For Liberty students, it is currently spring break. For many Tennessee students (or at least the ones I've seen), spring break was last week. Regardless, I wanted to give y'all my own take on spring break, because as you may have known or guessed, I am from the Nashville area, and there are so many things to do and adventures to be had in this city.
Admittedly, I don't get downtown all that often, so I asked my Nashvillian Facebook friends what fun things they would recommend experiencing around town while on spring break. Here are some of their responses, along with my own recommendations:
1. Food
This I do know about downtown Nashville: it's got some of the best food. Hattie B's Hot Chicken. Jeni's Ice Cream. Sprinkles Nashville - a cupcake ATM (it's exactly what it sounds like). Las Paletas (gourmet popsicles). Burger Up. Bar Taco. Five Points Pizza. Five Daughters Bakery. This is only skimming the surface of all the eclectic and wonderful places to eat in Nashville, so I would definitely encourage you to find all the eateries that you can while here, because chances are the food will be amazing and you'll be glad you tried them.
2. Coffee Shops
Because much of Nashville's culture is coffee. The Frothy Monkey. Barista Parlor. The Ugly Mug. Crema. Café Coco. The Perch Downtown. The Well Coffeehouse. There are so many more coffee shops around town, but I couldn't tell you what they're called, as I'm (much) more of a tea drinker myself. If you're like me and don't like coffee, I'm told that there is a tea shop called High Garden that is very good-- and you can get tea at most, if not all, of the coffee shops you'll find. (Em-recommendation: Iced lavender Earl Grey from The Well.)
3. Artsy Things
Go find all the murals, notably the wings mural in the Gulch and the "I Believe In Nashville" mural on 12th Avenue South. (You must take pictures with the murals. You're not a true tourist or Nashvillian if you don't. This is a proven fact.) You also have to go to the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge to get photos with the Nashville skyline in the background. Also, there is a good chance that you can find a concert somewhere downtown on any given evening. And Nashvillian coffee shops are places where artsy people frequent, so definitely check those out if you're looking for photo opportunities.
4. Iconic Nashville Places
Explore Centennial Park and the historic district downtown. Visit the Parthenon. Spend a day at the Nashville Zoo. See a show at TPAC. Go to Bridgestone Arena for a concert or a game. Go to the Adventure Science Center (I haven't been in years, but remember it as being awesome). The Country Music Hall of Fame is pretty cool too (and this is coming from a girl who dislikes country music). If you've got the time and/or inclination do do so, check out Vanderbilt and Belmont and Lipscomb; they're all in gorgeous areas of town. Climb Nashville and The Escape Game are two places that are currently extremely popular among locals, so grab a few friends and go there too!
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I am by no means the most knowledgable about downtown Nashville, but what I have learned is that it is a city filled with good food, good music, good coffee (or so I'm told), and a good deal of interesting places to explore. What better time to do so than a vacation such as spring break?
What about you, dear middle Tennessee friends-- what important Nashville things have I missed that you would recommend people try over break?
