The city has quite an image attached to it that follows it wherever it goes. Whenever one mentions the name, he/she is likely to be imagining all the neon lights, bars that are always full of customers, cowboy boots, and countless songs of country music that fill the air at Honky-tonks on Broadway. Even though all those attractions are definitely worth praising, there is much more to Music City than just those.
There are some things to do in nashville that will make travelers’ visit to Nashville unique and unforgettable. Imagine sitting in the bar and drinking cocktails in the room with no sign visible outside the doors, exploring the woods located just several minutes away from the city center, or looking at the collection of strange microcars from Europe in the museum, which has nothing alike in the USA.
Here is the list of the best hidden gems in Nashville – attractions, restaurants, neighborhoods, and other activities that are loved by locals. Whether travelers plan to spend a weekend in the city or are going on a road trip through Tennessee, or just trying to find something interesting to do, the guide will provide some information about the best hidden spots of Nashville.
Some of the recent guides written by residents and local people have been mentioning Butler’s Run, Shelby Bottoms Greenway, Printer’s Alley, and East Nashville among the most authentic experiences of Nashville.
Why Nashville Has More to Offer Than Broadway
Nowadays, Broadway has become associated with Nashville tourism and brings in millions of tourists annually. However, people say that Nashvillians do not visit it that much unless some friends or relatives visit them. It reveals quite a lot about Nashville. It turned out to be a melting pot of culture with new places to see being created by indie artists, chefs, historians, and entrepreneurs continuously.
Neighborhoods around downtown Nashville have developed their identities over the last ten years. East Nashville celebrates its quirky cafes and alternative places to listen to live music. Germantown combines old houses and exquisite dining options. Nations area turns into a center for innovative people with breweries and unusual restaurants. Berry Hill still remains a place with recording studios and relaxing pubs.
Research of urban planners reveals that downtown Nashville is one of the least visited parts of any American city center by the local population, which stimulates travelers to check other neighborhoods.
To visit Nashville but not to step out of Broadway area is the same as reading just the beginning of a fascinating book. The more you explore the streets and neighborhoods around, the more exciting your adventure will be.
Exploring the City’s Best Hidden Gems
Butler’s Run: A Secret Alley With a Story
One of the best hidden secrets of Nashville is located between First Avenue and Second Avenue. Despite being an alley, Butler’s Run is an exceptional place because of its rich history.
The alley was named after a dog – black Labrador-spaniel mix which walked around the town in the 1990s. One could notice traces of paws in concrete left by Butler. Also, there is a sculpture dedicated to this dog which used to be famous in Nashville. There are small shops, jewelers and even places where you can sit down and relax in the shade.
When visiting Butler’s Run, one gets the feeling of discovery of something which had been forgotten long time ago. Unlike Broadway with all its buildings fighting for attention, Butler’s Run gives visitors an opportunity to relax.
Shelby Bottoms Greenway for Nature Lovers
What comes as a shock for many visitors is the fact that the city of Nashville has almost one thousand acres of wetlands, forests, and riverside paths.
One such site that runs along the banks of the Cumberland River is Shelby Bottoms Greenway where you can walk, bike, and watch birds at leisure. One special feature about this place is its magic in the morning when mist appears above the wetlands, while herons fly over the water surface.
If your dream vacation involves being away from people, then you should definitely add Shelby Bottoms to your list of places to visit as locals usually refer to it as one of the most underappreciated spots in the whole of Tennessee.
Love Circle and the Best Skyline Views
Ignore the fancy rooftop bars for now.
Love Circle gives one of the best views in all of Nashville for absolutely nothing at all. Located on a small hill above downtown, Love Circle is a small park that allows you to take in the scenery from its serene location.
Picnic baskets are brought by many couples, cameras click with images of the skyline captured, and locals take a break from their hectic lives to reflect. The sunset is particularly beautiful here when the golden sun colors the skyline of Nashville.
Weird Things to Do in Nashville for Curious Travelers
Visit the Lane Motor Museum
While some museums keep paintings or ancient relics safe, Nashville has amphibious cars, propeller-driven cars, and experimental motorcycles preserved.
Lane Motor Museum is known to have the biggest collection of European cars in the US. More than 500 unique cars are exhibited in the galleries and they include small bubble cars as well as military prototypes.
Even those tourists who aren’t that interested in cars usually find the museum intriguing as it shows the inventions and creativity of people. Each car represents the way in which the inventor tried to overcome the difficulties with transportation in his own special way.
For the tourists who want to do something strange in Nashville, there are not many places that will be able to compete with the uniqueness of this museum.
Sing Karaoke at Santa’s Pub
Santa’s Pub is precisely what you get when innovation combines with nostalgia.
This cash-only karaoke joint functions from within a double wide trailer adorned with Christmas lights and has gained reputation for itself among the local community. Customers sing anything from country music classics to heavy metal ballads with strangers cheering them on in excitement.
It is refreshing and authentic because everyone does not have an obsession with being perfect. It is about having fun!
Santa’s Pub shows that amazing trips do not always mean spending big bucks. Sometimes all you need is a microphone and a willingness to sing badly in front of strangers!
Explore Nashville’s Speakeasy Culture
Hidden Bar in Printer’s Alley
Printers’ Alley has become one of the coolest places to hang out in downtown Nashville.
The Hidden Bar is located underground in an old building and has different themes throughout the year. Halloween decor, Christmas decorations, and innovative cocktails bring people back again and again.
Dark lights, brick walls, and cozy seats make it perfect for tourists who want something more upscale than the excitement of Broadway.
Attaboy and Cocktail Experiences
No menus here. Bartenders inquire into your likes and dislikes and even your mood before concocting drinks just for you. This place feels like watching artists painting on a canvas and not bartenders mixing up cocktails.
The other mysterious bars including Dirty Little Secret and Four Walls keep making a name for Nashville as a city that knows how to surprise its people.
Unique Nashville Experiences That Will Make Food Lovers Go Wild
Food tells stories. Nashville has many of those worth listening to.
Experience the Original Nashville Hot Chicken
Many people visit Nashville just to have the hot chicken at popular places, but the locals suggest skipping those and going to Prince’s instead.
Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack invented the world-renowned dish almost one hundred years ago and became an iconic establishment. The taste is spicy and intense.
It is not about having the meal when you eat authentic Nashville hot chicken. You participate in the history of the city and its culture.
Try Realistic-Fruit Desserts
Peaches, bananas, and oranges will seem boring until you learn that they are not real fruits at all.
The D’Andrews Bakery became nationally famous because of the desserts made from realistic-looking fruit and flavored mousse. People often buy them on weekends when visiting Nashville because they cannot pass by an opportunity to take a picture of their favorite dessert and try something amazing.
Anyone who comes to Nashville in search of unique experiences should visit this place before it becomes too popular among food bloggers.
Nashville Hot Spots Outside Honky-Tonks in Downtown
Printer’s Alley in the Evening
Printer’s Alley preceded many contemporary entertainment zones.
Once home to newspaper publishers and printers, Printer’s Alley became known as a nightlife venue with jazz clubs and secret bars.
A walk through Printer’s Alley at night is like watching a film. Reflections of neon lights on the brick walls, sounds of live music coming from the basements.
Skye Lounge and View From the Roof
Travellers who wish to take beautiful skyline pictures but don’t want to compete with the crowds on Broadway can visit Skye Lounge.
Located above the city, this rooftop place offers sushi, drinks, and a view. It is much quieter than many other places in the neighborhood, which makes it suitable both for couples and photographers.
Vinyl Vault Listening Lounge at Mel’s Drive-In
One of the latest attractions of Nashville is Vinyl Vault, a listening lounge in Mel’s Drive-In.
Visitors enjoy sitting next to the vintage audio equipment listening to music and enjoying views of the Cumberland River. It is situated in the historic building that once was a bank. Mel’s has recently reopened its night service, thus reviving Second Avenue.
Nashville, Tennessee – The Unusual for Art and History Lovers
Musical heritage of Jefferson Street
Before the fame of Broadway street, Jefferson street hosted many musicians that shaped their career in the African American environment.
Nowadays, there are numerous museums dedicated to the community’s culture with focus on jazz, blues and rhythm-and-blues performers of Nashville. Tours usually offer meetings with the city’s historians and stories you won’t find in popular guidebooks.
Warner Parks and Stone Stairways
Visitors who think of flat Tennessee are quite surprised by the terrain of Warner Parks.
This parks covers more than 2,600 acres of land, including hiking trails, forest, and stone stairways which were built in 1930s.
Many hikers describe certain areas as similar to those you can see in the foothills of Smoky Mountains. Deer, owls, wild turkeys are often seen among the wild-life.
The experience of visiting Warner Parks proves that off the beaten path Nashville TN can be comparable to famous national parks in terms of beauty and peacefulness.
Tips for Creating an Alternative Tour Plan for Nashville
The key to exploring Nashville in an alternative manner is to find a combination between famous landmarks and local surprises.
| Experience Type | Recommended Spot | Best Time to Visit |
|---|---|---|
| Scenic Views | Love Circle | Sunset |
| Nature Escape | Shelby Bottoms Greenway | Morning |
| Hidden Cocktails | Hidden Bar | Evening |
| Quirky Museum | Lane Motor Museum | Afternoon |
| Desserts | D’Andrews Bakery | Early Morning |
| Live Karaoke | Santa’s Pub | Late Night |
It would be a good idea to rent a place in East Nashville or Germantown instead of choosing one that would be located right on Broadway. The transportation system can take you wherever you need easily and the prices for accommodation will not be too high.
Explorers should leave some room for spontaneity, because sometimes it is there when you find your best memories in Nashville.
Conclusion
But the personality of Nashville does not stop at country music performances and tourist attractions. Behind the iconic reputation, there is a whole city full of secret backstreets, underground bars, beautiful parks, avant-garde museums, and restaurants where visitors can try something new and exciting.
When you are looking for weird things to do in Nashville, unique Nashville experiences, secret spots in Nashville, and weird things to do in Nashville, Music City provides surprises for those who have visited many places already.
The next time you hear that Nashville is all about Broadway, you will think differently. The real charm is hidden behind ordinary doors, narrow streets, and places in Nashville that only local people like to visit.
FAQs
What are the weirdest things to do in Nashville?
Attending the Lane Motor Museum, singing at Santa’s Pub, touring Butler’s Run, and experiencing speakeasy bars are some of the weirdest activities in the city.
Where are the hidden gems in Nashville?
Some of the places with hidden gems in Nashville include East Nashville, Germantown, Printer’s Alley, Shelby Bottoms Greenway, and Love Circle.
What are some weird things to do in Nashville for couples?
Yes, couples have unique options such as sunset picnic at Love Circle, cocktail experience at Attaboy, and late night Karaoke session at Santa’s Pub.
What are some of the coolest hot spots in downtown Nashville apart from Broadway?
Some of the places include Printer’s Alley, Hidden Bar, Skye Lounge, and Vinyl Vault.
Is Nashville worth the visit if I am not into country music?
Yes, Nashville is an amazing city for people who do not like country music.