5 Best Sights in The Gulch, Nashville

Nashville has a unique and active arts community, and the city's main art museum reflects that. Instead of focusing on a beefy permanent collection like Atlanta's High Museum, The Frist, which opened in 2001, aims to expose the city's inhabitants and visitors to as many different and disparate artists, mediums, and movements as possible, with multiple rotating exhibitions from the masters of antiquity to modernists. Depending on when you're in town, you can catch anything from an extensive focus on a single artist to an exploration of Impressionism. Visitors can dine in The Frist's alfresco café after perusing thought-provoking exhibitions in the 1930s art deco building that once served as a post office. The historic building is a work of art in and of itself, so build in some time to linger or drop by on a Saturday for an architecture tour. 

Serious Jack White fans won't want to miss his lauded label's Nashville outpost. Drop by to record your own two-minute song on a 1945 Voice-o-Graph machine, pop into the photo booth, dig through the stacks, or grab some exclusive merch. Check their social media and special events pages if you're looking to catch a live performance in the now-legendary Blue Room. Tours of the full operation are available on Fridays at 2 and 3 pm, but book online to snag a spot.

This recently constructed green space provides a welcome oasis in the middle of this high-rise district. A large shaded patio peppered with tables makes for an ideal spot to chow down on takeout from a nearby restaurant, and there are plenty of benches and even wooden loungers for soaking up some Southern sun. In the warmer months, the park hosts movie and music nights along with the occasional market.

Nashville's luxe Paddywax candles have become a national household staple with unique scent collections based on classic authors, national parks, and gourmand treats. Visitors to this brick-and-mortar outpost will not only be able to shop their established favorites, but they can also experience the fun of candle making with self-guided workshops or even grab an at-home kit for a DIY fix.

For those who want the quintessential Gulch photo op, head to artist Kelsey Montague's Instagram-famous mural right off 11th Avenue South. The sprawling 20-foot white wings are filled with little design nods to the Music City like guitars, along with dreamy abstractions that add to the ethereal feeling. There's even a smaller set of wings that are perfect for kids or pets, so everyone can get their perfect shot. The line can get long, especially during the weekends, so this is a great way to kill some time while you're waiting for a restaurant table nearby.