Honky -Tonk: A type of bar that provides musical entertainment (usually country music) to its patrons. Bars of this kind are common in the Southern and Southwestern United States.
Sometimes you just need to escape your typical daily routine and venture into unfamiliar territory for a weekend…even if it’s only an 1.5 hr plane ride away. For Memorial Day this year, I decided to visit a couple of amazing friends in Nashville that I’ve met in graduate school on the East Coast. Below, you’ll see a photo journal of my travels through America’s Music City. Check it out y’all!
DAY 1: We started MDW with a trip to Arrington Vineyards, in the beautiful Williamson County countryside, 30 minutes south of Nashville. To prepare for our picnic on the vineyard, we stopped at a trusty Whole Foods to pick up the essentials like their smoked mozzarella pasta salad (yum!). When we got there, I was pleasantly surprised by the ambiance. A hillside full of trees, rows of grapevines, and a cozy lodge-like tasting room atop the hill were few of the many charming touches. We bought two bottles of wine at the winery and had a picturesque meal next to the budding grapevines . If you make it to a tasting be sure to try: Encore 2011, B lackberry 2013, and the Red Fox 2011.
Shirt: J Crew | Denim: AG | Watch: Emporio Armani | Hat: H&M | Shoes: Prada
DAY 2: If there’s an opportunity to eat at the best pancake house in the state, I will make it a point to wake up early to skip the line that literally wraps around the block. We arrived at Tennessee’s famous Pancake Pantry around 7:45 AM and waited about 15 minutes until we were seated. In 1960, it was Tennessee’s first and only pancake house and it has been a favorite ever since. Offerings include 24 different pancakes and everything from the pancake batter to the syrup is made from scratch. I HIGHLY recommend the sweet potato pancakes (pictured below).
After breakfast, we stumbled upon some bicycles outside and took them for a stroll through Vanderbilt’s campus and to the Parthenon for a free concert at Centennial Park. Renting these bikes for $5/24hrs must have been one of the best decisions we made.
Fact: The Parthenon in Nashville is a full-scale replica of the original Parthenon in Athens
The last spot we hit up for the day was Downtown Nashville. Bustling with people on every corner, it felt like the South’s version of Times Square. For any country music fan, a trip to Downtown Nashville is the ultimate pilgrimage. With cowboy boots roaming the streets, neon lights, and live music boasting from literally every establishment, a walk down Broadway St. will surely stimulate your senses. If you’re craving some really good ice cream, look no further than right in the middle of all the honky-tonks at Mike’s Ice Cream. Try the Tennessee fudge while you’re at it (pictured below).
Shirt: Club Monaco | Pants: Paige | Sunglasses: Ray Ban | Watch: Timex Weekender | Shoes: Prada
A good country song takes the page out of somebody’s life and puts it to music.
-Conway Twitty
DAY 3: On the last day, we went hiking at Radnor Lake to burn off some of those indulgent calories accumulated over the past 2 days. I cannot even put into words how perfect this little hike was. Sun filtered through the leaves, blissful weather, and immaculate trails made a last minute decision, one of the highlights of the trip. We even got up close and personal with some wildlife!
Cheers to a great all-American city rich in culture and special thanks to Traci and Shellee for hosting me!
SHOP THE LOOK
