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Nashville, Tennessee
The root: Music City — where a songwriter with a guitar and three chords can still become an American story.
Eat: Hattie B's Hot Chicken — Nashville's fiery signature. Loveless Cafe — country ham, biscuits, and pie since 1951. The Bluebird Cafe — where the songwriters play their own songs.
Skip — don't: The Broadway honky-tonk "hot chicken" knockoffs aimed at bachelorette parties — the real heat is at the originals.
Specialty: Hot chicken and the three-chord song — Music City runs on both.
Shops & crafts: Ernest Tubb Record Shop — country vinyl since 1947. Hatch Show Print — the legendary poster shop, still hand-printing. Grimey's — indie records and local music.
See: Bluebird Cafe listening room — songwriters in the round, quiet and spellbinding. Broadway honky-tonks — live music spilling from every door. Grand Ole Opry — the church of country music.
Main Street: Lower Broadway — neon, boots, and a band in every window, the loudest block in Tennessee.
After dark: The Bluebird's late show, or a songwriter round at a listening room — then honky-tonks till late.
When — events
CMA Fest — country music's big week, early June.
Event dates are the typical annual timing; confirm with the town before traveling.