With all the fuss about 'authentic' experiences, it's easy to forget what the word really means. You'll be reminded at Wendell's, a beloved diner where the daily specials are xeroxed and the older folks all seem to know each other. The signature dish is the meat-and-three – pick your meat then three down-home sides (we suggest the turnip greens). Mmmm, good.
Wendell Smith's
Nashville
Contact
Address
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum
4.21 MILES
This monumental museum, reflecting the near-biblical importance of country music to Nashville's soul, is a must-see whether you're a country music fan or…
3.28 MILES
One of Music Row's most historic studios, this is where Elvis, the Everly Brothers and Dolly Parton all recorded numerous hits. The latter did a little…
Cheekwood Botanical Garden & Museum of Art
4.57 MILES
Cheekwood is a botanical garden with an arty inclination, just southwest of downtown Nashville. The numerous gardens combine themes (Japanese, water,…
10.66 MILES
A beautiful day trip or extended road trip from Nashville, the Natchez Trace Parkway runs for 444 miles through three states until reaching its eponymous…
-
National Museum of African American Music
4.11 MILES
The National Museum of African American Music tells the story of the impact that African American culture has had on music around the world, from gospel to…
9.69 MILES
This unassuming modern brick building seats 4400 for the Grand Ole Opry multiple times per week. Daytime backstage guided tours are offered every 15…
13.84 MILES
For a photogenic view of this graceful double-arch bridge, pull into the Birdsong Hollow overlook, about 4 miles south of the northern terminus of the…
-
4.57 MILES
This 6.5-acre park hugs the Cumberland River's eastern bank across from downtown. For kids, there's a climbing wall and an innovative washboard play area…
Nearby Nashville attractions
0.88 MILES
Artist Guido van Helten painted this 15-story lifelike image of longtime Nations resident Lee Estes, who has lived in this neighborhood since the late…
2.14 MILES
Built in 1897 to celebrate the state of Tennessee's centenary, Nashville's Parthenon is a full-scale replica of the Ancient Greece original, with a jaw…
2.23 MILES
An easy 1-mile trail loops around a lake in this lovely 132-acre park, with the Parthenon anchoring the western horizon. Vast lawns beg for picnics while…
2.62 MILES
Musicians like Muddy Waters, Etta James and Jimi Hendrix all played in clubs on Jefferson St, the heart of the city's Black community during segregation…
2.71 MILES
A colorful dragon sculpture lurks in the heart of this busy park, luring hordes of small children eager to scramble over its serpentine back. There's also…
2.72 MILES
This prestigious university was founded in 1833 by railway magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt. The 330-acre campus buzzes with about 12,000 students on lush and…
2.9 MILES
This bucolic park sits within a bend in the Cumberland River. Fifteen miles west of downtown, the 808-acre park has a tranquil beauty well suited to those…
8. Cohen Memorial Hall Gallery
2.97 MILES
Located on Vanderbilt's freshman Peabody College campus, the gallery showcases an array of rotating seasonal exhibitions.