Cheekwood is a beautiful and historic estate and gardens in the Belle Meade area of Nashville. It has become a very special place for us both, as this is where we had our first date in Nashville and where we got engaged! Hartley's grandmother, Nan, worked here for years, and I'm sure she would agree: if you love flowers, art, or history, this would be a great place to spend the day.
Pins Mechanical Co. has been one of our favorite places for the past four years! Both of our families and all of our friends have loved visiting Pins, and it has become a regular spot in our rotation! Sip fun cocktails or have a good beer while playing duckpin bowling, giant jenga, plenty of pinball machines, and free vintage arcade games!
Fifth and Broadway has something for everyone! It has SO many options for food and shopping right off of Broadway. Upstairs is filled with mini versions of local Nashville restaurants and live music, while downstairs has all kinds of brand-name stores. If you find yourself downtown, this is a must!
San Antonio Taco Co. = cheap tacos + good queso. We ate here right after getting engaged to celebrate, and I feel like that is explanation enough! If you want dive-y, laid-back tacos and beer on a patio, this recommendation is for you.
Two of Hartley's main food groups are tacos and barbecue. That being said, Peg Leg Porker is right behind Gracen's first apartment in the Gulch and has some killer barbecue and fried chocolate pies! Plus, it's owned by an Auburn grad...war eagle!
This cocktail bar seems to be lesser-known than a lot of the others downtown, and we are just fine with that! If you want an upscale, intimate nightcap as opposed to a night out on Broadway, this is one of our favorite hidden finds. We love to feel classy by ending a date night with a craft cocktail at Pullman Standard,
The Nashville Zoo is a great option for families looking to spend the day outside, just a 15-minute drive from the heart of downtown!
These are really just a FEW of our favorite places here in Nashville, and a lot of these places we found using the Nashville Guru website. I found Nashville Guru years ago, and I am sure I've used it every week since! If you're looking for what's going on in the city over the weekend, need restaurant recommendations, or just want a breakdown of what each Nashville neighborhood has to offer, check out this website for sure!