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Where to Stay in Nashville - Hotels, Tiny Homes, Glamping, Rentals and more!
Holly William's Sweeney Cottage | Dawn Burns
Holly Williams, owner of White’s Merchantile has launched White’s Room and Board, offering beautiful vacation rental properties around middle Tennessee and expanding to Franklin, KY this summer. Let me show you around the dreamy Sweeney Cottage in Leiper’s Fork. You'll want to grab a glass of sweet tea and move right in!
Sweeney Cottage, built in 1892 by the Carl Sweeney family, is located in the charming village of Leiper’s Fork. Williams states that she “enjoyed working on the redemption of this home, renovating where needed, and always preserving where I can to let the history shine through.” Topped with a tiny roof, a front porch swing and fire pit, you truly can’t find more Southern Charm!
It is located within walking distance to Puckett’s, White’s Merchantile1892, 1892 and Leip
The front porch welcomes you with open arms! You’ll want to barbecue and sit on this porch for hours!
Sweeney Cottage allows you to bring your furry friends! They even have Harry Barker dog beds in the living room to pamper your pooch!
The living room offers a gas fireplace, flat screen tv, antique chest of drawers and plenty of sunshine.
Come ready to soak in the tub and feel refreshed!
The farm table is the perfect spot to gather around the table to eat, drink and share stories
The Writer’s Room equipped with two Gibson Guitars begs for local musicians and artisans to create music in this space.
The light-filled master bedroom with a queen bed will make getting up in the morning very difficult.
The backyard features a fire pit and the place you’ll want to barbecue.
If you’re looking for a vacation that’s close to home, you’ll definitely want to look into Sweeney Cottage. Love and beauty meet you at every corner!
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Dawn and her family love exploring all things Nashville and sharing their adventures! Dawn loves connecting with other moms and highlighting the best of Nashville! You can find her eating her way through Nashville with kids in tow, trying new things like Goat Yoga, and enjoying all that Music City has to offer! Learn more at www.thenashvillemom.com or on Insta @thenashvillemom.
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The Perfect Nashville Staycation | Blythe Cate
Staycation: A vacation in which you don’t leave town. There are times when I feel like I need a getaway, but I don’t have the time or money to travel someplace else. Taking a staycation can be the best solution.
I was born and raised in Nashville and often take the city for granted. If you’ve lived somewhere for a time, you often do. It may sound silly, but taking the time to give yourself a vacation in the place where you live can ground you and refresh you. Engaging with your home as a tourist allows you a new perspective, just as traveling to another place does.
If you find yourself restless and needing an escape, I’ve planned a whole weekend in town for you! You don’t need to do a thing but make the reservations and pack your bag. Here are my recommendations for the perfect Nashville staycation:
Photo: Award winning private cottage + Unique Urban Loft in 12South
Friday Afternoon
Leave work, grab your already-packed bag, and head to your weekend Airbnb.
Sure, you could stay in your home if you want to save money. But if you really need an escape, I would consider renting a place for the weekend—preferably away from your neighborhood. I’ve picked out some favorites for a relaxing and charming stay, steering clear of anything in the heart of downtown so that you can have some quiet! All of these allow you the whole space to yourself:
Cozy loft in 12 South – This one-bedroom loft is perfect if you’re seeking a comforting stay solo or with a partner.
Quaint cottage in Lockeland Springs – This award-winning home would be great for yourself and a couple of friends looking for charm and ease on the East side.
Bright, airy loft near 5 Points – Colorful and happy, this space suits a happy-go-lucky sort of weekend.
1920’s East Nashville Bungalow – With 5 beds, this gorgeous space is a dream if you’re gathering a larger group for the weekend.
Sunny Artist’s Cottage in Sylvan Park – This plant-filled, vibrant home would be a lovely getaway if you’re going solo or just have a few friends joining.
Photos: @thetreehousenashville + @rbqnashville
Friday Evening
After you get settled in your refuge for the weekend, head out for a fun, casual night. Stay close to home, as Friday nights can be tiring at the close of a long week.
If you’re staying on the East side, start out with a cocktail at Rosemary & Beauty Queen on Forrest Ave. Be on the lookout for an unmarked yellow house, and walk all the way to the back for drinks in the open backyard patio, covered by string lights.
Next, walk around the corner to 5 Points for dinner at Five Points Pizza, which has some of the best pizza in Nashville, according to me.
If you’re still feeling energized after dinner, grab a drink across the street at Treehouse. If the weather is nice, ensure you sit outside in the actual tree house.
Otherwise, curl up at your Airbnb with a favorite film and sleep as long as you can.
If you’re staying closer to 12 South and looking to treat yourself, head to the bar at Josephine for cocktails and appetizers. This should be enough to serve as dinner. Next, don’t skimp on Jeni’s next door.
After, head to the Belcourt Theatre for an evening show and a glass of wine before retiring to your Airbnb to sleep in.
Photos: @burgerup
Saturday
No matter where you are, treating yourself to brunch at Marche is an absolute must. If you wake up early, head there right at 9, as they don’t take reservations, and it gets quite crowded on weekends.
Afterwards, enjoy a slow morning preparing for the day at your home for the weekend. Sit outdoors with a cup of coffee, even read some of a good book. Don’t rush.
For lunch, the chopped kale salad at Burger Up (either the 12 South or East Nashville location) will have you feeling healthy and satisfied.
That afternoon, go shopping! Pangaea in Hillsboro Village is long beloved (I’ve been going there since I was little). Blush Boutique is one of my favorites for clothes and shoe shopping.
Of course, 12 South has much to offer with highlights Draper James and White’s Mercantile. If you’re lucky, you’ll spot Amelia’s Flower Truck while you’re there.
In East Nashville, visit Thrive on Fatherland for handmade goodies and High Garden for fresh afternoon tea.
When shopping feels tiresome, don’t hesitate to take an afternoon nap back at your Airbnb. Naps are good for you, and this staycation is about you getting what you need.
Photo: @rolfanddaughters
Saturday Evening
Get dressed up this evening and head to dinner at Rolf and Daughters in Germantown (one of my favorite restaurants in town). Ensure you’ve made a reservation. Try everything on the menu that you can. You won’t regret it.
After, head a few miles across town to Old Glory, an Edgehill Village hidden gem nestled behind Taco Mamacita (also a delicious place!) in an alleyway. Enjoy amazing cocktails in a dreamy, cozy space with a speakeasy feel.
Sleep.
Photo: @arringtonvineyards
Sunday
Depending on your location, wake up for coffee and crepes at Red Bicycle (Germantown and Woodbine) or tea and a bagel sandwich at Frothy Monkey (12 South, downtown, Franklin, The Nations).
Take a morning stroll in Percy Warner Park on the West side, central Centennial Park, or East Nashville’s Shelby Bottoms.
Prolong the weekend with an afternoon at Arrington Vineyards, a 25-45 minute drive, depending on where you are staying. This mini-getaway will be the perfect way to cap off your staycation. Have a wine tasting, listen to music, and decompress before you have to return to reality.
Fini! Your Nashville staycation is planned. Now all you have to do is pick a weekend and make it happen. I would love to hear how your staycation goes!
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Getting to know Nashville | Savannah Abbott
By: Savannah Abbott
Nashville is such a dream. It’s like the perfect mixing bowl of uptown culture and art stirred in with simple country living. I love every single bit of it. I can confidently say that if my husband and I were to ever move, this would be the first destination on our list. Nashville is simply full of life.
Our first trip to Nashville was two years ago, and I think we just chose a spot on the map that we hadn’t been to but wanted to see. Thank God my finger landed where it did! When we were trying to decide where to road trip to this summer, we felt inclined to go somewhere we hadn’t been before, but our discussion just kept going back to Nashville. So, we booked a precious Airbnb (more about that below), and began stalking The Nashville Guide on Instagram to make sure we didn’t miss any must-see spots.
When we travel, we try to make a point to not be too touristy. Sure, there are always things you just have to see when you go to a city for the first time, but we aren’t the folks who want that to be our entire trip. I want to see what you, the people of Nashville, see. I want to really live wherever I am for whatever duration of time I have. Nashville 1.0 was great. We ate at some awesome places (Pharmacy, Acme Feed & Seed, Pinewood Social), we karaoked with Santa here, we saw Vince Gill at The Opry and we soaked up the Tennessee sun on many a patio. But, we didn’t really know where we were going or what we were doing. We hadn’t “figured out” Nashville yet, in a geographical sense. This time, we were seasoned professionals. We already had a list of places to see and things to do that we made during our first trip (there’s just never enough time to make it all happen, and we discovered something new at every turn), and the amount of things I was screenshotting from TNG’s Instagram was quickly getting out of control. I knew the only way to squeeze it all in was to draw out a meticulous plan, and that’s exactly what I did.
Below you’ll find what I would call a perfect day in Nashville. We didn’t do all of this in one day, but we did do it all, and if 24 hours is all you have, just go ahead and hit print on this itinerary. This is all you need to carry you from dawn to dusk!
Wake up at your charming Airbnb – the local way to stay
*TIP – Be sure to research the “boroughs” of Nashville. See where you will be dining and shopping and hanging out the most, and pick a house in that area -- walking is free, and it’s exercise. We stayed in 12 South via this rental company.
Grab a bite at Barista Parlor in The Gulch
*TIP – You will likely have to park and walk, which is fun because it’s just so pretty. Bring quarters for a meter and your camera – this place has style.
Check out the wall murals in The Gulch while you are there. Sure, you’ll be an Instagram cliché, but who cares?!
Tour the Ryman Auditorium
*TIP – You will without a doubt have to pay to park downtown, but be sure to shop around. We pulled into the first parking lot we saw, and it was going to be $30. We got back in the car (because we are just too cheap for that) and found a garage across the street that was $10. No matter the price, the Ryman was so worth it. It is absolutely beautiful and so rich with history. It also took no longer than an hour to tour, which was great because it didn’t eat up half of our day.
Walk around the Farmers’ Market
*TIP – The parking lot at the market is in no way adequate for the crowd that it draws. Be prepared to circle the lot for a good minute until you catch someone leaving. Also, bring a bag to stow your purchases in. I didn’t plan on buying anything and left with my hands very full, which made picture taking a challenge!
We went ahead and had lunch while at the Farmer’s Market, which I would totally suggest! There’s something about being surrounded by all of that freshness that makes everything taste better.
Shop around!
Whiskey Water, Her Bookshop, Kitty, Draper James, White’s Mercantile, Vinnie Louise, Hero….just to name a few. Click the shop names to browse their websites.
Refresh.
I’m a big fan of a quick rinse and wardrobe change to transition into the evening.
Dinner at Saint Anejo
*TIP – Get the queso. It is SO good. And add on the Casa Perfecta margarita, but brace yourself for the kick! If you truly do go to The Opry after this, you will want to make this an earlier dinner, as the two aren’t particularly close together.
Catch a show at The Opry
I realize this falls more on the touristy side of Nashville hotspots, but it doesn’t feel that way when you’re there. For me, it’s like stepping into a time warp and being placed back in front of the television in my grandparents’ living room when I was 6 years old. There’s just something special about the atmosphere there. The best part of the Opry experience is that you get a mini concert from several artists in two quick hours. We scored tickets to a seven-person lineup during our trip. We may or may not have had to call repeatedly for an hour to get through to purchase said tickets, but that’s beside the point!
*TIP – Uber over to your show. There is also a large mall and the Gaylord Opryland Hotel in that area, and it’s worth the $15 for someone to drop you at the door and pick you right back up in the same spot.
Round out the night in Printer’s Alley
As far as nightlife goes, this is probably my favorite Nashville locale. It’s just so quaint. The entrance to the alley has a lighted arch that says “Printer’s Alley” (naturally), and our favorite nighttime spot in all of Nashville sits at the very end of it. Skull’s Rainbow Room is a classy, speakeasy-style joint that has been authentically redone. With checkered floors, craft cocktails and a live jazz band humming in the background, walking through the door literally takes you back in time. They also have live Burlesque shows throughout the later hours of the evening.
A less sophisticated (but equally incredible) establishment nestled in Printer’s Alley is Ms. Kelli’s Karaoke Bar. We happened upon this gem by accident one night, and it ended up being the best night of our entire trip. Karaoke holds a special place in the hearts of my family members – it’s a vacation staple. Just think about it; when does karaoke not end in a hilarious story? When we walked into Ms. Kelli’s (at the same time the Stanley Cup Finals were taking place just down the street) there were maybe eight people inside, and my sister and I immediately squealed in excitement. What is better than having the bar completely to yourself with no one to make fun of you?
Things got even better when we realized we were in the presence of the best DJ in America. Seriously. He was pulling out song after song that we hadn’t heard in 10 years, yet we still knew all the words. I gave new meaning to the phrase “dance like no one is watching.” It was no surprise when the bar started filling up after the Preds’ loss, and we quickly realized that karaoke-ing in Nashville is not the same as other places, because (go figure) everyone in this city can legitimately sing. Boo, no fun. We still sang our hearts out, despite a few pairs of judge-y eyes from people who simply weren’t on our level. Although we left without a record deal, Ms. Kelli’s, and all of Nashville, still holds a special place in our hearts.
Until next time, Nashville.
xo,
Savannah
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Hi! I’m Savannah Abbott – the gal behind EZRA&OLIVE, an online paperie and blog. I’m an avid creator, writer, designer and shoe-shopper. I’m Texan, born and raised, but I love a little Nashville! Thanks for following along on my Nashville adventures. For more from EZRA&OLIVE Lifestyle, follow me here and visit the blog! xo
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