Sightseeing in Nashville
October 25th, 2008
photo credit: somegeekintn
Nashville is a city for sights and sounds and it’s a great place to vacation. If you’re headed to Nashville, Tennessee for a vacation you can expect to take in a lot of glitz and glamour as well as the incredibly beauty that is this part of the country. It’s not a secret that Nashville is the center of the country music industry so why not start your sightseeing with some country music classics.
To some the Grand Ole Opry is just a radio program focusing on a combination of the most famous country artists around and some of the most hopeful aspiring musicians. But to those who get to visit Nashville, it’s so much more. For more than 75 years this radio program has brought live concerts to country music fans tuned in to the radio across the country. From the stage you can watch as the singer steps into the wooden circle, which came from the original stage at the Ryman Auditorium, the exact same spot where such famous country stars as Patsy Cline and Hank Williams took to the stage. Don’t forget to bring your camera for this performance, in Grand Ole Opry tradition, at the end of the performance you’re allowed to “rush the stage” to get photos of the performers. To add a little more excitement to this experience, because this is a live radio broadcast you are a part of the action and even get to see commercials performed live on stage. Book your tickets in advance to make sure you get in the door as these shows are very popular and only happen on Fridays and Saturdays and some Tuesdays.
More country fun can be had at the Country Music Hall of Fame, the official home of country music since 1967. Situated on the rolling Cumberland River, the Hall of Fame is just a few steps from the historic Ryman Auditorium where the Grand Ole Opry had its start. The exhibits are more about the fiber of the country as told by those who lived off the land and loved the country rather than about the glitz, glamour, sequins and high hair that country music came to epitomize. The humble roots of country songs bring more meaning to the words, lyrics and ghostly old voices as you listen to the Sing Me Back Home exhibit or as you spend time viewing old video clips and live performances. Even if you’re not a huge lover of the music genre, you’ll have to admit that the pioneers here overcame incredible odds to create a music style that is truly about the American experience.
Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center
A hotel is not often on the sightseeing checklist but Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center is one that deserves a visit and a few photographs. Water is the theme in this hotel which boasts 600,000 square feet of meeting space. A river runs through the hotel with its own Delta flatboat, surrounded by cascading waterfalls and nine acres of indoor gardens. It’s a truly stunning display that is brilliantly decorated for the holidays if your trip happens to coincide with that time of year. In addition, the Opryland Hotel features fine and casual dining for almost every taste as well as some unique shopping opportunities that will net you those much desired souvenirs. The hotel also sponsors some great entertainment on location, so if you’re out to see as many top-notch shows as possible, make sure you check Opryland’s schedule.
Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art
For a change of pace, let’s move away from country music and glamour and take a deeper look at the beauty of the Nashville region of Tennessee. The Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art always features something worth seeing. Spanning 55 acres, guests are invited to stroll the gardens and experience the botanical wonders that lie within. There are a large number of themed gardens which each offer a different experience and a different feel, but no matter which one you lean toward, there is a sense of peaceful calm and graceful elegance everywhere. If you’ve had enough of the beautiful gardens and the idyllic climate, you can head inside to the art museum, housed in a 30,000 square foot Georgian style mansion. The art museum features permanent exhibits and traveling ones and an extensive collection of silver and Worcester porcelain.
One of the most popular things for tourists to do in Nashville is take a tour on the General Jackson Showboat, which bills itself as the world’s grandest showboat. Maybe not the world’s grandest, at least not by any official ranking, the General Jackson is a 300 foot paddlewheel riverboat which is one of the largest in the country. There are four decks on the boat and an eye-catching two story Victorian Theater located in the center. On board you’ll obviously be treated to a show, whether you attend an afternoon or an evening cruise. In addition to the show and the sights and sounds of the Cumberland River, you can also schedule a cruise to include a meal which is bound to be one of the highlights of your vacation.
To see something really unexpected in Nashville, head to The Parthenon. This replica of the Greek Parthenon features a 42-foot statue of Athena, just like the original, making it seem a bit out of time and out of place. But it’s a great addition to the city’s Centennial Park. Inside you’ll also see plaster replicas of the Parthenon marbles and some direct casts of the original sculptures. In addition, the Parthenon serves as the city’s official art museum. The permanent collection is home to 63 paintings by 19th and 20th century American artists all donated by James M. Cowan. This Parthenon replica was constructed in 1897 for the Centennial Explosion and through the years has served to become a historic monument of its own right. Admission prices are very reasonable, but check before going as the hours of operation are a little bit limiting.
There is just so much to see and do in Nashville that we’ve only brushed the surface, if you’re stopping for vacation, try to get out and do as much as possible as those memories will leave an indelible mark that will last a lifetime. When looking for a place to stay, consider staying at a downtown Nashville hotel, which is convenient to the Nashville International Airport, Music Row and Vanderbuilt University. Hotels Cheap is a great source for all your hotel deals in Nashville.
Categories: Sightseeing
