Thanks to Instagram, the street art scene has never been more recognizable or sought after than it is now. This is especially true in Nashville where murals seem to be splashed across every empty brick wall, garage door, water tank or even an occasional old silo. The murals range from the political to a celebration of local pride to just plain weird fun and a visit to Nashville is not complete without snapping a picture or two in front of a few of them.

Most of the murals are clustered together in distinct neighborhoods such as 12South, The Gulch, Downtown and East Nashville just to name a few. One of the most photographed of these-the iconic “I Believe in Nashville” mural, was painted in 2012 in the 12South neighborhood. Prior to the murals creation, Nashville had weathered historic flooding during the catastrophic Tennessee floods of 2010 which ultimately caused over 2.3 billion dollars in damage. The Believe mural was seen as a piece de resistance and represented for many, the city’s enduring resilience in a time of recovery and revivification.

One of the more fun murals in my opinion, Candy Hearts, was created for an entirely different reason than the Believe mural, yet it still has become known as one of the defining sights in Nashville. A joint venture between a local clothing boutique and a bachelorette party planning service (yes these really do exist hahaha), Candy Hearts was painted by Bryson Leach, a local artist, and the mural provides some fun photo opportunities with just a touch of naughtiness. After all, what better way to draw the hordes of bachelorette parties from near & far than with the chance to take a “Single AF” pic with all those forever bridesmaids.

Finding the murals is a bit like geocaching, and Aubrey & I spent hours wandering vaguely around city blocks and corners trying to find that elusive splash of color. It’s a great way to explore a new city and since the murals are located in a variety of neighborhoods, we were able to experience more than just one spot in Nashville. Like an instagram treasure map, some murals are more popular than others and even had lines to wait in for a chance to take that top likable shot. It’s truly hard to pick a favorite and the murals were so varied in their content as well as their size & scope, that I would be hard pressed to settle on just one.

The great thing about seeking out murals on trips is that the journey is really the destination. Wandering thru a new city, finding hidden corners and unique neighborhoods is, to me, the epitome of what travel is about. That’s why I travel anyway; to experience something different, to find a new perspective, to try something entirely brand new. And aside from the cost of an Uber ride or two, mural hunting is totally free! So you can save that trip dinero for another margarita after a long day of pounding the pavement art hunting, searching for that perfect Instagram shot and hopefully, falling in love with a new city along the way.