I spent a year in Alaska, across the country from my best friend’s home in Florida, as polar opposite as locations get. We opted to meet for a girls’ trip in Tennessee for our favorite pastime: dancing our booties off at the Bonnaroo music festival. Unfortunately, a rainstorm cut our weekend short. #RIPBonnaroo2025.
So, we wiped our tears, got out our map and headed to Nashville for some cowgirl fun. Here’s what we recommend when you’re ready to enjoy Nashville’s non-musical entertainment.
I was hosted on this trip. All opinions are my own.
Wander Centennial Park
As Swifties and nature lovers, we had to visit Centennial Park. This famous park hosts the Parthenon, a full-scale, concrete replica of the original ancient Athenian Parthenon, built for the city’s 1897 Centennial Exposition. It’s also a museum with donated Impressionist works.
For nature lovers, Centennial Park has a one-mile walking path, a beautiful lake, lots of ducks and gorgeous magnolia trees. A great place to hang together and people watch.
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Learn Tennessee History
The Tennessee State Museum guides visitors from the ecological formation of Tennessee to the present-day influence of music on Nashville.
The Civil War and Civil Rights sections spoke to me the most, highlighting those African Americans who contributed to the history of Tennessee. My friend enjoyed the toy section and modern music exhibit where we played musician trivia and danced to some country tunes.
The museum has no admission fee for all, though I recommend leaving a donation to keep it running for generations to come.
SheBuysTravel Tip: Stop by the observation deck to get incredible views of the gardens and skyline. Great for photos!
Play in the Adult Arcade
A flashback to our girlhood: the Play Playground, an adult arcade plus rooftop bar equals a whole lotta fun. My bestie and I channeled our joyful days with the obstacle course games like Bullseye, Record Time and Whirly Wipeout. We took chromatic selfies in the balloon pit before enjoying cocktails on the rooftop to cool off.
Where We Stayed
A city known for whiskey shots and Broadway bars, during my time in Nashville, I opted for a quieter location, a mere mile away: The Loews Nashville Hotel at Vanderbilt Plaza. A four-star hotel that has a country flair and top-tier amenities for a girls’ getaway in the city.
Room
Just a short walk from Vanderbilt University lies The Loews Nashville. My pick is the Premium Room on the tenth floor. The room had a large desk for writing on my laptop or reading a book in the evening. Plus the cute country music decor adds to the Nashville ambiance of the stay.
What to Expect:
- A spacious room with natural light to film videos or take OOTDs
- Cozy beds with crisp linen that feels incredible for a cat nap
- Flat screen TV to watch rom-coms after a long day of exploring
- With the Premium Rooms comes access to the Concierge Lounge, an exclusive space to mix and mingle for breakfast or dinner on certain days
The Concierge Lounge
A members-only lounge open from Thursdays through Sundays offers complimentary drinks and snacks in the evening (Thursday until Saturday) and breakfast (Fridays until Sundays).
The breakfast bar has an assortment of self-serve food options like an oatmeal bar, fresh fruits, egg soufflé, pastries and yogurt cups. For beverages: coffee, tea, orange and cranberry juice. I had a little bit of everything to eat and savor my breakfast overlooking the city.
Other Amenities On-Site:
Stop by the Loews Nashville and enjoy the amenities— for business and leisure travelers alike. The patio offers a space to decompress and sunbathe with a cocktail in tow. Head to Tune Fitness Studio—a 24/7 gym on-site—to cycle, lift weights or run while listening to Dolly!
SheBuysTravel Tip: As a pet mom I love bringing my pup on trips and Loews properties make it easy to bring your pet on your travels.
Dinnertime at Mason Bar
After a long day of shopping, yapping and soaking up the southern sun, my bestie and I dine at Mason Bar. The Mushroom Gnocchi made my mouth water with rich mushrooms and cream sauce over a bed of pillowy gnocchi. My best friend went for a Goat Cheese & Sun-Dried Tomato Burger with a veggie patty, blistered tomatoes and a generous helping of tart goat cheese.
- Food: Southern comfort food with a contemporary twist
- Hours: Sunday – Thursday: 1 pm – 11 pm, kitchen is open until 10 pm and Friday & Saturday: 1 pm – 12 am, kitchen is open until 10 pm
- Vibe: Dim-lit and sultry for cocktails and talks with friends
- Our Favorites: Mushroom Gnocchi and Goat Cheese & Sun-Dried Tomato Burger
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