My First Time in Nashville and Here’s What Shocked Me

Is it worth another trip?

I just came back from my trip to Nashville.

Nashville was never on my bucket list, as I prefer a beach holiday over parties.

But sometimes, mixing things up is good, and I always have a soft spot for country music and yummy food.

So when my friend suggested a quick trip to Nashville for their famous Fried Chicken and listened to live country music, I said yes without hesitation.

I didn’t invest much time researching before my Nashville adventure, knowing Nashville would deliver on both fronts regarding music and food.

But when I finally set foot in Nashville, I was shocked at what I saw and experienced. So here I am sharing my two cents about this music city for those planning their next trip.

Things are costly

It’s only a 2-hour flight from Toronto to Nashville, but the plane ticket costs over $1,000.

I know plane tickets are expensive these days to make up for the last two years when the travel industry had to shut down completely. But $1,000 for a 2-hour flight is excessive.

We had no choice but to make a big detour, going from Toronto to New York to Nashville and returning from Nashville to Atlanta to Toronto. Each journey took about 12 hours.

Locally, things are also quite pricy. For example, a 15-minute Uber ride to our Airbnb costs $40.

I had to book a nail session because my nail broke during the trip, which was $70.

One scoop of ice cream is $7. A glass of vodka soda is $17. Plus 18–20% tips.

And we are talking about USD here. I am well-travelled, but I haven’t been to the United States for a long time. Is this how much things cost these days?

The minimum wage in the US is $7.25, and this research shows that nearly a third of all workers in the US earn under $15 an hour. How do people survive?

Bachelorette Parties

Having bachelorette parties in Nashville is a thing.

From the moment we boarded the flight to Nashville, we already saw groups of girls in matching outfits, ready for the parties.

And when we get to Nashville, the bachelorette party scenes intensify. Almost every few minutes, we would see groups of girls in the same colour clothing and the bride walking in the very busy downtown Broadway and the lively Gulch area.

One of my friends jokingly said that if we turn this into a drinking game and take a shot every time we see a bachelorette group, we would all be intoxicated in 20 minutes.

I couldn’t help but wonder when and why Nashville had transformed into such a renowned bachelorette playground. I came across an article that shed some light on this matter. I’ll let you decide whether this is a place to go for your special occasion.

Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift is undeniably an iconic figure, although she wasn’t the first artist to come to mind when I thought of Nashville. However, her presence permeated every corner of the city.

From the Taylor Swift bench in Centennial Park to the Taylor Swift Education Center at the Country Music Hall of Fame Museum, to almost every bar playing Taylor Swift songs and shouting out to the “Swifties.”

During one of our Uber rides back to the Airbnb, our driver said Taylor Swift attracted a great crowd of over half a million people when she returned to Nashville a few years ago. The downtown cameras installed to count the attendees had to stop when the number reached a staggering 531,000.

The driver mentioned that it cost $6,500 for a concert ticket, and a devoted father paid a whopping $13,000 for a front-row seat for his teenage daughter.

As I researched to verify this information, I stumbled upon recent data showing another father who spent a jaw-dropping $21,000 for his daughter and her friends to attend a Taylor Swift concert just a few days ago. So a price tag of $13,000 isn’t that surprising.

Party Town

I knew downtown Nashville was bustling with bars and live music, but I didn’t associate Country Music with wild parties and booze.

The party scenes caught me by surprise.

Open-deck party buses cruised down the streets one after another, filled with people dancing and singing their hearts out. And if that wasn’t enough, speed racers revving their engines, trying to grab your attention with their loud mufflers and booming music pouring out from every bar you passed.

As night descended, police cars strategically blocked off the roads on both ends of the area. It was for safety reasons, but it also created an incredible opportunity to wander around town without the hassle of cars freely.

We ventured to the famous Tootsies’ rooftop and looked down at the crowd below. The sight reminded me of those vibrant, sleepless evenings experienced in Bangkok, Thailand — except, thankfully, without anyone trying to pull you into those infamous ping pong shows.

Hotspot for all ages

While the party scenes attracted many bachelorettes, it wasn’t just a hotspot for the younger generation; it appealed to people of all ages.

Perhaps it’s not fair to judge people by their appearance, but after seeing a lady in her 50s celebrating her birthday; a mom and her grown-up daughter dancing together; an older gentleman with his walking cane requesting a song to be played live; and a group of guys having their old school reunion, I’d comfortably say that Nashville welcomes and embraces people from all walks of life, not just for the Gen Z’s.

Sweets

I knew Southern cuisine tends to be rich and anticipated some heavy deep-fried chicken during my visit to Nashville.

What I didn’t expect was the abundance of sweets and desserts available.

Strolling along the one-mile-long Broadway strip downtown, I counted at least 4–5 creameries and restaurants showcasing a range of dessert pies to accompany your meals.

And they are very, very sweet.

Being someone who appreciates the interplay of sweet and tangy flavours, I was happy to find strawberry ice cream with real berries inside. However, it was still a lot sweeter than my usual choices.

So when I found out hot chicken and waffle is a famous brunch dish in Nashville, I was apprehensive — oh, not sweet again.

But I was determined to try all the famous local dishes, so I put my order in.

To my surprise, the waffle has natural sweetness even without extra syrup. It was soft and had this buttery taste that melted in my mouth. Eating together with a piece of spicy chicken created this sensation like I was having a party in my mouth, satisfying my taste buds most unexpectedly.

Asians

In most cities I’ve visited, it’s common to come across groups of Asian travellers.

But not in Nashville.

Come to think of it; perhaps it has something to do with the way Asians tend to approach travel.

You see, most Asians like to make the most of their journeys. They plan meticulously, cramming their days with many activities and hopping from one sightseeing spot to another.

I used to be like that, too, until I moved overseas and became influenced by Western culture. I now prefer a more spontaneous approach to travel, and I’ll happily stay in one spot instead of rushing off to the next.

Firearms and weapons

Coming from places I’ve lived in, like Hong Kong, Japan, Australia and Canada, where strict regulations on guns and weapons are the norm, it was hard to get my head around to see “No Firearms or Weapons” signs displayed everywhere.

A friend from the United States assured me this is quite normal. You don’t need to declare or display your license or permits in some states.

This triggered a healthy debate about whether it’s safer to know if someone is carrying a gun or not knowing.

Regardless of where you stand on the issue, those signs in front of public venues caught my attention. They made me more cautious about my surroundings and heightened my awareness.

And my verdict…

Nashville is a beautiful city with vibrant colours, captivating murals, and music everywhere. The atmosphere is lively and happy — it’s hard not to feel the positive vibes.

I also enjoyed my culinary experiences in Nashville, even though their dishes tend to pack a more potent flavour punch.

But I’m not really into the whole party scene. I’d much rather gather a few close friends, have a good meal, and share some laughs over a glass of wine than spend the night dancing away.

If partying is your thing, Nashville will deliver a great time.

However, for me personally, I don’t see myself rushing back to Nashville anytime soon. While I appreciate its unique charm, I’d still prefer a beachy holiday.