Nashville just became my favorite American city this weekend. In fact, this southern town has me reassessing my rankings for the title of favorite cities in the world.

I grew up two hours away from this glorious southern city and somehow just now realizing the friggin’ awesomeness that is Tennessee’s capital.

How should I explain it…it’s like when you go on the best first date of your life… and you can’t stop smiling and gushing, and reveling in every moment. You just want to keep getting to know the fella better…that’s how I feel about Nashville!

Now I had been to Nashville a time or few before. Once for sure on a school field trip to the Parthenon. Once when UK played in the music city bowl. I have a guy pal who calls Nashville home so I got to experience it for New Year’s once when I lived in Montgomery and of course, it tends to be the go-to spot the bachelorette parties of Kentucky girls.  Every time, it’s been a good time. But this time just sealed the deal.

On a Friday afternoon, a motley crew of my friends and friends of friends loaded up our cars and trucks and headed up to Music City for what we pre-judged would be an epic weekend.   Ryan scored a super sweet vacation condo rental in the heart of downtown. Ten of us or so made it our home. It was walking distance from everything!

So here was our itinerary:

After Pre-gaming & getting ready in the condo, we took the party to Broadway:

Tequila Cowboy– The line is long outside the dance room but go in through the Karaoke bar next door line where all the off-key tourist try their luck in becoming Nashville’s next star.  The two bars connect in the back. This bar didn’t have a live band sans Karaoke singers but it does have a mechanical bull, pool tables, and a hip hop dance room all upstairs and toward the back.  I discovered (or should I say Chris discovered) the upstairs area for the first time this weekend even though I’d been in this place twice before for bachelorette adventures.  It’s bigger than it seems.

Tootsies– Ladies who are singing double and wearing stilettos beware…this place features tons of steps right at the entrance. The ladies room is about half way between the first 30 step and the last.  It plays a variety of music, features a live band and a rooftop Terrace. There was no cover!

The Stage– This place was our favorite for the night because it had the most rockin’est band, amazing bar tender, and nice crowd but not uncomfortable.

Part of the group went and got Luigi’s pizza to feed the late night hunger.  I took myself to bed. It was too much fun with a lot of getting lost, looking for people, herding cats, getting separated, laughing, singing, dancing, and flirting. The best ever!

Saturday:  After making a homemade breakfast in house, half our group headed to Lynchburg to check out Jack Daniel’s Distillery. Us ladies first made a Starbucks run on Church Street and partake in a little homework (yes, we had a mini nerd session).  Then we look ourselves out shopping on Broadway because we couldn’t help but notice all the cute boutiques that were closed while we partied.

While out, we happened to run into our buds at Rippy’s. Rippy’s offered greasy, fried lunch food and three bands in each dining area. We were not a fan of one in particular. “Douche Rocket” was the name he was termed when he refused to take anyone’s request without first getting $20. Pretty lame homeboy!  Play, and then we’ll pay you based on your performance and charisma.  But the bartender was a sweetheart named Annalise who kept the yee-haws (some tasty concoction with three types of liquor) coming.  She is what kept us until a more personable performer took the stage.

We did a little more day drinking and bar-food eating before taking a mid-afternoon siesta.  I was honestly kind of craving something more substantial than tacos, burgers, and pizza but it sure seemed hard to find in walking distance. They did have an Old Spaghetti Factory but the wait without a reservation was too much. I settled for street tacos instead. After our naps it was time for Nashville Nights round two.

This time we checkout out Wild Horse Saloon on 2nd Avenue. I got acquainted with this bar at a bachelorette party. This is my favorite bar! First, it’s huge with a big dance floor. They give line dance lessons every hour in between live music sets. They play DJ music while the band rests. There’s like three active bars meaning very little wait times.  They have a $6 cover (waves for military members and one friend).  I love this place. Oh, and the gentlemen know how to dance and spin you around the floor and it’s really just so much fun.

Sunday: We checked out a little more of the non-party side of downtown. The Titans play a block away from our condo…perfect location! Then we headed to Lynchburg which was a whole other adventure in its own.

1. They don’t call it music city for nothin’ live bands all day, every day. Everyone plays. Everyone sings.  Even the dude on the corner collecting change in his guitar case is freakin’ awesome.

2. Nobody parties like Nashville.  I loved the fun-loving people, the dancing, the music. There’s downtown and midtown, both for partying. You’re going to need several weekends to conquer both.

3. The fashion: It’s comfortable. Flip flops, cowboy boots, wedges short, ripped jeans, sun dresses…It’s comfortable and cool. No need for extra tight, shiny dresses or sky-high stilettos often found in hip-hop geared areas.

4. The food.  This resturuant title cracks me up. Didn’t even try to sound Spanish. Around here, they speak Amuriken. And the food is quintessentially southern.

5.  The southern hospitality at it’s finest.  If I didn’t know any better I’d swear all the residents of Nashville had PhDs in Southern Charm.  I basically just started answering to honey, darling, and sweetheart like it was my name. How can you not instantly fall in love with everyone who uses endearing terms for you?  Be careful not to buy more just because of all the sweetness!  I miss this part of the south.

6. Outside the party district, is academia. Just scholars oozing out of the historic streets.  Although it identifies itself as a musical town first and foremost, Nashville is also called the Athens of the south because it’s home to something like ten universities.  In honor of this distinction Nashville also features a replica of Greece’s Parthenon. So you can get a little European experience in the south.

7. Shopping. Quaint boutiques and major retailers. This place has them both.

Partying with amazing friends in Nashville after a year in Qatar and two years in Germany was like America saying, “Welcome Home.”  This place is quintessentially southern, and quintessentially American. Nashville, you make a girl inspired to write poetry in honor of your wonder. How long has your awesomeness been going on? This weekend you have become my favorite American city.  I only saw about a quarter mile of this city on this visit but I have fallen in love. I heart Nashville.