The 9 Best Things To See And Do In The District Nashville

The District in Nashville is a bustling, thriving neighborhood in The Music City. With so much to see and do, things can get overwhelming, so luckily, we’ve compiled a list of the very best things to check out while you’re visiting Nashville.

Take a turn down Printer’s Alley

Nightclub

Printer’s Alley was once a thriving early 1900s publishing alley, home to two newspapers, ten print shops, and 13 publishers. During prohibition, the new restaurants, and bars in the alley served alcohol anyway, claiming the liquor to be brought in by customers. Printer’s Alley is now a glorified nightclub and entertainment district. You’ll find plenty of bars as well as music venues today to enjoy a night out with friends.

The Ryman

Museum, Music Venue

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The Ryman in Nashville, Tennessee, formerly the Grand Ole Opry House, is a designated National Historic Landmark and 2,362-seat music venue. All sorts of famous musicians have played at the Ryman, including Johnny Cash and Louis Armstrong (both performing on the music variety show The Johnny Cash Show, which was mostly shot in the Ryman auditorium). Today you can still see concerts and take a backstage tour of the venue.

Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Museum

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The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is a Nashville favorite for tourists and music lovers, but it also offers fantastic temporary exhibits. Be sure to check which exhibits are on during your visit to this vibrant city. There are also special activities on Saturdays and Sundays where you can hear songwriters perform in an intimate setting, as well as listen to live instrument demonstrations and learn about the different sounds that go into making country music.

Wildhorse Saloon

Restaurant

Banjo Player In The Country Band, Nashville

A 66,000 square foot live music and dance venue, The Wildhorse Saloon is one of the best-known destinations in Nashville for eating, dancing, and catching a live concert. All sorts of big name country stars have performed here, including Lady Antebellum and Darius Rucker. Serving in their restaurant tasty Southern cuisine, including their ‘World-Famous Fried Pickles’ made with dill pickles deep fried in their buttermilk Wildhorse spice blend and served with herb ranch, the entire evening will be a memorable, truly Nashville experience.

Hatch Show Print

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A Nashville print shop since 1879, Hatch Show Print flourished in the 1920s carving woodblocks for print art for African-American jazz and blues artists of the day, including Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and Bessie Smith, as well as other art and advertising. Today Hatch Show Print occupies four different spaces, including a large print shop where visitors can watch posters roll off the press and the Haley Gallery where you can gaze upon vintage posters from the Hatch collection. The Hatch Show Print is another perfect place to find souvenirs.

Legends Corner

Bar

Among the many iconic music venues in Nashville, be sure to check out Legends Corner. Another favorite Nashville bar, Legends Corner attracts all sorts of big names to play at their venue, from Kid Rock to Cowboy Troy. Of all the true-to-the-heart honky-tonks on Broadway, Legends stands out as one of the better watering holes, offering an expansive drink menu and cold, quality beers that attract regulars.

Robert’s Western World

A cowboy boot store and overall souvenir shop by day and a hopping honky-tonk by night, Robert’s Western World is another drinking hole not to be missed on Nashville’s Broadway. Featuring their regular band Brazilbilly, a country music band with a Latin flair, as well as other great western musicians who radiate Nashville’s vibrant music scene. Robert’s Western World is a truly unique experience while you’re out and about Nashville’s music venues and bars. You’ll be dancing along with the friendly visitors and locals alike and make memories you can take away for a lifetime.

Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge

Bar

This bustling and loved venue is names after its orchid color paint on the outside. It is safe to say that Tootsie’s stands out from a mile away in Nashville as a bright and popping music venue and bar. The interior is certainly a continuation of the exterior as the vibrancy is apparent throughout this iconic spot. It’s also an excellent place to find delicious and traditional food, including their fabulous fried pickles. A three story bar with bands playing on each floor, Tootsie’s is a dear music venue to Nashville’s heart.

Johnny Cash Museum

Museum

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One of Nashville’s most popular museums, The Johnny Cash Museum, more than satisfies music lovers and fans from across the globe. Here you’ll find the largest collection of Johnny Cash’s instruments, personal artifacts, and memorabilia in the world. It is the ultimate dream destination for fans of the Man in Black and most certainly is not one to be passed up. As far as museums go, it is a very well-organized and extensive museum that takes visitors on a journey through the life of this musical icon.

About the author

Sarah Lantz

I am senior undergraduate at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington, United States studying English Literature and History. I’ve studied three times abroad during my undergraduate years: to Rome, Italy, Sochi, Russia, and London, United Kingdom. I hope to continue to travel when I graduate, finding some sort of job that allows me to explore the world, write, and continue to learn about cultures, ideas, art, and expression. In my free time I like to creative write, enjoy all sorts of outdoor activities from paddle boarding to hiking, and have fun teaching myself to cook.