Your Introduction to Music City: 5 Things You Must Do in Nashville in December
Visiting Nashville in December? This blog lists five things you must do during this time of year!
I’m going to be honest right off the bat and let you in on a well-known fact about me. I actually grew up despising country music. To this day, I am not the biggest fan of it. So, when my friend Ashley asked me to go on a trip to Nashville for her 30th birthday, I was a bit wary that I wouldn’t enjoy the city very much. However, I can never say no to a trip, so we instantly booked tickets and began preparing for what was going to be a celebratory weekend. Not only were we celebrating Ashley’s 30th, but I also had an upcoming birthday and my college graduation to celebrate! With all these reasons to celebrate in Nashville in December, I knew it would be a weekend to remember.
As someone who has never been into the country music scene, I can assure you that even if you hate country music, you will still appreciate the city and be able to let loose, especially after a few drinks. I have never seen a city full of more American spirit or full of as many friendly locals as Nashville. I left this trip craving even more southern hospitality and classic Nashville hot chicken. The only thing missing from our trip was a run-in with Dolly Parton. Although, we did have a brief Dolly Parton moment, which I will mention later on. Continue reading for all my best Nashville recommendations for December – yes, even for those of you who hate country music.
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Five Things to Do in Nashville in December
See the Graduate Nashville Hotel
Located a five-minute drive from the popular Broadway street in downtown Nashville is the funky retro hotel, Graduate Nashville. While we did not stay in this hotel, it left quite an impression on us during our short visit to the lobby. We admired the lobby’s Christmas tree (perks of visiting Nashville in December) and other funky decorations, such as these neon signs.
Check out prices and more details for the Graduate Nashville here.
The couches also grabbed our attention. We couldn’t resist taking a photo on them. My favorite part of the hotel, however, was the rooftop restaurant and bar, White Limozeen! Continue reading to hear more about this unmissable experience.
Eat at White Limozeen
Eating at White Limozeen was one of my favorite memories from Nashville. To elaborate on my earlier statement, attending this restaurant was the closest we came to meeting Dolly Parton. White Limozeen, while not affiliated with Dolly Parton, is a Dolly Parton-themed rooftop bar and restaurant located on top of Graduate Nashville. The inside had the most adorable Dolly-esque décor and Christmas trees. There was even a day bed that could be rented out to sip drinks on! What an adorable idea!
The outdoor dining on the rooftop was even more impressive. Not only did each table have the cutest striped umbrellas, but there was also a Dolly sculpture and a swimming pool with lounge chairs! It was a bit too cold to dine outside (the only downside of visiting Nashville in December), and the pool was closed due to COVID-19 precautions. However, we still made sure to take plenty of pictures with Dolly, as this was the closest we would get to meeting her in Nashville. As far as rooftop bars go, this was by far the coolest I’ve ever seen.
Shop
If you’ve read my other blogs or know me personally, then you know I love to shop, especially while on vacation! Ashley had found lots of shops to visit on our trip, thanks to the Nashville bloggers she follows on social media. We set out Sunday morning, ready to check out these cute shops. We did some shopping in an area called The Gulch, but the stores were a bit more spread out than we were expecting. Nevertheless, we still had fun looking at all the products each shop had to offer. Some stores that stuck out to us were Uncommon James, Blush Boutique, Kittenish, and VICI Dolls, where I purchased the most beautiful burgundy dress! Each shop was uniquely stylish.
See the Murals
While walking the streets and shopping, you’ll come across fun murals scattered throughout the city. This particular mural was located around the corner from Kittenish and was painted by @KelseyMontagueArt. We did the proper touristy thing and took some photos in front of this masterpiece. Make sure you leave some time in your schedule to grab photos of the different murals you’ll come across.
Bar Hop on Broadway
And finally, the reason so many people visit Nashville is to partake in the country drinking scene. Whether you like to drink or not, it’s still worth it to head to Nashville’s most popular street, Broadway. This street is lined with bars and restaurants, all of which have a live band playing. These are the perfect spots to dust off your cowboy boots and soak in the country atmosphere. Even though I’m not a huge country fan, it was still fun to absorb the lively atmosphere and sing along with the live artists. Because of COVID-19 restrictions, we were not allowed to dance. But even though we had to stay seated, we still had a blast. You can get a drink or two at each bar before hopping to the next. Trust me; you will want to check out a variety of bars so you can hear the different bands. Each bar’s vibe was a bit different from the next. We chose how much time we wanted to spend at each, depending on how much we liked the atmosphere and band. This is a great way to spend your nights in Nashville in December!
Our extended weekend in Nashville in December was the perfect amount of time to soak in the country scene. We may have spent a bit too much money, but we sure did create memories that will last a lifetime. I’m so glad I faced my fear of country music and went on this trip. We had such a fun crew of people, and we quickly became the favorite table at every bar we went to because we hyped up the musicians. I guess that’s what months of quarantine will do to you!
If you’re heading to Nashville in December or any time soon, make sure you do not miss out on the five activities I mentioned in this post. If you’ve been to Nashville before, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Share your best Nashville tips below!