Elite Traveler Fall 2019

EXPLORE NASHVILLE

MUSICAL MUSTS Love it or hate it, country music is the beating heart of Nashville, and there’s no better way to experience it than in a live venue. You can’t miss the flashing lights and ever-present sound of music coming from Lower Broadway, where most of the city’s honky tonks and bars (and tourists) are found. It’s not a refined experience, but it’s unmissable. For bluegrass (and perhaps an impromptu performance from a country star), head to the four-decades-old Station Inn. Nudie’s is another classic: Memorabilia from Hank Williams, Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash are framed along the walls. True country music fans must stop at Tootsies Orchid Lounge, first opened in the 1960s and one of the most famous honky tonks. If you’re looking for a more mellow experience, leave Lower Broadway and head to Listening Room Café, which invites up-and-coming singers and songwriters to perform for an intimate crowd. stationinn.com, nudieshonkytonk.com, tootsies.net, listeningroomcafe.com

SOUTHERN SIGHTS

It wouldn’t be a trip to Nashville without indulging in local music, shopping and many breweries

TENNESSEE TIPPLES Tennessee isn’t losing its reputation for whiskey and bourbon anytime soon; it has 25 distilleries across the state, even creating its own whiskey trail. (George Dickel Whiskey is a local favorite.) But now, breweries are on the rise and Nashville has dozens of them. Jackalope Brewing Company is a household name known for its Thunder Ann pale ale and Bearwalker maple brown ale. Black Abbey Brewing Company makes superb Belgian-style beers; visit for a pint and bites at this eclectic brewery. And Fat Bottom Brewing serves up pale ales in its lively HopYard Restaurant and Bier Garden. jackalopebrew.com,

SOUTHERN STYLE The Gulch, 12th Avenue South Street and East Nashville are where you’ll find many of the city’s boutiques. There are no designer shops or department stores (yet), but the city is teeming with talented creatives that dictate much of the city’s style. Hank Williams’ daughter, Holly, is on the pulse of the city’s fashion scene with her luxury boutiques, H Audrey and White’s Mercantile, filled with designer labels. Another local favorite, Imogene + Willie, is known for its handcrafted denim for men and women made using fabric from a local supplier. To find luxury brands, Emerson Grace on 12th Avenue South has women’s designer finds from shoes to dresses, as well as a wonderful selection of locally made jewelry. imogeneandwillie.com, haudrey.com, whitesmercantile.com, emersongracenashville.com

blackabbeybrewing.com, fatbottombrewing.com

MUSIC CITY ICONS Music lovers will appreciate Nashville’s commitment to the arts. In addition to preserving American music at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, the city is home to the fabled Grand Ole Opry, founded in 1925; many credit it for popularizing country music. Today it remains the longest-running radio show in the country. Stop in for a tour, then come back that evening to take in a show. To see where more than 35,000 country songs were created, including more than 200 Elvis Presley recordings, take one of RCA Studio B’s daily tours. Modern country stars favor OmniSound Studios; the studio has churned out iconic hits over the last 33 years. countrymusichalloffame.org, opry.com, studiob.org, omnisoundstudios.com

Photos Grand Ole Opry, Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp, Shutterstock.com