What Is Nashville Known for? 10 Things Nashvillians Love About Themselves

To many, Nashville is little more than the capital of Tennessee. However, locals know that this city is really something special. In addition to being an urban center with all the convenience of a big city, Nashville has a wealth of natural beauty. Those who spend time in Nashville can’t help but fall in love with the city, and many visitors find themselves coming back for more. But why is this? Today, we discuss 10 things that Nashville is known for and explore the reasons why people can’t get enough of this city!

1. Vibrant Music Scene

Nashville is actually nicknamed the “Music City,” and this title couldn’t be more apropos. Although most well-known for country music, other popular genres are jazz, bluegrass, rock, and blues. While walking down the street, it’s not uncommon to hear live music blasting from a variety of different establishments. In addition, the city is peppered with a wealth of music venues. However, none can hold a candle to The Ryman Auditorium. According to Nashville Public Television, “From the inspiration of riverboat captain Thomas Ryman, to the most significant home of the Grand Ole Opry, from the struggle for its preservation to its eventual restoration, makes The Ryman the definitive Mother Church of Country Music and is a testament to American musical history.” Both locals and visitors sing the praises of this historic music venue equally, so it’s a must-see destination in Nashville.

2. Nashville Hot Chicken

When you think of Nashville, one of the first things that might come to mind is Nashville Hot Chicken. Although this meal is known far and wide, the story behind how it came to be is seldom told. Thornton Prince loved women, and women loved Thornton Prince. In his day, he was quite the lady’s man. But there was one small catch: Thornton had a wife at home! In an act of vengeance, she prepared his favorite meal, fried chicken. However, what Thornton didn’t know was that she had spiced the original recipe to an eye-watering degree.

Despite his wife’s devious intentions, Thornton wound up falling head over heels for this deliciously spicy chicken. After realizing the recipe’s potential, Prince went on to open a restaurant and served this dish for decades to come. Since then, the torch has been passed on to his great-niece who still serves this dish today. Since then, dozens of copycats have tried to cash in on this viral sensation. Try Nashville Hot Chicken at Party Fowl, Hattie B’s, and Helen’s Hot Chicken.

3. Delicious Food and Drinks

While Nashville Hot Chicken is undoubtedly one of the best foods to come out of this famous town, several other Nashville-inspired mouthwatering foods are worth trying. Nashvillians are experts at cooking smoky, flavorful barbecue, baking perfectly fluffy cornbread, and frying up catfish. Nashville is also the birthplace of the famous Goo Goo Cluster. This stroke of culinary genius was actually America’s first combination candy bar. If drinks are more your thing, try whiskey, sweet tea, or Tennessee Bushwackers, all of which are Nashville staples!

4. Pro Sports Teams

Nashvillians are just as passionate about their sports as they are about their food and music! According to Lipscomb University, “Nashville is home to four professional sports teams: the Nashville Predators, the Tennessee Titans, the Nashville Sounds, and Nashville SC.” These teams play football, ice hockey, baseball, and soccer respectively. This gives a wide variety of sports fans a chance to cheer on their home team. The Bridgestone Arena and the Nissan Stadium are two facilities that host sporting events, so be sure to check out their upcoming schedule to see who’s playing!

5. High Quality Healthcare

Compared to other cities in America, Nashville offers some of the highest quality healthcare. In fact, some people call Nashville the “health services capital of the United States.” The city was given this title because it’s the home of the Hospital Corporation of America (HCA). HCA was founded during the 1960s with the objective of meeting patients’ needs on a much larger scale. More hospitals in their network allowed them to achieve this, and as this company grew, the quality of services improved steadily. The TriStar Centennial Medical Center, the Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital, and the Vanderbilt University Medical Center are just a few of the hospitals that provide world-class healthcare to their patients.

6. Fine Arts and Culture

How could we possibly make a list of things Nashville is known for without mentioning the Grand Ole Opry? The United States’ longest-running radio show calls Nashville home, and people enjoy seeing shows just as much today as they did when it was founded. Some of the celebrities who have performed here are Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Carrie Underwood, Johnny Cash, and Elvis Presley. In addition, those who love the arts will be sure to enjoy time spent at the Tennessee State Museum, the Museum of African American Music, or the First Museum. Whether you’re passionate about art, music, or history, Nashville has something to offer.

7. Farmers Markets

It’s no secret that people in Nashville are huge foodies. With a strong culture around cooking and eating, it’s natural that farm-to-table cuisine is popular here. More than anything, Nashvillians are proud to make food that not only tastes amazing but is also healthy. Both restaurants and families alike prefer to grab their meats and produce straight from the source, and because of this, an abundance of farmers markets are sprinkled throughout the city. Residents and visitors can purchase a wealth of locally grown fruit and vegetables during their stay and enjoy farm-fresh eggs and meat untainted by additives or preservatives.

8. Rooftop Bars

For those of you interested in nightlife, Nashville has you covered. Choose from a wealth of rooftop bars, all with stunning views of the cityscape. For Dolly Parton fans, White Limozeen is sure to please. This perfectly pink bar is located on the rooftop of the Graduate Hotel and boasts a bird’s eye view of downtown Nashville. Bobby’s Rooftop Lounge is another excellent choice. In addition to offering food and drinks, guests can choose from a variety of games and take photos by their retrofitted 1956 Scenicruiser. If you’re more traditional, Acme Feed and Seed might be the place for you. No matter where you go, live music, good food, and cold drinks await. Be sure to add one of these destinations to your travel itinerary.

9. Natural Beauty

Nashville strikes the perfect balance between urban atmosphere and natural landscape. For those looking to escape into nature, Warner Parks provide the perfect oasis. Locals enjoy spending their time here doing a variety of activities, such as picnicking, horseback riding, hiking, or simply meditating. On occasion, you can even catch an outdoor wedding! For those of you interested in the local wildlife, Radnor Lake is an excellent place to birdwatch. According to Tennessee State Parks, “The park is perfect for nature enthusiasts to observe owls, herons, and waterfowl as well as many species of amphibians, reptiles, and mammals such as mink and otter.”

10. Water Sports

As stated earlier, this city has a wealth of activities geared towards more outdoorsy folk. Because of this, water sports and recreation are a popular pastime. Swimming, fishing, boating, sailing, and paddle boarding are all common activities. Cumberland River is especially popular with kayakers. Center Hill Lake is another location beloved by locals. Swimming and boating are popular, and families enjoy camping here during the summer. These locations provide visitors with a chance to unplug from the world and relax in nature.

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