Last Updated on April 25, 2025 by Betsy Ramsey
Generally, country music and the huge honky-tonks of Lower Broadway aren’t my thing. So what to do when planning a weekend in Nashville as a non-country music fan? Today I’m sharing some of the less traditional sites that we found!
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Can you believe our recent stopover in Nashville coincided with their annual CMA Music Festival? How’s that for country overload? It was certainly more than these two non-country fans bargained for, but we found plenty of non-country-based activities to round out the weekend.
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Non-Country Nashville
The Gulch
First up on the agenda is the Gulch, a contemporary and upscale area known for its many boutiques, chic restaurants, and hotels. We stopped at Five Daughters Bakery to try one of their 100-layer donuts, a croissant/donut hybrid. It was delicious but a lot, a lot. Time to walk it off!
Some popular boutiques in The Gulch include Kittenish, Uncommon James, Paddywax Candle Bar, and Parachute. As you walk, keep your eyes peeled for some incredible street murals. The “What Lifts You” wings mural on 11th Avenue is an iconic Instagram spot!
If it’s later in the day, grab a drink or an early dinner at L.A. Jackson and enjoy spectacular city views from its lovely rooftop. Alternatively, visit one of the district’s many other restaurants, breweries, or coffee shops.
Third Man Records
This small but fascinating record store and recording studio was one of my favorite stops in Nashville. Founded by Jack White of the White Stripes, this store features vinyl records, a 1947 Voice-o-Graph machine, a vinyl listening booth, lots of unique merchandise and displays, and an incredible collection of quirky vinyl records. Can you believe one vinyl is even made out of hair!?!
You can hear a live performance at the neighboring Blue Room Bar and recording booth, or stop in for a cocktail and take a few photos in the vintage photo booth!
12 South
12 South is a half-mile-long street of boutiques and eateries nestled in the heart of an upscale residential neighborhood. Along the walk, you’ll find shops like LoveShackFancy, Gorjana, Away, Jenni Kayne, Oliver Peoples, Vuori and many more. Sevier Park lies at the end of this street and is the location of a popular farmer’s market on Tuesday afternoons.
Corvette Museum
While not technically in Nashville, the Corvette Museum of Bowling Green, Kentucky is only an hour away. Located conveniently off the highway, it’s a must-stop for car enthusiasts. One of the most interesting things here was the display and footage about the sinkhole collapse of the SkyDome in 2014.
Granville
Lastly, Granville, Kentucky has a special significance for us. Both of Natty Guy’s grandparents were from the area. I recently wrote an article for My Town Travels highlighting our time there. Like the Corvette Museum, it’s an easy, 1-hour drive outside Nashville.
The Best of the Rest
For those of you who DO love country music, never fear! We did do some of the traditional things. Those highlights include a meal and some wander time at Opryland followed by a show at the Grand Ole Opry. I’d been prepared to dislike the Opry experience but fell in love with the live recording format and the performers we saw!
We also visited the Ryman Auditorium which was impressive and had such an interesting history. We were surprised to learn that it was built as a religious tabernacle and that a woman (in 1920) was responsible for its growth into an entertainment hotspot!
On Lower Broadway, we enjoyed an incredible meal at 1230 Supper Club and did a little bar hopping. I stand by my statement that the larger honky-tonks are not my thing but I enjoyed the smaller venues like Layla’s and Skull’s Rainbow Room on Printer’s Alley.
Nashville left me with a better impression than I anticipated. For comparison, I wish I’d visited 15-20 years ago, before the city exploded. What are your thoughts on Nashville? For more on the region, check out this post on Northern Alabama.
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