Lose your wallet for this cashless 10,000-step tour of Nashville

In a world seemingly gone mad with endless to-do lists, information overload and countless demands that dominate our hearts and minds, how can we harness the power of technology to create fluid lives as opposed to overly complex ones with a million fragmented parts? While technology certainly sets the foundation for efficiency, as humans we still have to figure out how to connect the in-real-life dots leveraging innovative tech to do so.

When Anne Neff, senior designer at Visa asked if I wanted to put my “fluid life theory” to the test using Fitbit’s new Visa payment-enabled smartwatch, the Fitbit Ionic, in my hometown of Nashville, Tennessee, I jumped. After all, what could be more satisfying than figuring out how to successfully streamline my daily routine—like paying for things with just a tap of my wrist—infused with enjoyable moments?

After scouting out a handful of Nashville’s favorite shops and eateries, whose payment systems would enable us to quickly tap to pay with our smartwatches and say “peace out” to our purses, Anne and I hit Music City with our Ionics and plenty of sunscreen. Here’s our 10,000 step cashless walking tour of the city to showcase that an active lifestyle doesn’t just include hours at the gym, striking warrior pose in a studio or downing a protein shake during a morning commute. It can be so…much…more.

Centennial Park

Known as one of the premier parks in Nashville, West End’s 132-acre Centennial Park boasts a rich history that includes being the site of the Tennessee Centennial Exposition in 1897, as well as a public fairgrounds and a racetrack following the Civil War. For locals, it is often considered the “front lawn” of the city, as a sprawling green space offers a home for the iconic Parthenon museum. Host to many a music, art, and food festival, while also offering a one-mile walking trail and a beautiful lake, the park has plenty of charming attributes nearly any time of day.

Donned in my barre3 gear (locally owned), I did some light stretching and a few heart-pumping stair steps to get that morning glow going. All the while soaking up the beauty of the park as Anne and I kicked off the walking tour.

Juice Bar

What could possibly be better than a fresh juice after that cup of joe wears off? Besides a blast of air conditioning on a hot Southern day, not much. Mile two had us in the heart of darling Hillsboro Village on the outskirts of both Belmont University and Vanderbilt University, soaking up the mid-morning energy of students and business professionals alike.

We made our way into Juice Bar to cool off and purchase fluids fluidly using my Ionic. Our yummy picks: a Green Smoothie, We Got The Beet (juice) and the Dragon Fruit Bowl. Needless to say, we were feeling refreshed, energized and healthy as our Ionic showed we had crept our way to 3,000 steps.

Biscuit Love 

Ok, so standard disclaimer: Biscuits are not normally part of the routine. But when in Rome, this delicious Southern treat tends to magically show up in the weekly scheme of things. Also, in our defense, Biscuit Love shared a wall with Juice Bar, so we figured it was a sign from the Fitbit gods, and we were feeling the love all the way around.

After tapping to pay, we opted for a to-go bag so we could continue on our course. We may or may not have stopped after a few blocks to catch our breath and reward ourselves with a crumbly, buttery, breakfast (or anytime of day really) treat.

Dozen Bakery

Baker and Music City native Claire Meneely started Dozen Bakery as a holiday cookie pop-up business in 2009 that was intended to be open for three months. Her skills, which were honed in the San Francisco Bay Area and Paris, were more than enough to catapult her business into the still popular and thriving bakery and cafe it is today.

Although the Wedgewood-Houston area was a bit off-the-beaten walking path, we were determined to test out our Ionic to buy lunch at one of the city’s favorite spots. Between the braised chicken tartine with couscous, the sliced apples baguette with a side of broccoli and carrots and an array of freshly baked desserts, Anne and I were in fluid lifestyle heaven.

Who says you can’t have your cake and eat it too?

Carter’s Vintage Guitars

Conveniently located on our journey toward downtown, Carter Vintage Guitars was the perfect pit stop as our Ionic showed we had clocked roughly 6,000 steps. Priding itself as “Nashville’s friendliest guitar store” (truth!), Anne poked around as I grabbed some instruments from their collection of more than 1,500 and tested out the goods.

Consensus? Whether you’re an aspiring musician, professional banjo player or just a visitor checking out the city’s “best of,” Carter’s should be on your list.

Riverfront Park 

To clock a few extra steps before we made our way to the famous Broadway strip, known for honky tonks, pedal taverns and boot shops, I suggested a walk along the river to see another view of the city. If you’re the outdoor exercise type, this is a great way to soak in Nashville while soaking up lawn art and unique architecture.

The destination of choice: Riverfront Park. While Anne scoped out the sites, I decided to turn one of the statues into a workout zone and test Ionic’s heart-rate tracker, which measures calorie burn for extra motivation to move and shake.

Big Time Boots

Do you think we could really traipse nearly five miles without trying on some boots in the city that basically popularized them among women ages 23 to 45? Absolutely not.

After all, there’s no better way to avert the blazing sun than to dip into Big Time Boots on Broadway to hydrate and play cowgirl dress up. From snakeskin to fringed, Anne and I got our fill and had our own “big time” snapping photos and boot-scootn’-boogying our way to all three (yes three!) floors of western wear. If you think the 10-gallon hat isn’t a real thing, just visit this shop.

Two Old Hippies

As we neared the end of the walking tour, and before buying a healthy afternoon snack, we swung by Music City’s iconic retail store and live music venue Two Old Hippies. As the name implies, the store was started with ‘60s movement fans Tom and Molly, aka, two old hippies.

Their love of music inspired a premium acoustic instrument collection, while the boutique is widely known for its eclectic mix of hip apparel for men and women, unique jewelry and witty gifts—all of which I could shop fluidly using my Visa-enabled Fitbit Ionic smartwatch.

We perused our way through the store, enjoying the “One World, All Love” vibe, trying on everything from feathered caps to acoustic guitars.

Turnip Truck Urban Fare

Last but certainly not least, and to celebrate the culmination of our fun-filled walking adventure, we decided to grab a snack across the street at Turnip Truck Urban Fare, one of Nashville’s popular natural grocery stores located in the Gulch.

A hot-spot for young, urban professionals who are keen on staying fit, eating healthy and enjoying the best of the Nashville scene, this was the perfect spot to reflect on the day. We saw countless sites and clocked in at just over 10,000 healthy fluid steps, made cashless with my Visa payment-enabled Fitbit Ionic.

Learn more about the Fitbit Ionic and how Visa enables secure payments for Fitbit Pay here.