3-Day Winter Getaway in Nashville, TN

One of my absolute favorite cities and only a short 3.5-4.5 hour drive from Atlanta ( that is… given Atlanta traffic ). What other city can you wake up with live music playing from 9 AM until the lights go out?  Not to mention the food scene …  did someone say Nashville hot chicken?!   There is something for everyone in this city and it will leave you wanting to come back time after time.

Although I have been to Nashville numerous times; from college formal weekends to UGA football games at Vandy, to work trips … I have yet to run out of places to see or things to do. Hence why I decided to take my mom there for her very 1st time ever as a belated Christmas and birthday gift trip.  Both of us share a mutual love for country music, exploring new food scenes, and some good honky tonk entertainment.

Given the cold temps and rainy forecast, we decided this would become an annual trip and the first of many annual trips was full of food, food and more food!   Fair warning, most of the places I’ve listed below are health and wellness gems ( in my opinion ) …  I love a good acai bowl, grain bowl, fresh-pressed juices vegetarian and vegan dishes BUT I have plenty of not-so-healthy and delicious foodie recommendations coming to the blog in the near future ( along with a bachelorette party guide / So stay tuned! )

• Five Daughters Bakery: This family business is run by … you guessed it.. a couple with five daughters! They have 3 locations in the Nashville area – East Nashville, 12 South and Franklin TN ( inside the factory itself ).  You might wonder how a doughnut place is one of the first on my ‘healthy’ list but you would be shocked. This bakery had SO many options, including gluten free, vegan and paleo options  ( perfect post-whole30 as I tried to stay close to a paleo menu ). We had the Paleo – Fig Honey & Pistachio doughnut and the Paleo – Chocolate Coconut Ganache doughnut; both were to die for.

• AVO: Hello Avocado margaritas! MM mmmm… Creamy like a milkshake; I don’t think a margarita can get much better. AVO (short for Avocado) menu is all plant-based with abundance of tasty raw & vegan dishes. I wish we could have ordered one of everything but I guess I will just have to come back on my next visit. We shared the [vegan] pad thai made with kelp noodles and oh-so-good .. and their Squash bowl [complete with quinoa, kale, marinated shiitake mushrooms, pomegranate and lemon tahini]
• Milk & Honey: Located in 12 south. Come here for deliciously healthy options; a craft coffee selection; juice bar; and lots of treats & sweets to-go.
• Eio & The Hive: One of my absolute new favorites. You can’t go wrong with anything on their breakfast / brunch menu but my personal favorites were the Charlotte Garden Hash {potato, cauliflower, broccoli, greens & onion; topped with a poached egg & mustard hollandaise sauce} and their brunch Curry Bowl {sweet potato, chickpeas, coconut curry, greens, cauliflower, raisins, pecans, with a sunny side egg on top}. Did I mention they have Kombucha on tap … ? Along with a menu full of elixirs, smoothies and fresh-pressed juices that I didn’t get the chance to try.
• Bakersfield: Located right downtown, this spot is a taco + margarita gem. It is a great atmosphere for big groups with their long community tables but be prepared for a wait (… where will you not see a wait at a popular restaurant in Nashville is the real question?!). Try their ‘Hongas’ (portabello), Pollo Rojo, Baja Shrimp, and Fish tacos. Don’t forget some queso(!!)
• Frothy Monkey: This is a hot-spot coffee chain in Nashville. With multiple locations, each of them unique in their own way.. they serve up some pretty dang good coffee along with a list full of specialty drinks. My favorite is the Golden Monkey ( not like the beer served up in Athens, GA). Their version of the Golden Monkey is golden turmeric milk, honey, topped with cinnamon + turmeric root and add a bonus shot of espresso.
• Acme Feed & Seed: Four-stories of good times at this spot located at the very end of Broadway, overlooking the Titans stadium from the rooftop. Every floor is a little different. You can find a live country-style band on the first floor along with food + a full-bar.  The 2nd floor (supposedly) has an amazing sushi bar that I have not had the chance to try and a full cocktail list. Then there is the rooftop with great views over the river and stadium… on a hot day, try out their “Mule Kicker” {“Ole Smoky Lemon Drop White Lightnin’, Mello Yello, Lemonade, Cardamom, served up frozen” – add a floater?! )