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Our Favorite Ways to Spend Summer in Nashville

  • Jul 21
  • 3 min read

Summer in Nashville has a unique rhythm, featuring relaxed mornings, cool beverages, and a handful of favorite spots we frequent, whether we're unwinding or on the hunt for the perfect piece for a project. This season, these are our must-visit places. I'll share my favorite spots in West Nashville, while Ella will provide her insights from her first year in the city and her perspective from Music Row.

Photo source: Aba Restaurants


Dinner: Aba

Ella and I both consider ourselves foodies, but she may get out just a bit more than I do. Summer evenings call for a great dinner spot, and Aba is a great place to eat with friends. The ambiance is great, one of my top criteria in a restaurant. It also has lots of small dishes, which are perfect for sharing.


Photo source: Little Rey Nashville


Dinner: Little Rey

For a more casual summer evening, Little Rey never disappoints. Grab a few tacos, share some queso, and don’t skip the frozen margarita. The colorful patio and laid-back vibe make it one of my favorite places to unwind on a warm Nashville evening.


Little Rad Market is one of my go-to lunch spots, especially during the summer. The kale chicken Caesar wrap is a favorite ... fresh, flavorful, and always hits the spot. It’s become an office favorite for our team, and it’s the perfect grab-and-go lunch when you want something light but satisfying. Don't skip on their take-and-bake cookie dough from the freezer. Thank me later.


Photo source: Instagram @yinashville


You're Invited in Belle Meade is my top choice for invitations, stationery, and the small paper details that add a thoughtful touch to any event. The store, owned by the very friendly Anna, offers everything from personalized cups and napkins to graduation and wedding gifts, and it's conveniently located nearby. This

is where I designed my son's first birthday invitations and even where we have our business cards made.



Gifts & Styling Accessories: Dogwood Proper (of course)

In the South, gift-giving is simply in our DNA. It has always been a dream of mine to create a destination for beautiful gifts and thoughtful living. The first floor of our interior design studio Dogwood Proper is home to a curated décor shop, filled with pieces hand-selected by our team to reflect the style, spirit, and gracious lifestyle of the modern South.


While we are still in the neighborhood, if you haven't been, the Shops at Belle Meade is a must. Jenny greets you at the door with a huge smile and a great dress! The "mall," as everyone calls it, is deceptively large once you're inside, room after room of different vendors under one roof.


One of our favorites is The KS Collection. Kristin has such a discerning eye, and we go back again and again for unique pieces, both for our projects and for that final layer of styling that pulls a room together. It's an easy way to spend an afternoon and come home with something you won't find anywhere else.


Photo source: CSDG.com

A Night Out: Ascend Amphitheater

You cannot visit Nashville and miss live music. If it's not too hot, for a concert, Ascend Amphitheater is one of my favorite places in the city. It's outdoors right on the river so you can catch a breeze. They have lawn seating available, and if you're like me and need an actual seat, they have that too. Grab dinner or a drink beforehand, take a walk down Broadway, and make a full night of it.



Beating the Heat: Floating the Harpeth

We love floating the Harpeth River. Foggy Bottom is our favorite rental spot for kayaks and canoes, it's easy, laid back, and exactly what a Nashville summer afternoon should feel like. Bonus, you can take snacks, beverages and the puppy too. It gets Piper's vote!



Enjoy Nashville in the summer, it's truly one of the best places to live and visit.



 
 
 

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