My Hometown: Welcome to Nashville, With Kaitlyn Bristowe
My Hometown: Welcome to Nashville, With Kaitlyn Bristowe
By Esme Benjamin
In FTT’s series My Hometown, notable travelers divulge local places they couldn’t live without.
This month, Kaitlyn Bristowe, former star of ABC’s The Bachelorette and host of the network’s upcoming season, shares her go-tos for Nashville, where she resides with her fiancé, fellow Bachelor Nation alum Jason Tartick, and their two golden retrievers Ramen and Pinot.
When she’s not busy with hosting duties, Kaitlyn works on growing her two businesses: Dew Edit, a hair accessories line which just celebrated its third anniversary, and Spade and Sparrows, a wine label available online or in Walmart stores across California. And, of course, she makes time to enjoy life in Nashville. From country music venues to romantic vineyards, this is insider intel you’ll want to bookmark for your next trip to Tennessee.
My hometown is special because it’s a unique big city with a small-town feel.
The best place to stay / coolest neighborhood in my hometown is The Gulch. It’s a former industrial area that’s full of hip restaurants and boutiques.
When you're in my hometown, you absolutely need to get a glass of wine at Geist, a stylish bar and restaurant housed inside a renovated historic blacksmith shop. Or, if you're looking for beautiful views of Nashville, head to the Bourbon Sky lounge on the rooftop of the JW Marriott.
When friends visit my hometown I always take them to O-ku, a sushi spot critics love, or Topgolf, where you can hit microchipped golf balls at giant targets while drinking.
If you are looking for something a bit more adventurous, check out Radnor Lake State Park — a pretty place to hike that’s only nine miles south of downtown Nashville. Another plus: Dogs are allowed on the paved path!
Without question, the most romantic date spot in my hometown is Arrington Vineyards. You can do wine tastings, have a picnic and listen to live music on the weekends (the vineyard is co-owned by country music artist Kix Brooks).
I spend far too much money at The Optimist, the city’s best seafood restaurant. Definitely order the lobster roll.
When you're in need of some "me time" head straight to a high-intensity bootcamp class at TruMav Fitness.
My secret obsession is getting anti-aging treatments at Indie RX.
Something only locals know about my hometown is that you never know who will show up at the live music venues.
Don't end a trip to my hometown without checking out the Grand Ole Opry — a country music institution. Once you can see live shows in-person again, I would highly recommend it. They also do backstage tours.
FTT's Nashville Recommendations
Stay at The Joseph Nashville – a recently opened, refined hotel with an emphasis on art and dining.
Eat at Pelican & Pig – a lauded husband-and-wife run restaurant in trendy East Nashville, with a menu oriented around its huge wood-burning hearth.
Visit Pinewood Social – a mishmash of a venue encompassing a patio complete with plunge pools, a chrome airstream cafe and a retro six-lane bowling alley.
