up-Down Nashville: Situated throughout the river in East Nashville, this arcade doesn’t usually get as crowded at Headquarters however has an equally nice choice of video games and drinks. The one factor to notice, although, is the video games aren’t free to play. They do serve pizza by the slice, although!
- Recreation Terminal: Situated in South Nashville, Recreation Terminal isn’t close to a lot else however is a large venue. This place is far bigger than the opposite arcade bars and serves meals. They even have some exterior video games and heated igloos you possibly can hire for some privateness on chilly days in December. You’ll must pay to play the video games right here.
10. E book Your Keep on the Hermitage Resort
Whereas Nashville has no scarcity of lodges to select from, for a really iconic getaway, e book your keep at The Hermitage Resort. Conveniently positioned simply north of Broadway, on the best way to Germantown, on sixth Ave., you’ll be capable to shortly stroll to many of the locations you’ll need to go to in Nashville with out having to fret about dealing with an excessive amount of winter climate. In any other case, Ubers are straightforward to get on this space if wanted.
As one among Nashville’s icons, The Hermitage has been one of the vital well-known lodges within the metropolis for over a century. However, don’t fear, it has aged flawlessly and simply retains getting higher with time.
You’re Prepared for a Good December in Nashville
When planning your journey to Nashville, you’ll shortly notice there’s much more to this metropolis than may meet the attention. No matter the kind of journey you’re after, you’re certain to make it occur right here.
Get pleasure from letting free on Broadway, eating in among the greatest eating places within the nation, getting some train in, and naturally, singing alongside to all of your favourite songs. If there’s one factor that’ll be sure in December in Nashville, it’s that proficient stay music can be all over the place you go.
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