Students trade Miami for Nashville, Vegas

University of Miami students are increasingly choosing Nashville, Tennessee, and Las Vegas, Nevada, as destinations for fall break this year. The trend reflects a desire to escape the local nightlife scene and experience different cultural and entertainment offerings in other parts of the country.

Senior Ben Girken noted that his friend group selected Nashville because it was a new location for most of them. He described the city as offering a different social atmosphere compared to Miami. Live music permeates the streets in Nashville, featuring a mix of genres including blues, jazz, and rock, rather than exclusively country music.

Girken stayed at an Airbnb located 20 minutes from the main tourist areas. He identified Broadway Street and the Honky Town district in Lower Broadway as the centers of nightlife. Although he called the area a "tourist trap" due to its flashing lights and celebrity bars, he stated that visiting establishments like Jason Aldean’s Kitchen + Rooftop Bar and Kid Rock’s Big Ass Honky Tonk Rock N’ Roll Steakhouse was worthwhile. He cited the Nashville Tractor, a party shuttle designed like a wagon, as the best activity of his trip. "You basically get driven around by a tractor and you drink and dance and play drinking games," he said.

Girken also recommended visiting 12 South for its scenery and shops. He emphasized that trying Nashville hot chicken is a necessary part of the visit. He noted that while many activities require visitors to be 21, there are options available for students of all ages.

Senior Haden Helojoki took a different approach in Las Vegas. She described the city as a place where the appeal lies in total immersion in noise and light. "There’s so much to do. You could never get bored [in] there," Helojoki said. She recommended spending time walking through hotels or attending shows. Metallica is scheduled to perform on one of the city's stages until March 2027, though Helojoki specifically highlighted the Magic Mike Live show as her favorite memory. "My favorite memory of the trip is that we went to a Magic Mike show. That was really funny," she said.

Helojoki observed that the University of Miami student population in Las Vegas is heavily involved in Greek Life, often treating the trip as a tradition for seniors. Many students use tourist packages that bundle hotel rooms and show tickets for inclusive prices ranging from $200 to $500 per person, excluding flights. These companies target college students directly. Helojoki noted that these packages can turn the city into a larger "tourist trap." "We just flew across the country to do the same thing we do here," she said.

The clubs visited through these packages were similar to those in Miami, which led Helojoki to feel she missed out on other aspects of Las Vegas. She stated she would return to the city in the future but would avoid using the tourist packages. She mentioned that she did not get a chance to take a picture with the Las Vegas sign during her current trip.