Nashville has long been synonymous with country music, earning its nickname as Music City. Yet beyond the twangy guitars and honky-tonk bars lies a vibrant metropolis brimming with unique experiences that have nothing to do with recording studios or concert venues. The city has evolved into a cultural hub where history, art, food, and outdoor adventures create a diverse urban tapestry worth exploring. From hidden historic gems to culinary revelations that will surprise your taste buds, Nashville offers experiences that often get overshadowed by its musical fame.
Here is a list of 15 incredible activities to enjoy in Nashville that don’t require you to know the difference between bluegrass and blues.
The Parthenon
In the heart of Centennial Park stands a full-scale replica of the ancient Greek Parthenon—the only one of its kind in the world. Built-in 1897 for Tennessee’s Centennial Exposition, this architectural marvel houses a stunning 42-foot statue of Athena, completely gilded and awe-inspiring in its grandeur.
The building serves as an art museum featuring both permanent collections and rotating exhibits that highlight American art from the 19th and 20th centuries. The surrounding park offers perfect picnic spots where locals gather for outdoor concerts, festivals, and lazy Sunday afternoons amid the classical columns.
Explore Radnor Lake State Park
Just 15 minutes from downtown, Radnor Lake provides an unexpected wilderness escape within city limits. The park’s six miles of trails wind through protected natural areas where wildlife viewing opportunities abound—deer casually cross paths with hikers while various bird species dart between the trees or glide across the placid lake.
Dawn and dusk bring especially magical moments as mist rises from the water, and the preserve’s resident otters, muskrats, and beavers become active. The park’s emphasis on conservation means you’ll experience a genuine slice of Tennessee’s natural landscape rather than a manicured urban green space.
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Tour Belle Meade Historic Site
This preserved plantation offers a fascinating—and sometimes uncomfortable—glimpse into Tennessee’s antebellum past. Once America’s largest thoroughbred horse farm, the property now serves as a living history museum where visitors can explore the Greek Revival mansion, original outbuildings, and sprawling grounds.
The guided tours don’t shy away from discussing the complex history of the enslaved people who built the plantation’s fortune. The experience concludes with a complimentary wine tasting from the on-site winery, housed in the former carriage house, where you can sample vintages while contemplating the layered stories of American history that unfolded on these grounds.
Eat Hot Chicken at Its Birthplace
Nashville hot chicken isn’t just food—it’s a cultural institution with a fascinating origin story allegedly involving revenge, infidelity, and one very spicy recipe. At Prince’s Hot Chicken, where the fiery dish was born, the chicken comes slathered in a cayenne-based paste that ranges from mild to “XXX Hot”—the latter not recommended for first-timers.
The unassuming strip mall location belies the significance of this culinary landmark, where locals and tourists alike stand in line for a taste of this authentically Nashville creation. The crispy, mouth-numbing experience has become so iconic that imitations appear on menus across America, though none quite capture the original’s perfect balance of heat and flavor.
Wander Through Cheekwood Estate & Gardens
This 55-acre botanical garden and art museum occupies the former estate of the Cheek family—Nashville entrepreneurs who made their fortune in coffee. The Georgian-style mansion houses impressive collections of American and European art, while the meticulously designed gardens showcase seasonal displays throughout the year.
The Japanese garden offers meditative tranquility, while the wildflower meadow buzzes with pollinators during warmer months. Each spring, over a million bulbs burst into bloom during the annual tulip festival, transforming the grounds into a kaleidoscope of colors. The sculpture trail features contemporary works set against natural backdrops, creating surprising artistic moments around each bend.
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Browse the Frist Art Museum
Housed in Nashville’s former main post office—an architectural gem of Art Deco design—the Frist Art Museum doesn’t maintain a permanent collection. Instead, the museum hosts a continuously rotating series of exhibits from institutions worldwide, ensuring each visit offers something new. The building itself merits appreciation, with its striking marble floors, aluminum details, and geometric patterns typical of 1930s federal architecture.
The Martin ArtQuest Gallery provides hands-on, creative stations where visitors of all ages can try printmaking, painting, and sculpture techniques inspired by current exhibitions. This dynamic approach to art curation keeps locals returning and gives tourists a good reason to include the Frist on their Nashville itinerary.
Discover Marathon Village
This former automobile factory once produced Marathon Motor Cars in the early 1900s. Today, the industrial complex houses an eclectic mix of artisan shops, working studios, distilleries, and uniquely Nashville businesses. The red-brick buildings maintain their historic character while hosting modern entrepreneurs creating everything from handcrafted guitars to small-batch spirits.
Antique Archaeology—featured on the television show American Pickers—maintains a Nashville outpost here, where treasure hunters can browse unusual finds. The complex represents Nashville’s talent for repurposing historic spaces while fostering creative communities and independent businesses that reflect the city’s entrepreneurial spirit.
Canoe the Cumberland River
The waterway that shapes Nashville’s geography offers outstanding paddling opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts. Local outfitters provide equipment rentals and guided excursions for all skill levels, allowing you to experience the city from a completely different perspective.
Gliding past the downtown skyline while great blue herons fish nearby creates a striking contrast between urban development and natural beauty. The river’s gentle current makes for manageable paddling, while several islands and inlets provide spots to beach your craft and enjoy riverside picnics. Early morning trips often reward paddlers with mist hanging over the water and wildlife stirring along the shoreline.
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Visit the Tennessee State Museum
Recently relocated to sleek new quarters at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, this free museum thoughtfully chronicles the state’s history from prehistoric times through the present day. Interactive exhibits cover everything from Tennessee’s Native American heritage to its pivotal role in civil rights movements.
The museum doesn’t gloss over difficult aspects of state history—exhibits addressing slavery, the Trail of Tears, and Civil War divisions provide nuanced context rather than simplified narratives. The light-filled space houses impressive artifacts, including an original Conestoga wagon, Civil War battle flags, and items belonging to three U.S. presidents from Tennessee.
Experience Centennial Park’s Events
While most visitors know Centennial Park as home to the Parthenon, locals appreciate this green space for its year-round calendar of community events. From Shakespeare in the Park performances during summer months to cultural festivals celebrating Nashville’s diverse population, the park serves as the city’s outdoor living room.
The weekly Musicians Corner concerts showcase rising talent across multiple genres, while the sunken garden hosts meditation sessions and tai chi classes at dawn. The park’s one-mile walking loop is filled with joggers, families, and dog walkers, creating a cross-section of Nashville life rarely experienced in tourist-focused areas.
Explore the Nashville Farmers’ Market
Operating since the early 1800s, the year-round market houses dozens of farm vendors, artisanal food producers, and international cuisine under one roof. The open-air farm sheds are filled with seasonal produce from regional growers, while the market house contains permanent restaurants representing culinary traditions from around the globe.
Weekends bring additional vendors selling handcrafted items, locally roasted coffee, and artisanal chocolates. Cooking demonstrations using market ingredients provide inspiration for home chefs, while the on-site garden center offers urban farming supplies for Nashville’s growing community of backyard gardeners. The market perfectly demonstrates how Nashville honors its agricultural roots while embracing diverse food cultures.
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Tour Historic Germantown
Nashville’s first suburb, established in the 1850s, has transformed into one of the city’s most charming neighborhoods while preserving its historic character. Victorian buildings and brick sidewalks create an atmospheric backdrop for some of Nashville’s finest restaurants, where award-winning chefs have established innovative dining destinations far from the tourist crowds.
During October, the annual Oktoberfest transforms the district into Tennessee’s version of Munich, complete with beer gardens, German food, and cultural performances. The neighborhood’s compact size makes it ideal for walking tours, where you can admire meticulously restored homes representing architectural styles spanning over 150 years of Nashville history.
Visit Lane Motor Museum
This unconventional automotive museum houses the largest collection of European cars and motorcycles in America, with an emphasis on particularly unusual and innovative vehicles. Former Air Force hangar space provides room for hundreds of quirky transportation artifacts, including microcars, amphibious vehicles, propeller-driven cars, and vehicles that defy easy categorization.
Unlike traditional car museums focusing on luxury or racing vehicles, Lane celebrates engineering creativity and transportation solutions from across the economic spectrum. Many vehicles remain operational, occasionally emerging for special driving demonstrations on the parking lot course. The museum’s approach combines technical appreciation with the simple joy of discovering bizarre vehicles most people never knew existed.
Hike Percy Warner Park
Part of Nashville’s extensive Warner Parks system—one of the largest urban park complexes in the nation—Percy Warner offers over nine miles of hiking trails through old-growth forests just 15 minutes from downtown. The limestone steps at the park entrance have become an iconic training spot for fitness enthusiasts, while deeper trails provide peaceful woodland immersion.
During spring, wildflowers carpet the forest floor beneath towering tulip poplars and oak trees that have stood for centuries. The park’s elevation changes provide surprising vistas overlooking the city from forested ridgelines. Wildlife sightings commonly include white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, and numerous woodland bird species that thrive in this protected urban wilderness.
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Attend a Tennessee Titans Game
Nashville’s NFL team plays in Nissan Stadium, dramatically positioned across the Cumberland River from downtown, creating one of football’s most picturesque settings. The game day experience extends well beyond the stadium, with elaborate tailgate setups filling parking lots and specially designated areas.
The team’s navy blue and flame-inspired colors appear throughout the city on game weekends, while the pedestrian bridge from downtown becomes a sea of fans walking to the stadium. Even for casual sports fans, the pageantry, music, and uniquely Southern approach to football culture make attending a Titans game a quintessential Nashville experience that showcases the city’s community spirit.
A City of Hidden Depths
Nashville continues revealing new dimensions beyond the neon lights of Broadway and the recording studios of Music Row. The city’s blend of Southern hospitality, creative energy, and entrepreneurial spirit manifests in surprising ways across diverse neighborhoods and experiences.
Whether exploring historic sites that shaped American music history or discovering quiet natural retreats minutes from downtown, visitors find that Nashville rewards those willing to venture beyond the obvious attractions. The city’s rapid growth has brought both challenges and opportunities, yet Nashville maintains its distinctive character while constantly reinventing itself—much like the ever-evolving music that first put it on the map.
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