🏖️ The closest beaches to Nashville

⏰ Will the East Bank Be Ready in Time?

Now that the Super Bowl has been confirmed for 2030, will “Nashville’s Next Great Neighborhood” be built quickly … or built right? East Bank Development Authority communications director Kerry Hayes joins us on today’s podcast to answer our questions about timeline, priorities, and the potentially “painful” process ahead. [🎧 City Cast Nashville]

🏗️ West End Tunnels Incoming

The Boring Company has purchased a $2.4 million West End property for its second planned Tesla rideshare tunnels. The proposed twin, one-way tunnels will run under the Broadway/West End Avenue corridor. [🔐 Nashville Business Journal]

• The property is located at 3301 West End Ave., where a historic marker commemorates the Nashville Academy of Medicine, Tennessee’s first medical association. [Google Maps; The Historical Marker Database]
• State Sen. Heidi Campbell recently spoke to The Guardian about the state’s “abnormally opaque” deal with Boring. [The Guardian]

🗳️ Redistricting Divides Black Community

While Tennessee lawmakers claim recent congressional redistricting is based on politics, an analysis by a University of Chicago mathematician found that our new maps followed racial data rather than political affiliation. The split dividing North Nashville into two separate congressional districts along Buchanan Street exemplifies this racial divide, and mirrors the 1960 construction of I-40 that displaced the Black community there. [WPLN]

• Interstate construction also wiped out this once-thriving South Nashville Black neighborhood. [🎧 City Cast Nashville]

⛺ Where Are Old Tent City Residents Now?

One year after the closure of Old Tent City, Nashville’s largest homeless encampment, the Office of Homeless Services has yet to complete an after-action report, standard procedure for camp closures. According to OHS records, of the 108 people removed from the camp, 47 have moved into permanent housing, 29 are living in temporary housing, 16 have returned to homelessness, 10 are incarcerated, and the remaining are unaccounted for. Nashville Banner spoke with several former Old Tent City residents, who are mostly happy with their new lives, though some miss the outdoors. [Nashville Banner]

• Nashville plans to transform the former encampment into a riverfront park, though Councilmember Jacob Kupin questions the efficacy of spending $70 million on a new park when Metro Parks has a backlog of repairs. [Nashville.gov; Nashville Banner]

Summer is almost here, which means it’s beach season! While Tennessee is landlocked, vacationing at the beach is still a favorite destination. Here are our favorite beaches that take less than 10 hours to drive to from Nashville.

For Gulf Coast beaches, I recommend driving through Alabama, which is faster and has less traffic. Birmingham makes for a nice stop along the way, and I’d put Alligator Alley on your to-do list, if feeding alligators sounds fun to you!

Pensacola

Drive time: 6 hours, 51 minutes

This was my first vacation with my spouse, and when we went then, the beach was mostly empty. It’s entirely different now! However, I still love Pensacola’s beaches, and the city’s downtown area is charming. There are lots of locally-owned restaurants to choose from, and I’ve never had any issues finding gluten-free or vegetarian options.

Destin & 30A

Drive time: 7 hours

Destin and beaches along Highway 30A are perhaps the most popular beaches to visit for Nashvillians, in no small part because they’re so close! I see debates online about which 30A beach is best, and honestly, I don’t think it matters much. You’ll likely find yourself traveling up and down the beachfront highway to visit restaurants and attractions that interest you.

Panama City Beach

Drive time: 7 hours, 14 minutes

This is possibly the Gulf’s busiest beach, but it’s also packed with things to do. My sister loves to go here for its bustling nightlife and plentiful shopping, while I like the two state parks.

Port St. Joe

Drive time: 8 hours, 11 minutes

My favorite part of Port St. Joe is the wildlife. I saw so many dolphins, birds, alligators, and other marine creatures on my visit there, and it’s also a quiet beach with tons of seashells. My least favorite part was also the wildlife, namely, a variety of biting insects! If you go here, bring insect repellent, and I recommend a day trip to St. Mark’s National Wildlife Refuge (which inspired Jeff Vandermeer’s Southern Reach series!).