Given that I used to work for the country radio station in Tampa, you’d think I’m an expert on all things Nashville. Not so much. My first Nashville visit happened this past weekend. It was a quick 48 hours of rooftop bars, country music, hot chicken, country music, cowboy hats, country music… and oh yeah, more country music. This year, I’ve made it a point to check off some cities I’ve always meant to visit but have just never gotten around to it. It was Nashville’s turn.

Spring Airfare Deals

This time of year, it’s super cheap to get away for the weekend. Roundtrip flights from Tampa International Airport cost a fraction of what you’ll pay in the summer months when the kids are out of school. If you’re flexible and travel light, there are so many weekend trips you can do for under $100 roundtrip. Last month I visited New Orleans for the first time and had a blast.

But visiting Nashville was still on the “gotta do” list. Truth be told, even though I worked for the country station here in Tampa, I’m not a big fan of the genre. So I wasn’t sure Nashville was going to be for me.

A Nashville Visit on the Cheap!

Spirit had a super cheap roundtrip airfare from TPA for around $80 so off I went. I have a few friends from Tampa who’ve moved to Nashville in the past few years, so I had some help in finding the fun spots. On Saturday night, they brought me to the cliche tourist bars on Broadway. It was loud and jumpin’ but the real fun I had was on a Sunday afternoon. But more on that in a minute.

• Sure sign

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  Nothing says you're flying to Nashville than someone holding their seat with a cowboy hat. In Florida, the only time you see them is when someone's going to a Kenny Chesney concert and they need that perfect selfie for Instagram. It was weird seeing them as everyday wear.

• Arriving in Nashville

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  First stop had to be Broadway. I'd heard so much about all the honkytonks and food.

• The Ryman

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  I quickly spotted the iconic Ryman Auditorium. I didn't go inside, but maybe next trip. So much history in this building. Ya know it used to be a church?
• The best Ryman View

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  If you really want a good spot to get a photo, go to the food hall across the street and go up to the 3rd floor. There's a rooftop patio with some great views not just of the Ryman but all the bars and spots on Broadway.

• From atop the food hall…

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  The Assembly Food Hall has some good spots to get a bite to eat. But at this point, I just wanted to get a view of Nashville from above.

• Nashville Hot Chicken

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  I got my first taste of Nashville Hot Chicken at Publix when they had it last year. I got addicted. So trying the real deal was definitely the plan. But the line at this famous place Hattie B's Fried Chicken was way too long for me so on we went.
• Tootsie’s

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  Another super famous spot with lots of history with music legends. There was live music spilling into the streets even during lunch hour. Tempting. But lunch was the priority. So food first.

• The Pedestrian Bridge

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  Once you get to the end of Broadway, you can get a cool view over the river. On the right you see the stadium where the Tennessee Titans play.

• Lunch time

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  After walking up and down Broadway, it was decided the first meal would be some barbecue at Jack's. Pretty famous place. But to be honest, I wasn't wow'd at all. I've had much better BBQ at spots here in Tampa. And with this ribs meal coming in over $30, it was a blah start to the trip.
• Jack’s at Night

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  Once the sun sets in Nashville, Broadway lights up like a hybrid of Las Vegas and New Orleans.

• Garth’s House

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  We passed on Jason Aldean and Kid Rock's places... both were overcrowded and filled with annoying drunk college kids. Instead Garth Brooks' place looked more fun.

• Rooftop Bars

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  There are a ton of rooftop bars along Broadway. This is the view from the top of Garth's place. If people watching is your thing like it is for me, this is a great spot.
• Cool spot

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  Really enjoyed "Friends in Low Places." Lots of room. Good drinks. Live music downstairs, DJ pumping out a mix of country and regular club music upstairs. Of the Broadway bars, Garth's was definitely the best. But I had a feeling there was something better to be found.

• Guess I’m not going to Church

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  Broadway is filled with bars with famous country singers names. This one was a bit more subtle and really the only one I was looking forward to. As little of a fan of country music as I am, I do really like Eric Church. His bar hadn't opened yet though. I missed the opening by a couple weeks.

• Breakfast

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  Sunday morning, I was reading comments left by listeners on my Facebook page. Several insisted I try Five Daughters Bakery. The original location was a bit far away but we found one at that food hall I mentioned earlier across from the Ryman Auditorium.
• A $5 Doughnut!?

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  I'm a cheapskate so to drop $5 on a doughnut, this better be good!

• Decisions decisions.

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  They all looked good. Which one would you have gone with?

• Slow Service

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  I was getting annoyed. These women were taking HOURS gabbing and ordering. Not the most patient guy, I almost left. Glad I didn't.
• Choice made.

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  I love anything with lemon. And blueberry too? Sounds good.

• The “King Kong”

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  My friend ordered the King Kong. We decided to split the doughnuts so we could try both. I'm a fan of anything with bacon and maple... it was phenomenal. But how about my pick?

• OMG

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  Seriously the best doughnut I think I've ever had in my life. The hype is warranted for Five Daughters Bakery. I love my Amish Doughnuts a the Strawberry Festival, but these were on a whole new level of incredible. I'm glad we don't have these in Tampa. I'd be 500 pounds.
• Hot Chicken Time

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  For lunch, it was time to get that famous Nashville hot chicken. Prince's is pretty well known and also has a location in that food hall. Can you tell we went there a lot!? Honestly the biggest reason we kept going back was it was one of the few places to find a bathroom on Broadway!

• The verdict on Prince’s Hot Chicken

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  It was good. But honestly I think Publix nails it even better. Pro tip: order the kids meal. It was $8 instead of $20ish and was PLENTY... chicken, fries and a drink for $8.

• Uh, C’mon Prince’s

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  For a $1 more you can get a side of ranch. Given that this place is so well known I was unpleasantly surprised when they just threw one of these on the tray. C'mon. Ranch at a place this famous should be made in house!
• Best Part of the Trip

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  The country bars on Broadway in Nashville were fun. But I just got bored with them. They're clearly just corporate investors who buy the rights to a country singer's name. There was very little personality to them. They all blended together. But a friend who knows I'm not a big country music fan but a huge dive bars fan suggested we head to Printers Alley.

• Skull’s

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  The history behind the guy behind this jazz bars in WILD. Go look it up after. Unfortunately they were closed when we arrived. Live jazz on Sunday is clutch for me. So I was little bummed it wasn't open. But I heard some GREAT music coming from the next place over.

• Blues baby!

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  This place made the whole trip worth it. I wish we had some good spots for live blues in Tampa. I LOVED this place. Total dive bar vibe... but expensive Nashville prices for drinks. But no cover so it was all good.
• Gil Gann

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  First up was a guy who did a killer version of “Family Affair.” But the highlight was still to come.

• A former Q105’er joined me!

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  You wouldn't remember him since he wasn't on the air at Q105, but our former engineer was also visiting Nashville. He and his wife drove all the way down from Chicago. Was fun to throw back a few and enjoy some radio stories and live blues.

• Best part of the trip…

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  Gann was great. But these 3 (and several beers) really made Sunday afternoon the highlight of the entire Nashville trip. Ricky Godfrey, Kenneth Wright and Blake O’Connor tore it up. Godfrey is a local legend and just killed it. So good. O'Connor (the younger kid near the back) is a phenom from Australia. His version of Chris Stapleton's Tennessee Whiskey was better than Stapleton's. Look him up. If any of these guys ever play Tampa, I'm so there.
• The key to enjoying country.

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  I guess it had been a few years since I was a country DJ. The whole weekend I had forgotten the key component to enjoying country music. Beer. It worked. We ended the night at another little country bar in Printer's Alley called Snitch. Performer's name was Charles Walker. Great talent.

• One last dose of Nashville Hot Chicken

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  It was time to head back to Tampa, but first one last helping of Nashville Hot Chicken was had at the airport in Nashville. It was that place that had the crazy long lines at the Broadway location so I got a Hattie B's meal in after all. Very good. But again, I'm telling ya... Publix really did some magic when they had that Nashville Chicken. I think I'm just as good with theirs.

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