Heading to CMA Music Festival? Here Are Some Must Visit Stops On Your Trip To Nashville

Many fans are gearing up for the start of the 2019 CMA Music Festival coming up in Nashville, Tennessee from Thursday, June 6 to Sunday, June 9 to enjoy some of the biggest and brightest talents in country music coming together for a weekend of great tunes, great food, beer and plenty of fun in the sun.

Many fans from out of town will be visiting the city of Nashville for the very first time and once daily festival activities wind down there are definitely a few must-visit places worth checking out in the city to make your CMA Fest weekend one to remember.

We have compiled a list of some of our favorite places around the city whether you are looking for some great places to eat, take in the sites and history of the city or a place to keep the party going all night long, Nashville has got you covered!

First, On our list is one that requires a small bit of travel, but the food at Nashville’s historic Loveless Cafe is worth the trip. Their biscuits and homemade jams are absolutely delicious and an air of nostalgia fills this historic landmark eatery. Just walking around and checking out all the celebrity pictures on the wall, as well as, the original doors and motel on-site passed the time we spent waiting for a table and was a fantastic trip down memory lane. We adored the atmosphere and the food and we can see why the Loveless Cafe has been drawing in over half a million guests per year since their establishment opened up back in 1951.

A trip to Nashville cannot be complete without a visit to the infamous Grand Ole Opry. It’s definitely Nashville’s number one tourist attraction and there is so much do on-site. In addition to taking in a show, you can also set up a backstage tour of the Opry, grab a bite to eat, and even venture over to areas such as the Gaylord Opryland Resort or the Opry Mills Mall which is just a short walking distance away. Just make sure that you book your tickets for a show or a tour in advance as these do tend to sell out rather quickly, as the venue is iconic filled with history and the famous center stage circle that all of your favorite legendary country stars have stood on during a performance here, and if they haven’t yet performed upon this stage, it’s definitely in their bucket list of places to perform!

During our recent visit to Nashville, the Grand Ole Opry was definitely one of the highlights of our trip, as just walking through the doors of this iconic music venue that played such a huge role in country music history was mind-blowing. We caught the recent Salute The Troops show which featured Trace Adkins, Brantley Gilbert, and Lee Greenwood and they put on an absolutely phenomenal performance. The Opry’s set-up for a show runs like a well-oiled machine and it is one of the longest running weekly radio broadcasts in the country.  You should also be sure to check out the Ryman Theater in the downtown area as well, to hit yet another iconic country music landmark.

For some awesome food, beer and live music, you should definitely pay a visit to Broadway in downtown Nashville. The street that is home to many world-famous honky tonks including Tootsies, Nudies, The Wild Horse Saloon and more, as well as, all of your favorite country stars bars like Luke Bryan’s, Blake Shelton’s Ole Red, Jason Aldean’s and more. If you are in town for CMA Fest then you will have most likely spent some time already on Broadway, but when in Nashville you can never get enough of this area.  We highly recommend checking out the aforementioned Blake Shelton owned bar Ole Red which offers up amazing food and entertainment. Get the tater tots!  Trust us! The roof-top bar was amazing with its fire-pits and an amazing view of lower Broadway.

Also, one of the newest honky tonks in town, Kid Rock’s Big Honky Tonk and Rock n’ Roll Steakhouse was on our list to visit and it was beyond amazing. Kid Rock and his team did a fantastic job of putting this place together, as we heard some of the very best bands playing here and the food was incredible. This honky-tonk is by far the loudest on the Broadway strip, but would you expect anything less for Kid Rock? Certainly worth the visit!

While you’re spending some time on Broadway one should also be sure to stop in to the Johnny Cash and Patsy Cline Museum located just up the street. There is plenty of merchandise available for fans to peruse in the gift shops and the tours gave some very insightful information into the lives of these two country music legends. There are plenty of additional shops, bars, restaurants, and sweet shops to visit all along Broadway, so be sure to bring your walking shoes and take in all the sights and sounds and definitely pick up a Goo Goo from the Goo Goo Shop on 3rd Ave, next door to the FGL House as the scents alone will drag you in for one of the tasty treats!

These are just a few of our recommendations of places to check out while in Nashville, as the list could go on and on about excellent and historic establishments throughout the city. Please chime in, we want to hear your favorite places in Nashville to visit! Leave us a comment about some of your favorite places to check out while in town as well! We wish everyone a very safe and fun trip for CMA Music Festival 2019! Can’t wait to get our boots kickin’ in Nashville for the fest!