I went to Nashville
This past June I went to Nashville, TN with my boyfriend to visit my twin sister for our birthday. I have been to Nashville several times since she moved there for grad school last summer but this time, we really leaned in to the Nashville staples. Since it was our birthday, we treated ourselves to fun meals out and trendy activities while also going to some of my sister’s favorite local spots. In this post, you get the insights of both a tourist (me) and a local! Everything we did while we were there was well worth the time & money in my opinion so let’s get into the activities!
Things to do
The day of our birthday, we booked a reservation at the Golden Slipper, a small boutique that also serves as a Perfumery & Candle Making Bar. This might have been my favorite thing we did while in Nashville. It was fun, but also chill, and we were able to hang out & talk while doing something creative! One of my favorite things about this activity is that all of the candles and perfumes are non-toxic. This meant I had zero guilt sniffing the 20+ essential oils we tried out before deciding on our top two.
Another fun thing about this bar was that it was all Alice in Wonderland themed! They used tasteful decor like rabbits and potion bottles to bring the bar to life. It served as a perfect picture spot too! Our bartender/guide was very helpful and he guided us through the process of making candles and perfumes seamlessly. Three of us made a perfume while two of us made a candle so we were able to see how both were made! The perfumes were build-your-own, meaning you chose whatever two essential oils you wanted, while the candles were all cocktail-themed. Each scent emulated a specific cocktail, making it unique & fun to choose. We were also able to choose what bottle we wanted to put our perfume in and which glass we wanted to put our wax in. If you choose to make a candle, be aware that you must leave it there overnight to allow the wax to set!
We were given a complimentary non-alcoholic champagne toast and a macaroon to enjoy at the end! After we finished, we also were able to walk around the store and shop a bit. They had great gifts and I picked up this super cute coffee table book full of flowers.
Pluto!
This cute shop has a special place in my sister’s heart because it is where she adopted her precious cat, Pluto. Last year, the day after we arrived in Nashville to move her into her new apartment, we went to The Catio to find her new best friend. The Catio Cat Lounge is a non-profit business that rescues cats and helps place them into loving families. One of the best things about The Catio is that they rescue high-risk cats and kittens. High risk cats and kittens includes anything from really old cats, to cats needing surgeries and medications, to cats who don’t get along well with others so no other shelters accept them. My sister’s Pluto was a high-risk cat. He has FIV, which is basically a feline’s version of HIV found in humans. While not transmittable to humans, it can be transmitted to other cats through deep bite wounds and scratches. Pluto is not a violent cat by any means though, and he was so sweet and soft, she knew he was the one for her. FIV doesn’t really mean much except for a compromised immune system so my sister just needs to be careful about bringing him around other animals and not letting him outside.
Kitty at The Catio
Now that my Pluto shpiel is over, I can tell you about our visit to The Catio! My sister found out via their facebook that they were having a Kitten Derby to fundraise money for the lounge. They were unfortunately going out of business and needed help funding their cat’s surgeries and medications. To raise money, they held this Kitten Derby that you could see in person if you bought tickets or for free through their online livestream. They chose 5 special kitties to race in the kitten derby which was basically just a line of cones and a finish line. Nonetheless, it was super fun and cute, and a great way to spend our Saturday afternoon. You can donate to The Catio at anytime here!
Shopping
After The Catio on Saturday, we went to Hillsboro Village to do a little leisure shopping. When I’ve visited Nashville in the past, we’ve gone to The Gulch, Germantown, and 12 South to do some shopping & walking around. Hillsboro village isn’t quite as trendy as the Gulch or 12 South but it still had some gems there. We went into a few boutiques, one being Molly Green, a Nashville staple. I got a super cute pair of cherry shorts that I wore on Fourth of July in Fort Myers! Another honorable mention is Hester & Cook, a cute little gift shop. They had so many fun gifts like games, cards, antique silverware, and vintage model planes. I definitely picked up a few things from here to give as gifts for Christmas (it’s never too early to start looking).
Sauna
Saturday morning was the day after our night out so we could have felt a little better. To combat some of the drinks we had the night before, we decided to book a sauna appointment at Pure Sweat Studios. They have a few different locations, but we went to the one in 12 South. This was my first time actually booking an appointment to go to a sauna and it was a lot of fun! They gave use towel wraps so we didn’t have to sweat in our clothe & had complimentary tea while we waited for our sauna. In the sauna, they had an ipad where you could play music or meditations off of Spotify and there were a few gadgets that you could use if you wanted to workout in there as well. The place itself was also really cute and they had lots of supplements and other wellness goodies available for purchase.
Places to eat
Sixty Vines
For our big birthday dinner (and by big, I mean there was 6 of us) we went to Sixty Vines. This was my second time at Sixty Vines and it was just as good as the first time I went. This restaurant is off of Broadway and has an amazing view of downtown. They are known for their wine selection so do you know what I did? I got a wine flight of course! Every wine was really good and our waitress was super helpful in helping me decide which ones to get. I got the Radiatori Primavera and ordered the Charred Broccolini and Potatoes for some shared sides. The pasta was amazing, along with the charred broccolini and potatoes. My favorite part about the pasta was that it was light but still hearty which is important for someone who loves to eat. The charred broccolini wasn’t everyone’s first choice, but as someone who loves crispiness and broccoli, I thought it was perfect. The potatoes were good as well, but not one that I’d say you have to try.
The vibes in Sixty Vines were also a game changer. It’s high end, but not so poshy that you can’t wear jeans there. It offers a young and trendy while also sophisticated environment so you can take both your parents and college friends to this place while keeping everyone happy.
Bongo Java
This is a local must-try according to my sister. Bongo Java is the oldest coffee shop in Nashville, having been founded in 1993! They’re not just known for their coffee - they also have fantastic food. I ordered a bagel sandwich with egg, avocado, and cheese while my boyfriend ordered a sausage egg and cheese bagel sandwhich. My sister who is a Nashville local, got a breakfast burrito which I had a small bite of. All three of our orders where fantastic and they had a really fun and lighthearted vibe in there. They have games you can borrow and a big blackboard where you can answer their question of the day on! I highly recommend stopping by, even if its when you’re on your way out of Nashville.
Harriet’s Rooftop
View from Harriet’s
Okay, I have to mention a bar if I am writing a post on Nashville. I’m gonna be honest, we weren’t in the Broadway mood this trip. Despite it being our 22nd birthday trip, we didn’t want to wake up Saturday feeling like trash and we have done the Broadway thing a time or two already. Harriet’s Rooftop is about a 10-15 minute walk from Broadway on the rooftop of a hotel. It took a minute for us to find the entrance to since there is no entrance dedicated to just the rooftop. If I am being completely honest, this place was kind of a bust. We got there around 11pm and it was dead. It had rained earlier that day so they’re outdoor seating was not it. All of their indoor seating was reserved, but no one was there to use it! We each got a drink and stayed for an hour but that was about it.
There are a few positives about this place I wanted to highlight. First off, the views were spectacular. Pictures truly don’t give it justice. You get a gorgeous view of Nashville’s city and it is especially pretty at night when you can see the city lights. Second, the drink that I had was actually pretty good. It was a unique drink so it's not for everyone but I liked it. I ordered the Electric Bloom, a slightly floraly drink made with prosecco. This drink was so fun! I am not a floraly type of drink person but this one was still good. It also had buzz button foam on the top which made your lips tingle when you drank it. It reminded me of Pop Rocks but in a sophisticated and less-intense way. I highly recommend this drink if you’re looking for something a little out of the ordinary.
White Limozeen
French Onion Quiche
I know, I know, you’ve already heard about this one. I get it, but I have to give this restaurant it’s quick shout-out. This was my twin & I’s first choice for our birthday brunch. My sister has lived there a year and we had yet to go to Dolly Parton’s restaurant! The vibes at White Limozeen were so fun and girly and I am so happy we made this a sisters-only brunch. If I am being honest, we couldn’t get reservations for 4 so that’s the real reason why it was just the two of us. If you’re going to Nashville, you need to make these resys well in advance. We tried booking a Friday brunch for four 3 weeks out and could only get a spot for 2. That being said, I say the experience was totally worth it. The restaurant was adorable, the food was good, and the service was great! Unfortunately, I left my ID at home so I didn’t try any of the drinks, but my sister ordered a Raspberry Mimosa that I sampled which was pretty yum!
For food, I got the French Onion Quiche, which had goat cheese, caramelized onions, and wild mushrooms. This was hands-down the best quiche I’ve ever had. While I am not hard to impress when it comes to food, White Limozeen is the perfect spot for you & your girls that not only has a great ambience, but also great food!
I hope you found one cool activity or restaurant to try out the next time you’re in Nashville. If you like these travel posts, please let me know on TikTok, Instagram, and Pinterest @trainwithtorik or email me at trainwithtorik@gmail.com. I’d also love to hear your favorite places in Nashville! I’ll see you next time!