Different Neighborhoods of Nashville
To this day, I will never understand for the life of me why Nashville, Tennessee does not get the shine it deserves. The designated home of country music, the history and culture surrounding the city alone are enough to pay a visit. Walking the streets of this downtown is an experience I consider to be unique to this city, and you will never be hard pressed to find a bar, restaurant, or show that will make your night one to remember. But more often than not, the metropolitan area as a whole holds the true character of a major city. The people, greasy-spoons, and locally owned and operated shops bring the authenticity of a location to life. I firmly believe that to truly immerse yourself in the feeling and culture of a city, you must journey outside of its downtown area. So, to make your next trip to Nashville a bit easier, or, to potentially convince to journey there, here is a list of different neighborhoods in the Nashville area to get your ideas flowing.
Opryland/Music Valley
It’s only right to begin here, where the Grand Ole Opry is located. It is situated only minutes from downtown, and I perhaps the most popular area to check out in the city. Not only does it have fantastic entertainment, it also has numerous fun activities (arcades, go-kart and putt-putt, Opry mills, to name a few), and great shopping options. With many places to stay as well, I’m not sure I would blame for spending your entire trip there. A trip to Nashville isn’t complete without a stop here, so be sure to check out Groupon for discounts and coupons for the many things you’ll inevitably want to do.
Midtown/Vanderbilt
Name a city you’ve visited that did not have a midtown. I’ll wait. Okay, I’m sure you found at least one, but it seems like almost every major city has one, and far be it from Nashville not to follow suit. Up on Broadway and Division street, this area of metro-Nashville, there is not short of places to eat and drink. And with Vanderbilt University located in this section as well, you can bet there will be a party going on no matter what time of day or night. If you’re looking for some Nashville-style chicken, stop in to Hattie B’s for the spice-up your day needs!
West End/ Elliston Place
While the music scene of Nashville attracts so many, anyone who isn’t necessarily a country music fan may be a bit wary of spending hard-earned vacation time there. Not to worry, this city seems to never let anyone down, no matter the taste. Being a young and upcoming neighborhood, the housing and small restaurants give the feel of a revival of sorts, and that means trendy and authentic esthetics. You’ll be a part of the future of Nashville when you mingle around Elliston place, and you might be surprised at the music you hear emanating from the many bars and clubs. In the center of the neighborhood is the Elliston Rock-Block, which means you need to be ready to have your hair blown back and your ears ringing for at least the next morning when you take in a show around here. But, after all, an ear-ringing morning is a sure sign of a great night when it comes to music.
Germantown
It would be a crime to visit Nashville and not take in some of the historic aspects that make it such a gem of the south. Germantown is indeed the best place to do just that. Being one of the city’s first suburbs, the heterogeneous neighborhood features a heavy concentration of beautiful, Victorian-style buildings, reflective of the surge of German immigrants that arrived in the city during the mid-nineteenth century. You’ll feel a part of the authentic history that is unique to Nashville, as well as get a taste of the origins what has become part of the culture of Nashville as a whole. As an added bonus, the neighborhood has been designated a city Arboretum by the Nashville Tree Association, and contains over a 100 species of trees throughout the gorgeous locale.
Marathon Village
Obviously, I cannot include every single neighborhood in this brief article, so for the last one on this list, I decided to go with the neighborhood I personally think is the coolest out of them all. Though it offers perhaps the fewest amount of restaurants, shops, and music entertainment, it is the creative and artistic hub of the city. So, in my opinion, you not only get a lesson in the art culture and history of the city, you get a sneak peek into the future of it as well. It is not so much a neighborhood as a collection of historic, century-old warehouses that have been converted into rented artistic and small business spaces for the continued development of the local economy around the arts. So, even though the shopping is limited compared to the rest of the city, you can be sure that you are supporting the city itself, and the people who make their living there.
There is no city that would claim to house of all of its worth in the downtown area alone. We all hear about the most prominent parts of a major city. But, think about the city you live in. Do you only find entertainment downtown? Are all of your favorite places to eat centered on a few blocks? Chances are slim. I’d be willing to bet that if a friend or colleague were to visit your area, you would not limit their experience to the downtown area alone. It is the same with Nashville, but I’d also be willing to bet that there is no greater value in a metropolitan area than in Nashville, Tennessee. Go and see for yourself!
Dylan Moskowitz – Local Writer
While I am not writing, I enjoy running and spending time learning French. I hope that with my writing I can help others learn something new.
Thank you so much Dylan for the guest post!!
xoxo,
Nashville on the Market Group
