Nashville, Tennessee, founded in 1779, has grown into a diverse and popular city with many tourist attractions, including the Grand Ole Opry, Country Music Hall of Fame, Ryman Auditorium, and Nashville Zoo. The Parthenon and Belcourt Theater are also worth visiting. The city offers a variety of dining options and is worth a weekend or week-long visit.
In 1779, a town was founded on the banks of the Cumberland River in Middle Tennessee. What began as a village on what was then the western frontier has grown into one of America’s most popular cities: Nashville, Tennessee.
Nashville has a metropolitan-style government, so its population of 569,000 covers the entire county. Nashville’s population is diverse and offers great sights and sounds.
As the city of music and, indeed, the home of the country music industry in America, Nashville’s vibe is quite crackling with creative energy. As a result, Nashville tourist attractions are everywhere. Some are more for adults, but there are plenty of family-friendly tourist attractions in Nashville as well.
A good place to start is with the most popular country music tourist attractions in Nashville. Undoubtedly, pre-eminent among these is the Grand Ole Opry. Located in eastern Nashville, the Opry presents shows several times a week, and radio shows still air Friday and Saturday nights on WSM 650 AM. The overpriced and overrated Opryland Hotel is nearby. As far as Nashville tourist attractions go, the Atrium is worth a visit, but there are plenty of other interesting things to see and do.
The Country Music Hall of Fame and the Mother Church of Country Music, Ryman Auditorium, are both downtown. Downtown Broadway is one of Nashville’s top tourist attractions and is home to Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, the Opry’s famous watering hole. Ryman Auditorium on Fifth Avenue still hosts concerts and is open for tours. It was once home to the Grand Ole Opry and is still one of Nashville’s most popular tourist attractions. The Country Music Hall of Fame is also located on Fifth Avenue and features many exhibits on the history and impact of country music. Just up the street from Broadway is Music Row, home to the studios, publishing houses and record labels that made Nashville famous.
Lower Broadway is lined with clubs, bars and shops, as is Second Avenue. Both are nearly impassable on Friday and Saturday nights, unless the temperature is well below freezing. The center is also home to the Schermerhorn Symphony Center and the Frist Center for the Visual Arts, both notable for the music and exhibits featured in their halls.
For families, one of the best tourist attractions in Nashville is the Nashville Zoo in Grassmere. The zoo is still growing and expanding, but the animals are present in spacious and natural surroundings and the teachers are knowledgeable and friendly. The large hyacinth macaws are not to be missed and the zoo also has a petting zoo for children of all ages. Buy a cup of nectar in the lorikeet aviary and they will land on your arm to sip from the cup.
History buffs can also find interesting tourist attractions in Nashville. The town was the site of a major Civil War battle, and there is a National Cemetery in nearby Madison just north of town. US President Andrew Jackson has made his residence near the city and the Hermitage and the gardens are open for tours. Guests can visit the house, many buildings and learn about the interesting results of recent archaeological excavations on the site.
Built in 1897 for the Nashville Centennial Exposition (and renovated in the 1920s), the Parthenon is a stunning replica of the Greek Parthenon in Athens. It serves as the city’s art museum, and a 42-foot (12.5-meter) tall statue of Athena Parthenos welcomes visitors inside the perfectly balanced 7.5-ton (6.8-ton) bronze doors. Located in Centennial Park, the Parthenon is as stunning to see by night as it is by day. Nearby is the Belcourt Theater in Hillsboro Village, near the campus of Vanderbilt University. The theater hosts independent films and film festivals.
Along with Nashville’s many tourist attractions are a number of great restaurants. The ethnically diverse population ensures a huge variety of dining options in the city.
The Nashville Convention and Visitors website also has plenty of tips on what to do in the city, along with travel planning information. The city of music is worth a weekend or week-long visit.
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