Nashville Free

The hubs and I have been experiencing a good bit of Nashville recently. Most importantly we've been able to do most of our touring around the city for free which is huge since we are really focusing on saving for our first home and future kiddos! 

A few things we've had the opportunity to see and do...

The Ryman Back Stage:

Thanks to our good friend in the music industry we were able to go back stage at the Ryman during one of the Opry Classic nights. It was fun to see everyone warm up and hear firsthand the roar of the crowd as the musicians took the stage.

The Grand Ole Opry:

We were able to visit the new Opry House while my parents were in town. Big thanks to them for letting us tag along! We heard Kacey Musgraves, Jim Ed Brown, Will Hoge, Ricky Skaggs, The Henningsens, and Rascal Flatts. After the show we went to the Earnest Tubbs record shop to look around and hear the Midnight Jamboree. We actually got to meet Jim Ed Brown and have a picture taken with him.

The Country Music Hall of Fame:

After attending an event for my friend and talented musician, Candi Carpenter. I got to meet Ron Harman who works for The Country Music Hall of Fame. A big thank you to him for letting us tour the Hall of Fame the next day on one of his passes. Wes had never been and it was fun to walk through on a very rainy day and see the outfits and cars the old stars had as well as read about the history of Country Music. My favorite was the Patsy Cline exibit!

The Shops in Franklin:

If you ever get a chance to run to downtown Franklin you will not be disappointed.This quaint little downtown square offers a variety of shops featuring art made right here in Tennessee. Beautiful pottery and antiques can be found at great prices. My personal favorite is The Country Charm Mall right down from the circle on Lewisburg Ave. And if you get a chance, stop into one of the local restaurants. They have some of the best food from cajun, to italian, and a local deli and pharmacy.

The Historic Franklin Theater:

Although the Franklin Theater is not free it is a must see if you are in Franklin and the prices are very reasonable. Much cheaper than going to a current movie theater. They play new releases and old classics. Check out their website for more details and to scope out the charm of this refurbished venue.

Food Truck Festivals:

Wes and I did get to attend a local food truck festival in Franklin but they have these all over the city. With a wide variety of unique food vendors and great prices this is a must do for the Nashville foodie :)  Be prepared to stand in line though, this is a popular event among the locals!

Musicians Corner:

4 weeks of free outdoor concerts, games, food trucks and more. We had a blast attending this event. It's a very relaxing saturday outing that costs nothing if you play it right. If you want to buy food at the show that is always an option but you are also welcome to bring in your own picnic style lunch. Chairs and tables are set up for your convenience or bring a blanket and lounge around. Personally we like to support the local economy and love the food truck scene in Nashville. Everything else is free free free! Each week features a different nashville artists including Matt Wertz, Andy Davis, Green River Ordinance and many more. This is a great opportunity to get to know and support the local artists you hear every week on lightning 100.

Americanarama:

Well honestly I did try to get tickets to this show because I love Wilco and Bob Dylan. I wanted to support the artists like the honorable music lover I am however, my wallet got stolen the week we were supposed to buy the tickets... bummer! The plan was to walk to the pedestrian bridge and listen to the show from there but the local police thwarted that plan. Luckily we followed the crowd and ended up in a sweet little parking lot across the street from the show. It was awesome! Although I do not promote skimping the musicians on their revenue (they work hard for the money), I do support hearing good music at any cost... this one just happened to be free :)

Well ladies and gents I believe that's all I've got for this post. I hope everyone had a safe and relaxing 4th of July! I know we did, despite the rain.