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LSU faces Notre Dame in the 2014 Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl at LP Field on Dec. 30 at 2 p.m..
The game’s location, Nashville, Tenn., continues to grow as a city, with one of the nation’s fastest rising populations. The home of country music is a hotbed for out of towners in need of a southern down-home feel mixed with a metropolitan city.
Where To Stay:
- There are several hotels within walking distance from LP Field. If you’re looking to stay close, the Omni Nashville Hotel ($229), Renaissance Nashville ($206), Sheraton Nashville Downtown ($202) and Hilton Nashville Downtown ($249) are the highest rated choices. Nashville’s most famous hotel is the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center ($178), which is located 15 minutes from downtown.
Restaurant Suggestions
- Nashville is famous for its hot chicken. The meal includes fried chicken sauced using a paste that has been spiced with cayenne pepper and served atop slices of white bread with pickle chips. The two most famous hot chicken spots are Hattie B’s (with two locations downtown) and Prince’s (Ewing Drive).
- The Loveless Cafe (southwest Nashville) is a must for those craving a southern meal. The restaurant is famous for its biscuits, fruit preserves, country ham and red-eye gravy and is a top choice for breakfast.
- The Pancake Pantry specializes in — you guessed it — pancakes. Located by Vanderbilt’s campus on the West End, the restaurant’s menu has 22 different pancake choices, including Sweet Potato Pancakes and Smoky Mountain Buckwheat Cakes.
Things To Do
- The Country Music Hall of Fame is located in the heart of downtown Nashville. Music fans can tour the exhibit, which includes some of the genre’s most famous recordings and artifacts.
- The Tennessee Titans host the Indianapolis Colts on Dec. 28. Granted, the Titans have been one of the worst teams in the NFL, you can still watch one of the league’s leading passer in Andrew Luck and the first place Colts.
- The Nashville Predators host the Philadelphia Flyers on Dec. 27 and Dec. 30. With the bowl game’s kickoff taking place in the afternoon., you can catch a sports doubleheader with a 7:30 start time at Bridgestone Arena.
- The Grand Ole Opry has two shows at the Ryman Auditorium on Dec. 26 and Dec. 27.
Bars
- Broadway: Tootsie’s World Famous Orchid Lounge, Honkytonk Central, The Stage, Tin Roof, Paradise Park and Acme Feed & Seed all feature live music within walking distance from LP Field.
- Midtown: There are several bars nearby the campuses of Vanderbilt, Lipscomb and Belmont. Rebar, Winners, Losers, Broadway Brewhouse and others are located in the midtown area, a short cab ride from the stadium.
Famous Citizens
- Just about every country singer: Yep. This goes without saying, but the majority (if not all) of country music’s biggest stars make their residence in Music City.
- Jack White: Less surprising, the former White Stripes frontman and music savant made his residence in Nashville several years ago and was named “Music City Ambassador” by Mayor Karl Dean in 2011.
- Miley Cyrus: Yeah…she’s from there too.
- Taylor Swift: Last, but certainly not least, is the lovely and talented Taylor Swift. Before becoming the reigning princess of pop music, Miss Swift made the move from Wyomissing, PA., to Hendersonville, the nearby suburban area of Nashville, to pursue a career in music.
Getting To The Stadium
LP Field is located in the heart of downtown with easy access from I-65/I-24. To park in LP Filed Lot A, take Exit 48 (James Robertson Parkway/State Capitol toward Interstate Drive and take a right on Russell Street. If you’re coming from Broadway, take the Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge from 2nd Ave.
A former freelance journalist from Nashville, Jason covers Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Kentucky
