Nashville–home of the Grand Ole Opry, country music and the Predators–is a big city that keeps getting bigger, which is great unless there’s a global pandemic that’s currently putting a stop to life as we know it.
According to asafenashville.org, September 1st marked the transition into Phase 2 of the reopening plan for Nashville. While businesses and mask mandates remain relatively unaffected by these most recent changes, restaurants and event venues are now allowed to expand their capacity, provided that social distancing and outdoor availability are followed.
It’s no secret that Nashville has been called out for its lack of attention to these protocols, and downtown Nashville bars have been exposed as doing a particularly poor job. Lucky for you, here’s a short guide of things to do in the huge city of Nashville that won’t get you on the news for being part of the problem.
First things first–the outdoors.
In an article from The New York Times, Lindsey Marr, an engineering professor and aerosol scientist at Virginia Tech, was quoted as saying, “I think outdoors is so much better than indoors in almost all cases.”
So if you’re anxious to get out and want to stay as safe as possible, try a hike. AllTrails.com lists Radnor Lake State Park, Beaman Park and Long Hunter State Park as some of the top hikes in the Nashville area.
Another option is going to Cheekwood, a botanical garden with plenty of flowers to see and activities to do.
However, before you visit any of these parks, just be sure to check each park’s website for closings and information.
Although quarantine allowed for a chance to improve your culinary skills, you are probably finally tired of cooking, so here are some recommendations for eating out in the age of Covid-19.
An article on nashville.eater.com names several restaurants that are making a strong effort to follow social distancing guidelines, complete with take-out options and patio seating, while still serving great food. A few of the restaurants included on this list are The Food Company, Green Hills Grille, Edley’s Bar-B-Que and Vui’s Kitchen.
If you’re still being cautious about dining out, you can always grab take-out from one of your favorite places and go to one of Nashville’s many parks for a picnic.
Undoubtedly, one of Nashville’s biggest draws is the music scene, which makes this current period without live music particularly upsetting for many.
Since live entertainment is still prohibited in Music City, many artists and venues have transitioned to doing virtual shows. You can check social media to find out when some of your favorite artists are doing live streams or go to do615 to find a list of live streams and support some Nashville musicians.
As Nashville adapts to this new normal, just remember to bring a mask, wear a mask and respect social distancing when you head out!