Heading to Nashville, Tn.
- Thread starter cyfreddy
- Start date
We were there in March, we loved the Opry! We heard that downtown was more of the bar hopping party place to be, but we had young children with us. Next time...
Gaylord Opryland Resort. It is a great site, and if things haven't changed I believe it is the world's largest non-casino hotel. It is next to the Grand Ole Opry. There is a nice mall next to there as well. I've done a riverboat show before down there, that's always an entertaining dinner, if you like country (and I am guessing you do) the show on the boat was of famous country singers and acts I believe by some young up and coming artists trying to make it.
I was there for a few days in March... probably the highlight was going to a Time Jumpers show at 3rd and Lindsley--band is a bunch of studio musicians + Vince Gill and all very talented. They play every Monday night. (Fair warning--the food there is kinda mediocre.)
Most of the live music I encountered on Broadway I thought was lackluster at best... seemed like everyone in the bars were playing basically the same covers and in many cases not that well. LOTS of bands who would attempt to cover any song you wanted for $20, whether they knew the song or not. (IMO "musicians" shouldn't have brackets on their mic stands to hold their iphone so they can read the lyrics...)
I really liked the RCA Studio B Tour (which I believe you had to get in conjunction with tickets to the Country Music Hall of Fame), however it was sort of expensive and may not be as interesting if you're not into music history/recording equipment/etc. We also got pretty lucky as no one was using the studio at the time of our tour, so we got to go inside the actual studio space and take pictures by the piano that Elvis used.
Johnny Cash museum was also good. Not a very big place, but had a lot of information and cool artifacts. At the time there was a Groupon for half price admission.
Most of the live music I encountered on Broadway I thought was lackluster at best... seemed like everyone in the bars were playing basically the same covers and in many cases not that well. LOTS of bands who would attempt to cover any song you wanted for $20, whether they knew the song or not. (IMO "musicians" shouldn't have brackets on their mic stands to hold their iphone so they can read the lyrics...)
I really liked the RCA Studio B Tour (which I believe you had to get in conjunction with tickets to the Country Music Hall of Fame), however it was sort of expensive and may not be as interesting if you're not into music history/recording equipment/etc. We also got pretty lucky as no one was using the studio at the time of our tour, so we got to go inside the actual studio space and take pictures by the piano that Elvis used.
Johnny Cash museum was also good. Not a very big place, but had a lot of information and cool artifacts. At the time there was a Groupon for half price admission.
Take an evening to walk down the bicentennial mall from the Capitol building and get dinner at Monell's. Try the pancake pantry (not on a weekend! Even on a Thursday we waited in a line out the door).
If not in your price range, at least walk through the Hermitage Hotel and then go down the street to see the Ryman.
The tour of Andrew Jackson's home is worth it; we saw Belle Meade as well.
If you're a Civil War buff, I would take a day to go check out the Lookout Mountain/Chickamauga-Chattanooga battlefield areas. It's about a two hour (very pretty) drive from Nashville. I'm sure there are other things closer though.
Something I would do the next time I go, would be to sit at the Bluebird some night.
The Opryland resort is pretty cool and has some nice shopping attached if that is your thing.
We stayed at a Holiday Inn across from the Parthenon for a night - it was very nice and had a view of the Capitol. For my husband's birthday, we stayed at the Hermitage, but I probably wouldn't do that for a whole week just because the extra luxury stuff wasn't really our style The nice thing is that it was walking distance to pretty much everything downtown from there.
Nashville is a beautiful town and Carrie puts on a fantastic concert - you'll have a great time!
If not in your price range, at least walk through the Hermitage Hotel and then go down the street to see the Ryman.
The tour of Andrew Jackson's home is worth it; we saw Belle Meade as well.
If you're a Civil War buff, I would take a day to go check out the Lookout Mountain/Chickamauga-Chattanooga battlefield areas. It's about a two hour (very pretty) drive from Nashville. I'm sure there are other things closer though.
Something I would do the next time I go, would be to sit at the Bluebird some night.
The Opryland resort is pretty cool and has some nice shopping attached if that is your thing.
We stayed at a Holiday Inn across from the Parthenon for a night - it was very nice and had a view of the Capitol. For my husband's birthday, we stayed at the Hermitage, but I probably wouldn't do that for a whole week just because the extra luxury stuff wasn't really our style The nice thing is that it was walking distance to pretty much everything downtown from there.
Nashville is a beautiful town and Carrie puts on a fantastic concert - you'll have a great time!
Downtown, Back Alley Diner, BAD. Bacon wrapped jalapeno poppers are awesome, as was the rest of the food.
You must stop for dinner (or breakfast!) at Monell's in Nashville (as mentioned by Cowgirl). It's Southern family-style with seating at large tables, making it fun to chat with other diners seated with you. The servers bring out plate after plate after plate of homemade food that is simply amazing. Have been there three times and it was so delicious each and every time.
http://monellstn.com/nashville
Also, the Country Music Hall of Fame is truly fascinating and fun. If you like music history, this is your place. From the oldest to the most modern, you'll find memorabilia there from just about everyone over the last century. I believe they have audio tours, or you can take yourself through at your own pace. The gold and platinum album walls are fascinating (to me, at least).
http://countrymusichalloffame.org/
http://monellstn.com/nashville
Also, the Country Music Hall of Fame is truly fascinating and fun. If you like music history, this is your place. From the oldest to the most modern, you'll find memorabilia there from just about everyone over the last century. I believe they have audio tours, or you can take yourself through at your own pace. The gold and platinum album walls are fascinating (to me, at least).
http://countrymusichalloffame.org/
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that delicious lemonade at Monell's almost led to me desecrating a President's grave on the walk back to the hotel.
Do the Nashville Escape Game. It's freaking awesome.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attracti...iews-The_Escape_Game-Nashville_Tennessee.html
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attracti...iews-The_Escape_Game-Nashville_Tennessee.html
I almost forgot about their peach preserves! We made a special trip back to buy some after the first time we ate there (and ended up staying for breakfast). We have also ordered some to be shipped for gifts to people who were with us that first time. Good stuff! And it won't give you the kind of issues the lemonade apparently did!
One thing I found interesting about eating at a place like Monell's, and about Nashville locals in general, is that they don't care about what you've seen in town. They always seem to want to know where you've eaten and if you're new, they'll give you a laundry list of personal favorites to try.