My First Out-of-State Day Trip ! Exploring Nashville, TN in 5 Hours
I’m on a mission to visit all 50 states here in the USA.
What better way to do this than to incorporate some out-of-state day trips! Am I crazy for this? Maybe a little. The thought of flying to another city and back in the same day is definitely a lot, but with some planning and great walking shoes it’s possible.
A few things I want you to keep in mind:
I’m using Google Flights to help me search for the cheapest destinations and travel dates. My work schedule is pretty flexible so I’m able to travel on Tuesdays and Wednesdays when airfare is typically a little cheaper.
I am not opposed to flying on budget airlines for the purpose of keeping costs low. (I’m aware of the cons and risks of budget airlines, but let’s have faith and pray for the best.)
My budget is $200 for each trip, including airfare, Lyft/Uber transportation, food, activities and souvenirs.
I’m aware you can’t really get the full experience of a city in just a few hours, but most of the cities I plan on visiting aren’t high on my list for a full blown trip. Day trips allow me to visit without having to spend money on hotels and, in some cases, rental cars.
I booked an 8 a.m. flight from Orlando, FL to Nashville, TN with my returning flight later the same day at 6 p.m. Traveling to Tennessee meant crossing time zones, so I gained an hour while there. My total estimated time in Nashville was 9 hours, NOT including travel time to and from the airport and flight delays. After all was said and done, I was able to explore for a solid 5.5 hours.
Five Daughters Bakery | The Gulch
When I landed in Nashville, the weather was in the high 50s/low 60s and rainy. (Note to self: Always check the weather and dress accordingly). I took an uber over to Five Daughters to grab some donuts. I 10/10 highly recommend these delicious little treats from heaven, you won’t be disappointed.
I had plans of walking around The Gulch to check out shops and murals. It was raining and at this point I wanted to take cover in a nearby restaurant for some breakfast. Thankfully, Milk & Honey was open and I quickly found a seat at the bar. I ordered a biscuit, gravy and sausage — something light but enough to hold me over for a little while.
I hopped on a BIRD scooter and went from The Gulch over to Broadway (the main street in Downtown Nashville known for the honky tonks and gift shops). This street is definitely the life of the party. Every single bar was filled, live music pouring out of every venue. There were so many people walking the streets having a great time at 11 a.m. on a Tuesday.
If you want to plan a fun girls trip or even weekend giveaway — Nashville is a great option.
Broadway in Downtown Nashville
12 p.m.— I hopped on another scooter and made my way to the Tennessee State Museum. It is dedicated to sharing the history of the state. I really loved that they had free lockers for guests to use - not to mention the free admission. I was able to lock up my backpack and walk around the museum hands-free.
1:30 p.m .— Across the street from the museum is the Tennessee Farmers Market. That’s where I had a quick bite to eat before continuing on my way. Inside the farmers market they had a variety of quick service restaurants to choose from. They also had some vendors selling small gift items. Outside, they had a section for produce vendors but they were closed. If i had to guess, they are most likely there on the weekends.
2 p.m .— The Bicentennial Park was located across the street from both the Tennessee State Museum & Farmers Market. At this point in the day, the rainy weather had passed. Skies were blue and the sun was out. I sat in the park for a little while, taking in the parks beauty and observing everything around me.
2:30 p.m. — After having lunch, I hiked over to the Tennessee State Capitol building. When I say this building was on a hill, it was on a HILL. I had to climb up over 200 stairs to reach the top but it was worth it. Visiting the Capitol wasn’t originally on my list, but I decided to check it out after seeing they offered free tours.
I arrived right at 2:45pm and the next and final tour of the day was starting at 3 p.m. I didn’t realize that the Tennessee State Capitol is an active and working building, so I could see employees walking around and working.
We were taken into the Senate Chamber, The House Chamber and another room containing historic records dating back to the 1860s. It was a very cool experience and I highly recommend you experiencing it for yourself.
The State Capitol tour ended around 4 p.m. and by that point I knew it was time to start making my way back to the airport for my 6 p.m. flight. Although I have TSA Pre Check, I still wanted to head back a little early and I’m so glad I did.
There was so much traffic in Downtown Nashville ON TOP of it being rush hour, which I also didn’t think about. (Note to self: plan extra travel time back to the airport during the week during rush hour).
It took a little longer than expected to grab an Uber/Lyft and rates went up because it was a busy time (around $45). I started to worry a little because the clock was ticking and traffic was pretty bad.
Thank God I made it to the airport and on my plane with only 15 minutes to spare. As they were scanning my boarding pass, they were making the final boarding call and announcing that the gate was closing soon. This was such a stressful moment because if I missed that flight, I KNEW I would either have to buy another same day flight for $250+ or the next day and risk having to book a hotel. The whole scenario would've been a disaster.
I landed in Orlando around 8:30 p.m. and due to lack of a gate and insufficient staff, we had to wait until 9 p.m. to get off the plane. The same thing happened to me a few weeks ago flying home from Texas with American Airline. Even if your plane lands early, you’ll likely have to wait on the tarmac until your scheduled gate is available.
I can’t believe I pulled this off — a trip to Nashville and back in the same day. I walked a total of 15,000 steps which was a little over 6 miles and my feet were killing me.
I’m going to take a little break from flying. My next trip will be in May so make sure to comment below which city you recommend I visit.
Click this link to buy me a coffee — all proceeds are going towards my next day trip.
Where should I visit next?
Atlanta GA
Savannah GA
New Orleans LA
Louisville KY
You can vote for more than one answer.
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