So I made the Ultimate Nashville Guide, which you can read here, and now I want to share something else I’m loving in Music City – wall murals!

I just love art.  Not all art, but most art.  From music, or sculptures, to architecture, I just love seeing what can be created in beauty from the mind.  So when I started taking an interest in the wall murals that were popping up all over Nashville, I started wanting to bring them into my own world by incorporating into my posts.  

Then I realized other people might enjoy seeing these works of Nashville wall mural art as well. So I created this guide(with the map) of most of the murals I’ve seen around Nashville, but there are always more popping up, so I’ll be sure to add them as I find them!

12 South

Nashville Looks Good On You

Hillsboro Village

The Red Lips

Charlotte Pike

Wish For Peace

Germantown

The Like

Kindness Is…

West End

Hyroglitches

East Nashville

The Cleo 

We Are Nashville

Go Slay All The Dragons

The Gulch

Nashville Wings

Edgehill Village

Pink Wings (inside No Baked)

Wedgewood/8th Ave

Hyacinths and Waves

Ruins on the Beach

Galactic Gardens

Life Is Sweet

Guitars and Birds

Love Y’all 

The Nations

The Fountain of Juice

It’s no secret that when traveling it’s easier if you know what you’re doing.  Traveling with the right tools, (read apps) makes travel less stressful and therefore more fun. ( If you’re visiting Nashville or Toronto soon, check out those guides here (Nashville) and here (Toronto)).  So here are some of my favorite travel apps.


You’ve probably noticed I like to be thorough, so I’m going to break these up into categories.

Transportation and Accommodation:

Expedia – This is the app I always check first for flights or flight hotel combos.  *Insider tip: If you’re in any country other than the US, check your website and then check expedia.COM. Sometimes the US site has the same flights for cheaper. (Even taking into consideration exchange rates!)


Hotel Tonight – Often if we’re on a road trip I don’t plan where exactly we’re staying.  That’s why this app is so great.  I can compare hotels and books so quickly, with literally the swipe off a finger.


Uber – I’m guessing pretty much everyone knows about Uber by now.  If you don’t know, it’s a car service that picks you up. The driver is using their own car as a taxi.  It’s usually cheaper than an actual taxi.

Food:

Opentable – A favorite of mine.  I love being able to make reservations to a restaurant I’ve heard.  Or if I have a favorite restaurant in the city already then I can make reservations without having to remember to call in when their open.


Infatuation – This app was new to me and recommended by a friend, but I LOVE it so far.  It doesn’t have every single city on it (it’s much more curated than Yelp) but the cities and recommendations it does have are wonderful.  It’s also curated by true food critics and food writers, so it has a standard to uphold, which I love.


Uber Eats – Too tired to go out to eat? No rental car? No problem.  Uber will not only pick up people, but Uber Eats will pick up food from a restaurant you choose from the map and then deliver it to you!

Other:

Yelp – Yelp and I have a love/hate relationship.  It has sent me to a few places based on recommendations that ended up being disappointing.  However, I have also found some real gems on Yelp, which is why I’m including it here.  There is one thing I LOVE about Yelp; it isn’t just for food, it has a ton of categories for shopping, spas, activities, and types of food!


Currency XE – When traveling internationally you ALWAYS want to know how much something is relative to your currency! This app can do exchanges in nanoseconds. It makes it so much easier to understand how much you’re really paying for something.
Weather Channel – This is an obvious app for travel, however I like this one specifically because it’s so detailed and -typically- correct.

Venmo – This app is great for life as well as travel, but if you are traveling and need to pay someone this app is so convenient.  You simply enter their phone number or email (once they set up an account), enter the amount, what it’s for and hit send!

City Specific:

TKTS – New York City – An app to get you tickets to Broadway shows typically at a slightly better price.


MyDisneyExperience – Orlando – This is your best friend for all things Disney while visiting Disneyworld


MyPark – Orlando – If you’re visiting the outlet malls on an extremely busy day (Saturday or Sunday), this app is a game changer. It allows you to reserve a parking spot at the mall (you do have to pay for the spot).


GreenP – Toronto – This will make parking so much easier.  It’s so much more convenient that locating the pay machine. You just set up a profile for your car, enter the code for that area – which is posted near every parking spot, pay, and you’re done!


Momondo – Canada – This app (and website) gives you the BEST deals for flights.  Sometimes the flights are ridiculous in terms of layover times, or connections, but if you want to travel and save money, this app is amazing.


New York Subway MTA Map – this app is SUPER HELPFUL if you’re trying to navigate the subway in New York City


I’ll add more to these as I find apps I love!

Toronto.  I like to think of Toronto as a Canadian New York City.  It’s diverse, busy, but it has a culture all it’s own.  Over the years I’ve spent a fair amount of time in “The Six” and I’ve uncovered more than a few favorite spots to spend time.  As with my Nashville Guide – which you can read here – I’m going to make this a “living guide” also, meaning I will update this frequently with my new favorites and new experiences at old favorites. 

*If we have a favorite dish or activity I’ll add that in too!

Eating

Brunch

  The Old School – Blueberry Pancakes
  Over Easy 

Dinner 

Hy’s Steakhouse – Caesar salad and Prime Rib
 King Taps – Pizza

Cafe   

Forget Me Not – Toasty Almond Latte
Light Cafe – Strawberry Waffle

Sweets   

Eva’s Chimney’s – Cinnamon
Ihalo Krunch – the taro and charcoal coconut ice cream 
Royaltea – Cookies and Creme bubble tea
Short and Sweet Bakeshop – cupcakes (but almost everything here is delicious)
Sweet Jesus – seasonal favorites

Lunch   

Windsor Arms – High tea
Earls – Warm Kale Chicken Salad Joey’s – Frozé and Ahi Tuna Tacos
Fork and Spoon – Spicy salmon roll, pad thai, and general tso’s chicken  

To-Do

Sites to see

Grafitti Alley – artwork by some of Toronto’s best as-of-yet undiscovered graffiti artists        Queen Street – Unique boutiques that sell everything from fabric to skincare        Pacific Mall –  an extension of Toronto’s Chinatown.  It’s out of the downtown core, but it’s a very fun experience if you appreciate asian cultures
Peace Collective – A new Canadian staple.  Specializing in slogan covered clothing for the canadian enthusiast.

Activities 

Elmwood Day Spa – I love this day spa.  We went here for my birthday a few years ago and I just loved it.
Her Majesty’s Pleasure – We got our nails done here before my wedding.  It’s half spa, half bar, with 100% feminine design details.
Niagara-on-the-lake – A beautiful region of wineries and scenery just an hour drive from Toronto.
Niagara Falls – A natural wonder and something you should see if you’re so close! Niagara falls is also about an hour from Toronto.

Where To Stay   

Fairmont Royal York – One of my personal favorites. Pet friendly, so decadent, and I just love that every time we stay here it’s an experience.
One King West – In the financial district.  Great rooms with kitchenettes if you felt like cooking or having breakfast in your room cooked to your specifications.
The Ritz – I love the attention to detail here.  They also are willing to go above and beyond with extra touches are your request for birthdays, anniversaries, and such.

After living in Nashville for 6 years I still love it like I did when I first visited. I can understand why so many people love this city because it’s still small enough that you run into friends, but give enough to have great food, activities, and shopping.

I’ve heard people grumble about all the new transplants moving to Nashville, but then a friend said, “It really just means more restaurants.” Which I LOVED because it’s true, but also it’s a great way to embrace the growth of our special (music) city.

So here’s my ultimate guide to Nashville. I’ll be updating it whenever I come across anything wonderful in the city, so check back frequently.

Music Venues in Nashville

Green Hills

Bluebird Cafe

West End

Commodore Grille

The Local

Hillsboro Village

Belcourt Taps

Midtown

Frisky Frogs

8th Ave

The Sutler

Douglas Corner

Downtown

Alley Taps

Food in Nashville

*If we have a favorite dish or item I’ll include it with the restaurant ** Some places I enjoy the food, but I LOVE the atmosphere, so if the places is a favorite for ambience and atmosphere I’ll add that to the recommendation

Desserts

East Nashville

Soda Parlor – the cookie monster sundae

West End

No Baked Cookie Dough – classic chocolate chip or cookie monster

Green Hills

Shake Shack – seasonal shakes; I haven’t had one I didn’t like

Midtown

Gigi’s Cupcakes – classic red velvet

Delivery

Tiff’s Treats (Cookie Delivery)

Mexican   

12 South

Bar Taco – What we order – Plantains, specialty taco (ask your server), street corn 

Taqueria Del Sol – What we order – Queso, Red Salsa, Fried Chicken Tacos, chowder   

8th Ave

Las Palmas – What we order – Shrimp Fajitas   

Franklin

Mojos Tacos – What we order – Queso, Hot chicken tacos

Southern and BBQ   

12 South

Edleys – What we order –pulled chicken

Urban Grub –What we order – aged meats   

8th Ave

Hattie B – What we order –hot chicken – medium and mac and cheese   

Loveless – What we order –fried chicken    

Downtown

The Southern – What we order – shrimp and grits    

The Stillery – What we order – Hot chicken cavatappi mac and cheese

Oak Steakhouse – What we order –brussel sprouts, mac and cheese, and Waygu beef

Brunch   

8th Ave

Fenwicks 300 – What we order –Monte Cristo (my husbands favorite) and Fenwicks basic and teddy graham latte   

12 South

Five Daughters – What we order –  King Kong  (but the seasonal donuts are also amazing! My favorite of all time is Birthday Cake, but it’s seasonal!) 

Hillsboro Village

Pancake Pantry – What we order – Apple Pancakes    *be there when they open, or go after 1pm, because on weekends this place is BUSY.

The Gulch

Biscuit Love – What we order – Bonuts   

Milk and Honey – atmosphere

East Nashville

Cafe Roze – atmosphere

Brentwood

First Watch – What we order – Biscuits and Turkey Gravy   

Puffy Muffin – What we order –Apple Cinnamon hot drink, gluten free toast, turkey sausage   

Japanese/Thai/Fusion

The Gulch

Otaku – What we order – The bao bun appetizer and Tonkatsu ramen

Coffee Shops in Nashville   

Edgehill

The Jam – What we order – Valentine, Peppermint Patty, PB and the Jam   

12 South

Frothy Monkey – atmosphere  

Wedgewood-Houston

Humphreys Coffee – What we order – Milky Oolong Tea

Downtown

Crema – What we order – the hot chocolate – best I’ve had in Nashville

Italian/American  

West End

Brick tops – skillet cookie, and millionaire’s bacon (while I don’t eat bacon I’ve been here with multiple people who love this bacon

The Gulch

Del frisco – ahi tacos

East Nashville

Five Points Pizza  What we order – Classic cheese or pepperoni  

Brentwood

Blaze Pizza    

Juice/Smoothie/Healthy

Berry Hill

Juice Bar – smoothies/juices – What we order – Orange You Smooth or Mint To Be

12 South

Franklin Juice Co. – What we order – Bom bom, or the seasonal peach smoothie bowl

Activities In, Around, or Near Nashville   

Hour drive from Nashville

• Arrington Vineyards  – a winery where you can have a picnic with a bottle of wine, they also have a barn with live music and tables 

• Jack Daniels Distillery – they offer multiple tours, that vary in length, but the distillery is in a dry county, so while they sell bottles they can only offer samples, there is no bar

Within Nashville but requires transportation from downtown

• Cheekwood Botanical Gardens – beautiful gardens with seasonal displays and topiaries   

• Grand Ole Opry – Outside Nashville adjacent to the Gaylord Opryland Resort 

• Belle Meade Plantation
• Centennial Park – Where the Parthenon of Nashville is located that has been a filming location for several movies

Within Downtown Nashville

• Pedal Tavern – a ridable bar that stops at different bars around downtown Nashville

• The Ryman Auditorium – Tours available as well as live music shows almost nightly

• Country Music Hall of Fame – a museum behind Bridgestone Arena with permanent displays and artifacts of country music history and also rotational displays and installations

Bars – *Nashville obviously has a downtown core that can be party central on the weekends. I’m going to list the more unique libation venues that are outside the typical tourist area

Midtown

Two Bits – a bar with fun drinks and vintage video games and arcade machines

Wedgewood Houston

Hemingway’s Hideaway – very unique drink menu, and great atmosphere

East Nashville

Pearl Diver – like being in a bar on a Hawaiian Island in the late 1960s

Edgehill

Old Glory – like a speak easy

Yoga Studios

Green Hills

CorePower Yoga – I love the classes here and the way they are structured. I also like that the lockers have actual locks not confusing key code systems

Brentwood

Epic Yoga – this yoga studio doesn’t have big fancy changing rooms, but it has great instructors

12 South

Fahrenheit Yoga – Fahrenheit recently moved to this location so I haven’t been here yet, but there old location was a rented space and it was great, so I can only imagine how great this studio will be. I love the large space, and that the classes only have so many slots so you’re not on top of other yogis.

Music Row

Shakti Yoga – Very cool location in an old house. This yoga studio is very vibe-y and is in such a cool neighborhood of Nashville. However, sometimes the classes are so packed that the mats are almost touching, that’s not my preference so I try to stick to the less busy times.

Hotels

Downtown

Omni Nashville – The brunch here on the weekends is wonderful, and the location if you want to be downtown is perfect. It’s very close to Broadway but also just far enough away that it’s not on Broadway.

The Gulch

Thompson Nashville – very hip. The Killebrew coffee shop inside is so chic, and the entire hotel is very well designed. The rooftop bar is amazing for taking in the views, but be warned it can be very loud on Friday/Saturday nights.

We decided to take a quick trip to Miami…specifically to South Beach!

We were taking the dogs for a walk in South Beach and we came upon a large Tuscan looking villa.  After some debate I decided to google it.  We turned out to be the mansion of the late Gianni Versace.  As fans of architecture, fashion, and style, we were of course transfixed for a moment taking it in.  After another delving search into google (thank goodness for google!), we discovered it was a boutique hotel and restaurant!  We were able to get a lunch reservation and it was kismet.

Inside the mansion is stunning.  To think of it as a private home is so indulgent.  There is a large open courtyard right in the center with the ascending floors having an open hallway to look over into the courtyard.  Although the courtyard is in the center, the centerpiece of this home is the pool and garden area.  

We sat overlooking this spot as we enjoyed a classic Italian meal.  The food was fresh and so satisfying and paired perfectly with the view.  Considering the fact that we were sitting just a few yards from the Atlantic ocean only made the experience all the more thrilling.

My advice if you are venturing to the Versace Mansion for your own opulent experience is to soak it in as much as you can.  The grand exterior foyer, the pool area, the library bar, the courtyard, and the ideas that must have followed through that space while Gianna Versace lived there.