"Storied honky-tonk joints—and tourists—crowd lower Broadway, but even locals are drawn to the classic country feel of Robert’s Western World.Two-step around the tiny dance floor to covers of songs by such favorites as Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, and Loretta Lynn."

"This American classic is the go-to meat-and-three restaurant in Nashville—that iconic staple of Southern cooking that consists of, well, a meat and three sides. All walks of life frequent this institution (the Dixie Chicks have been known to stop in every now and again), which is instantly recognizable from the street thanks to its painted redbrick exterior. Hungry customers queue up cafeteria-style, sliding their trays down to the register as they go, picking their protein (fried chicken, pork chops, roast beef, or the day’s special) and choosing from an array of sides (macaroni and cheese, fried green tomatoes, turnip greens). If you have any room left, don’t miss the banana pudding."

"The Original According to legend, Nashville-style hot chicken began in the 1930s when Thornton Prince's girlfriend dumped cayenne on his fried chicken to get revenge for his cheating ways. But he loved it instead, and eventually opened up a hot chicken shop of his own. The Prince family carries on the tradition today at their simple strip-mall space. Customers place their orders at a kitchen window for varying levels of heat, from mild to extra hot. The spicy paste is applied after the fried chicken comes out of cast-iron skillets, and then the bird is placed on white bread and served with pickles. The addictive combo of tastes has since spawned hot chicken joints and special menu items across Music City and beyond."

"A Little Bit Country, a Little Bit Rock and Roll Third Man Records, the Nashville outpost of musician Jack White's record label and store, is hard to define. It's both a retail outlet for vinyl and offices for hislabel, sure, but it also includes a "novelty lounge" with coin-operated video jukeboxes and whimsical contraptions. What draws the crowds, though, is Third Man'smusic venue (decked out with curved blue walls adorned withtaxidermy), whichregularly holdslive performances, shows movies, and hosts record-release events. Visitors also can step into thetiny Record Booth, a refurbished 1947 Voice-o-Graph machine, to record up to two minutes of audio that they can take home on a 6-inch phonograph disc."

"After the Grand Ole Opry left the Ryman Auditorium, country legend Roy Acuff said the redbrickbuilding with its Gothic arches and stained glass windowsmight as well be torn down. The Rymanhad been home to performances and broadcasts since the 1940s, but it wasin poor condition and lacked air-conditioning and proper dressing rooms. Fortunately, its legacy as “The Mother Church of Country Music” prevailed and, after years of sitting practically empty, the auditorium was renovated and began hosting shows once again. Originally built as a church, the grand hall has spectacular acoustics and a lingering magic in its pews from all those years spent witnessing country music history. A trip here is practically obligatory when visiting the Music City."

"Growing Diversity Nashville has the largest Kurdish population in the country, which speaks to its growing diversity. And with that diversity comes great food shopping from places like Sulav International Market—with a Kurdish bakery for fresh flatbread, Halal butcher, and rows of preserved lemon, spices, and nuts. Also check out Shish Kebob, the Kurdish restaurant located in the same strip mall."

"Since opening in 2001, the Frist Art Museum has hosted an inspiring—and continuous—slate of exhibitions from both nearby and around the world in its Art Deco digs. Visit on a Thursday or Friday night to catch “Music at the Frist,” when a wide range of musicians perform live in the museum café. The shows are free to attend with the purchase of admission."

"This sprawl of green—132 acres’ worth—is an oasis for urbanites. The park’s centerpiece, the Nashville Parthenon, is a full-scalereplica of the Grecian structure and a physicaltestimonyto Nashville’s “Athens of the South” nickname. The park’s bandshell hosts Shakespeare in the Park and occasionally serves as the site of the popular Movies in the Park, but because this is Nashville, a free live music series called Musicians Corner dominates the summer programming. On Saturday afternoons from May through September, music lovers, families, and petsgather to enjoy an impressive lineup of musicians, as well as local food trucks and a beer garden. Recent performers have included Preservation Hall Jazz Band andlocal favorites Rayland Baxter, Cale Tyson, and Langhorne Slim."

"It's a Sports Town, Too Nashville loves its sports teams, from the Titans pro football team, which plays at LP Field on the banks of the Cumberland River downtown, to the NHL Predators, who play in Bridgestone Arena in the heart of downtown."

"Locals love the Sunday Supper at City House, when chef-owner Tandy Wilson serves his highly creative Italian-influenced menu, but you really can’t go wrong any night here.Wilson, a 2016 James Beard Award winner, is a Nashville native who spent time in Italy and California before opening his restaurant in the former home of a sculptor in the trendy Germantown neighborhood. Since then, he’s been drawing visitors and locals alike with his belly ham pizzas, corn bread gnocchi, and main dishes like roasted chicken and corn meal–crusted catfish with peppers, garlic, anchovy, lemon, and parsley. Those in the know bookend their visits with a perfectly crafted cocktail at the bar and a dessert from pastry chef Rebekah Turshen, like the almond ricotta skillet cake with lemon marmalade and lemon ricotta gelato."

"Guitar Greats This famed guitar shop opened in 1970 and recently relocated from downtown to this space on 8th Ave. It’s where you’ll find an enormous range of equipment from starter guitars to a 1940 Stromberg Master 400 owned by Freddie Green in the Count Basie Orchestra and still strung with Freddie strings. Even if you don't play, this place is worth a visit."