TripSpark’s Ignite 2024 Destination Guide to Nashville
TripSpark’s Ignite 2024 user conference takes place April 14th-18th at the Virgins Hotel Nashville in the fabulous Music City! Are you ready to experience Nashville, Tennessee?
Fast Facts
| Destination: | Nashville |
| Nicknames: | Music City, USA; NashVegas |
| Time Zone: | Central Daylight Time |
| Weather: | Mid-April average daytime high temperatures of 68-70F (20-21C) with late night and early morning low temperatures around 46-47F (about 8C). |
| What To Wear: | Spring will be in bloom, but the weather hasn’t fully warmed up, so bring a light jacket and longer pants for cooler mornings and nights. If you plan to explore the city, a good pair of walking shoes will help you navigate the hilly downtown area. |
| Local Transit Agency: | WeGo Public Transit |
1. Explore Nashville With Local Transit
The Nashville Metropolitan Transit Authority (Nashville MTA) (WeGo Public Transit as of 2018) serves Nashville and Davidson County. Back in May 2010, a major flood caused Nashville MTA to lose 39 buses and 39 paratransit vans, various support vehicles, as well as suffer severe damage to both the maintenance and administration offices and the Riverfront Music City Star (now known as the WeGo Star) train station. Service was interrupted for four days, with limited service offered over the following four weeks. Loaner buses and other vehicles from nearby transit agencies, such as Memphis, Cincinnati, and Clarksville, helped Nashville MTA restore regular transit services shortly afterwards.
WeGo Public Transit provides hourly service between downtown and the airport seven days a week. One-way fares between the airport and downtown are available for $2. All-day, unlimited-ride passes are available for $4.
2. Enjoy the Virgin Hotels Nashville
The Virgin Hotels Nashville is a sleek and modern boutique hotel located in downtown Nashville right in the heart of Music Row. The hotel is within walking distance to recording studios and music companies, restaurants, and shopping. It’s also easy to head over to Broadway for more entertainment options. Inside, you can’t miss the Virgin signature red carpet while enjoying three world-class restaurants, coffee shop, Pool Club, gym, and unique hotel features, such as Virgin’s Lucy app and carbon offset program.
3. Explore Music Row
Take a stroll around Music Row where many record labels, radio stations, and recording studios are located. RCA Studio B is considered the birthplace of the “Nashville Sound” and where many famous artists recorded, including Elvis Presley, Dolly Parton, and Waylon Jennings. Music Row also features beautiful 19th-century homes and mid-20th-century buildings, restaurants, live music venues, shops, and street art.
4. Taste Local Cuisine
No visit to the Music City is complete without sampling the local food scene that covers everything from traditional Southern dishes to international flavors with a Nashville twist. Food favorites include hot chicken, Meat and Three (meat and three sides), Southern BBQ, biscuits (with gravy or country ham), fried catfish, Nashville-style brunch, donuts, fruit tea, and Goo Goo Clusters (a Nashville treat made with nuts, caramel, nougat, and milk chocolate).
5. Sip on Spirits
Nashville has a long history of distilling spirits, with family recipes passed down through the generations. Building on this heritage and Tennessee pride in making the best whiskey, Nashville produces a wide variety of traditional and unique flavors of gin, whiskey, vodka, bourbon, sherry, cider, beer and moonshine. Follow the Tennessee Whiskey Trail or or visit one of the local craft distilleries during your stay.
6. Discover Nashville History
Along with an incredible music and food scene, Nashville is rich with history, offering many landmarks and attractions for visitors. Some of the most famous sights include the County Music Hall of Fame, Ryman Auditorium, Tennessee State Museum, Tennessee State Capitol, Belmont Mansion, Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage, Fort Negley, and the Nashville Parthenon. There’s so much to discover about Nashville history.
7. Check Out Local Events
Before or after Ignite, you can check out local events like the Tennessee Tulip Festival, East Nashville Beer Festival, Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival, the Nashville Comedy Festival, or an NHL Nashville Predators game. Don’t forget to keep your calendar free for the Ignite opening reception on Sunday, April 14th at the Pool Club, Virgin Hotels Nashville and Big Night Out at Acme Seed & Feed on Tuesday, April 16th.
See You In Nashville!
We’re weeks away from Ignite 2024 and we can’t wait to be your host in the Music City. Join us for an unforgettable user conference with your peers and industry leaders. Hurry before we sell out. Register now!