Parnassus Books

This is an independent bookstore co-owned by best-selling author Ann Patchett and publishing veteran Karen Hayes. They opened this shop in 2011 when all the independent bookstores disappeared. I liked that they had Nashville author and history sections.

Classic Music Venues

Musicians flock to Nashville to secure contracts, find inspiration, and share their talent.

• Bluebird Café: This iconic spot is known for giving up-and-coming artists the stage.
• Station Inn: Known as THE venue for bluegrass music.
• Grand Ole Opry House: Grand Ole Opry started as a radio show and moved to this venue from the Ryman Auditorium when they wanted a bigger space. Music’s big names grace the stage here. You can take a tour of the venue and/or buy tickets for a show.
• Ryman Auditorium: This historic venue is the original home of the Grand Ole Opry and where many music legends have performed. You can tour the venue and see a show here. For all you lovebirds, this is where Johnny met June.
  

12South Neighborhood

This neighborhood is a great option for walking around to shops and restaurants.

• Craft South: Love yarn crafts? This colorful shop will be heaven for you!
• White’s Mercantile: A great little shop for home goods, from Nashville poster prints and kitchen goods to candles and blankets.

Craft South

White’s Mercantile

Street Art

From music to paintings, Nashville is an artistic city. You’ll spot some photo-worthy street art around town. You’ll find many in 12 South, including a blue and white striped wall at Draper James.

Museums

Nashville’s well-known museums are focused on art. Learn about the history of country music or see traveling exhibits.

• Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum: If you love country music, this museum is where you should go. It collects and preserves country music history.
• Hatch Show Print: Legendary print shop connected to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
• Historic RCA Studio B: This recording studio has been the place for many music greats, including Elvis. It is also connected to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
• The Frist Center for the Visual Arts: This small art museum hosts non-permanent exhibits. When I visited we saw an exhibit about Samurais (historic artifacts), a very cool video exhibit by Ragnar Kjartansson called “The Visitors,” and art by Harmony Korine.

Historic Sites

• Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art: This place was originally a home in 1929 and is now a 55-acre botanical garden and museum.
• Parthenon at Centennial Park: A full-scale replica of the Parthenon in Athens? Yes. And don’t forget the 42-foot replica of Athena. It was built for the 1897 Centennial Exposition. If the Parthenon isn’t quite your thing, Centennial Park is a great place for a walk!
• Belle Meade Plantation: This plantation holds 34 acres (once 5,400 acres!) and its mansion and original homestead. Visit if you want to learn about Tennessee history and architecture
• The Hermitage: Andrew Jackson’s home is now a historical plantation and museum
• Tennessee State Capitol: High on a hill, you’ll find the State Capitol building.

Fatherland District

Another area for shops and restaurants is the Fatherland District. I found some of my favorite gift shops here.

• Her Bookshop: I loved this book shop because the books here are finely curated.
• Project 615: This local t-shirt shop had some cool and fun designs on the softest shirts.
• Gift Horse: This gift shop features lots of printed art (posters and cards), comic books, and gifts.

Her Bookshop

Gift Horse

Craft Breweries

It’s no secret one of my favorite activities is visiting craft breweries, and Nashville has plenty for your to-do list.

• Yazoo Brewing Company
• Jackalope Brewing Company
• Check out Eater Nashville’s guide to brewery taprooms.

Sports

For all the sports fans, Nashville has two strong options.

• NFL: Tennessee Titans
• NHL: Nashville Predators

This list should keep you busy in Nashville for a couple of days! Have recommendations? Add it in the comments below!

Keep up with me elsewhere! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Bloglovin’, or Snapchat (@wanderlustanita). You can also subscribe to the exclusive email list.

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Visiting San Antonio is a fun idea for a weekend getaway! There’s more than meets the eye, and I’m not only talking about the top-notch selection of restaurants. While this list includes some of your typical San Antonio sights that you can see once to cross off your list (or maybe want to avoid altogether), there are some fresh options for an adventurous weekend.

Here are my recommendations for the best things to do in San Antonio.

Cathedral of San Fernando

The Cathedral of San Fernando is one of the oldest active cathedrals in the United States. The historic building was built between 1738 and 1750 and restored in 2003. It’s a beautiful building and you can attend services there. At night, you can enjoy the free, 24-minute, video art exhibit “The Saga” at 9, 9:30, and 10 p.m. Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. This beautiful video features the story of San Antonio and includes brilliant designs and music.

McNay Art Museum

The McNay Art Museum is perfect for anyone wanting to see art but doesn’t want to be overwhelmed by it. You can easily see the whole museum in about an hour. They have noteworthy pieces by Monet, Picasso, Rodin, and others. The collection’s mix of age and theme makes the museum interesting. In the summer, the museum has free admission, though their temporary exhibit requires a ticket. From paintings to sculptures, I thoroughly enjoyed this sight!

Pearl Brewery

This newer part of town is fantastic and we spent a lot of time there. You’ll find excellent restaurants and fun shops. These shops will have gifts and souvenirs: Adelante Boutique and Rancho Diaz. Some of the restaurants are in the old buildings, which are cool to see. It’s not far from the center of downtown and the River Walk also reaches this point, though it’s best if you took a water taxi instead of walking. Stay tuned for my food post to see the restaurants you can enjoy!

Farmers Market at Pearl Brewery

On the weekend, Pearl Brewery is bustling with the Farmers Market. You’ll find the usual farmers market features – local vendors and food stands – and live music. It’s always interesting to walk around and see what products a city has to offer. Visit Saturdays from 9am-1pm and Sundays from 10am-2pm.

F.I.S.H. by Donald Lipski

After the sun sets, this art installation under a bridge lights up with 25 seven-foot fiberglass fish. It’s a pretty and unusual thing to see.

San Antonio Murals

Around every corner is art and murals are some of my favorites. (Remember HOPE Outdoor Gallery in Austin or Clarion Alley in San Francisco?) Plan a tour of popular murals or keep your eyes open for what you might run into. The mural below was next to our hotel at Richmond and St. Mary’s Street and tagged with Gravelmouth Gallery, Nik Soupè, and Christopher Montoya. Instagram is a good source to find murals also.

The Classic San Antonio

These are some places that are known as the “to-see” of San Antonio because of the significance of the landmark and their value to the city. While these can be marked the most touristy of activities, some you need to see at least once!

The San Antonio River Walk

The walkways of the River Walk are one story down from the street and expand five miles around downtown, following the San Antonio River. Restaurants, hotels, shops, and bars line the walkways. Riverboat tours and river taxis help you explore the River Walk by boat. Familiar restaurants, like Hard Rock Café, are available for meals and drinks, especially if you want outside seating for people watching. Walking the main loop would take about 20-30 minutes. It’s a very crowded walkway and lines for the boat tour can be up to two hours.

Historic Market Square

If you’re looking for souvenirs, this is your place. You’ll find colorful Mexican blankets, toys, dishware, and other trinkets. You’ll also find street food vendors. The main building is air-conditioned and the street leading up to it is lined with shops.

The Alamo

If you grew up in Texas, you would have heard the story of The Alamo over and over. This historic site was where the Battle of the Alamo in the Texas Revolution was fought in 1836. It was a loss for Texas but inspired many to join in the fight which led to independence. It’s free to explore and a humbling place to visit. The must-see for history enthusiasts!

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

In this park, you can visit four special areas and main buildings to learn about Spanish and Native American life: Mission Concepción, Mission San Juan, Mission Espada, and Mission San José. We visited the largest mission – Mission San José – and it was interesting to learn the history and view the reconstructed mission. The park is free to visit.

Artistic San Antonio

In addition to the McNay Art Museum, here are some artistic places you can check out.

Majestic Theater
As the city’s oldest theatre, the Majestic is located downtown and was built in 1929. It is now a National Historic Landmark. You can see Broadway, comedy, and a variety of shows here. It’s so gorgeous inside!

The Tobin Center
This performing arts center is a sight to see on the outside and brings many wonderful shows inside. You’ll see musical performances, comedy, and musicals here.

San Antonio Museum of Art
This art museum has expansive collections and temporary exhibits. Free admission on Tuesday 4-9 pm and Sunday 10 am-12 pm, otherwise, it is $10 for adults, $5 for students, and $7 for seniors.

Family Fun San Antonio

If you’re looking for family-friendly activities, here are some suggestions.

The DoSeum
This museum looks like a lot of fun! This children’s museum opened in 2015 and features many hands-on, interactive exhibits. Admission is $12 and kids under one year are free.

Six Flags Fiesta Texas
For families with younger and older kids, this amusement park will give you all the thrills. There’s a section of the park for younger kids and an adjoining section of the park includes water rides. Prices are $52-58 per person.

Natural Bridge Caverns
Stalagmites, stalactites, and flowstones, oh my! This astounding underground cavern with rock formations is a sight to see. They have a variety of tours with costs from $20-35 per ticket.

Did I miss any of your favorite San Antonio sights? Comment below!

Looking for the best restaurants in San Antonio? Check out this post.

If you’re planning a bachelorette party in San Antonio, see this post for a recap of mine.

You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Bloglovin’. You can also subscribe to the exclusive email list.

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Charleston, South Carolina is a fun city for a long weekend! It’s a city filled with history and great eats. I’m excited to tell you all about my trip and give you some recommendations about things to do in Charleston for your future trip. Take a look at my top five suggestions.

St. Michael’s Church

1. Walk the city. (Take a historical walking tour by Bulldog Tours.)

Downtown Charleston is very walkable, especially if the weather is perfect. There is much to see and walking around will help you take it all in. Around every corner is something that will catch your eye. You’ll see colorful buildings, interesting businesses, historic plaques and more. While we did do a lot of walking by ourselves (a lot of walking from restaurant to restaurant!), we also enjoyed a historic downtown walking tour by Bulldog Tours. The guide was very knowledgeable about the city’s history and showed us his favorite spots. Charleston also has downtown carriage tours like Old South Carriage Tours and nighttime ghost tours. Charleston Footprints is another recommended walking tour. If you’d like to make your own tour, here are some places to check out:

• Battery Park / White Point Gardens: This waterfront area gives you great views of the water, waterfront mansions and historic sites like Fort Sumter and Castle Pickney.
• Rainbow Row: On East Bay Street, you’ll find the well-known, pastel row of houses. You can’t miss them. Just look for the tourists taking pictures across the street!
• St. Michael’s Episcopal Church: Oldest surviving religious structure in Charleston, it’s one of the most well-known and visited churches in the city.
• Four Corners of Law: You should stop by the intersection of Broad and Meeting streets to observe this unique sight. On the four corners you’ll see St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, Charleston City Hall, Charleston County Courthouse, and the United States Post Office and Federal Courthouse. These buildings represent the law institutions of federal, state, local and religion.
• King Street: This is a long street filled with antique shops, bookstores, restaurants, and gift shops. Part of the street includes many chain restaurants and stores.

Rainbow Row

Palmettos near Battery Park

2. Visit a Plantation. (Visit Middleton Place.)

Charleston’s economy was built on plantations and many were made into historic sites. Many have been restored or enhanced so that they are a beautiful sight to see. Some may have historic homes on the land to show you how people lived. We visited Middleton Place, which is 30 minutes outside of downtown Charleston. The gardens are immaculate at Middleton Place and we saw many varieties of colorful flowers. We toured the Middleton House with an official guide and did a self-guided walking tour around the plantation where we saw the stables and what used to be rice fields. If you’d like to visit a plantation, I’ve read that Magnolia Plantation is also a favorite.

3. Visit Angel Oak Tree.

About 30 minutes outside of downtown Charleston stands the majestic 400-500 year old Angel Oak Tree. This tree is enormous! It’s 65 feet tall, its longest branch is 187 feet, and its circumference is 28 feet. On a Monday, the tree only had a few visitors and everyone walked around quietly admiring it.

4. Visit Fort Sumter.

On the Charleston bay, you’ll take a 30 minute ferry ride out to Fort Sumter. The ferry ride was a fun part of this experience because we were able to see the Charleston skyline, a great view of the Ravenel Bridge and sailboats. At Fort Sumter, you’ll see, hear and learn about what the fort endured during the Civil War. Plaques around the fort tell you its story and guides are available to give you more information. A small museum exhibit on top of Battery Huger, a structure built inside the fort in 1898, gives you a timeline of the fort’s history.

5. Visit a beach.

One thing we didn’t do (because of time and distance), was visit one of Charleston’s beaches. I’m sure this is a must-do when the weather is warmer! In my research, I saw that Folly Beach was a favorite spot, but you also have the options of Sullivan’s Island, Kiawah Island, Isle of Palms, and Seabrook Island.

Blue Bicycle Books

If you have time, or have particular interest, here are some other activities you may enjoy in Charleston.

• Charleston Museum: We got multiple recommendations from people in Charleston to visit this history museum.
• Mac & Murphy: This cute stationary store has a good selection of cards, notebooks, and other trinkets.
• Blue Bicycle Books: This new and used books store is on King Street. I liked their section with books about Charleston. A great Charleston souvenir would be a cookbook by one of Charleston’s chefs. Try: Heritage by Sean Brock, Callie’s Biscuits and Southern Traditions by Carrie Morey, or The Lee Bros. Charleston Kitchen by Matt and Ted Lee.
• Lulu Burgess: Located on King Street, this gift shop has unique Charleston gifts along with fun knick-knacks.
• Charleston City Market: We visited this market expecting something like San Francisco’s Ferry Building but it turned out to be a market filled with souvenirs. A quick walk-through took about 10 minutes.
• South Carolina Aquarium: Another recommended spot, the aquarium is along the waterfront and by Fort Sumter’s ferry.
• Candlefish: We didn’t make it here but Candlefish is a popular candle and gift shop.

Mac & Murphy

So there you have it. If I missed a sight or attraction you loved, be sure to leave me a comment below!

We were given complimentary passes to Middleton Place, Fort Sumter and the Bulldog Tour by the Charleston Visitors and Convention Bureau. Reviews were not required and my recommendation is my own opinion. I thought the three experiences enhanced our trip greatly!

Stay tuned for my recommendations for restaurants and a travel guide to help you plan your trip!

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I went to San Francisco at the beginning of this month to attend the Re:Make Conference and to explore the wonderful city. I can’t say enough good things about San Francisco. The city has plenty to do, eat and see. Here are many suggestions for how you can spend your time in San Francisco.

Vantigo Van Tour
I was so excited when I found this San Francisco tour. Vantigo‘s City Tour is a comprehensive three-hour tour around the city in a cute VW van. Erik, the owner, was the tour guide on my tour and he was full of San Francisco knowledge and witty jokes. This tour would be perfect at the beginning of a trip to decide to which sights you want to go back and spend more time. We did many quick drive-bys and we ended up stopping at Sutro Baths, Palace of Fine Arts, Coit Tower, Alamo Square and the Golden Gate Bridge. Vantigo also has brewery, Sonoma and night tours.

Ferry Building Marketplace
The Ferry Building Marketplace is by the Embaradero and a great place to enjoy a progressive lunch and walk around the shops. A few celebrated restaurants have locations here, including Hog Island Oyster Co., Humphry Slocombe and Cowgirl Creamery. One of my favorite gift shops is called Gardener and has food-related gifts.

Pier 39 and Fisherman’s Wharf
Sea lions! Head over to Pier 39 and you’ll see the big crowds. The sea lions are highly entertaining as they sleepily moan at each other. Fisherman’s Wharf is filled with restaurants, shops and tourists. Ghiradelli Square is here and you’ll be able to get some of the famous chocolate. (If you want to buy the chocolate at a lower price, buy it at grocery stores and pharmacies around the city.)

Chinatown
One of the most popular Chinatowns in the country, San Francisco’s Chinatown is filled with Chinese chatter, typical gift shops, and an abundance of restaurants. Look up to see the lanterns!

Alcatraz
Alcatraz is filled with history. The audio tour comes with the ticket and it’s eerie to walk along the cells, hearing the stories of how some of the most notorious inmates of the time lived. Tickets cost around $32  and you’ll need to book at least a few weeks ahead. The ferry trip and exploring the island will take about two or three hours, depending on how much you want to walk around. The scenic views of San Francisco on the ferry and on the island are great!

Golden Gate Bridge
Ah, yes, THE Golden Gate Bridge. You’re likely to see it from multiple points in the city. If you want to experience the bridge up close and personal, walk or ride across the bridge.

Lyon Street Stairs and Filbert Stairs
The Lyon Street stairs and Filbert Stairs will give you some of the best views in San Francisco.

Tiled Steps / 16th Avenue Steps
The tiled steps are a colorful part of San Francisco. You’ll see a long view of the city at the top.

The Painted Ladies
The famous row of “Full House” houses still look as good as back when the show was on (and cost a pretty penny). The houses are next to Alamo Square, where you can hang out and relax.

Clarion Alley
One of my favorite things in San Francisco is Clarion Alley, where graffiti artists have created stunning art along the walls. Many are political art pieces and murals change from time to time. It made me think of Austin’s HOPE Outdoor Gallery but on a smaller scale with less random graffiti tagging.

Coit Tower
This landmark was named for Lillie HItchcock Coit. The area is good for the views of San Francisco and you can also go up the tower for a fee to get better views.

Lombard Street
Lombard Street is most known for being very curvy, though the curviest street is actually Vermont Street.

City Lights Booksellers
Established in 1953, this famed bookstore was the literary gathering place for beatniks. Now, this three-story independent bookstore is a historic place to explore and pick up a new read.

Palace of Fine Arts
This monumental structure was constructed for the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition. It has since been in several movies, including Star Wars.

The View
Similar to Chicago’s high-rise observatories, The View is a free lounge at the top of the Downtown Marriott. Not as impressive as Chicago’s views but the lounge is less busy and still an interesting view.

Cliff House and Sutro Baths
Once a privately owned pool, Sutro Baths and the nearby Cliff House are now historic ruins.

Best Outdoor Spots to Explore
Want to spend time outdoors? San Francisco has plenty of outdoor park spaces that are perfect for having a picnic, doing some people watching and enjoying the wonderful weather. Here are my favorites:

• Dolores Park
• Golden Gate Park
• Marina Green
• Crissy Field

Dolores Park

Crissy Field

Museums
San Francisco has many fantastic museums. These are my top four choices.

• California Academy of Sciences – Natural history museum with an aquarium, planetarium and four-story rainforest! Go see over 40,000 live animals.
• De Young Museum – Fine arts museum
• Exploratorium – a hands-on science museum
• Legion of Honor – art museum with over 4,000 years of ancient art. You can also see Rodin’s Thinker sculpture here.

California Academy of Science

What are your favorite things to do in San Francisco?

Want more information about San Francisco? Check out my San Francisco Travel Guide and my Favorite San Francisco Restaurants.

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