There are certain rituals that shape every trip I take. I make a basic list, check the weather more times than necessary, and pack using the same toddler method that I always have. I look at restaurants before I arrive, even though I know I will probably change my plans the minute someone tells me about a little place that I absolutely have to try, or walk by a restaurant and the smell leads me to the door (like a cartoon character).
But one of my most important travel rituals begins long before I zip my suitcase.
I choose the hotel.
To me, a hotel is never simply a place to sleep. It is really important part of the destination. It sets the mood for the entire trip and often determines how I experience a city. The right hotel can make me feel energized, pampered, relaxed, adventurous, or connected to the place I have traveled so far to see.
My pre-booking ritual is to ask myself a simple question: What do I want this trip to feel like?
Do I want to step outside and immediately find myself in the middle of the action? Do I want music, people, and neon lights right outside my door? Or do I want a quieter place where I can come back after a busy day, kick off my shoes, and feel as though I have temporarily created a home in another city?
The answer changes from trip to trip. Sometimes it even changes within the same city.
Nashville was the perfect example.
I recently visited Nashville and stayed at two very different Cambria hotels in the same city, and although both reflected the personality of Nashville, each one created an entirely different experience. It reminded me that you can visit the same destination more than once and have two completely different vacations, simply by choosing a hotel that fits a different mood.
When I Want Nashville With Room to Breathe
At the Cambria Hotel Nashville Midtown, my stay felt calmer and more residential. The hotel still had Nashville personality, but it offered a little breathing room from the crowds and constant activity downtown.
It felt like a home base. It had the elegance I like in a boutique hotel, with the amenities I expect. The velvet headboard set against a contemporary-designed wall of blues and gold and the velvet chair screamed, sit and relax with your book for a while. It’s okay, you’re on vacation…you don’t HAVE to do everything. I could pop downstairs for my morning espresso and grab breakfast to go (or sit and enjoy it) at Church & State or go out and have a full breakfast a 10-minute walk away at the Midtown Cafe, or if I just wanted to relax in that comfy bed, there was a coffeemaker, mini-fridge and microwave (I’m not opposed to leftovers for breakfast), and free WiFi so I could let everyone know that I was having a great time.
From there, I could explore Music Row, head over to The Gulch, or spend time shopping and eating around 12 South. I could have a full day out in the city, then return to a hotel that gave me space to slow down and recharge. I had decided in advance that this trip was going to be half country and half of what I love to do most – eat, shop, and explore.
Don’t get me wrong, I love the major attractions, but I also enjoy wandering through neighborhoods, finding boutiques, and discovering restaurants that were not necessarily at the top of every “must-do” list. The Gulch gives me the opportunity to browse more polished, upscale shops, while 12 South feels casual, colorful, and easy to explore. Both areas encourage the kind of travel I love, where there is a loose plan but still enough room to follow whatever catches my attention.
And if you know me, you know that food is as big a part of the equation (sometimes it’s the absolute focus) when I travel. Am I craving something casual where I can settle into a booth and order a plate of Southern comfort food? Do I want an authentic local favorite with a little history behind it? Or do I want to dress up, order something special, and turn dinner into the main event of the evening?
There is no wrong answer. The ritual is simply taking a moment to decide what kind of experience I want.
Some days call for a historic Nashville restaurant such as Puckett’s, where the food, atmosphere, and music feel connected to the city’s roots. Other days call for a little bit of this and a little of that at the Assembly Food Hall. I might share an appetizer in one place, have a drink or another small bite somewhere else, and keep going until I have tasted my way through the hall or a neighborhood if I’m out shopping, because for me, food crawls and shopping tend to go hand in hand. I can hardly stroll through The Gulch or 12 South without coming back with something to wear, eat, or bring back for my grandson that I had absolutely no intention of buying.
That is part of the ritual, too.
When I Want to Be in the Middle of Everything
The Cambria Hotel Nashville Downtown gave me a completely different version of the city.
This was the Nashville that everyone talks about. It was bold, energetic, and close to the action, just a couple of blocks from Broadway where I could walk out of the hotel and almost immediately become part of downtown Nashville’s rhythm. Two blocks and I’m dancing to the next country star’s band and hopping from club to club, taking in what Nashville is all about…MUSIC.
The hotel itself helped set that mood. Its wood, leather, country music touches, old records, and artwork inspired by Nashville’s famous honky-tonks made it feel connected to the city. Even the guest rooms had personality, with industrial ceilings, leather details, splashes of gold, and music-inspired décor.
Then there was the live music.
Instead of having to fight my way through a packed bar just to hear someone sing, I could find music right inside the hotel. The stage and restaurant at the True Music Room offered a more relaxed way to enjoy Nashville’s performers. I could sit down, order something to eat, and actually listen. That can be its own kind of luxury in Music City.
When I wanted more energy, Broadway was waiting just outside. But even then, I had another decision to make. Did I want Broadway at night, when the sidewalks were crowded, the neon signs were glowing, and music seemed to be coming from every direction? Or did I want to stroll down Broadway during the day, when it was easier to look around, take in the buildings, and hear songs floating through the open windows of the honky-tonks?
The nighttime version is exciting. It is loud, lively, and unmistakably Nashville. The daytime version lets me experience Broadway at a different pace. I can stop, listen, peek inside, and notice details that might disappear once the nighttime crowds arrive.
Both are worth experiencing. The important thing is choosing the version that fits the way I want to feel that day.
That is what travel rituals do for me. They remind me that I don’t have to experience a destination in only one way.
The Highlights or the Hidden Corners?
Every trip also comes with the question of how much I want to follow the traditional sightseeing path or do some of my favorites (art, theater, shopping).
In Nashville, do I want to see the Country Music Hall of Fame and make the pilgrimage to the Grand Ole Opry? Absolutely. These places are iconic for a reason, and there is something special about standing inside the landmarks that helped shape country music.
But I am definitely not one to spend my vacation with a checklist just seeing the sites that everyone talks about. Sometimes I want to wander through a neighborhood, stop for coffee, browse a boutique, and discover a restaurant because I heard music coming through the door. Sometimes the most memorable moments happen when I am not rushing to the next attraction.
Choosing my hotel helps make those decisions easier.
A downtown hotel naturally pulls me toward Broadway, the Country Music Hall of Fame, live entertainment, and Nashville’s biggest attractions. A Midtown hotel encourages me to explore Music Row, The Gulch, 12 South, and the city’s restaurants and shops at a more leisurely pace.
Neither experience is better. They are just different. But, at the core, my hotel becomes the anchor for the trip I want to have.
A Hotel Should Match the Mood
I think we sometimes choose hotels based only on practical details. We look at the price, check the map, and make sure the reviews are good. Those things matter, but I have learned to go one step further.
I want to know how a hotel will make me feel. Will I be excited every time I walk through the lobby? Will the location encourage me to explore? Can I find a quiet corner when I need one? Is there a restaurant or bar where I would actually want to spend time? Does the room feel like a retreat at the end of the day?
Most importantly, does the hotel fit what I’m looking for out of my vacation?
That vacation you talk about for years to come is not always the one where you saw the most attractions or squeezed the greatest number of activities into each day. At least that’s been my experience. For me, it’s always been about creating days that feel right.
Wake up slowly or get out early. Grab a casual breakfast or linger over brunch. Visit the landmark everyone talks about or find the little shop no one told you about. Dress up for dinner or slide into a booth for some comfort food. Dive into the nighttime crowds or listen to the city from a quieter seat.
These small choices become rituals, and together, they shape the trip.
My Nashville stay reminded me that the same city can offer completely different experiences. At Cambria Nashville Midtown, I could settle into a calmer home base and explore the neighborhoods, restaurants, and shops beyond Broadway. At Cambria Nashville Downtown, I could feel the energy of Music City, walk to its biggest attractions, and listen to live music without ever leaving the hotel.
Same city. Same hotel brand. Two different moods.
That is why finding the right hotel is one of my most important travel rituals. I am not just choosing where I will sleep. I am choosing how I want to experience it all.
For more information, visit:
- Cambria Hotel Nashville Midtown – 1612 Church St., Nashville, TN
- Cambria Hotel Nashville Downtown – 118 8th Ave. S, Nashville, TN
