A traveler from Australia recently shared an extensive account of celebrating their 50th birthday in Nashville with eight jam-packed days exploring the city. “This trip had been on my bucket list for a very long time and it certainly didn't disappoint!” they wrote.
Their experience offers a detailed roadmap for first-time visitors, and the response from Nashville locals was overwhelming — with many admitting they haven't seen half of what this tourist accomplished.
The Planning Pays Off
The visitor credited this community for many recommendations and created an impressive 19-item itinerary that ranged from boot shopping to NFL games. “I took many recommendations from this page and am grateful for all of the suggestions and advice,” they explained.
The level of detail impressed locals. One commenter saved the entire post for future reference: “I saved your itinerary for when we have friends and family visit.”
Boots, Bars, and Beyond
They started practical: boots from Ariat at the Food Assembly Hall, though they noted “great bargains at French's Boots on Broadway.” The bar crawl was extensive — Tootsies, Laylas, Robert's Western World (where they tried the recession special), Morgan Wallen's This Bar, Luke Combs' Category 10, Miranda Lambert's Casa Rosa, Kid Rock's, Lainey Wilson's Bell Bottoms Up, and the Bayou Keys Duelling Piano Bar, which they called “so much fun!”
The Emotional High Point
The Bluebird Cafe clearly stood out. “We were SO lucky to get tickets to the Bluebird twice!” they wrote. “Both shows were sensational… an emotional experience that I can highly recommend if you can get tickets!”
One local pushed back gently: “Sadly, most Nashville residents will tell you that the bluebird is not the bluebird anymore. The TV show ruined it. It used to be the best kept secret in town.”
But another local defended the experience: “I love seeing how much you did beyond Broadway! And the Backstage show at 3rd & Lindsley is one of my musts for visiting friends.”
Backstage Nashville Gets High Marks
Speaking of Backstage Nashville, this daytime songwriter show earned enthusiastic praise. “Another one of my favourite experiences in Nashville! A daytime hit songwriter show, where songwriters that have written hit songs for other artists perform the songs themselves and share the stories behind them.”
The Grand Ole Opry Experience
They did both the backstage tour and the show itself. The tour impressed them: “The best part was coming through the curtains from back stage onto the stage and getting a photo in the circle. I enjoyed the tour as much as the show itself!”
At the actual show, they got lucky. “We were lucky enough to see Carrie Underwood perform. She was incredible and can really belt out a song!”
One commenter revealed they were at the same show: “I was at the Opry show with Carrie Underwood! I live in Franklin right outside of Nashville.”
Food Highlights
Hattie B's got a thumbs up for “amazing fried chicken,” though locals had thoughts. “Too bad you missed Prince's Hot Chicken, you missed out. This is the original Nashville hot chicken. I never recommend Hattie B's,” one commenter wrote.
Another echoed: “Next time you need Prince's hot chicken. They're the original.”
Monell's in Germantown received glowing praise. “This was so great! You sit at communal tables and experience a traditional family style southern lunch. It's great chatting with locals and other travellers while experiencing southern hospitality and food. Very affordable too.”
Locals approved. One wrote: “Monell's is one of my favorite restaurants and Michael, the owner, is an old friend.”
What They Skipped
The visitor admitted Opry Mills shopping wasn't impressive, and locals agreed. “RE: #12 Locals feel the same way,” one commented, though they asked if the visitor toured the Gaylord Opryland Hotel next door.
Several locals suggested places for next time: Loveless Cafe came up repeatedly. “You'll have to come back, eat some famous biscuits and take your picture under the famous sign,” one wrote.
Skull's Rainbow Room in Printer's Alley got mentioned: “You missed Skull's Rainbow Room Printers Alley… maybe next time!”
The Local Perspective
The most telling comments came from Nashville residents themselves. “You did more in that time than I have done in 4 years,” one admitted.
Another wrote: “I've lived here for 40 years and haven't done half of what you accomplished in eight days.”
One local offered this observation: “As locals we forget how fabulous Nashville can be. I'm so happy you had a fantastic 50th celebration in our fair city!”
And perhaps the highest compliment: “Sometimes it's a good thing to see your hometown through the eyes of a visitor. We take all this for granted far too often.”
The Bottom Line
When asked how they fit everything into eight days, the answer was simple: careful planning and full days. Multiple commenters asked variations of “When did you sleep?”
For future visitors, this itinerary demonstrates that Nashville offers far more than just Broadway bars. songwriter shows to historic sites, from communal dining experiences to NFL games, the city rewards those who venture beyond the obvious tourist spots.
As locals repeatedly said: “Y'all come back now, ya hear?”
