Nashville luxury weekend trip
#21
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 431
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm getting really excited now. We booked the Hermitage (it just really fit our preferences perfectly). We got a deluxe room overlooking the capitol. I got great seats to the TransSiberian Orchestra on Friday night and excellent seats to the Lion King on Saturday night. I'm still making plans based on your above suggestions for restaurants, shopping, spas and the rest, but that is what I have set in stone for now. And i really am just thrilled about this!
We'd wanted a weekend in NYC but the flight schedule wouldn't have allowed us much time there, so we opted to go somewhere we could get to faster (spending part of Friday and Sunday there too). We don't get away much so this will be so fun for us. Booking the Hermitage and the two events will make us feel "sort of" close to the luxe we'd have had in NYC.
Too bad we will miss the Christmas displays at Opryland. We'll be there just a few days too early. Maybe next year!
Thanks for your suggestions! Keep em coming!
We'd wanted a weekend in NYC but the flight schedule wouldn't have allowed us much time there, so we opted to go somewhere we could get to faster (spending part of Friday and Sunday there too). We don't get away much so this will be so fun for us. Booking the Hermitage and the two events will make us feel "sort of" close to the luxe we'd have had in NYC.
Too bad we will miss the Christmas displays at Opryland. We'll be there just a few days too early. Maybe next year!
Thanks for your suggestions! Keep em coming!
#22
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,585
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I din't mean to imply that the Opryland Hotel was "luxury" just an incredible thing to experience. It's so huge and the waterfalls, plants, etc are really something. You just have to see it at least once!
#23
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,291
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There's a good spa called "Escape" in the mall called "Spaces" in Belle Meade, just after the Highway 100-Highway 70 split (bear left at the split). It's pretty new so you won't read about it in any guidebooks (yet). There's a wine bar, the Grape, in the mall and while you're enjoying a spa treatment they will be happy to go get you a glass of wine.
Since you'll be staying downtown and have a car, definitely visit the Frist museum, on Broadway; it even has a decent cafe.
The restaurant in the Hermitage, Capitol Grille, is excellent.
The Schermerhorn Symphony Center is brand-new and is worth a tour.
If you prefer to do a spa in Green Hills Mall, Tiba is good. Of course, all spa treatments require advance reservations.
I second the recommendation of Watermark restaurant, and to the list of shopping places would add Coco (not far from Jamie).
Good luck!
Since you'll be staying downtown and have a car, definitely visit the Frist museum, on Broadway; it even has a decent cafe.
The restaurant in the Hermitage, Capitol Grille, is excellent.
The Schermerhorn Symphony Center is brand-new and is worth a tour.
If you prefer to do a spa in Green Hills Mall, Tiba is good. Of course, all spa treatments require advance reservations.
I second the recommendation of Watermark restaurant, and to the list of shopping places would add Coco (not far from Jamie).
Good luck!
#24
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 431
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I am now planning where we will make reservations for dinner. I think I am going to go with the Capitol Grille one night, since we are staying in the hotel and it seems to get great reviews here and elsewhere.
For the other night, I am considering Watermark. However, I noticed that the chef was formerly at Botega in Birmingham. We lived in Bham a few years back and got kind of tired of eating there. Have any of you ever been to both restaurants? Is there a great similarity? I am thinking on one hand, we know we would enjoy our food, but on the other hand, perhaps we should venture out into something new.
Any thoughts?
For the other night, I am considering Watermark. However, I noticed that the chef was formerly at Botega in Birmingham. We lived in Bham a few years back and got kind of tired of eating there. Have any of you ever been to both restaurants? Is there a great similarity? I am thinking on one hand, we know we would enjoy our food, but on the other hand, perhaps we should venture out into something new.
Any thoughts?
#25
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hello again! We frequently dine at the Watermark for both business and social and I still think it's the best Nashville has to offer at present. I always enjoy the Capital Grille; but like Watermark better. I also recently ate at Valentinos (Italian) and was pleasantly surprised. Hope you enjoy your visit.
#27
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 431
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thank you all for your wonderful suggestions! We returned early afternoon from our Nashville weekend and it was just what we needed for our short-trip getaway.
I was pleasantly surprised by Nashville. It's a bona fide big city! I did not realize it was as big as it is.
We ate at Watermark Friday night and saw the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. The restaurant was good. It was not the best part of our weekend but it certainly didn't disappoint us either. The service was fabulous and the food was good. It was in a fun spot in town too.
TransSiberian Orchestra was the higtlight of our weekend. We expected it to kick off our Christmas season but we did NOT expect it to WOW us the way it did. WHAT AN EXPERIENCE! For young, old, adventurous, edgy, laid back, casual, and conservatives, there was something for everyone in that performance. Highly recommended in any city near you!
On Saturday we did some shopping. Bought a lovely little artsy tray at a funky local art place in Five Points, also bought a lovely sportcoat/tie/shirt/pants ensemble for my husband at Levy's...great suggestion! Huge selection of fine clothing there. Super service.
I spent most of Saturday at a spa called Magnolia. Unfortunately I let the weekend creep up on me and did not make an appointment in advance to the places you all mentioned (I know better). The concierge got me an appointment at this new place -- only open for 3 months. It was okay, a little bohemian for my taste, not the best service I have ever received, but I walked away feeling relaxed and pampered...and I purchased some cool mineral makeup too. Got a mani/pedi, lip wax, facial mapping and quick facial, and makeup application. Not bad for $130.
We had a Capitol Grill burger at the Oak Room Grill for lunch. It was to-die-for!
We ate at the Capitol Grill for dinner Saturday and went to see the Lion King. Service was good, food was heavenly!! We ate crab cakes, grouper, beef tenderloin, wine and cheese and salad, and had creme brulee sampler for dessert. Everything just melted in our mouths....a perfectly cooked meal all around.
Lion King was okay. Set and costumes blew us away; acting was very average. Either we got it on an off night or that particular production is not as good as others. Lots of misses -- mics off when they should have been on, lighting snafus, booming sounds coming from mic feedback...odd. Glad we went, would even go again...just not as impressed as I thought we would be.
We had the Capitol Grill brunch before we left and had the worst service we have ever had anywhere. New server knew nothing about the menu, total ditz, left us hanging several times. Just glad we weren't at the table next to us -- she spilled coffee all over the lap of the lady there. Food was good though - steak and eggs was tops.
I guess it is obvious we spent most of our time at the hotel and that is because it was by far the best part of the whole trip. WHAT A PLACE! It was magnificent, luxe luxe luxe. We had a view of the Capitol Building, so pretty, and my GOODNESS the service...they must have one million people working there and everyone remembers your name, your car, etc. Incredible. GREAT concierge. Fabulous room and bathroom, wonderful beds and robes. My husband took a bath in the luxurious tub for the first time in probably 20 years. It was a total dream.
Thank you all for your many suggestions. We had a ball and I only regret that we didn't do more. For next time I have these great tips and will get back to them for sure. We will definitely visit Nashville many times again. It was a very impressive place to visit!
I was pleasantly surprised by Nashville. It's a bona fide big city! I did not realize it was as big as it is.
We ate at Watermark Friday night and saw the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. The restaurant was good. It was not the best part of our weekend but it certainly didn't disappoint us either. The service was fabulous and the food was good. It was in a fun spot in town too.
TransSiberian Orchestra was the higtlight of our weekend. We expected it to kick off our Christmas season but we did NOT expect it to WOW us the way it did. WHAT AN EXPERIENCE! For young, old, adventurous, edgy, laid back, casual, and conservatives, there was something for everyone in that performance. Highly recommended in any city near you!
On Saturday we did some shopping. Bought a lovely little artsy tray at a funky local art place in Five Points, also bought a lovely sportcoat/tie/shirt/pants ensemble for my husband at Levy's...great suggestion! Huge selection of fine clothing there. Super service.
I spent most of Saturday at a spa called Magnolia. Unfortunately I let the weekend creep up on me and did not make an appointment in advance to the places you all mentioned (I know better). The concierge got me an appointment at this new place -- only open for 3 months. It was okay, a little bohemian for my taste, not the best service I have ever received, but I walked away feeling relaxed and pampered...and I purchased some cool mineral makeup too. Got a mani/pedi, lip wax, facial mapping and quick facial, and makeup application. Not bad for $130.
We had a Capitol Grill burger at the Oak Room Grill for lunch. It was to-die-for!
We ate at the Capitol Grill for dinner Saturday and went to see the Lion King. Service was good, food was heavenly!! We ate crab cakes, grouper, beef tenderloin, wine and cheese and salad, and had creme brulee sampler for dessert. Everything just melted in our mouths....a perfectly cooked meal all around.
Lion King was okay. Set and costumes blew us away; acting was very average. Either we got it on an off night or that particular production is not as good as others. Lots of misses -- mics off when they should have been on, lighting snafus, booming sounds coming from mic feedback...odd. Glad we went, would even go again...just not as impressed as I thought we would be.
We had the Capitol Grill brunch before we left and had the worst service we have ever had anywhere. New server knew nothing about the menu, total ditz, left us hanging several times. Just glad we weren't at the table next to us -- she spilled coffee all over the lap of the lady there. Food was good though - steak and eggs was tops.
I guess it is obvious we spent most of our time at the hotel and that is because it was by far the best part of the whole trip. WHAT A PLACE! It was magnificent, luxe luxe luxe. We had a view of the Capitol Building, so pretty, and my GOODNESS the service...they must have one million people working there and everyone remembers your name, your car, etc. Incredible. GREAT concierge. Fabulous room and bathroom, wonderful beds and robes. My husband took a bath in the luxurious tub for the first time in probably 20 years. It was a total dream.
Thank you all for your many suggestions. We had a ball and I only regret that we didn't do more. For next time I have these great tips and will get back to them for sure. We will definitely visit Nashville many times again. It was a very impressive place to visit!