Music, music, and more music, that’s Nashville. The creative city that inspires and has no shortage of motivating things to do! There’s the music of course, there’s the culture to immerse in and the arts and food, shopping, and sport. Phew, that’s a lot to take in.
This Southern city has been attracting the greats of country music for many years now. And that isn’t about to end. Places like the Grand Old Opry and the Country Music Hall of Fame are places in Nashville you simply have to visit. Music really is everywhere. Away from the music scene, you will find other interesting places to explore. There’s the history of the region and the craft beer and culinary scene to taste and savour.
Let’s line dance in, see what this city offers.
Photo by Tanner Boriack on Unsplash
The Attractions
Although the city is dominated by the music scene, there are some places of interest away from the country music, the iconic venues and so on. There are the Cheekwood Botanical gardens, Natchez Trace, which is a beautiful out-of-town experience. Even the Nashville Public Library may be of interest, including an overview of the civil rights movement in Nashville.
There are parks too, so plenty of spaces for you to explore, but Nashville’s actual heart and soul can be found in its neighbourhoods. And that’s where we head next.
The Neighbourhoods
You can’t get away from the fact the neighbourhoods are make what Nashville a special place to visit. They each have their own personality and character. A fine example of this are areas like The Gulch, a once abandoned industrial area, which has undergone a makeover. It’s now a neighbourhood of boutique hotels, murals, shops and live music venues.
Opryland or music valley is the place to go to the music scene. It’s where you’ll find the top venues, such as the Grand Ole Opry, the mecca of country music, the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention centre.
To show you the different vibes to each neighbourhood, then 12South really highlights the differences. From vintage clothing stores to unique businesses and gourmet restaurants. Well, you get the idea, that Nashville’s different neighbourhoods are well worth exploring.
Nashville nights – Photo by mana5280 on Unsplash
The Music
Music is at this city’s very heart, and there are several key places you have to consider visiting, none more so than the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. It’s huge to start with and has everything you’d ever want to know about country music. There are plenty of artefacts to see (Elvis’s gold Cadillac) and gold piano, plus plenty of displays on the history of this unique blend of music.
The Grand Old Opry may not look much, but after taking a tour, you’ll be more than aware of its history and importance. You can take a tour backstage and even get special tickets to include a show. Go on, you’ve just got to go.
Everyone from Dolly Parton to Elvis and the Everly Brothers has recorded at RCA Studio B. Take a tour and you’ll hear the stories. As an example, the studio closed the day after Elvis died back in 1977, yet the history of music still lingers.
Nashville is one of those places that will be forever etched into history. The home to country music. However, it’s a little more than that, really. It’s a vibrant, exciting city that, with its individual parts creates a wonderful whole. Visit, immerse and enjoy.
