There was a great article published in 2017 that caught our attention. In it, Inside Higher Ed made the argument that if you are attending a conference you might as well turn it into a working vacation. They state, “Professional travel to conferences or for research also presents an opportunity to recharge, experience something new, and visit friends and family.” We thought a lot about this. It makes sense if you think about it. Rather than flying in on a tight schedule and flying out as soon as the conference is over, maybe squeezing in one dinner out or just being glad you saw the skyline, make it something more.

We think that you should use SCALE 2020 Music City, in Nashville, TN, as your family summer vacation. To help we have put together this list of things to do in Nashville.

 

Who Attends Scale

If you are a dermatologist, or otherwise work in the field of skin tightening, cellulite removal, or providing other aesthetic treatments you should attend SCALE. Organized by Michael H Gold, MD and Brian Biesman, MD., this is an annual meeting and continuing education opportunity that is the Premier Multidisciplinary Meeting for Aesthetic Medicine, Surgery and Dermatology in the United States. 

What started out as a small gathering 14 years ago has now blossomed into one of the true outstanding events in our space which in 2019 featured upwards of 850 attendees and 125 industry vendors. Now we are making plans for 2020 and we want you front and center.

Drs. Brian Biesman and Michael Gold have the same vision for SCALE and we work all throughout the year to assure that when attendees arrive at “go-time” we have checked all the boxes, crossed every “T,” and dotted every ”I.”

Faculty include some of the top doctors and researchers in the world and the vendors and sponsors include the top companies related to our business. This aesthetic convention provides opportunities to learn about new techniques for non-invasive fat removal and facial rejuvenation from those who are in the forefront of their fields. The thousand (or so) of attendees come from all over the state of Tennessee, the country, and even the world. Attendees have 4 days of presentations, demonstrations, and interactions available to them. Many of them have relatives that would love to join them in Nashville, Tennessee to see the stunning convention center, tour the sites, eat at the restaurants, or catch a show. In fact, “what does Nashville look like?” is one of the most googled questions about Tennessee. People who want to experience the city choose to attend and learn at SCALE. 

 

Things To Do In Nashville

As noted by Wikipedia, “Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and home to Vanderbilt University. Legendary country music venues include the Grand Ole Opry House, home of the famous “Grand Ole Opry” stage and radio show. The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and historic Ryman Auditorium are Downtown, as is the District, featuring honky-tonks with live music and the Johnny Cash Museum, celebrating the singer’s life.” This pretty well sums up the range of opportunities there are for fun and sight-seeing. There are so many different listicles of great sites to see that it becomes easy to understand why Nashville has been highlighted as one of the best places to visit in the US by so many.

One of the most interesting of those articles was written by the Travel Channel; Nashville Neighborhoods. In it, they describe 11 of Nashville ‘must see’ neighborhoods and describe the city itself as, “Music City, as Nashville is often called, could easily steal the title of America’s funkiest, hippest city. A patchwork of neighborhoods make up the town and encompass a fantastically fun music scene filled with hallowed country music stars and up-and-coming acts, to a nightlife that runs the gamut from boot stompin’ honky tonks to sleek clubs. Of the many neighborhoods’ many highlights, the shining star may well be the eclectic dining scene — innovative restaurants dot the region, often featuring farm-to-table menus and a laid-back vibe. From sights, shops, parks and more.”

A lot of the sights and eats are family friendly and there are just as many guides for what a family can do in the city. Some list as many as 38 Things To Do In Nashville With Kids, which could be a little bit overwhelming for the casual tourist but great for those who live there. Honestly, a lot of the same places that any adult would want to visit are on these lists too. Highlights include:

• Visit Cheekwood Botanical Garden & Museum of Art
• Take a Trip to Gentry’s Farm
• Line Dance Lessons at the Wildhorse Saloon
• Self Tour Honkey Tonk Highway
• Go See Nashville’s Scale Replica of The Parthenon

Family-Friendly Accommodations in Nashville

While you attend SCALE’s sessions (agenda coming soon), your family will likely spend more time at your hotel or vacation rental and head out a bit without you. We have hotels specifically rated for the event, but there are so many alternatives to stay that you are sure to find a perfect place to spend a week, or a long weekend, with your spouse or spouse and kids. Oyster.com has a great list of the most family and kid friendly diggs. It is also possible to find an amazing vacation home on VRBO that includes river-front or down-town condos and sprawling southern homes just outside of the city. Of course you can always check out the listings on Airbnb as well. 

Whichever direction you choose to go regarding where you stay, you will likely not be disappointed. Nashville is a great place to turn your SCALE time into a family vacation.