The CMA Fest Packing List Nobody Else Is Giving You (Plus My Travel Non-Negotiables)

The Olu Kai Women’s Sneakers: The Only Shoe You Need All Summer

I cannot stop talking about these shoes. My good friend Teddy put me onto them and I have not shut up about it since. They are lightweight, completely neutral, and the back folds down so you can wear them as a slip-on or a sneaker depending on your mood. I wear them sockless every single day. EVERY. DAY. They work dressed up with a mini skirt or a maxi, or completely casual with cutoff Levis and a tank. The versatility is unreal.

Here is the thing about Nashville summers that people do not fully grasp until they are standing on Broadway in 94 degree heat with 80 percent humidity: your feet WILL suffer if you make the wrong shoe choice. The humidity here will make your ears sweat in June. You do not want to be walking five miles a day in open toes, heels, or boots. You just don’t. These sneakers are the shoe of the summer, period. Grab them here.

The Western Fringe Clear Crossbody Bag: Not Optional at Nissan Stadium

Clear bag policy at Nissan Stadium is not a suggestion. It is the rule. But that does not mean you have to carry something boring. This western fringe clear crossbody is the move. It holds your phone, your essentials, your lip gloss, and your ID, and it looks intentional instead of like you grabbed a stadium bag from a gas station. Pair it with your Olu Kais and you are already ahead of most of the crowd.

The SPF 50 Cooling Bandana and Retro Shades

A neutral print bandana with SPF 50 built in is one of those things that sounds like a gimmick until you are standing in the Nissan Stadium parking lot at noon and the person next to you is wilting. Wear it around your neck, your wrist, your head, or soak it in cold water for instant cooling. And the retro shades are just the right finishing touch for a Nashville summer look. Both are in my Amazon favorites right here.

The Foldable Waterproof Blanket: Yes, You Need It

If you are planning to catch any of the free outdoor sets around Broadway and the waterfront during CMA Fest (and you should, they are incredible), a compact foldable waterproof blanket is a total game changer. It packs down to basically nothing and your future self will thank you when you are sitting on the grass watching a surprise set instead of standing for three hours.

COOLA Clean Sunscreen: Because It Also Smells Like a Dream

COOLA is my everyday sunscreen and the reason is simple: clean ingredients, SPF 50, and it genuinely smells good enough to double as a body spray. I am not kidding when I say I get compliments on my sunscreen. In Nashville summer you are reapplying multiple times a day, so you need something that does not feel like a chore to put on. This one makes it easy. Shop it here.

The Hangover Prevention Stack That Actually Works: LMNT + Superbloom + Liver Protect

Okay. I need you to take notes on this one. I call this my undefeated hangover prevention stack and I mean undefeated. Three products, all working together, and if you take them consistently you will wake up after a night on Broadway feeling like an actual human being.

• LMNT Electrolytes: Drink one packet before bed with a big glass of water. And bonus, LMNT makes a genuinely incredible margarita mixer. I am not playing around. The citrus salt flavor with tequila and lime is top tier.
• Superbloom Recovery Liver Support: Take it after your last drink of the night. It is formulated specifically for liver support and recovery and the difference is real.
• Liver Protect (Milk Thistle, ALA, NAC, and Selenium): Take this one consistently throughout your trip. The combination of these four ingredients is doing serious work behind the scenes. Trust the process.

All three are linked in my Amazon shop here. Do yourself a favor and order before your trip.

The Carry-On That Changed How I Travel: Charging Port, Cupholder, and Snack Bag Hook

I resisted upgrading my luggage for way too long and I am mad about the time I wasted with inferior bags. This carry-on is lightweight, fits in every overhead bin I have encountered, and has a built-in charging port so your phone never dies at the airport. The cupholder on the side is a detail that sounds small but you will use it constantly. The hook for a snack bag is the kind of feature that tells you the person who designed this actually travels. This is the one I use.

The Personal Item Bag That Does Everything: The MVP of My Entire Travel Setup

I have genuinely never loved a bag more in my life. I know that sounds dramatic but I stand by it completely. This leather bag has shoulder straps, a crossbody strap, backpack straps, AND a strap to slide over your luggage handle. It transitions between everything seamlessly and looks put together the whole time.

The interior is massive and surprisingly well organized. On any given travel day I have my MacBook, my Kindle, my Beats headphones, a makeup bag, a jewelry pouch, snacks, and my other essentials inside with room to spare. The exterior zipper pockets fit your phone, wallet, and passport perfectly, which means you can get through security and boarding without digging through the main compartment every five minutes. It is the carry-on personal item combination that just works.

I have tried a lot of travel bags. This one stays. Linked here.

The Percussion Massage Gun: Your Feet Will Thank You

After a night on Broadway or a full day at CMA Fest your feet and calves are going to be in a state. This compact percussion massage gun is the thing that gets you back on your feet for day two. It is lightweight enough to fit in your personal item bag, powerful enough to actually do the job, and it has become completely non-negotiable in our travel kit. Hit your calves and feet before bed and you will wake up ready to go again instead of limping to the coffee maker. It comes with multiple attachments, which matters more than you would think. This is the one we use.

The Mini Charging Station That Lives in My Bag Permanently

I keep this small charging station in a pouch in my travel bag along with an extra charger for my phone and watch. It has never once left my bag and that is intentional. I never have to wonder if I remembered to grab my charger from beside the bed before I left for the airport. I never have to hunt for outlets around the rental or drag charging blocks from room to room. Everything stays together, everything stays charged. It is such a small thing but it removes a genuinely annoying piece of travel friction completely. Grab it here.

What to Read on the Plane: Run Rose Run by Dolly Parton and James Patterson

If you are coming to Nashville and you want to fall in love with this city even before you land, download Run Rose Run on your Kindle before you board. Co-written by Dolly Parton and James Patterson, the story is set right here in Nashville and is full of nods to local landmarks you will actually recognize when you get here. It is the perfect pre-trip read. And honestly Dolly Parton co-writing a Nashville novel? That is about as good as it gets. Find it here.

The Playlist That Gets You Ready for Nashville Before You Even Land

We put together a Spotify playlist specifically for traveling to Nashville that is curated to get you in the right headspace for your trip. Hit play before you even land and you will arrive already feeling like a local. Listen to the Tunes for Your Travels playlist right here.