While Nashville, TN, is a popular destination year-round, fall in Music City is unparalleled. Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or an extended stay, Nashville offers something for everyone — from beautiful fall foliage and weather to high-end accommodations and iconic landmarks that celebrate the city’s rich heritage. Here are five ways to make the most of your autumn adventures!
WHERE TO STAY
The Hermitage Hotel
The Hermitage Hotel has been a Nashville staple since 1910. In fact, it’s the city’s original million-dollar hotel. Today, it still stands proudly in Downtown Nashville, centrally located near popular attractions like Ryman Auditorium, Country Music Hall of Fame, Frist Art Museum, and the neon-lit honky tonks on Lower Broadway.
As soon as you enter this iconic hotel, you’re greeted by a breathtaking lobby with soaring ceilings, crystal chandeliers, and marble floors. This sense of luxury continues throughout the rest of the hotel, including each meeting space, on-site dining option, and guest room.
Speaking of guest rooms, each one underwent significant renovations in 2022. The perfect blend of elegance and comfort, every room offers comfortable bedding, vintage-inspired accents, and pristine bathrooms.
You’re in for a real treat when it comes to dining options. Perhaps the most popular of the available restaurants, Drusie & Darr is the brainchild of internationally acclaimed Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten. Inspired by Tennessee’s changing seasons and local produce, the menu includes a delicious tasting menu alongside oven-fired pizzas, craft cocktails, and more.
For something on the lighter side or a caffeinated pick-me-up, pop into the hotel’s Pink Hermit Cafe. The Italian-inspired cafe offers yet another delicious menu crafted by Chef Jean-Georges. In addition to its delicious coffee and breakfast menus, the cafe recently introduced dinner service, which includes pizzas, bruschetta, and craft cocktails.
If you’re visiting the hotel on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday afternoon, we recommend participating in the afternoon tea service. Often changing with the seasons, the latest service is slated to be Nutcracker ballet-inspired, including live music, tea sandwiches, and pastries. Tea reservations are available through Resy.
Margaritaville Hotel Nashville
For a more contemporary option, step into a paradise-inspired retreat at Margaritaville Hotel Nashville. Conveniently located in Downtown Nashville, this hotel is mere steps away from landmarks like Bridgestone Arena, Music City Convention Center, and the bustling bars and restaurants along Broadway.
Open since 2019, the 12-story building is inspired by the lyrics of musician Jimmy Buffett. The hotel offers 165 guest rooms, each appointed with high-end amenities.
When it comes to guest rooms, there are a variety of options to choose from, including double queen rooms, king rooms, and some suite options. No matter where you stay, rooms are equipped with high-quality linens, contemporary furnishings, and plenty of space to unwind after a day of exploring.
Margaritaville Hotel Nashville is also home to two on-site dining options. Located on the first floor, just past the lobby, JWB Grill offers elevated cuisine in a laid-back atmosphere. With Executive Chef Kevin Spencer at the helm, you’ll find everything from smashburgers to pork chops, shrimp tacos, and a wagyu skirt steak.
SB Tip: JWB Grill also offers breakfast, brunch, and lunch menus to help kickstart your day!
FINS Bar is the hotel’s second on-site dining experience. Nestled on the rooftop, this is the ideal place to spend a fall evening. Offering fire pits and sweeping skyline views, you’ll find a menu of light bites and craft cocktails here.
When you’re ready to book your room, be sure to peruse the hotel’s unique experiences, too. Whether you’re a University of Tennessee fan, embarking on a girls’ trip, or traveling with your pup, you can explore all of the exclusive package offerings at margaritavilleresorts.com.
WHERE TO EXPLORE
Ryman Auditorium and Grand Ole Opry
After you’ve settled into your hotel, it’s time to start exploring! As two of the most iconic landmarks in Music City, no trip to Nashville is complete without visiting Ryman Auditorium and the Grand Ole Opry.
To kick things off, take a tour of the Ryman Auditorium, which is located in Downtown Nashville and is the most famous former home of the Grand Ole Opry. You’ll be able to walk in the footsteps of legends as you take a souvenir photo on stage, explore a new feature from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and visit the gift shop. Self guided tours are available daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with guided backstage tours available on select dates.
After your tour, stick around to catch a show, as the venue regularly hosts a star-studded lineup. Constructed in 1892, the Ryman is a 15-time winner of the prestigious Pollstar “Theatre of the Year” award and is often referred to as “the Mother Church of Country Music.” To see a complete list of upcoming fall performances, visit ryman.com.
Continue diving deep into Nashville’s musical history by visiting the Grand Ole Opry, which is about 20 minutes from Downtown Nashville. Also offering daily backstage tours, you’ll be able to go backstage like an artist, see the themed dressing rooms backstage as well as the artist entrance, and you might even get to step inside the stage’s legendary circle!
This fall also marks the Opry’s 99th birthday! To celebrate, the Opry is hosting special shows and free plaza parties on October 11 and 12. The lineup includes performers from artists like Chapel Hart, Gretchen Wilson, Riley Green, and Katharine McPhee.
Of course, the Opry also offers weekly shows that include performances by country music legends and rising stars. You never know who might take the stage, so be sure to grab your tickets to upcoming shows in advance HERE.
Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery
For Tennessee whiskey paired with a side of history, pay a visit to Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery. A family-owned-and-operated business, brothers Andy and Charlie Nelson have rebuilt the dynasty of their great-great-great grandfather Charles Nelson, who originally started the company in 1860.
Today, the distillery is located along Clinton Street in Historic Marathon Village, which once served as an automobile factory. When you step inside the distillery, you’re greeted by a rustic and charming interior. From the exposed brick walls to wooden beams, it’s as if you’re taking a step back in time.
To truly immerse yourself in the distillery’s storied past, embark on a guided tour. Available seven days a week, tours walk you through generations of family members who played a role in the distillery’s beginnings. At the end, you’ll also enjoy a walk-through of the production floor and a tasting of four seasonal offerings.
Perhaps the most popular of the distillery’s offerings is the Green Brier Tennessee Whiskey. Using the same recipe as Charles Nelson, the whiskey is filtered through sugar maple charcoal and aged in new charred oak barrels. The result is delicious, with notes of brown sugar, caramel, cinnamon, and apple.
You will also find a few bottles of distillery exclusives, which are only available when you visit Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery in person. These include the Rum Cask Finish, Honey Cask Finish, Bottle in Bond (slated to release October 4), and more.
Before or after your tour, be sure to also enjoy a meal at the distillery’s restaurant. Open for brunch and lunch, the menu includes elevated, Southern-inspired cuisine alongside specialty cocktails. Featured entrées include The No. 5 Burger, The Schnitzel, and Bavarian Bratwurst.
The distillery also offers a unique dinner experience on Thursday evenings. It is known as Supper Club and offers a delicious four-course, family-style menu thoughtfully paired with some of the distillery’s whiskeys. Reservations can be made online and begin at $55 per person.
Travellers Rest Historic House Museum
Another attraction with an interesting history, Travellers Rest Historic House Museum is the oldest historic house in Nashville that is open to the general public. A fabulous spot to take in the beautiful changing leaves, the home was built in 1799 by Judge John Overton, a close friend of President Andrew Jackson.
The home was originally a quaint log cabin before being renovated to a more elaborate plantation house. It later served as the headquarters for Confederate General John Bell Hood during the Battle of Nashville in 1864.
Today, you can visit the home to learn more about John Overton and his family, Tennessee’s role in the Civil War, and some of the state’s earliest settlers. Tours of the grounds are self-guided, while home tours are led by expert guides.
Be sure to take in the exhibit A Past Uncovered: The Story of the Enslaved People of Travellers Rest, highlighting the lives of over 50 enslaved people who lived and worked at John Overton’s home.
The exhibit is located inside the “Weaving House,” which once housed two enslaved individuals after the Civil War. As you walk through the home, you’ll see original and reproduced artifacts and documents from the 19th century.
Travellers Rest will also host an exciting lineup of events during the fall of 2024. Just in time for spooky season, Twisted Tennessee takes place on October 25 and invites visitors on a journey through Tennessee’s dark past. Tours begin at 6 p.m., and admission is $22 for adults and $14 for children (ages 10 to 15).
For more kid-friendly programming, Travellers Rest hosts Toddlers at TR on select dates this fall. The October 19 event will educate children about the four seasons, while the November 9 program will showcase the history of Thanksgiving.
Here’s to an adventure-filled fall!
This article is sponsored by Margaritaville Hotel Nashville, Ryman Auditorium, the Grand Ole Opry, and Visit Music City – Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp.
