Things to Do Around Nashville
A Nashville trip can fill up quickly, especially when there is live music, great food, nightlife, and outdoor attractions competing for space on the itinerary.
Stompin’ Grounds has rounded up some of the best things to do around Nashville to help visitors experience more than just the usual tourist stops. From learning to line dance inside a Broadway honky tonk to exploring nearby parks and historic towns, there are plenty of ways to experience the city.
OUR PARTNER
Hop On the Old Town Trolley
Hop on, hop off, and see Nashville your way. The Old Town Trolley's sightseeing tour rolls past some of the city's best-known sights and neighborhoods, with entertaining narration and the freedom to hop off and explore along the way. It's an easy, flexible way to take in Nashville's history, music, and landmarks.
Want a theme? Try the Soul of Music City Tour for Nashville's legendary music history, or Nashville for Morons for a good laugh.
Partner link · opens trolleytix.net in a new tab
WHERE WE TEACH
Where You'll Find Us
We teach in some of the best-known spots on Broadway. Here is where to find us:
Bootleggers Inn
Nashville's moonshine bar and our home base for daily public classes.
AJ's Good Time Bar
Alan Jackson's honky tonk, a fan favorite for private line dancing classes and group parties.
Nudie's Honky Tonk
Tanya Tucker's tequila cantina, where we host larger classes on our busier days.
Assembly Food Hall
One more place you'll find us dancing on Broadway.
SkyDeck Thursdays
Join us on Broadway for Sky Deck Thursdays.
PLAN YOUR DAY
3 Easy Day Plans
Not sure how to put it all together? Start with one of these.
FOR VISITORS
A Day on Broadway
FOR BRIDE TRIBES
Bachelorette Weekend
FOR TEAMS
Team Outing for Work
START HERE
Start the Trip With a Line Dancing Class
Music is at the heart of Nashville, and few activities put visitors closer to that culture than stepping onto a honky tonk dance floor. Stompin' Grounds hosts public line dancing classes every day at Broadway venues, where participants can learn alongside locals and travelers while live bands perform nearby.
The classes are designed with beginners in mind, making them an accessible activity even for visitors who have never danced before. They are also an easy way to start a Nashville evening before continuing on to other attractions.
A few reasons to start here:
• Classes run daily, so scheduling around other plans stays easy
• No dance experience needed, since instructors break every step down
• A complimentary video keepsake gives visitors something to look back on
• Honky tonk surroundings put guests inside Nashville's music scene from minute one
BROADWAY NIGHTS
Live Music and Honky Tonk Hopping on Broadway
No Nashville itinerary feels complete without some time on Broadway. The downtown strip is known for its concentration of honky tonks, live performances, and rooftop venues. This makes it one of the easiest places to experience Nashville's nightlife in one walk.
Many honky tonks feature live bands from the afternoon through late at night, with musicians covering everything from traditional country to contemporary hits. Since venues sit close together, visitors can move from one spot to another without spending much time traveling between them.
Things worth checking out along Broadway:
• Live cover bands playing everything from classic country to current hits
• Rooftop bars with skyline views of downtown Nashville
• Famous honky tonks tied to country music legends
• Street performers and local musicians scattered throughout downtown
Pairing a night of honky tonk hopping with an earlier line dancing class gives visitors a reason to get on the dance floor instead of just watching from the sidelines.
LOCAL FLAVOR
Food, Drinks, and Nashville's Local Flavor
Hot chicken spots ranging from casual counters to sit-down restaurants
Southern comfort food and barbecue joints scattered across the city
Coffee shops and breakfast spots for mornings after a late Broadway night
Rooftop restaurants offering food alongside downtown views
A trip to Nashville isn't complete without trying the food that made the city famous. Hot chicken tops most visitors' lists, and plenty of spots around downtown serve their own take on the dish, some milder and some intense. Beyond hot chicken, Nashville's food scene covers barbecue, Southern comfort food, and a growing list of chef-driven restaurants worth a reservation.
Grabbing a bite before or after a private line dancing session makes for an easy way to plan an evening around Broadway.
DAY TRIPS
Day Trips and Outdoor Spots Near Nashville
Looking for things to do near Nashville beyond downtown? Visitors who want a break from downtown have plenty of options a short drive away. Nashville sits close to state parks, small towns, and scenic spots that offer a quieter side of Tennessee.
A few ideas worth adding to the list:
• Radnor Lake State Park for hiking and wildlife close to the city
• The historic town of Franklin for shopping and local dining
• Percy Priest Lake for boating or a relaxed afternoon outdoors
• Cheekwood Estate and Gardens for art, gardens, and seasonal events
Splitting a Nashville trip between downtown nightlife and a day trip outside the city gives visitors a fuller sense of the area beyond Broadway alone.
EXPLORE MORE
Plan Your Stompin' Grounds Visit
Explore more ways to dance with us:
WHY CHOOSE STOMPIN' GROUNDS?
Why Add Stompin' Grounds to Your Itinerary
Nashville trips often blur together after a few honky tonks and a plate of hot chicken, but a line dancing class tends to stand out as the one thing everyone remembers clearly. Stompin' Grounds got its start when Tessa and Dustin met on the dance floor, and that same personal touch carries through every class taught since.
Our team includes real cowboys, military veterans, and career dancers, and that background comes through the moment a class begins.
A few reasons visitors work us into their trip:
• Classes held inside authentic Broadway honky tonks, not a generic studio
• A company featured on CMT, CBS, NBC, and ABC
• Five-star reviews across Google, Yelp, TripAdvisor, and GetYourGuide
• A complimentary video keepsake included with every class
• Group options ranging from solo travelers to large private parties
Add a Nashville line dancing class to yourtrip and see the city from the middle of the dance floor. Book Now
Thanks! Your request has been submitted.
FAQs
Honky tonk hopping on foot works well for short stretches of Broadway, since most venues sit close together. Booking a class or dinner reservation ahead of time helps break the day into manageable chunks.
A line dancing class works well for first-timers, since it drops visitors straight into Nashville's music culture. Classes run daily, so fitting one into an early trip schedule stays simple.
Spots like Radnor Lake State Park and Cheekwood Estate and Gardens offer a slower pace outside downtown. Franklin also makes for an easy day trip with local shops and restaurants.
Reservations help on busy weekends, especially for sit-down restaurants and rooftop bars. Walk-ins are common for casual honky tonks, though wait times can grow later in the evening.
Pairing a class with dinner, live music, or a short walk down Broadway fits easily into a single day. Many visitors treat the class as a starting point before exploring the rest of downtown.
