Visit the home Country Music
Whilst not every country star is from the city, there’s very few that haven’t played or recorded there – and if you’re serious about playing country, you must have dreamt of one day being inducted into the Country Hall of Fame!
Of course, there’s more to Nashville than just country music. Modern Nashville is a popular university city bursting with big personalities, big talents and big history. Nashville is, of course, one of America’s older cities – with all the fascinating destinations you’d expect with that.
Popular historical sites of interest include Fort Nashborough – a recreation of the original American Revolution era settlement – and Fort Negley, a semi restored battle fort from the American Civil War. History buffs are also sure to appreciate both the magnificent Tennessee State Capitol which is one of the oldest working capitol buildings in the United States, and The Hermitage just a few miles from city which is a historical plantation and museum owned by former President Andrew Jackson.
Whilst not strictly as historic as its famous inspiration, Nashville’s full size replica of Athens’ Parthenon remains an incredibly popular attraction. Built in 1897 as part of the Tennessee Centennial Exposition, the Parthenon reflects Nashville’s reputation as the ‘Athens of the South’. Visitors can also find out more about the history of the city and state by visiting the enormous Tennessee State Museum.
For all its rich history, Nashville and country music go hand in hand. Centred around downtown Nashville, and particularly in the Lower Broadway, Second Avenue and Printer’s Alley areas, bars, restaurants and nightclubs are abound – all humming to the city’s signature country sounds. This area is also a great place to sample a little of Nashville’s famous cuisine such as hot chicken – a delicious local form of fried chicken spiced richly with cayenne pepper.
To get the real Nashville experience, many visitors like to attend the Grand Ole Opry – a weekly stage concert broadcast live on radio showcasing the best in country, bluegrass, folk and gospel. It’s a show that’s been running since 1925, so you know it’s the best in town! If you find yourself in Nashville during June, why not check out the CMA Music Festival? Running for four days, the CMA is a great chance to hear over 400 artists, and perhaps even get an autograph at one of the signing events.
No trip to Nashville is complete without a visit to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Just ten blocks from downtown, the museum is home to thousands of fascinating artefacts illustrating the story of country from its humble beginnings to mainstream popularity today – as well as the glittering parade of stars in the Hall of Fame itself.
