Fall Break travel opportunities: a Nashville staycation

Nashville is a city with seemingly a million things to do, so for those of you without fall break plans, fear not. From concerts to festival to sporting events and more, Nashville certainly won’t disappoint on your relaxing staycation.

As usual, music fans won’t be disappointed as Nashville has a great city-wide line up of live music to flock to. Ludacris and Iggy Azalea will be performing at this year’s Commodore Quake in the Vanderbilt Memorial Gymnasium on Thursday with tickets as low as $55. Lady Antebellum will be at the Grand Ole Opry Friday with tickets available as low as $29. Casting Crowns will also be performing at the Bridgestone Arena on Friday with tickets available as low as $37.

Film lovers will be in excellent company with The Grassy Knoll. The Grassy Knoll is a film series on the side lawn of Bongo Java East dedicated to screening beloved classics and featuring local filmmakers as well as a few of Nashville’s best food and local businesses. On Oct. 12, in the spirit of Halloween, they will be screening “Rosemary’s Baby.” The show begins at sundown, tickets are $5 per person.

Sports fans will have an opportunity to cheer on Nashville’s favorite hockey team as the Predators will be playing a home game against the Dallas Stars on Saturday at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $30.

For you over-21 folks: Oktoberfest will be Oct. 10-12 in Nashville’s historic Germantown. The festival has been happening in historic Germantown annually for 35 years and is still going strong. There will be live music throughout each day, the Race for Beer 5k, pretzels, lederhosen and a guaranteed fun time. General admission is free at the door.

All you history buffs out there, don’t miss your chance to soak in all this rich heritage this city has to offer. A popular example is the Johnny Cash Museum, which chronicles the life of a country music legend. Admission is $15 and the museum is open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Southern Festival of Books: A Celebration of the Written Word will be held at the Nashville War Memorial Plaza on Oct. 10-12 as well. This festival began in October 1989 to celebrate American literature and promote a love of reading. A true celebration of the written word, the festival includes performances by local poets and songwriters; book signings from authors; re-enactments of literature; speeches from authors and much, much more. General admission is free, but seating is first come first serve, so get there early.

The Country Music Hall of Fame is a Nashville staple. Housing the complete history of country music from its roots in bluegrass banjos to its modern guitar riffs, this museum is a must-see for history and music lovers alike.

Even with the cooler weather approaching, it’s never too cold to enjoy Nashville dessert staples like Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams and Las Paletas. Other must-try eateries include Noshville Authentic New York Delicatessen, Flip Side, West End Cafe, The Rosepepper, The Pfunky Griddle, The Loving Pie Company and Whiskey Kitchen– just to name a few.

Don’t forget some other classic Nashville attractions: the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere, for example, is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. throughout the duration of fall break. Belcourt Theatre will be playing its usual array of indie films that you won’t want to miss. And Grimey’s New & Preloved Music is always a wonderful place to waste some time and find some great new tunes.

So whether you choose to sleep all weekend or do any number of the above listed events, don’t forget fun is the most important part of a vacation. Sometimes the best memories are created by grabbing a blanket, a few friends and heading to the top of Love Circle for a picnic and some breathtaking scenery.

Whatever you end up doing, make sure you enjoy the view.