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Nashville, Tenn.

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Why Go:

Although Nashville is known as the center of the country music industry, earning it the nickname “Music City, U.S.A,” there is a lot more to see and do these days than visit the Grand Ole Opry. The next time you’re looking to take advantage of a three-day weekend, consider Nashville, a fun city with its own quintessential charm, unique character and a wide variety of activities and attractions.

What to Explore:

Nashville is a community of creatives, composed of cutting-edge fashion designers, artisans and tastemakers.

With the largest concentration of independent fashion designers per capita outside of New York City and Los Angeles, Nashville neighborhoods are chock-full of unique boutiques and shops, including Emerson Grace, Judith Bright, Savant Vintage and Hey Rooster General Store.

Music shops such as Grimey’s New & Preloved Music are a plenty and at the Johnny Cash Museum, you can wander the world’s largest collection of artifacts and memorabilia of the “Man in Black.” Honky-tonk on Second Avenue at Robert’s Western World or stay in the Gulch for bluegrass at The Station Inn. Spend two hours at the Frist Museum for Visual Arts (which used to be Nashville’s central post office), try a one-stop beer tour anywhere and head to the Filling Station in East Nashville. If you are feeling footloose and fancy free, have a cocktail at the hotel bar at L.A. Jackson.

Where to Stay:

Thanks to a recent hotel boom­, The Westin and Thompson recently debuted in Nashville.

Kimpton Aertson Hotel sways to a different tune in Music City. Located in Midtown, locals and travelers alike unwind amid artistry and academia, cuisine and cocktails and enjoy an inside view of Nashville just beyond the glow of storied honky tonks and neon signs.

Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center is a beautiful floral hotel with 3,000 rooms and more than nine acres of enclosed gardens.

If you are staying in the cultural epicenter of East Nashville, the Urban Cowboy B&B is a high-design, next-gen bed-and-breakfast. With lively lounges, retro-chic suites and claw-foot tubs in a funky, southwestern-themed guesthouse, you are guided by one fundamental principle during your stay: “Have a good time!” If you prefer a quieter place, check into the 124-room Union Station, a refurbished train depot with a grand stained-glass ceiling in its lobby.

What to Eat:

Nashville is booming with new upcoming eateries. Eat hot chicken from Hattie B’s or for Caribbean-inspired tapas, book a table at the sleek new Little Octopus. For fresh seafood in a lively environment, have dinner at Fin & Pearl, or if you’re visiting between Wednesday and Saturday, head over to Bastion in the Wedgewood-Houston neighborhood for a signature cocktail and dinner at its hidden private dining room.

Foodies also do not want to miss Proper Bagel in the Belmont area, Puckett’s in the village of Leiper’s Fork and ACME Feed & Seed on Broadway where industrial gets seriously swank. With 22,000 square feet, four floors and 60 foot ceilings, ACME Feed & Seed is the place to be.

If you’re eating on the cheap, try Dino’s. This great old dive has character and charm—not to mention a famous burger, served with fries and a Miller High Life pony for 10 bucks. If last night’s shenanigans left you famished, grab some grub at Biscuit Love Gulch, known for the best comfort food ever.

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