It didn’t take a hit TV series to turn this city into a tourist hotspot. Nashville has been a go-to destination for decades. So, really. Why IS Nashville one of the best cities to visit? Ask a dozen people, get a dozen different answers. Let’s look at some of the top answers.
Because Music Makes Me Come Alive!
Music City USA is brimming with all kinds of music, all of it excellent. But the biggest draw is Country, which morphed from the “Nashville Sound” in the late 1950s. That “sound” was actually an effort to combat the rising popularity of rock-n-roll in the late 1950s. It became what we now call Country Music, and Nashville is its heart, while Music Row is Nashville’s heart.
You’ll see hopefuls pounding the pavement on the Row, looking for their big break. You can spot your favorites there, too, and visit recording studios. And of course, stop in at the Country Music Hall of Fame Museum.
But music is to be heard, so head for Ryman Auditorium, a National Historic Landmark and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Landmark that housed the Grand Ole Opry for 40 years. You can stand on the stage that has welcomed virtually every country music singer you can name plus Ringo Starr, Neil Young, Joan Jett, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Foo Fighters, Wu-Tang Clan, and others. The Ryman runs a full schedule of concerts.
The largest venue in the area is the Grand Old Opry House, the Opry’s current home. With almost twice the number of seats as the Ryman, it is still regularly filled to capacity. Year round programming features country music legends and rising stars.
The pre-eminent small venue is The Bluebird Cafe. With only 90 seats, it’s difficult to get a ticket. And the Bluebird is a listening room. They mean it. You’ll be asked to leave if you talk during the sets. The Bluebird typically features songwriters, the unsung (sorry!) heroes of the tunes you can’t stop humming.
Smaller venues abound all over town. Notables are Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, known for its honky-tonk vibe and featured in a documentary hosted by Willie Nelson. Its three stages welcome local talent of all genres, guaranteeing something for everyone. And the food is great! No ticket required – first come, first serve.
Another is the Station Inn, which offers bluegrass music every night of the year, accompanied by great food! Like all the venues listed except for Tootsie’s, Station Inn requires tickets.
Because My Child/Parent/Partner/Other Related Person Is Looking for a College.
The dreaded Spring Break College Tour can be tagged onto your vacation in the first Southern US city to have a public school system. Another often-heard nickname is Athens of the South because of its dedication to education for all. Today it boasts 12 4-year institutions and 6 community colleges. Some of these are popular tourist locations.
Fisk University, an HBCU school, is the oldest institute of higher education in Nashville. Its Jubilee Hall is a National Historical Landmark, and its remarkable Memorial Chapel a great IG spot.
Since the 1850s, the famed Fisk Jubilee Singers have helped shape the world’s understanding of Black American culture. A stroll on the peaceful campus puts you in the footsteps of notable social action leaders, Pulitzer-prize winners, politicians, and award-winning artists who are Fisk alumni.
Belmont University, housed on a former estate, boasts a leading College of Entertainment and Music Business that combines the creative with the business aspects of the industry. Its alumni include some big names in country music.
Part of the campus retains the grace and spirit of another time, with a 43-bell carillon tower that chimes on the hour from 9a to 8p. And, yes, students can take a for-credit course in carillon playing at Belmont!
Tennessee State University, an HBCU school, welcomes all qualified and interested students into the community on its two park-like campuses and three farms. This nationally recognized research institute is probably better known for its marching band – the Aristocrat of Bands – the first ever collegiate marching band to win a Grammy Award, and they won TWO! Their band practices are some of the great free concerts around. Oprah Winfrey is an alum!
Vanderbilt University’s 10 schools are hubs for research, experimentation, and creativity. The undergraduate school, with over 70 majors, is organized in residential colleges – living communities led by faculty heads that encourage intellectual, cultural, and personal development. Consistently named in the top 20 research universities in the US, Vandy boasts two Nobel Peace Prize Winners among its alumni, and five other Nobel laureate affiliates. Its 4-year graduation rate is a whopping 89%.
Because History Has Lessons We Need to Learn
Some of the US’s darkest stories are wrapped in Nashville history. But they aren’t hidden. They are there to teach and remind us. Visitors can find Civil Rights Walking and Driving Tours. Older narratives are offered honestly and gracefully at local historic sites.
The Hermitage, home of the US’s seventh president Andrew Jackson, was served by over 300 enslaved people. Tours of the elegant, Greek Revival home include time at the enslaved community cemetery, where remnants of Jackson’s controversial legacy are interred. While the President was known as an advocate for working Americans, he was a lifelong slave owner.
Similarly, Belle Meade Plantation, with its 1853 Greek Revival Mansion, has the Journey to Jubilee tour that delves into the experiences of the Black Americans who were enslaved there and then chose to remain after emancipation. Belle Meade became a premier stud farm. A winery is now part of the experience for visitors.
Belmont Mansion is a slightly different experience. This is the Italianate home of Adelicia Acklen, a slave trader and the woman rumored to be the model for Scarlett O’Hara. One story tells that Adelicia negotiated with both Union and Confederate officials to be able to ship some cotton to England through their blockades. She made the equivalent of over two million US dollars in today’s currency. The Mansion’s docents can tell lots more wild stories about Adelicia.
Taking in the lessons of history is a significant part of a Nashville trip. But so is having fun. So, why is N’ville one of the best cities to visit?
Because I Love the Nightlife, I LOVE TO BOOGIE!
You can’t gamble in NashVegas, but the nightlife doesn’t stop till dawn! In the Lower Broad area, the city offers live music inside and outside, dancing, street performers, vendors, pop-up parties, and food and drink at all price points.
The Big Thing is Category 10, chock full of bars, dance floors with live music, rooftop eating and drinking areas that are part of its 6 bars and restaurants. There are free line dance lessons Wednesdays through Sundays. Concert venues, sports bars, a speakeasy, a honky-tonk room. Category 10 if one-stop shopping for fun after dark!
Final Thoughts:
These are some of the answers to the title question. Bottom line: Nashville has so much to offer that we can’t include it all here. A visit is bound to be epic. The Nashville vibe is totally unique.
And, the city is just a day’s drive from 50% of the US population. That may include YOU….
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