If you love music, Nashville is the place for you. From legendary Honky Tonks to unique museums, Nashville will keep you rocking. Welcome to Music City!
LessThis building is a full-scale replica of its namesake in Athens, down to the 42-foot statue of Zeus' favorite daughter. Built in 1897 for the Tennessee Centennial Exposition, it now functions as an art museum.
Completed in 1892, this historic landmark primarily operates as a concert venue. Features gleaming wooden pews, stenciled artwork, and amazing acoustics. Take a tour for about $20 and see where bluegrass was invented.
Nashville is the home of country music present and past. This capital city is home to the Country Music Hall of Fame which memorializes artists in this genre which has had a substantial influence on rock 'n' roll. Amazingly, its collection of 200,000 recordings include 98% of the pre-WWII music that was released commercially. Over 30,000 films, 500,000 photographs, and 100s of historical musical instruments are housed here.
The tour must be reserved in advance and you do have to pay a nominal fee of $5 per person but you get it back in the form of a rebate if you buy a box of luscious chocolates. Olive & Sinclair are the makers of "Southern Artisan Chocolate," a delicious blend of cocoa and brown sugar. Known for their unusual ingredients that enhance the rich cocoa flavor, Olive & Sinclair pulls out all the stops to bring you an entertaining and educational factory tour.
Officially the AT&T Building, this skyscraper is noted for two thin steeples the ends which resemble the ears of the masked hero in black. Even though the building looks like an example of the spendthrift ways of corporations, the building was designed with a focus on cutting costs in the construction...and this was the result. It is the tallest building in the state of Tennessee although the dual spires probably have something to do with that.
Housed in a large, rectangular brick building, the collection includes photos, videos, and memorabilia seamlessly weaved together. Almost 50 years (as well as his youth) are included in the exhibits. Visit the museum and then head to the cafe for a meal and coffee! Next to the museum is the Johnny Cash Kitchen and Saloon serving up lunch, dinner, and drinks - and sometimes live music.
The Grand Ole Opry was established in 1925 and has been a fixture in Tennessee every since. Achieving worldwide fame, the Grand Ole Opry claims to have "made country music famous." Famous faces have certainly graced its stage including Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, and Carrie Underwood.
This honky tonk three stages (one on each floor) on which live bands play every night. There are a total of four floors, all the more space to let people stomp, dance, and drink. Like any honky tonk worthy of the name, this one is known to get rowdy in a friendly sort of way. The bar was established around 1960 and served customers such as Willie Nelson, Patsy Cline, and Kris Kristofferson. It's location is historic being near the Ryman Theater which once hosted the Grand Ole Opry.
There's plenty of love that goes into the food served up at the Loveless Cafe. In 1951, Lon and Annie Loveless planted the seeds of their business by selling fried chicken door-to-door. Now they have a full menu, serving breakfast all day and dinner starting at 11 AM. Get your fill of southern comfort with traditional fried dishes as well as biscuits, chicken and waffles, and BLTs.
Exhibits featuring country legend Willie Nelson are displayed alongside his friends which include other legends such as Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, and Patsy Cline. It's a small museum, but chock-full of photos and memorabilia - enough to satisfy the curiosity of any country music aficionado.