Where to next?
The definitive post-kayak-tour atlas for Nashville, Tennessee
Where to EAT
Our guides’ favorite lunch spots, close to the Skyline Paddle drop-off location! In no particular order:
I Dream of Weenie - Nashville’s only “full-service weenery.” Fun hot-dog restaurant with creative toppings. All-time most popular CK staff lunch location
Grillshack Fries and Burgers - Classic patio-serve burger joint just up the road. Awesome thick-cut french fries.
Mitchell’s Deli - Maybe the best sandwiches in town?
GreKo Greek Street Food - As the name suggests… Pitas, bowls, skewers, always SO FRESH.
Redheaded Stranger - Southwest inspired tacos/tex-mex, fun patio!
Five Points Pizza East - NY style pizza, made-to-order, or by the slice
Where to EXPLORE
Here are some other outdoor activities to check out while you’re in town
Stick around Shelby Park & Bottoms for nice walking trails, and two different golf courses.
Rent a bike or join a biking tour with Green Fleet Bikes
Walk around Nashville’s full-size replica of the Parthenon at Centennial Park
Confusingly, another great park in town is called Bicentennial Park, where you can see the State Capitol and explore the Farmer’s Market
Join us for a guided hiking tour on the weekend! We visit several different state parks in the area for half and full-day tours
Nashville is organized into neighborhoods. The downtown/Broadway area is only one of many! We recommend exploring some other parts of town, too:
East Nashville - Great restaurants, bars, boutique shopping. Maybe aptly judged the “hipster” part of town, East Nashville hosts lots of musicians and artists. Start in the “Five Points” area where you can catch a show at the Basement East, visit a number of bars+restaurants, and shop for clothes or musical instruments
Germantown - One of Nashville’s fastest growing neighborhoods, featuring high-end restaurants, unique breweries, cool architecture, and a minor league baseball stadium. Happy hours at Sonny’s and Von Elrod’s. Local breweries include Bearded Iris, Tailgate, and Monday Night. Go Sounds!
The Gulch - Upscale neighborhood with a combination of high-end fashion stores alongside classic Nashville spots. Iconic southern food at Arnold’s Country Kitchen. Amazing collection of vintage and high-end guitars at Carter Vintage. Late-night jazz at Rudy’s. But also, bachelorette brunch spots, wings murals, and fancy jewelry/clothing stores. Worth a visit!
Where to LISTEN
Nashville definitely doesn’t disappoint when it comes to live music. Most locals however, are disappointed by the 24/7 country covers on Broadway. Here are some live music destinations in town, including some alternatives to just country:
Broadway/Downtown - Country and classic rock cover bands, at literally 40+ bars. Definitely worth checking out! There are no covers in this area, so it’s easy to waltz in and out of bars as you please to find some music that you like. There’s a wide range of talent and genre down on Broadway literally all the time!
Ryman Auditorium - Historic Venue that used to host nightly Grand Ole Opry performances (The Opry now has it’s own venue, in another part of town). It’s worth getting tickets if you can! Sit on the balcony.
The Listening Room - Venue near downtown that features “writers’ rounds;” intimate performances from songwriters where artists take turns sharing the songs that they wrote. The Listening Room often features writers that may have written a #1 country song, but aren’t the country star that popularized it. Tickets are cheap, but a $15 food/beverage minimum is required inside. Pro-tip: skip the food, and plan to spend $15 on drinks.
Rudy’s Jazz Room - Late night jazz lounge. Unique nightly performances from local jazz artists. Quiet (usually), intimate, cocktail service at your seat.
Bourbon Street Blues - Honky Tonk featuring blues music, located in Printers Alley. A few blocks from broadway, literally in an alley.
Check out our other adventures at Cumberland Kayak & Adventure Company
