The travel bug bit me after my first flight experience three years ago. Ever since that initial voyage in the sky, I’ve been possessed by the desire to get out and explore whenever and wherever I can, within the U.S. and someday globally, too. But the one city at the top of my bucket list was grand ole Nashville, so I could reunite with my childhood best friend Celina, who moved to Tennessee with her family when we were still kids.
We’ve maintained the friendship through texts, phone calls, Facebook posts, you name it. And nine years since the last time we saw each other, I was finally able to fly down earlier this month to visit her and see her hometown — yay, adulthood! She and I have seen each other through every chapter of life while doing it long-distance, so you can imagine how giddy we were about this much needed reunion.
In addition to her bridal shower (oh yeah, did I mention my BFF is getting married in October? No big deal!) we did a lot of exploring in our brief but fun weekend together. Here is a recap of our adventures in downtown Nashville!
12 South
It turns out that most of the “Instagrammable” spots I saw during my pre-trip Pinterest search were in the 12 South area, so we went there first!
This was my first proper glimpse of Nashville and it was…a lot more walkable, modern, and millennial than I imagined it would be (no offense, but I kind of believed the country hick stereotypes). It had the same vibe as the trendy areas of Philly, probably like any other major city in America, which made me feel at ease and even more excited to stroll around!
First on our list? Pose with the iconic I Believe in Nashville mural, one of a few around the city that were created by artist Adrien Saporiti. With this wall and the bright blue and white striped side of Draper James right next door, there was a five minute wait in a line of people that snaked out of the alleyway. It wasn’t exactly surprising given that we live in the age of Insta, but it was still a funny sight!
We meandered further down 12th Street and found another stop that was high on my list: Amelia’s Flower Truck, aka the most gorgeous VW van conversion I have ever seen in my life! Pictures do not do this wonderful little mobile business justice. My dream vehicle + fragrant florals and handcrafted arrangements = instant love.
And to make things even better, the van was parked outside White’s Mercantile. This general store felt like a step into the past, yet it still exuded a minimalist folksy vibe that’s very on trend right now. And the inventory — each item, from carefully selected clothing and journals to postcards — highlights a simple, more homely side of Nashville and Southern taste that absolutely blew me away!
We ended our afternoon in 12 South at the one and only Bartaco, which is recommended by basically everyone on social media ever. To put this in the simplest terms…we waited for an hour in 95-degree weather because the restaurant was so packed. Was the interior as adorable as it looks in photos? Duh. Do they put some sort of chemical in their guacamole that makes it so darn addictive? Maybe, probably. who knows. Was it worth the hype? 100% YES!
We devoured the guac at Bartaco…and then the tacos too. 
Hot chicken, a local delicacy of sorts (ha!)
P.S. At the end of the night we got hot chicken, one of many Southern specialties that comes fried and with seasonings or sauce on it. Two Tennessee stereotypes turned out to be true: people say “y’all” in their thick accents a million times per sentence, and the majority of food is very fried…sooo one weekend eating the way we did was more than enough for me!
Downtown Nashville
Downtown is widely known as “honky-tonk central” because of the huge honky-tonk bars and restaurants that are crammed on every corner of the street. But I think this phrase also applies well to the lively, colorful personality of the area and the people there. And boy, was it something to see as Saturday night set in!
Broadway was packed with bodies, the storefront displays glistened in the golden hour sun, and the summer air was filled with a constant stream of country music. Although anyone who knows me will tell you I despise all things country, in Nashville I found myself inspired by the beauty in the chaos of this busy district.
Celina and I had a great time people watching and browsing through just about every store we saw, whether it was a tourist shop (I couldn’t resist buying a guitar shot glass) or a store dealing in authentic Western cowboy boots!
To cap off the evening we went to The Stage and sat at the open rooftop bar area, sipping drinks while a local band played rousing country tunes. Before us lay a breathtaking panorama that eased downhill from the Bridgestone Arena to the end of the street. It was truly the happiest of hours!
The thing I loved the most about Broadway was its historic significance. The gorgeous contrast of the low-lying brick buildings against the growing steel skyline of Nashville was unlike anything I’ve seen. There is clearly something special about the city’s legacy and cultural roots that has been carried through centuries, decades, and is still a source of pride today. Combined with the ultra-friendly energy of all the strangers who were there simply to have a good time and wanted to draw you into it, too, it made for an unforgettable experience!
This was a much needed reminder for me to forgo my judgments, break away from the ongoing stress of life, and just enjoy the ride. If you need to do the same, I highly recommend checking out this awesome city! Thanks to an unforgettable weekend with my best friend, I accidentally fell in love with honky-tonk central…and I’m not mad about it. I’ll be back soon, Nashville!
