Nashville never disappoints when it comes to family celebrations, and this birthday trip was no exception. With Rich, Roxanne, and our cousins Aiden and Caleb in tow, we set out to explore both the tourist spots and local gems that make Music City special.
Southern Comfort Food and Tourist Spots
Our day kicked off at Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen, right across from Opry Mills. Let’s keep it real – while it’s worth experiencing once, it’s definitely what you’d call a tourist trap. The family-style service brought us heaping portions of fried chicken, mac and cheese, broccoli casserole, biscuits, mashed potatoes with gravy, and green beans. Sure, it was good, but I’ll let you in on a secret: Rich and I have discovered so many local Nashville restaurants that offer better food at better prices. Who knew this was actually a chain restaurant?
A Garden Paradise
The Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center was our next stop, and this is one tourist attraction that absolutely lives up to the hype. The best part? Walking around is completely free! The natural lighting streaming through the massive glass ceiling, combined with the lush indoor gardens and winding pathways, creates an absolutely magical atmosphere. It’s like stepping into another world, and the photo opportunities are endless.
Retro Fun
We then ventured to Eastside Bowl in Madison, which turned out to be such a cool find. The retro vibes are strong with this one! Aiden and Caleb made a beeline for the arcade room, and honestly, who could blame them? The whole place has this amazing vintage aesthetic that makes you feel like you’ve stepped back in time.
Sweet Endings at Fifth + Broadway
Our final destination was Fifth + Broadway, where we packed in several sweet treats. I tried some coffee at Elixr, which was… well, let’s just say it wasn’t my favorite Nashville coffee experience. But things definitely looked up when we stopped at Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams for some birthday celebrations – complete with a candle! Such a thoughtful surprise that made the day extra special.
The grand finale was dinner at one of our absolute favorites, Five Points Pizza. And talk about perfect timing – they were selling HiFi Cookies! We couldn’t resist trying the Bowie, a funfetti cookie dough creation loaded with white chocolate chips. Let me tell you, that cookie was absolutely worth every calorie.
Looking back, it was another perfect birthday celebration for the books. Nashville keeps proving why it’s one of our favorite places for family adventures – there’s always something new to discover, whether you’re hitting the tourist spots or venturing off the beaten path. And sometimes, like with the Opryland Resort, even the tourist traps can be totally worth it!
