Today on American Nomad Traveler, we’re beginning our exploration of one of my favorite city’s Nashville, Tennessee. Nashville is known as ‘The Athens of the South,’ because it has long been a center of arts, culture and learning. It is most famously known as ‘Music City,’ and is headquarters for all genres of music, especially country and roots.
Nashville is a traveler’s dream: a city that truly offers something for everyone. Dive into the honky-tonks, explore the art, delve into the history, and discover countless other adventures – Nashville awaits!
Nashville IS Music City: Listen to music in the same honkytonks where the twang and high lonesome of legends like Hank Williams and Patsy Cline soared, and visit the ‘Mother Church of Country Music’ and the original home of ‘The Grand Ole Opry’ – The Ryman Auditorium
While Nashville is synonymous with country music, believe it or not Nashville’s music scene is filled with other genres from rock to blues to pop to classical and beyond. On any given night of the week you can catch a country song, then go to the symphony or a heavy metal band gig at The Exit/In. That’s what makes Nashville so special for music lovers. My favorite shows are local singer-songwriter nights at spots like The Bluebird, where you can hear some of the best new emerging talent singing their stories.
You can check out a calendar of upcoming shows via local newspaper The Nashville Scene or the Visit Music City website. I’ll dive into some Music focused Nashville itineraries in future posts.
Travel through Nashville’s Historic Past
Nashville is teeming with history from regional Native American sites to the era of President Andrew Jackson and The Antebellum period to the horrors of The Civil War and beyond. Even after living in Nashville for five years and returning often I still have not visited every historic site in the region – because there is so much history here.
Love Nature – One of the best things about Nashville is its ready access to dozens of city and state parks. Middle Tennessee is part of the Cumberland Plateau with rolling hills and meandering rivers, making it a perfect basecamp for outdoor excursions. Nashville is the northern entrance to the beautiful and historic Natchez Parkway. My favorite place to walk in Nashville is scenic and peaceful Radnor Lake State Park
Hungry for delicious eats? While I make fun of the recent Nashville Hot Chicken phase – it is a popular tradition but was not a huge thing circa 2005 to 2009, and when you go Hot Chicken it was from the amazing Prince’s Chicken…Nashville is a melting pot of cultures and you won’t lack for scrumptious eats from southern traditional cuisine, to mouthwatering Mexican…whatever the craving you’ll find it in Nashville.
My favorite quick Tex-Mex spot is San Antonio Taco Company – nicknamed SATCO
Arts and Culture – As I mentioned earlier, Nashville is nicknamed The Athens of the South – it even has its own Parthenon, which we’ll visit in a future post. Nashville is home to world class museums like The FRIST Museum of the Arts, Tennessee State History Museum, Country Music Hall of Fame, Adventure Science Center and so much more.
In our introduction to Nashville, I want to start off with some fun ideas to incorporate into your itinerary. In upcoming posts, I’ll give you a curated tour of some of my favorite haunts and hidden gems in the region.
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Music See for Music Lovers:
- The Ryman Auditorium: The Mother Church of Country Music…once home to the Grand Ole Opry, this old church was converted into a concert venue in the early 1900s and is MY FAVORITE MUSIC VENUE PERIOD. The acoustics, the character and history make this a MUST See in Nashville. The Ryman has a wide variety of shows from old-time bluegrass to music legends. I was able to see Ricky Skaggs in the bluegrass series in 2022 for only $25.00. You can also take a guided backstage tour. Discover more about The Ryman here.
- Catch a show at The Grand Ole Opry – by the 1970s the popular Grand Ole Opry had outgrown the seating capacity at The Historic Ryman Auditorium and moved to the outskirts of Nashville in an area called Opryland. While I hate the traffic getting there, it is worth the music inside. On my last trip I was treated to Kathy Mattea and Sara Evans. Book your Opry tickets here.
- Country Music Hall of Fame: I try to visit this museum every time I’m in Nashville. It tells the story of country music from its inception with The Bristol Sessions (learn more from our visit to Bristol here) to early hitmakers, rockabilly and outlaw country, pop-country to today. The core exhibits have collectibles from the biggest stars in country music like Patsy Cline to Taylor Swift. They also have excellent special exhibits and life concerts. Book your tickets here.
- RCA Studio B: I was blessed to take a course at RCA Studio B while attending Belmont University. We end played Elvis’s piano for our demo session! It is known as the studio of 1000 hits. Historic RCA Studio B is among the most significant recording spaces in the world. For twenty years, the RCA Records studio was the incubator for hit after hit in the country and pop markets. Here many famous artists—including Eddy Arnold, the Everly Brothers, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Roy Orbison, Dolly Parton, Charley Pride, Jim Reeves, and Connie Smith—made some of their most important records (source official website). Country Music Hall of Fame member Chet Atkins, who was a virtuoso guitarist and award-winning producer for RCA made this studio his home base and helped developed the pop-country ‘Nashville Sound’ that emerged in the late 50s and throughout the 60s and beyond. Today you can visit RCA Studio B with combo admission from The Country Music Hall of Fame, where a bus takes guests to the studio, which is in the heart of music row. Plan your visit here.
- Johnny Cash Museum: One of the most popular tourist spots in Nashville, this downtown museum features tells the story of the ‘Man in Black’ through memorabilia and his music. Buy tickets here
- Musician’s Hall of Fame and Museum: This museum is dedicated to the men and women who make the music behind the scenes. As a singer-songwriter who records with Nashville studio musicians I know firsthand how important these producers and session players are. They help bring my music alive…Each exhibit tells the story of a musician that you may have heard but may have never seen. The Musicians Hall of Fame is a premiere Nashville attraction and the one and only museum in the world that honors the talented musicians who actually played on the greatest recordings of all time. Plan your visit here
- National Museum of African American Music: NMAAM is the only museum dedicated to preserving and celebrating the many music genres created, influenced, and inspired by African Americans. We have African American musical traditions to thank for genres like Country, Blues, Soul, R&B and Gospel…this museum tells the story of their contributions to music history. Must stop in downtown Nashville. Plan your visit here.
- Catch a show at one of Nashville’s amazing venues a few of my favorites are The Bluebird, Station Inn, 3rd and Lindsley and Robert’s Western World (downtown honkytonk)
- Speaking of honkytonks – no Nashville trip would be complete without at least one night meandering the Broadway honkytonks like Tootsie’s and Nudie’s and grabbing dinner downtown. One of my favorite places for a special dinner downtown is Merchants.
- If you want the Downtown Experience but with a more low key vibe, buy a ticket to a Broadway show at TPAC and enjoy dinner and drinks at the Historic Hermitage Hotel.
Traveling through Nashville’s History
Nashville is steeped in history from thousands of years of Native American settlement in the region, to the early French fur-trappers and then first permanent Colonialsettlers to enter the area in the late 18th-century.
Until 1796, Tennessee was considered western North Carolina and frontier country. As we learned in our last two posts, Jonesborough and Greeneville in northeast Tennessee were the first two permanent settlements in Tennessee. Nashville was considered the hinterland, cut off from much of the eastern political and economic centers until the early 1800s, and from there it quickly grew into one of the largest and most important cultural and economic centers in the south.
You can learn about the origins of the city of Nashville at Fort Nashborough near the downtown Riverfront. Nashville is built on The Cumberland River, which made it a perfect riverport city in the 1800s.
It was founded by James Robertson and a party of Wataugans (from present-day western NC) and named Fort Nashborough after American Revolutionary War hero Francis Nash. By 1806, with Tennessee now a state, Nashville was formally incorporated and eventually became the capital of Tennessee in 1843. It continues to serve as the capital today.
- Visit Fort Nashborough on the banks of The Cumberland River near downtown…this self-guided tour takes your through a reconstruction of the original fort. Learn more here.
- Visit the Tennessee State Capitol Building – we’ll be visiting this iconic Tennessee site in a future post because it has such a fascinating (and perhaps ‘spirited history’) – tours are available most days. It’s setting on a hill overlooking Nashville offers one of my favorite cityscapes. More information here.
- Discover the life and presidency of Andrew Jackson aka ‘Old Hickory’ at The Hermitage. If you love architecture and history this site, located thirty minutes east of Nashville is NOT to be MISSED. Jackson was the first populist president, a self-made man who worked his way into politics through his courageous service in the War of 1812 and opening a law practice. Jackson is one of the most complicated presidents as he stood up for The Constitution during the Nullification Crisis in the 1830s (South Carolina wanted to leave the union over tariffs – ahh tariffs you have to laugh a little). Yet his policy with The Trail of Tears was treacherous. The museum does a great job both humanizing his strengths while not ignoring his flaws and the difficulties of the time. Plan your visit here.
- Stop by Traveler’s Rest the late eighteenth century plantation owner John Overton who later served as a Supreme Court judge under Andrew Jackson. Website
- Belle Meade Plantation once was the most important stud farm in horse racing and bred the first thoroughbred racing horse to win a major derby in America (Iroquois was the horse). Today you can tour the 1853 plantation grounds, enjoy libations at the winery and learn about Tennessee horse racing. Website.
- Belmont Mansion – located on the campus of my alma mater Belmont University. This Italianate Revival Mansion was owned by one of the wealthiest women in the south Adelicia Acklen. Today tours are offered by Belmont students and staff. Website
Civil War Routes, Nashville faced near ruin during the Civil War, with much of Nashville being part of the bloody ‘Battle of Nashville’ in 1862, before The Union recaptured the city. You will see historic signs throughout the city telling the story of The Battle of Nashville. Many of the downtown churches from Catholic to Methodist to Episcopalian were used during the war as hospitals.
One of the best places to learn about this terrible time where neighbors fought neighbors is at The Tennessee State Museum of History. This state of the art museum has excellent exhibits about prehistoric tribes in Tennessee to extensive history on The Civil War, The Reconstruction Era into the modern day. The museum is free to visit and offers guided tours (check their website for times). After touring the museum, you can walk next door and explore The Nashville Farmers Market and nearby Bicentennial Plaza.
The greater Nashville region is teeming with history too, I’ll too another post on ‘venturing outside of Nashville’ but a couple of sites worth exploring in the region:
Stone’s River Battleground in Murfreesboro
Historic Downtown Franklin and the Civil War Sites tied to The Battle of Franklin. The Carnton Plantation, Carter Plantation and Rippavilla are three sites I recommend, along with the The Lotz House.
Fun for the whole family:
- Every trip to Nashville I make a point to visit The Nashville Zoo...tigers to kangaroos, red pandas to ocelots – the zoo has amazing animals and staff. We’ll feature the Zoo in an upcoming post…. Plan your trip here
- Adventure Science Center: Fun and interactive science museum in Nashville. From Legos to Space you never know what you’ll discover at ASC.
Art Expeditions in Nashville…
Nashville has long been considered a center for the arts, and was selected to host the World’s Fair
- FRIST Museum of Arts: One of my favorite Art Museums…I used to volunteer at The FRIST during college. They don’t have a permanent collection, but instead get amazing traveling exhibits. Read about their recent Farm to Table exhibit from our sister blog Art Expeditions
- The Parthenon: This will be the focus of our next post. The only full space replica of the Parthenon in the world…the architecture and history of it’s being built first in the 1897 Tennessee Centennial Exhibition then as a permanent addition. The hidden gem of this museum is the art collection of American masters like Bierstadt in the basement. Official Website
- Cheekwood: Meander their sculpture gardens and tour the permanent collection in the main house. Website
- Fisk University Collection: One of the oldest HBCU in America, the Fisk Jubilee Singers we so renowned that were sent to Europe to perform for Queen Victoria. Georgia O’Keefe donated 101 important paintings of modern art to the school, which are occasionally on view (they sold the collection rights to Crystal Bridges in Arkansas and split the collection). There student galleries are magnificent regardless. Website.
Nashville Outdoors
- Percy Warner and Edwin Warner State Parks are conveniently located near Belle Meade neighborhood (and off Highway 100) in South Nashville. The parks offer tons of green space for hiking, picnicking and even golf!
- Radnor Lake: I used to hike here three times a week while a student at Belmont. It has peaceful scenery and a nice visitor’s center.
- Meander down The Natchez Trace, which begins in Nashville and runs 444 miles southwest to historic Natchez MS. In the Nashville portion of the trace experience scenic rural vistas, historic buildings, hike the backcountry trails and pay home to the death site of Meriwether Lewis (a hero of mine, who sadly died of mysterious circumstances an hour south of Nashville on The Natchez Trace)
- Long Hunter State Park and Cedars of The Lebanon State Parks are about thirty minutes east of Nashville and provide great areas for picnicking and easy to access trails.
- Canoe the waters of The Harpeth at Harpeth River State Park
Planning your trip…Subscribe to American Nomad Traveler for more Nashville tourist tips. I also recommend the following sites as you plan your Music City adventures.
Where to Stay:
Nashville has over hundred hotels from chains to boutique hotels, VRBO to five star accommodations. When I’m visiting Nashville I am not in the room music, as I’m always exploring the city or in the recording studio making music…my go-to hotels the past few years have been:
- Hampton Inn chain, both the Elliston Place and Green Hills locations. As a default on most trips Hampton Inn is my favorite chain because it is always clean, affordable and has hot breakfast.
- Comfort Inn Music Row – this is an older hotel right on Music Row (where the music business happens) near a few bars and restaurants. The price is affordable and the rooms are clean, however it was built in the 1970s era so it has a motor inn feel. Breakfast is included and it is very walkable and drivable to many sites in the downtown area and beyond.
A few favorite Restaurants…
We’ll dig into Nashville’s food scene in a future blog adventure, but I always enjoy eating lunch at San Antonio Taco Company or Elliston Soda Shop…For coffee I must stop by Bongo Java and The Frothy Monkey each trip…for dinner I like The Loveless Cafe...It is considered a tourist place, but who cares. The atmosphere is cool and country and the price is right. In the greater Nashville area my favorite place to eat is Demos Steakhouse – amazing steak for the price. I hate that the one in downtown Nashville closed after COVID, so I usually drive to their location in Lebanon or Hendersonville to get my bacon wrapped steak.
In our next post, we’ll tour the Parthenon and I’ll share some tips for local coffee shops and my cheap eats.
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Meet Adele Lassiter, the travel enthusiast behind American Nomad Traveler. This blog is where she shares her love for history, cool museums, art, and travel tips. And when she’s not writing, Adele is also a talented singer-songwriter with a passion for Americana music. Her new album is available here: adelelassiter.bandcamp.com
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