Hailed as “the show that made country music famous,” the Grand Ole Opry has been running for almost a century. It offers all of the latest and greatest in country, folk, gospel and bluegrass music, and catching a show is almost like a rite of passage in the South! Visitors to the Grand Ole Opry can take a tour of the stage and dressing rooms before settling in for the night’s entertainment. In addition to toe-tapping music, they also broadcast skits, comedy routines and other live performances. It used to be located in what is now the Ryman Auditorium, the Grand Ole Opry was relocated to a site near the Opryland Hotel.
A Mangione family favorite spot, for those who want a quiet, outdoor hike in a pristine natural environment in the middle of one of America’s largest cities, Radnor Lake is the place to go. It is a Class II Natural Area protected from development. Wildlife is abundant, so if you like observing animals in their natural habitats, you’ll be in for a treat. Turtles waddle in the dirt; red-tailed hawks soar in the sky; deer can always be seen darting through the trees. Swimming in the lake is prohibited because of its protected status.
Nashville has, and has always had, a reputation for higher learning. It has the largest number of colleges and universities in Tennessee and was sometimes referred to as “the Athens of the South.” In 1897, builders decided to run with that nickname and raise a full-scale replica of the Parthenon in Athens right in the middle of Nashville. Today, the Parthenon functions as an art museum and cultural center. It hosts a number of paintings, texts, statues and sculptures from the classical era. It’s such a unique attraction that it deserves a visit even if you aren’t the type to wear a toga and philosophize about the stars. How often do you get the chance to visit a Parthenon?
The beating heart of downtown Nashville, Broadway is the south’s answer to the Las Vegas Strip. Dubbed “Nash Vegas” and covering several neon-lit blocks, it’s a neighborhood where there are bars, clubs, restaurants, shops, saloons and honky-tonks as far as the eye can see. During the day, Broadway serves as one of the more typical tourist attractions of Nashville. Visitors can enjoy shopping, dining and sightseeing as they hop on old-fashioned trams and trolleys and explore the streets. At night, Broadway transforms into something else entirely. Live music spills out of dozens of bars and pubs, from loud, standing room only honky-tonks, to upscale, exclusive clubs, to rooftop bars glittering from everything from lights to swimming pools, to dinner clubs, to hidden speakeasys and magic-themed restaurants. You can find places to eat, drink, dance, sing karaoke, ride a mechanical bull, try on a jumpsuit covered in rhinestones, or buy a few pair of fancy cowboy boots.
As the home of the 7th President of the United States, Andrew Jackson, it’s a stunning example of plantation-style architecture, and it’s been carefully preserved as a testament to the way that wealthy Americans used to live. It’s also an uncomfortable look at how the slave trade was normalized in the antebellum South. The Hermitage is an over 1000 acre historical museum and is regarded as the most accurately preserved early presidential home in the country, eclipsing even that of Mount Vernon. It is the forth most visited presidential home, after the White House, Mount Vernon, and the Monticello.
Nashville has beautiful views of the Cumberland River, a 700-mile waterway that winds through Tennessee and Kentucky. Riverfront Park is the portion of park on the downtown side, or West Bank, of the Cumberland River. Cumberland Park is the counterpart on the East Bank of the River. Officially called a “riverfront play space,” Cumberland Park is a place for families to relax and play, all while enjoying the views of the river and Nashville skyline. There is a gigantic splash pad for kids, bike paths, climbing structures and butterfly gardens. There’s even an amphitheater for outdoor concerts
Originally the home of newspaper stands and publishing companies, Printer’s Alley has transformed itself into a busy area for Nashville’s nightlife. No one is quite sure how it happened, but it might’ve had something to do with the dark, gritty atmosphere of the alley or the way that many local restaurants smuggled in liquor during the Prohibition era. Today, however, Printer’s Alley is home to all kinds of bars, clubs and burlesque joints. Their lights glitter through the darkness and beckon people to come and visit. No cars are allowed in the alley, so there’s always a crowd. Printer’s Alley isn’t for everyone. Although it’s cleaned up its act in the past few years, the Alley was known for thick smoke bars and burlesque joints. But it’s still a home to bear pubs, intimate music venues, jazz and Blues clubs and karaoke bars.
You might not know it, but Nashville is also home to the country’s 9th largest zoo, and if you have been to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, imagine that, except without the rides and Lion King sing-a-longs. Located about 6 miles south of downtown Nashville, the zoo we know today was a standard farm home in the 1800’s on a land that was later donated to the city by the Croft family. There are approximately 3,000 animals in total, that represent about 350 different species. Some animals are even available for feeding and taking pictures with! You can even walk among kangaroos.
Located in the heart of Broadway, Tootsie’s is the oldest honky-tonk bar in Tennessee with a long, colorful history in the country music scene. Patsy Cline and Waylon Jennings were among its most famous customers, and Willie Nelson got his first gig after performing on its live stage. It’s even been featured in a documentary called Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge: Where the Music Began. Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge is still the Honky-Tonk. Get there early if you even want a chance to get in.
Visit Lynchburg, Home of Jack Daniels and take a tasting tour of the distillery. Visit historic downtown Franklin. Franklin was the sight of the bloodiest battle of the civil war. There are several historic sights there including the Carnton Plantation, the Carter House, the Lott House and Fort Granger. Or just stroll the shops, cafes and restaurants down Main Street that you will swear Walt Disney used as the inspiration for his amusement parks. Are you a Country Music starstruck fan? Take a bus tour to see the homes of the stars, past and present. Museum Junky? Need More? Check out the National Museum of African American Music, the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum, the Frist Art Museum, the Cheekwood Museum of Art, the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame, and the very interesting Tennessee State Museum.