9 things to know before moving to Nashville, from hot chicken to cold snaps

So you've decided to move to Nashville — Music City.

But how much do you really know about the place, other than what you've seen in travel documentaries or the occasional biopic of your favorite country music star?

The Tennessean reached out to readers and experts in the local housing industry to get their take on what people should know before moving to Nashville. Here's what they said:

Look beyond Lower Broadway

While many tourists are drawn to the bars, shows and restaurants on Nashville's famed Lower Broadway, the city has much more to offer by way of live music, watering holes and cultural attractions. Look into shows at Ryman Auditorium, the Tennessee Performing Arts Center or many other smaller venues, like the Bluebird Cafe. And, if you're looking for well-made cocktails, explore the vibrant bar scene in East Nashville. As one reader on Twitter noted: "Ask locals where the best live music is — it's probably not where you think."

In Nashville, traffic is a thing

Folks moving to Nashville from larger cities may be accustomed to worse traffic, but that does not mean this fast-growing metropolis does not have its own traffic woes. Our readers note that rush hour often starts in the early afternoon, particularly on the highways around the city center. And those who are not familiar with the city and its highways (plus its often confusing merge and exit lanes) may want to keep a driving map app handy. Unlike larger cities, such as New York and Chicago, there are no subways or light rail public transportation.

Know your Music City neighborhoods

Like a lot of cities, Nashville is comprised of smaller neighborhoods with their own characteristics and identities (and costs of living). They have names like Germantown, the Gulch, Capitol View, East Nashville, Green Hills, Sylvan Park and so on. Do your research.

"Spend a day or as much of one as you can in each part of town that you and your Realtor have identified as potentials," said Blake Stewart of Greater Nashville REALTORS. "Go in the grocery stores, coffee shops, toy stores and everything in between."

Some of the best parts of Nashville are outside the city center

There is an abundance of parks and hiking trails in and around Nashville that highlight the natural beauty of Tennessee. Arguably, the best are outside of the city and offer offer miles of well-marked hiking trails of varying difficulty — from very easy to solid, heavy hikes — through wooded parks filled with wildlife. Radnor Lake State Park, Centennial Park and Percy Warner Park are some nearby options. Alltrails.com has a good list of what's available around Nashville.

Snow and cold can shut down Nashville

Even rumors of a "snowmageddon," which may not be more than a few inches of snow, may send some local residents to stock up on bread, milk and other grocery essentials. That's because Nashville only gets an average of 4.2 inches of snow per year and isn't well-equipped to deal with heavy snowfall.

In the days before Christmas this year, a cold snap down to the single digits and a resulting increase in power consumption even forced the Tennessee Valley Authority to mandate rolling blackouts throughout the region for the first time in its 89-year history.

Nashville politics are mixed

Nashville, like many cities, is a fairly progressive enclave in an otherwise politically conservative state. That may or may not be a factor in a decision to move to this city. Liberals thinking of moving here should know the state's General Assembly is solidly in the control of Republicans. That, of course, may be a selling point for GOP voters.

Tennessee has a strict ban on abortion that allows for no exception for rape, incest or the life of the mother (though in that last case, doctors who are charged with performing the procedure may use that as a legal defense). Lawmakers are also considering bans on drag shows and gender-affirming medical care for minors.

Watch your waistline in this Southern city

Nashville may be known as Music City, but it's also a big-time food city. This city is home to some of the finest restaurants in the South. Whether your thing is fried chicken (Nashville is famous for the hot variety) or high-end restaurants, there is no shortage of good places.

Celebrity chef Sean Brock's restaurant, Audrey, and another of his Nashville restaurants, June, were included in Esquire magazine's 2022 list of Best New Restaurants in America. And there are plenty more great places opening all the time.

Potholes are a problem here

Any driver who's driven a season in Nashville knows to be aware of potholes. Music City has regularly ranked as one of the worst U.S. cities for potholes. The Tennessee Department of Transportation is bracing for another rough winter and has said it will be ready to address the problem.

The pothole situation received renewed media attention when Christian singer-songwriter Amy Grant was hospitalized after she struck a pothole while riding a bike near Harpeth Hills Golf Course. Drivers, and riders, beware.

Get involved and explore Nashville

These are just a few facts and suggestions about Nashville. But, as many readers pointed out, the best way to get to know Nashville is to get out and explore. Get to know your neighbors. Get involved in a local cause or political issue. Heck, take a trolley tour. Get to know your new city.

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This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: 9 things to know before moving to Nashville