The capital of Tennessee, Nashville, is famous for its many country music venues and radio shows. The District is an area where honky-tonks play live music and visitors can enjoy the Johnny Cash Museum, which celebrates the famous singer’s life. Other interesting places to visit are located Downtown, including the historic Ryman Auditorium and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Grand Ole Opry House is another famous venue, which hosts the popular “Grand Ole Opry” radio and stage show. To get a real feel of this famous city, go a little off the beaten tourist track and experience some of the best non-touristy things to do in Nashville, Tennessee. Check out our top picks by scrolling below.
Of course, you need the best accommodations to enhance your stay, so check out the famous hotels and hotels with free parking in the area.
1. Have fun on a zipline tour (from USD 60.0)
Boost your adrenaline by taking a 1.5-hour ziplining tour from Nashville through an old growth forest. There are various ziplines on the course which range from up to 700 ft (213m) long to around 85 ft (26m) in height. Along the way hear a commentary from your guide about the native wildlife and plant life in the region as you soar above it.
Nashville 1.5-Hour Zipline Tour
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
2. Experience a Nashville Music Row walking tour (from USD 36.0)
Enjoy a walking tour of Nashville’s famous Music Row, where artists such as Elvis Presley, Dolly Parton and more have, or are still recording. The tour visits more than 20 recording industry sites, along with several famous guitar statues. As you stroll around the historic music recording mecca of Nashville, listen to recorded guide of the various sites. Most of the sculptures and statues are located at the end of Music Row and are truly beautiful and perfect for that selfie to post on Instagram.
Nashville Music Row Walking Tour
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
3. View Nashville from the skies onboard a helicopter (from USD 110.0)
Want to see Nashville like never before? Well, this exhilarating 15-minute tour will give you that opportunity. You’ll launch from the hangar where the helicopter is housed and take to the skies to pass by all of Nashville’s famous attractions. From the Parthenon to Tootsies Orchid Lounge, you’ll glide through every point of interest there is in the city. If you’re looking for unique things to do in Nashville, this is a great option.
Helicopter Tour of Nashville
Duration: 1 hour
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4. Have an adrenaline rush flyboarding on Percy Priest Lake (from USD 189.0)
Try out the ultimate adventure on a Nashville flyboarding experience above Percy Priest Lake. No experience is required, as training and all equipment is included to ensure a fun and safe flight. In the meanwhile, you can take in the beautiful views over the lake as you maneuver in the air like a superhero, looking down on other boaters on the lake. There is a choice of a quick flight or there are options to make the adrenaline experience last longer.
Percy Priest Lake Nashville Flyboard Hoverboard or Jetpack
Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes
5. Take a canoeing adventure on the Harpeth River
Enjoy a scenic canoe or kayak trip on the Harpeth River. You will be provided with canoes, life vests and paddles, along with transportation to and from the river. The river is slow-moving with some mild rapids but is ideal for fishing, swimming and relaxing. Along the way are several sand bars where you can stop and enjoy a picnic, take a swim or sunbathe. This is the perfect way to get out in the fresh air, on the water.
Foggy Bottom Canoe and Kayak Rentals
Address: 1270 Highway 70, Kingston Springs, Tennessee, USA
Website: Foggy Bottom Canoe and Kayak Rentals
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 9am - 3pm; Sat - Sun: 8am - 3pm
Price: 29 - 39 USD
6. Enjoy a baseball game at First Tennessee Park
First Tennessee Park opened in 2015 in the Germantown neighborhood of Nashville. It is home to the Nashville Sounds Baseball Club. Here you can primarily enjoy a baseball game, but the ballpark is also an events center where you can watch soccer matches, festivals, concerts, and some smaller events. Visitors can enjoy American’s favorite past-time by choosing from around 70 dates between April and September.
First Tennessee Park
Address: 19 Junior Gilliam Way, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
Website: First Tennessee Park
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 9am - 5pm (closed on Sat & Sun)
Price: 10 - 37 USD
7. Indulge in wine tasting at Arrington Vineyards
Arrington Vineyards has been running since July 1, 2007, and has become “Nashville’s Wine Country,” and is set in the rolling hills of middle Tennessee. Here you can enjoy two types of wine tasting, namely the AV Classic Tasting at the tasting bar, or the AV Picnic Tasting at outside picnic tables with your own lunch or dinner (pictured here), both of which offer four sample wines. It is possible to join the Arrington Wine Club and enjoy special benefits, as well as have the vineyard’s wines shipped to your home.
Arrington Vineyards
Address: 6211 Patton Rd, Arrington, Tennessee, USA
Website: Arrington Vineyards
Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 11am - 8pm; Fri - Sat: 11am - 9pm; Sun: 12pm - 8pm
Price: 7 - 14 USD
8. Walk, bike or skate on the Middle Tennessee Greenways
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
Murfreesboro’s Greenway offers the chance to walk, bike or skate on various trails along the Stones River in Middle Tennessee. Ideal for family fun, there are a number of paved trails to suit everyone, varying from 0.7 mi (1.1 km) to 10.2 mi (16.4 km). For the more adventurous, there are also a number of unpaved trails, which vary in length from 0.5 mi (0.8 km) to 8 mi (12.8 km). All offer beautiful scenery and plenty of chances to stop and enjoy a picnic along the way.
Middle Tennessee Greenways
Address: Middle Tennessee
Website: Middle Tennessee Greenways
Opening hours: 24 hours
Price: Free
9. Experience a Full Moon Pickin' Party
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Experience Nashville’s Pickin’ tradition in the park, where Bluegrass and Roots pickers stroll around the barn, along with three headlining bands that perform on stage. While there, enjoy a delicious snack from the local food trucks on site, or take some fun photos in the Southern Style Photo Booth. Besides all the fun that can be had, all proceeds raised from the Full Moon Pickin’ Parties aid the protection of the parks in the area and fund special projects and educational programs.
Full Moon Pickin’ Party
Address: Warner Park Equestrian Center, 2500 Old Hickory Boulevard, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
Website: Full Moon Pickin’ Party
Opening hours: Fri: 7pm - 11pm
Price: 20 - 100 USD
10. Enjoy the pageantry of the Iroquois Steeplechase event
On the lookout for unusual things to do in Nashville? Why not check out the Iroquois Steeplechase event, which sees more than 25,000 spectators from all over the world who come to enjoy the energy and pageantry of this traditional sport. Horses and riders from all over the world race on a well-manicured turf track. Not only is the event exciting, but it gives back to the local community, including the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital in Vanderbilt, along with the Friends of Warner Parks and a number of other non-profits.
Iroquois Steeplechase
Address: 203 3rd Ave. North, Franklin, Tennessee, USA
Website: Iroquois Steeplechase
Opening hours: 8am - 5:30pm (event days)
Price: 75 - 1,000 USD
11. Shop at The Factory in Franklin
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Experience the best retail therapy at the Factory at Franklin, close to Franklin’s Main Street. The complex is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is a unique retail and entertainment complex. There are restaurants and stores offering varied and distinct options which showcase the local culture, as well as artisan goods. There are also entertainment venues in the complex which hosts plays, concerts and other entertainment events.
The Factory in Franklin
Address: 230 Franklin Road, Franklin, Tennessee, USA
Website: The Factory in Franklin
Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 10am - 5pm; Fri - Sat: 10am - 6pm; Sun: 8am - 6pm
Experience Nashville like a local
If you have already done all the normal country music sights in this exciting city, it’s time to go off the beaten track and experience the best non-touristy things to do in Nashville, Tennessee. Don’t forget to check out the best seafood restaurants and other dining options to complete your weekend trip!
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