Summer is right around the corner! The smell of flowers is everywhere and the humidity is relentless (my hair and I have been at odds for weeks now), but my spirits are high as I have officially pulled out my summer wardrobe (hello shorts!). To embrace the beautiful weather, this Saturday Walker and I, along with my favorite roommate Paige Anderson (also my only roommate), visited Belmont University to explore the campus and attend their annual Belmont Block Party. The event lasted from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Belmont Boulevard and celebrated businesses such as Proper Bagel, Bongo Java, Local Honey, Topgolf, and King of Pops with giveaways. It was a blast and a half and although this particular event has already passed, I would highly recommend searching for similar events in the area. Calendar events like this are all over Facebook and Instagram, easy to find, and 100% worth the experience. Plus, who doesn’t love getting free stuff?
Now, for those of you who have yet to hit up Belmont University, let me tell you why you should. The campus is only a 13-minute walk or a 5-minute scooter ride away from Commons (totally doable) and is basically the picture-perfect college you thought you’d attend when you were eleven years old. Gone are the horrors of ugly construction projects like there is around every turn of Vandy. In fact, Belmont’s got everything. It’s got historic buildings and landscaping for days with perfectly manicured lawns (I love you, Alumni Lawn, I truly do, but you’ve got nothing on Belmont), flowers everywhere, and fountains galore. Belmont has so many fountains that I think they could legitimately solve California’s water shortage if they just donated them all.
My favorite part of the university, however, is the gazebos that sit on the lawn in front of the Belmont Mansion. A portion of the architecture on the campus has been there since the 1860s, back when the campus was still the Acklen estate, and the gazebos show some of the beautiful designs that are still in great shape today. We went to go take photos in the gazebos, but we had to wait a while for a couple of prom groups to go through their photos. While waiting, I was inspired and Paige and I ended up taking some prom-style photos ourselves. Walker, on the other hand, blew us away with a few poses of his own (see the photos down below).
For dinner, we stayed in the area to try a restaurant called Blvd Nashville, and it was so unbelievably good. With prices that match Hopdoddy’s, Blvd Nashville has a broader menu, while still killing the classic burger and truffle fries. The patio we were on was so pretty and I honestly could have stayed there for hours. After we left the restaurant, we headed across the street to House Of, which is a student-run boutique that sells designs from local designers and brands. The store has really good prices for being in Nashville, and I ended up leaving with some new laptop stickers. Right next door is Boulevard Record Shop which is as hipster and cool as you’d expect from a record store next to Belmont; all the indie records you don’t know but feel like you should. Belmont Boulevard is a place that I have entirely overlooked since coming to Nashville, but I have a feeling it’ll become a place that I visit often.
Whether you need a place to study or are just looking for a fun afternoon activity, the Belmont area is definitely worth a visit. And if for no other reason, check it out to see the beautiful place where your tuition dollars could have been going instead. Anchor Down!
(This post is in no way reflective of my views of the Belmont campus versus Vanderbilt’s. I anchor down for life and hope you do too)