All About Nashville
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As you might have guessed, there is a lot of music in the Music City. Everywhere you turn, an aspiring singer is performing his or her latest work or a classic country favorite. The performances are not limited to honky-tonks and music halls, though. Take a stroll down Second Avenue and you will see up-and-coming stars singing their lungs out from the front stoops of clothing stores, from the display windows of specialty shops and from the small stages constructed in the backs of restaurants. Music put Nashville on the map, and music is where we will start.
Museums
If music and sports are not for you, perhaps you will enjoy one of the city's many museums. From fine art to local history, there is a lot to see and learn in Nashville.
The Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art features several galleries in one location, a 1920s mansion built by the prominent Cheek family. The mansion sits on 65 acres of beautifully landscaped property and houses a museum of fine art, a contemporary art gallery, gardens and more.
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum features over 3,000 exhibits, including the gold records (plaques commemorating million sellers) and stage costumes of the early country stars. You'll learn about the origins of country music, what made it so popular and how it maintains its fierce following today.
In 1835, President Andrew Jackson built the beautiful Hermitage for his beloved wife; the home is now a popular site for visitors to the Music City. Everything has been perfectly preserved and restored to its original state. You will see what life was like in the early 19th century as you roam the halls of the immense home. Stroll through the tulip gardens, which were planted for the former first lady, and honor the memory of the late president as you pass the memorial to him and his wife.
Outdoor Recreation
The natural beauty of the Tennessee hillsides is the area's greatest resource, and you can enjoy it via one of the many state parks in or around Nashville. If you enjoy hiking, biking, swimming or boating, you owe it to yourself and your family to stop by one of these magnificent facilities.
Built to commemorate Tennessee's 200th birthday in 1996, the Bicentennial Mall State Park features a replica of the Parthenon and a statue of the Goddess Athena. If you can pull yourself away from the beauty of these two structures, you will find a number of walking trails and picnic areas.
For true nature-lovers, Lawrenceburg's Davy Crockett State Park is worth the two-hour drive. There, you can lie in the sun while the sounds and sights of nature lull you to sleep.
At the Warner Parks Nature Center, you will have a chance to experience the ecological diversity of Tennessee first hand. Take a hike on the more than 10 miles of trails, listen to lectures on environmental concerns and conservation, or take part in a guided tour of the wildlife preserve. Protecting the environment is the focus here, but this is also a top-notch outdoors facility meant to be enjoyed by you and your family.
Music
Country Music is King in Nashville. If you hear a country song on the radio, it's virtually certain it was performed, recorded and mixed right here. You can hear your favorite songs and see your favorite artists perform virtually anywhere in Nashville, but there are a few tried and tested venues that stand out.
The Ryman Auditorium was the first home of the Grand Ole Opry show. Today, the radio show has moved, but there is still something special about the Ryman. Originally a church, this building's most famous visitors were not pilgrims on a religious journey, but rather country singers like Roy Acuff, Hank Williams, Merle Haggard and Dolly Parton. Although the big name stars now perform in the new Grand Ole Opry House, you can still hear great live music at the Ryman nightly. Country, blues, pop and jazz musicians take the stage to honor the past and look to the future. The Grand Ole Opry House is the venue for the biggest names in country music. On any given night you will find the likes of Leroy Parnell, Garth Brooks and the Dixie Chicks performing before a packed house. The Country Music Awards (CMAs), country music's version of the Grammies®, are presented from this stage each year.
The Bluebird Cafe has been the starting point for many of today's top names in country music. Aspiring stars from Nashville and beyond take to this stage, and with good reason, as record company executives frequent the establishment looking for the next big star. For the wannabe country sensation, playing at the Bluebird is almost as big a thrill as playing at the Grand Ole Opry. You will hear Nashville's best here, and you will be able to say you knew them when.
Fan Fair is the biggest and most popular country music festival in the United States. This five-day festival draws over one million visitors to the city each June. You will hear the very best and brightest in country music for one low ticket price.
Sports
For decades, the people of Nashville cried out for professional sports teams. Finally, the powers that be have heard their cries, and franchises of both the National Football League (NFL) and the National Hockey League (NHL) have been brought to the Music City.
The Tennessee Titans play home games in the modern LP Field. Owner Bud Adams brought the team to the city after many unsuccessful years as the Houston Oilers, and won an AFC Championship and an appearance in the Super Bowl in their first season as the Titans. The Coliseum is state of the art and is quickly becoming known as the NFLs loudest stadium, thanks to the legions of fans who have waited patiently for a professional football team. Go Titans!!!
Hockey fans will love the bone-crushing action of the Nashville Predators. Joining the NHL in 1998 as an expansion team, the Predators took to the ice and to the hearts of Nashville fans in a serious way. The "Preds" play in the Nashville Arena.
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