A Local Guide to Nashville

By AHRA Staff

We reached out to Nashville-area AHRA members for some help compiling a guide of things to do if you’re attending the Annual Meeting. In true AHRA fashion, there was an overwhelming response from members wanting to help out! Check out some of their favorite things.

Best Restaurants

Hattie B’s Hot Chicken
Puckett’s Grocery and Restaurant for good ol’ Southern eats. It has a great atmosphere, and you can catch dinner and a show!
Loveless Café (known for their biscuits)
The Pharmacy for burgers and an outdoor biergarten!
Cori’s Dog House
The Patterson House
Jack’s BBQ. There are a bunch of BBQ places on lower Broadway, if you want to try them all!
Midtown Cafe for affordable fine dining.
For the steak lovers: The Old Hickory Steakhouse is located inside the Gaylord Opryland. But if you want to venture out, our locals recommend Kayne Prime or Jimmy Kelly’s.
Five Daughter’s Bakery. You may have to wait in line for your sweet treat, but it’s worth it!
Saint Anejo, if you’re in the mood for Mexican fare (they also have a greatSunday brunch)
The Old Spaghetti Factory or Pomodoro East for family friendly Italian
The Pancake Pantry for breakfast.
Pinewood Social for a unique, shared space experience for adults. There is also a bowling alley and a pool.
The bowling alley at Pinewood Social (Courtesy of Nashville Convention & Visitors Corporation)

Best Music Venues

3^rdand Lindsley
Grand Ole Opry (The Gaylord Opryland is offering attendees a discount for concert tickets and the museum tour: click here.)
Bluebird Café
Ascend Amphitheater
Ryman Auditorium (The Gaylord Opryland is offering attendees a discount off the museum tour: click here.)
Tootsies
Station Inn (Bluegrass)
Exit/In
Mercy Lounge
You can also download the Downtown Nashville Free Music Guide App for a list of all shows in the area: http://www.visitmusiccity.com/music/livemusic/nashvillemusicapp

Courtesy of Nashville Convention & Visitors Corporation

Best Activities for Families/Kids

Centennial Park – Check out the Parthenon!
Nashville Sounds baseball – they’re on the road during the meeting, but if you’re getting in a couple of days early, you’ll be able to catch a home game.
Nashville Shores Water Park
Nashville Shores Tree Top Adventure Park
Nashville Zoo
Adventure Science Center
Laser Quest

Nashville Shores Water Park (Courtesy of Nashville Convention & Visitors Corporation)

Best Outdoor Activities

Cheekwood Botanical Gardens
Fort Negley – The fort is no longer standing, but you can come here to learn about history of the fort and get some great views of the city.
Foggy Bottoms Canoe on the Harpeth River
If you’re more of an urban outdoor adventurer, walk down Broadway and 2^nd avenue to tour downtown Nashville
Other suggestions: hiking (many trails in the area for all levels – Radnor Lake); rent a bike to explore downtown; go on a Civil War walking tour (there are many indoor and outdoor options); and for runners looking for a challenge, try some trail running at Percy Warner Park.

Cheekwood (Courtesy of Nashville Convention & Visitors Corporation)

Best Museums

Arts/Music/Entertainment

The Frist Center for the Visual Arts – Stop in the train station next door for a great bar and some beautiful stained glass windows.
Country Music Hall of Fame
Studio B Historic Studio Tour
Johnny Cash Museum
George Jones Entertainment Complex

The Frist (Courtesy of Nashville Convention & Visitors Corporation)

History and More

Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage
Tennessee State Museum (free admission!)
To learn more about Civil War history in Nashville: Belle Meade Plantation, Belmont Mansion, Carter House and Carnton Plantation, Lotz House Civil War House Museum
Fontanel – a huge complex that includes ziplines, a distillery, a winery, and of course a tour of the mansion.

Belle Meade (Courtesy of Nashville Convention & Visitors Corporation)

Best Shopping

Opry Mills
Cool Springs Galleria (Franklin)
Souvenir shops with the most local flavor: Anderson Design Group (close to Centennial Park, if you’re already checking that out) and Hatch Show Print Shop.
Antique Archaeology (as seen on the History Channel TV show American Pickers)