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The Music in Music City
Nashville is a city with a foundation built on more than 200 years
of musical roots. Today, those roots have grown firmly into a platform for which the city heralds its signature product. And Nashville's most popular attractions all share one common characteristic, the city's most famous export: music. The Grand Ole Opry, the world's longest-running radio program, made Nashville a household name. |
Touting the music that has made Music City famous, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, more than just a storage house of country's colorful past, is dedicated to the preservation of music and to music education, and included with the cost of admission are many interactive musical programs.
 For over 100 years, the Ryman Auditorium has been home to musicians, actors, and comedians. So that guests can experience the Ryman as the stars do, the facility offers backstage tours plus special visitor opportunities for guests to record a song in an onsite recording booth in the auditorium.
Seen simply as an art museum by many, the Frist Center for the Visual Arts, a center specializing in exhibiting premiere collections on loan from other galleries around the world, is a place where the entire community can embrace all forms of art, including music, as on select Thursday and Friday evenings, the Frist becomes a musical forum as well as an art gallery.
For almost 80 years, country music has been synonymous with Nashville; however, within the last two decades, many genres of music other than country have made their impact. From gospel spirituals and bluegrass to modern pop and blues, Nashville is Music City - the only Music City. The area known as Music Row developed into a powerhouse for the recording industry, and one studio on Music Row took center stage nationally. Known as the Home of 1,000 Hits, RCA Studio B became legendary as artists like Elvis Presley, Dolly Parton, Roy Orbison, and the Everly Brothers all recorded there.
 There is a vibrant classical movement in Nashville. The Grammy-nominated Nashville Symphony performs year round and now sells more CDs than any other American Orchestra. The symphony has its home in a new state-of-the-art symphony hall with acoustic designs influenced by the best symphony halls in the world. Not your typical chamber orchestra, the Nashville Chamber Orchestra collaborates with pop artists and songwriters to create movements that push the symphonic boundaries. And the Nashville Ballet has been a forerunner in the industry for collaborations with known artists that live in Nashville.
For history buffs, there is plenty to explore. Walk through Fort Nashborough, a  replica fort one-fourth the size of the original, and see where the pioneers settled upon the banks of the Cumberland River. Tour the city's oldest home, Travellers Rest, and hear how a friendship begun by chance developed into a partnership managing a presidential campaign. Marvel at the Tennessee State Capitol building, one of the oldest operational capitols in the nation. And discover the Parthenon, the world's only full-scale replica of the ancient Greek temple. Host an off-site event inside the temple at the feet of the 42-foot-tall gilded Athena.
There is plenty more to see and do in Nashville during your visit. Explore the following resources to help plan your stay:
Nashville Downtown Attractions
Fort Nashborough
170 1st Avenue
Tennessee State Capitol
Charlotte Avenue (between Sixth and Seventh Avenues)
615.741.2692
Ryman Auditorium
116 Fifth Avenue North
615.458.8700
Tennessee Art League and Galleries
808 Broadway
615.736.5000
Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame and Museum
501 Broadway
615.242.4750
Country Music Hall of Fame
222 5th Avenue South
615.416.2001
Museums
The Parthenon
2600 West End Avenue
615.862.8431
Tennessee State Museum
Fifth Avenue (between Union and Deadrick Streets)
615.741.2692
Cheekwood
1200 Forrest Park Drive
615.356.8000
Frist Center for the Visual Arts
919 Broadway
615.244.3340
Performing Arts
Miss Marple’s Dinner Theatre
135 Second Avenue North
615.242.8200
Nashville Symphony
One Symphony Place
615.687.6500
Tennessee Performing Arts Center
505 Deaderick St
615-782-4000
Shopping
Hillsboro Village
21st Avenue
This is the place to be for Nashville tourists and locals alike. With specialty boutiques and vintage stores by the handful and cute cafes for snacks, it's a great way to spend your afternoon in Nashville. You'll feel right at home with the eclectic mix of folks in this area, which spans only a couple of streets (mainly Hillsboro Road). Be sure to check out Pangaea, Posh, and Vintage for your clothing needs. Try dining at the french cafe, Provence, for lunch, Bosco's for an upbeat dinner and a beer, Fido for coffee, Baskin-Robbins for ice cream, The Sushi Place for sushi, and Jackson's for other food and wine and fun.
The Mall at Green Hills
2126 Abbott Martin Road
615.298.5478
Immerse yourself in the exceptional by shopping Tiffany & Company, Louis Vuitton, Cole Haan, BCBG Max Azria, Sephora, Anne Klein NY, Marmi Shoes, The Cheesecake Facotory, Kiehl’s, Coach, bebe, Restoration Hardware, Banana Republic, Z Gallerie, Apple Store, Ann Taylor, J. Crew, Macy’s, Dillard’s, and a 100 other fine shops and eateries.
Opry Mills Mall
433 Opry Mills Drive
615.514.1100
Opry Mills features the best names in manufacturer and retail outlets including Nike, OFF 5th Saks Fifth Avenue, Gap Outlet and Old Navy, as well as high-quality entertainment venues and themed restaurants including Regal Cinemas, Dave & Buster's, and The Aquarium.
Nightlife and Entertainment
B.B. King’s Blues Club
152 Second Avenue North
615.256.2727
The Bluebird Café
4104 Hillsboro Road
615.383.1461
Douglas Corner Café
2106 A Eighth Avenue South
615.298.1688
Graham Central Station
128 Second Avenue North
615.251.9593
Grand Ole Opry
2802 Opryland Drive
800.733.6779
Layla’s Bluegrass Inn
418 Broadway
615.726.2799
Legends Corner
428 Broadway
615.248.6334
Nashville Crossroads
419 Broadway
615.313.8012
Second Fiddle
420 Broadway
615.248.4818
The Sportsgrille at the Hilton Nashville Downtown
121 Fourth Avenue South
615.726.1001
The Stage on Broadway
412 Broadway
615.726.0504
The Station Inn
402 12th Avenue South
615.255.3307
Tootsie’s
422 Broadway
615.726.0463
Wildhorse Saloon
120 Second Avenue North
615.902.8200
Historic Home Tours
Belle Meade Plantation
A renowned thoroughbred horse farm, the bloodlines of some of today’s most famous horses trace their lineage back to Belle Meade.
November 12-December 31 Victorian Holiday Tours
5025 Harding Rd, 615.356.0501
Belmont Mansion
Ornate home to the always intriguing Adelicia Acklen who has long been rumored to be one of the real-life inspirations for Scarlett O’Hara.
1900 Belmont Boulevard
615.460.5459
The Hermitage
Home of President Andrew Jackson, the extensive grounds include the seventh president’s own home plus Tulip Grove, lavish gardens, family grave site, slave quarters and outbuildings, church, and education center and museum.
4580 Rachel’s Lane
615.889.2941
Historic Carnton Plantation
This elegant home was turned into a field hospital during the Battle of Franklin. 1345 Carnton Lane
615.794.0903
Historic Mansker’s Station
The Mansker’s Fort and Bowen Plantation represent the transition settlers made from fort living to estate life.
705 Caldwell Drive
Goodlettsville, TN
Tours and Transportation
All in One Destinations
800.421.4422
Anchor Tours
615.860.6800
Art Henry’s
615.386.9301
Authentic Tours Historic Black Nashville and Middle Tennessee
615.299.5626
Blueshoe Nashville Travel
615.383.3012
Destination Nashville
615.851.0941
General Ole Opry Backstage Tours
800.733.6779
Gray Line Tours
615.883.6710
Johnny Walker Tours
615.834.8585
The Key Event and Helen Moskovitz Group
615.352.6900
Nashville Black Heritage Tours
615.890.8173
Nashville Express Tours
615.872.7585
Nashville Trolley Tour
615.248.4437
USA Travel DVD
800.965.0900
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