Nashville, TN (July 2025)

The Grand Ole Opry began as a radio show in 1925, and it put Nashville on the map as the “Country Music Capital of the World.” Throughout its history, the Grand Ole Opry has called several different places home (including the Ryman Auditorium), but has always hosted country performers from legends like Loretta Lynn and Dolly Parton to favorites like Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban.

A trip to Nashville isn’t complete without stopping by the Grand Ole Opry House for a tour. Get a behind-the-scenes look with either a daytime backstage tour or a post-show tour. During a daytime tour, your guide will share stories of music legends who have walked the venue’s hallowed halls, show you photos from the Opry’s venerated history and possibly bring you on the iconic stage. A post-show tour will give you a look at some of the venue’s unique dressing rooms plus the chance to visit Studio A, where “Hee Haw” was filmed. The Grand Ole Opry is also a featured stop on many of the city’s best tours.

While many people visit Nashville to soak up the history of country music at the city’s museums (like the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum), others prefer enjoying the tunes in person. The best way to do that is to visit Broadway, downtown Nashville’s main thoroughfare. Lower Broadway is nicknamed the “Honky Tonk Highway” because of the numerous spots that host live acts daily. What’s more, there’s no cover charge to the establishments, so you can bar hop as you please.

While all the bars host live music acts, each venue has a distinct atmosphere that makes it stand out from other honky-tonks along Broadway. Some of the most popular spots include:

Legends Corner: Country music records and memorabilia adorn the walls of Legends, and the bar features a stage and dance floor front and center, in addition to bar seating and tables. Visitors say the atmosphere at Legends is superb – lively but not too loud – and it’s the perfect place to post up with a drink and enjoy the bands.

Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge: An iconic Nashville mainstay, Tootsie’s is easily recognizable by its lavender facade. People love Tootsie’s because it has three stories (including three stages) and features several bars. This honky-tonk can get fairly rowdy and crowded come nighttime, and visitors warn of high drink prices. To learn more about Tootsie’s, check out the full U.S. News review.

Layla’s: Layla’s exudes a more relaxed, laid-back vibe than some of the other honky-tonks on Broadway, with musicians singing everything from old-school country and bluegrass to newer country, rockabilly and Americana. The bar’s rafters are decorated with license plates from across the country and you can bring yours to add to the collection. Travelers say the musicians here are top-notch and the bartenders are friendly.

The Stage on Broadway: This bar draws visitors looking to let their hair down and dance it out. The Stage features a large stage and dance area, in addition to a popular bar and rooftop patio. Visitors say the bands at The Stage are all incredible. Keep in mind: From 6 p.m. to closing, this venue only welcomes patrons 21 and older.

Honky Tonk Central: A spacious bar, Honky Tonk Central boasts three levels of live music. Travelers say this is a great spot for visitors of all ages, adding that there’s plenty of seating, ample space for dancing and the music acts are particularly talented. This spot also offers specialized bachelor and bachelorette packages that include an open bar and food.

Redneck Riviera: If you’re looking for a honky-tonk with a patriotic theme, John Rich’s Redneck Riviera could be the place for you. (Military vets and active service members get 2-for-1 domestic beers on their first round.) Travelers typically enjoy the friendly atmosphere as well as the live music at this barbecue-slinging three-story venue.

Casa Rosa: Singer-songwriter Miranda Lambert’s Casa Rosa is the first bar and restaurant on Broadway affiliated with a female country star. The four-level venue features five bars and two stages. Patrons recommend the Tex-Mex fare and appreciate the live music and unique pink decor.

The Johnny Cash Museum. The museum boasts the world’s largest collection of Johnny Cash artifacts and memorabilia, including items from the film “Walk the Line” (which is about Cash’s life), handwritten notes and letters penned by Cash and costumes worn during his career. Exhibits spotlight different periods in Cash’s life, including his years in the Air Force, his marriage to June Carter and his famous prison concert tour. And because the museum is officially endorsed by the Cash family, you can bet you’ll stumble across other personal mementos not available to the public anywhere else, like a stone wall excavated from Johnny and June’s Hendersonville house.

Fans love the wealth of information on display at this museum. Not much of a Cash devotee? Museumgoers say you should still make time to visit. Some warn, however, that it can get crowded. Others complain that admission fees were too high for the small museum.

Nestled in a south Nashville small town, Arrington Vineyards is a stunning winery co-owned by Kip Summers and country music star Kix Brooks (formerly of Brooks and Dunn). The rustic retreat boasts a primary farmhouse for wine tastings and multiple retail areas to grab a bottle or a flight of the brand’s signature wines, which range from red blends to white varietals and sparkling wine. Arrington Vineyards also offers a rotating seasonal frosé, which is especially refreshing during scorching Tennessee summers.

Choose between two separate gathering spaces on arrival: the hillside is dotted with picnic tables and swings hanging from towering trees, with a wooden stage at the forefront for live music; or, opt for the picturesque event barn accessible through a wooded walkway that leads to a patch of land with ample seating. On Saturday and Sunday afternoons from April through October, catch live jazz and bluegrass bands during Music in the Vines.

While only Arrington Vineyards-brand wine is permitted on site, visitors are welcome to bring picnic items and decor to spruce up the tables, making this a hot spot for celebrations and special occasions (and to often serve as the backdrop for marriage proposals). Arrington Vineyards also hosts a resident food truck, Simply Living Life, and sells provisions in its retail center. From children to adults, locals to visitors, Arrington Vineyards is a worthwhile destination for laidback outdoor entertainment. The vineyard is located about 25 miles south of Nashville in Arrington, Tennessee.