3 Fun Days in Nashville, Tennessee
Table of Contents
The Spirt of Nashville in Music City
Nashville has earned its nickname of “Music City.” The home of the Grand Old Opry, tons of country music bars and stars, first class museums, Vanderbilt University, and so much more. Nashville is a delight to visit. George, Johnny, Garth, BB, Elvis, Willie, and other legends welcome you to Nashville.
In addition, in Nashville visitors can spend time with President Andrew Jackson at The Hermitage, soak in the history of world champion horses at Belle Meade Historic Site and Winery, gawk at a full-sized replica of the ancient Greek Parthenon, and roam acres of parkland in Centennial Park.
We even found a way to give back to the community by staying at The Russell Hotel. In addition to being the #1 ranked boutique hotel in Nashville, The Russell Hotel donates a portion of every stay to charities that help care for the city’s homeless population.
We decided to make The Russell Hotel our home for a few days while we were visiting Nashville. This gorgeous 23 room boutique hotel in East Nashville was the perfect place for our stay. Housed in an old historic church in a quiet residential area, top designers renovated the interior of The Russell Hotel with all the modern touches and comforts you would expect from a top hotel.
The beautiful stained glass windows are the distinguishing feature of the beautiful old church. The colors are especially brilliant when viewed from inside with the sunlight shining through. It was delightful just sitting in the lobby relaxing with a hot drink from the coffee station, marveling at the beauty of the stained glass windows.
The Russell is a unique experience. Not only do guests have the pleasure of staying in this gorgeous hotel with all the comforts of home, but they also get to help others less fortunate. The owners of The Russell donate a portion of each stay to local charities that help provide beds, showers, and meals for the homeless.
The Country Music Hall of Fame is a must for country music lovers. Beginning with the first inductees in 1961 – Jimmie Rodgers, Fred Rose, and Hank Williams – and continuing through to today’s biggest stars, the Country Music Hall of Fame is a celebration of country music through the ages.
Being from Texas, I thoroughly enjoyed the section recognizing contributions from musicians from the Lone Star State. Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings garner much of the attention, but they have plenty of company. George Strait, Kacey Musgraves, George Jones, Miranda Lambert, Barbara Mandrel, Lee Ann Womack, Lyle Lovett, and many more country stars are from Texas.
With a fun, entertaining, and informative mix of photos, videos, and exhibits, the Country Music Hall of Fame can mesmerize you for hours.
Broadway Street in Downtown Nashville
Dozens of bars, restaurants, live music, and other attractions line Broadway Street in Nashville. Whether country, rock, blues, or other genres of music float your boat, you’ll be sure to find it in Nashville. Kid Rock’s Big Honky Tonk, Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, Legends, and The Stage are just a few of the many great bars with live music on Broadway. Country is still king, but not the only music you’ll hear on Broadway Street. And when you get hungry or thirsty, there are dozens of fantastic choices all around you.
The Musicians Hall of Fame is another must see in Nashville. See the Grammy Museum Gallery, Instruments and memorabilia from the greats, and fascinating behind the scenes interviews with many of the musicians behind some of the greatest music ever recorded.
Exhibits show rare footage showing live performances and behind the scenes clips of The Beach Boys, Garth Brooks, Glen Campbell, The Supremes, Woodstock, BB King, and so many more talented musicians. Many genres of music are represented, with Country, Blues, Jazz, Rock and Roll, Motown, Bluegrass and more keeping music lovers enthralled for hours.
The Ryman Auditorium may be the most famous stage in Nashville. The Ryman finds its roots in the fiery sermons presented by evangelist Sam Jones in the late 1800’s. Thomas G. Ryman, a steamboat captain and prominent Nashville businessman, was so taken with his sermons that he built the Union Gospel Tabernacle for people in Nashville to gather and worship.
The Ryman became known as the Carnegie Hall of the South, and featured performers like John Philip Sousa, Roy Rogers, Harry Houdini, Charlie Chaplin, Bob Hope, Mae West, and even former President Theodore Roosevelt.
When the the Grand Ole Opry made the Ryman its home, performers like Elvis Presley, Minnie Pearl, Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, Roy Acuff, Willie Nelson, and so many more graced its stage. After the Opry moved locations in the 70s, the Ryman had some downtime, but came roaring back with an extensive renovation in the 90’s. Today top performers have returned to the Ryman,which was named Theater of the Year in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015 by the highly regarded Pollstar Magazine. Yes, the Ryman is back!
The Hermitage was home to Andrew Jackson, the 7th President of the United States. Just 10 miles east of Nashville, Jackson owned The Hermitage from 1804 till his death in 1845. He live here sporadically until retiring there in 1837, and lived the rest of his life here till his death in 1845.
The Hermitage grounds consist of over 1,000 acres. At one one time a large amount of cotton was grown on the land, in addition to food crops for the family, slaves, and animals. President Jackson and his wife, Rachel, are both buried on the grounds of The Hermitage.
Nashville Biscuit Company
So where do locals go to breakfast in Nashville? Well, many go to the Nashville Biscuit House in East Nashville. This iconic cafe is home of great country breakfasts and hearty Meat & 3 meals guaranteed to satisfy all the hungry tummies in your group. The country casual dining room will make you feel right at home. Be sure to try the famous biscuits and gravy along with the grits for a true taste of down home country cooking.
The Parthenon in Centennial Park
Standing high on top of a hill in Centennial Park sits The Parthenon. An full-sized replica of the ancient Parthenon located in Athens, Greece, The Parthenon is surrounded by acres of green pastures, lakes, parkland, gardens, and trees. The Nashville Art Museum is housed in this majestic structure.
Belle Meade Plantation has a long history in Tennessee architecture, horse breeding, military ties, agriculture, culture, and politics. Started by John Harding with a land and cabin purchase in the early 1800’s, Belle Meade has a very interesting history. One of the highlights of Belle Meade is the huge success the plantation had in breeding, raising, and training some of the top race horses in the nation. They were so successful, in fact, that through the lineage of sires from their bloodlines include champion horses Seabiscuit, Secretariat, and American Pharaoh. They also raised ponies, sheep, goats, and cattle through the years.
Today visitors can enjoy that scenic grounds (now about 30 acres but once over 5,400 acres), which in addition to the mansion include cabins, a doll house, and beautiful gardens. The Belle Meade Winery also offers tastings and a wine shop on the grounds. Visitor can top off their visit at the ice cream shop and the large gift shop.
The best way to see Nashville is with the Old Town Trolley Hop On, Hop Off Tours. Stay on for the continuous 90 minute circuit with live commentary, or hop on and hop off as many times as you want. The trolley tour includes top museums, The Parthenon at Centennial Park, Marathon Motor Works, Farmer’s Market, hot chicken, Belmont Mansion, and so much more. Relax and leave the driving to Old Town Trolley Tours.
Come Visit Nashville, Music City USA
Nashville is truly one of America’s great cities. Come to Tennessee and find out for yourself why Nashville is known as Music City USA. And while you’re checking out the music scene, also explore the great architecture, intriguing museums, beautiful parks, fabulous food, and other great attractions.
Scott Kendall is the Founder, Editor, and frequent contributor to PlayStayEat. He is a former Navy Officer, teacher and tennis coach who is an avid traveler and writer. Scott has traveled extensively throughout the United States and overseas to Italy, France, England, Germany, Croatia, Slovenia, and others. In addition to his contributions to PlayStayEat, much of his published work can be seen at scottkendalltravels.com.