There's a reason that Nashville has been named one of the 52 places to go in 2014 by the New York Times.
Nashville is, increasingly, the perfect blend of its historic country roots and its hipster and rock & roll present. It's a strange juxtaposition, certainly, that the land of Elvis and Dolly is now also the land of hipsters and foodies, but that's how it goes, it seems.
With that in mind, here are 22 reasons why you visit the blended old and new Music City not just this year but right now.
1. The hot chicken (a Nashville specialty) at Hattie B's. Add a side of pimento mac & cheese.
2. The piano at Studio B (an additional tour at kinda-gotta-see The Country Music Hall of Fame), where Elvis recorded more music than anywhere else.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
3. With over 700 of them, there are more churches per capita in this town than any place else in the country. So there's that.
4. Little Richard lives on the top floor of the Hilton Hotel downtown, across from the Country Music Hall of Fame. It's a known fact. And so lovable.
5. Hatch Show Print. An oldie--established in 1879--but a goodie for lovers of letterpress posters.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
6. Honky tonks! Robert's Western sits amongst a plethora of options on lower Broadway.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
7. Frist Museum for the Norman Rockwell show (on through Feb. 9).
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
8. The awesome blue grass tunes at The Station Inn.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
9. The guacamole and house margarita at Saint Anejo in the Gulch, one of the hipster neighborhoods that just popped out of nowhere.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.![saint anejo]()
10. The full scale replica of the Parthenon.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.![the parthenon nashville]()
11. Shopping at Nashvillian boutiques in places like Hillsboro Village (home of the famous Pancake Pantry) and 12 South (Below, 12South Tap Room, seen on warmer days).
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.![12 south]()
12. The burgers at Burger Up (be prepared to wait in line).
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.![burger up nashville]()
13. Franklin, a 20-minute drive south of town, for shopping and good eats.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.![franklin tn]()
14. Goo Goo clusters!
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.![googoo clusters]()
15. The beauty of the Ryman Auditorium, the "mother Church of country music."
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.![ryman auditorium nashville]()
16. The knowledge that the band you're listening to at some random venue might just be the next big thing.
17. Parnassus Books, an independent store owned by author Ann Patchett.
18. The complete package experience of Pinewood Social: brunch, bowling and booze.
19. People are really friendly.
20. The ridiculous amounts of memorabilia at the new-ish Johnny Cash Museum.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.![johnny cash museum]()
21. Knowing that you could run into Taylor Swift at any moment.
22. Jack White's Third Man Records store.
Nashville is, increasingly, the perfect blend of its historic country roots and its hipster and rock & roll present. It's a strange juxtaposition, certainly, that the land of Elvis and Dolly is now also the land of hipsters and foodies, but that's how it goes, it seems.
With that in mind, here are 22 reasons why you visit the blended old and new Music City not just this year but right now.
1. The hot chicken (a Nashville specialty) at Hattie B's. Add a side of pimento mac & cheese.
2. The piano at Studio B (an additional tour at kinda-gotta-see The Country Music Hall of Fame), where Elvis recorded more music than anywhere else.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
3. With over 700 of them, there are more churches per capita in this town than any place else in the country. So there's that.
4. Little Richard lives on the top floor of the Hilton Hotel downtown, across from the Country Music Hall of Fame. It's a known fact. And so lovable.
5. Hatch Show Print. An oldie--established in 1879--but a goodie for lovers of letterpress posters.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
6. Honky tonks! Robert's Western sits amongst a plethora of options on lower Broadway.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
7. Frist Museum for the Norman Rockwell show (on through Feb. 9).
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
8. The awesome blue grass tunes at The Station Inn.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
9. The guacamole and house margarita at Saint Anejo in the Gulch, one of the hipster neighborhoods that just popped out of nowhere.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
10. The full scale replica of the Parthenon.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
11. Shopping at Nashvillian boutiques in places like Hillsboro Village (home of the famous Pancake Pantry) and 12 South (Below, 12South Tap Room, seen on warmer days).
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
12. The burgers at Burger Up (be prepared to wait in line).
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
13. Franklin, a 20-minute drive south of town, for shopping and good eats.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
14. Goo Goo clusters!
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
15. The beauty of the Ryman Auditorium, the "mother Church of country music."
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
16. The knowledge that the band you're listening to at some random venue might just be the next big thing.
17. Parnassus Books, an independent store owned by author Ann Patchett.
18. The complete package experience of Pinewood Social: brunch, bowling and booze.
19. People are really friendly.
20. The ridiculous amounts of memorabilia at the new-ish Johnny Cash Museum.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
21. Knowing that you could run into Taylor Swift at any moment.
22. Jack White's Third Man Records store.