When I decided to move to the South after growing up in the Midwest, I had a clear idea of what I thought I would find: Southern accents and grits. Once I crossed that Mason-Dixon line, however, I found out there was so much more to the southern states and Nashville in particular. Now, after 10 years living in Nashville, I have 10 things to share with anyone considering a move to a Nashville neighborhood. Overall, the biggest thing I’ve learned is that a city is more community than place, and I have found that community in my new home of Nashville over the last decade. 

Celebrities Are Just Neighbors, Too

Photo by Shutterstock

When I moved to the Nashville area, my kids were preschool-aged. The first celebrity chatter we heard was that Dolly Parton lived a few miles away from us in Brentwood. Once we got settled, I signed both kids up for Dolly’s Imagination Library. Every month until they were five, they each got a book from her organization, which has distributed over 102 million books to over a million kids. My son thought Dolly was sending the books directly to him from her house, since she was our neighbor. 

The Chicken is Hot

Photo courtesy of Prince’s Hot Chicken

I grew up eating fried chicken and mashed potatoes. While Nashville has both of these things, I have discovered the nexus of “hot chicken.” Hot chicken can range from Chick-fil-A spicy chicken biscuits to the “XXXHot” spice level at Prince’s Hot Chicken. I am still convinced some Southern accents are flavored by Nashville “hot” chicken. 

Snow Storms

Snow in the Midwest means everyone has snow tires and snow clothes, while Nashville snow can resemble powdered sugar and still shut the city down. On a Nashville “snow day,” seeking out the best neighborhood hill with friends is followed up with hot chocolate. The first time the roads shut down, I tried to keep things business as usual, but I discovered quickly that going with the snow flow was a better choice — and much more fun. 

Sweet As Tea  

Photo courtesy of OooH Wee Sweet Tea!

Before I moved to the South, I was used to tea being unsweetened with an inch of sugar in the bottom. When I discovered true Southern sweet tea, it was a beverage epiphany. While most restaurants and fast food options serve up sweet tea, Oooh Wee Sweet Tea! sums up my feelings of discovering the sweet nectar that is Southern sweet tea.

Not Just Country Music

Photo courtesy of Nissan Tennessee

While Nashville is known as the Music City with the Grand Ole Opry, that isn’t its only claim to fame. Healthcare giant HCA and Nissan have both made Nashville their home. Touring the Nissan plant gave me a great perspective on how their cars are made. A wide range of secondary education options include Vanderbilt and Belmont University. 

Good Things Come in Threes

Photo courtesy of Arnold’s Country Kitchen

The Midwest is famous for the meat and potatoes I grew up on. When I moved to Nashville, I discovered an entirely new way to enjoy meat and sides: the meat and three. One protein choice. Three veggies. Arnold’s Country Kitchen in The Gulch serves up the traditional meat and three to locals and tourists alike. City Cafe in Brentwood features live music alongside their cafeteria-style meat-and-three options. 


Rocking Chairs on Front Porches Are Still a Thing  

I had in my mind that Nashville was a small town lined with front porches, rocking chairs, and friendly waves. While Nashville is fast becoming a metropolitan city with flights to London beginning in May 2018, it has remained a town of rocking chairs on porches in my 10 years here. In fact, I have three rocking chairs on my own front porch right now. 

Retail Rocks

Photo courtesy of French’s Shoes and Boots

While you can buy cowboy boots in Nashville at places like French’s Shoes and Boots, Nashville has a wide variety of fashion outlets from local favorites Polka Dots and Happy Thoughts in Nolensville to Nordstrom in Green Hills. 

The Hills Are Alive With Neighbors 

One of my favorite parts of living in the Nashville area are the rolling hills, lakes, and state parks. The state park options offer up stunning scenery for weekday walks or weekend hikes. Take a guided tour or attend a photography workshop before refueling at a nearby restaurant. 

Nashville is Made For Kids

Photo courtesy of Adventure Science Center

There are great downtown options for adults in places like The Gulch. I’m still in kid-mode and have found great adventures at Nashville’s many family-friendly options like the Adventure Science Center and Discovery Center in the Murfreesboro suburb. The John P. Holt Brentwood Library in Brentwood is consistently ranked as one of the best libraries in the country for kids, and both of mine agree.