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Sightseeing Overview
There is more than enough to see in Nashville to warrant a stay of several days, perhaps splitting the time between Downtown and the Opryland area, northeast of the city center. Add in the surrounding rural attractions and a few more days can be spent profitably. A car is essential for rural pursuits, although you can easily explore central Nashville on foot and with the tourist transport options.

The bright and well-stocked Visitor Information Center on Broadway is a good place to start, located in the visually striking Gaylord Entertainment Center, designed primarily for concerts and sporting events. Across Broadway and half a block up Fifth Avenue is the Ryman Auditorium, a place of pilgrimage for country music fans. Further on along Sixth Avenue are the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, State Museum and State Capitol.

Transport, private or public, is needed to get to Opryland (see Excursions), home of the Grand Ole Opry and a cluster of country music museums. Here too is the Opryland Hotel, an attraction in its own right, with indoor gardens that even include an indoor lake, stunning waterfall, and revolving restaurant. Nashville was never known for its understatement, and this is no exception.

Tourist Information
Visitor Information Center
Gaylord Entertainment Center, 501 Broadway, corner of Fifth Avenue
Tel: (615) 259 4747 or 1 800 657 6910.
Website: www.visitmusiccity.com  
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1700.

Passes
Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau (tel: (615) 259 4747; website: www.visitmusiccity.com) offers a variety of passes allowing discounted entry to Nashville tourist attractions. The Music City Total Access Pass offers free entry to four of 14 smaller participating attractions. All are available from the Visitor Information Center (see above), or can be purchased online or by calling 1 800 657 6910 or (615) 259 4700.

Key Attractions:

Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
The new Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum opened its doors in May 2001, following its re-location from Music Row to its impressive new home in the heart of Nashville’s downtown entertainment district. Spanning an entire city block and soaring 33m (107ft) above a lush urban park, the US$37 million facility features over 3,700 sq m (40,000 sq ft) of exhibition space.

The self-guided tour takes the visitor on a chronological journey through the history of country music, from its ‘back porch’ beginnings, through the heyday of the Grand Ole Opry and right up to the present. This fascinating tour takes around three hours, features over one million items of memorabilia (from Elvis Presley’s Gold Cadillac to Patsy Cline’s cowboy boots) and is accompanied by archive recordings from radio, television and many of the country music’s most important recorded works, as well as numerous interactive features.

The Country Music Hall of Fame is home to the largest country music archive in the world and the museum’s archivists and restoration experts can be viewed at work through the glass walls of their hi-tech studios. An enormous two-story wall displays every gold and platinum record ever to make the country charts. There is daily live music in the atrium, in the form of live CMT (Country Music Television) broadcasts. The museum also boasts the Ford Theater, a 214-seat state-of-the-art performance venue featuring a digital film presentation on country music from around the world. The 1,676 sq m (5,500 sq ft) museum shop offers one of Nashville’s best selections of vintage and current country music CDs, tapes, books, videos, collectibles and apparel. A full-service restaurant features contemporary Southern cuisine and is open for lunch.

222 Fifth Avenue South (corner of Demonbreun Street)
Tel: (615) 416 2001 or 1 800 852 6437.
Website: www.countrymusichalloffame.com  
Opening hours: Daily 0900-1700.
Admission charge.

Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum
One of Music City’s latest additions, opened in 2006, is the first museum and hall of fame to honor the studio musician. Owned and created by former singer/songwriter Joe Chambers, the museum features artifacts and instruments used during legendary recording sessions, a 465 sq m (5,000 sq ft) performance hall, functioning recording hall, and school of music which offers lessons to students of all ages.

301 Sixth Avenue South
Tel: (615) 244 3263.
Website: www.musicianshalloffame.com
Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 1000-1800, Fri-Sat 1000-1700.
Admission charge.

The Hermitage
The home of Andrew Jackson (America’s seventh president) is Nashville’s national treasure, attracting 250,000 visitors every year. Jackson first bought the property in 1804 and some of the original log cabins still survive. Rather more grand is the Greek Revival mansion he built in 1837, which has been fully restored, containing almost all original period furnishings. The gardens are impressive too and there is a museum on the site, as well as a restaurant and gift shop.

4580 Rachel’s Lane, Hermitage
Tel: (615) 889 2941.
Website: www.thehermitage.com  
Opening hours: Daily 0830-1700 (Apr-mid Oct); 0900-1630 (mid Oct-Mar).
Admission charge.

Ryman Auditorium
One of downtown Nashville’s prime attractions is the original home of the Grand Ole Opry, which still puts on all kinds of musical shows in the evening. By day, visitors can tour the auditorium, stand on the stage and hear anecdotes from the tour guides about the country stars who played here. These include Hank Williams, Patsy Cline and even a young Elvis Presley, when he was still regarded as a country singer. Memorabilia is on display, with some stage outfits and guitars. Ryman was a riverboat captain who built the theater in 1892, as a venue for religious meetings.

116 Fifth Avenue North
Tel: (615) 889 3060.
Website: www.ryman.com  
Opening hours: Daily 0900-1600; evening shows vary.
Admission charge.

Cheekwood
Known as Nashville’s ‘Home of Art and Gardens’ and also the Museum of Art, Cheekwood covers a site of 22 hectares (55 acres). The three-story Georgian-style Cheek Mansion was built in the 1930s, by Leslie and Mabel Cheek - Leslie Cheek being a successful local businessman. The art collection concentrates on local artists, such as the sculptor, Will Edmondson - the first African-American whose work was displayed at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, in 1937. American art and fine art of the 19th and 20th centuries are also covered. The gardens of the estate are magnificent and include a botanic hall and woodland sculpture trail. There is a restaurant open for lunch and a gift shop. Seasonal classes and workshops, exhibits, auctions and community events are held regularly at Cheekwood.

1200 Forrest Park Drive
Tel: (615) 356 8000.
Website: www.cheekwood.org  
Opening hours: Tues-Sat 0930-1630, Sun 1100-1630.
Admission charge.

Tennessee State Museum
This stimulating collection tells the story of the state, from prehistoric times through to the early 20th century. Special attention is paid to prominent characters, such as Andrew Jackson and Davy Crockett, as well as the Civil War. Historical arts and crafts items are also displayed and, in addition to the permanent collection, there are temporary exhibitions, for which there is usually a small admission charge.

Polk Cultural Center, 505 Deaderick Street
Tel: (615) 741 2692 or 1 800 407 4324.
Website: www.tnmuseum.org
Opening hours: Tues-Sat 1000-1700, Sun 1300-1700.
Free admission.

Tennessee State Capitol
The Tennessee State Capitol was built in 1859 and many parts of it, including the library and the Supreme Court chamber, have been restored to their original grandeur. Portraits of local dignitaries gaze down from the walls, while statues of famous Tennesseans, such as General Andrew Jackson and President James Polk, stand in the Capitol’s grounds.

Charlotte Avenue, between Sixth and Seventh Avenues
Tel: (615) 741 1621.
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1600.
Free admission; group tours also available.

Belle Meade Plantation
The Belle Meade Plantation (huge grounds known as ‘The Queen of Tennessee Plantations’) contains one of the oldest houses in Tennessee - a log cabin from 1790. The star attraction, however, is the 1853 Greek Revival Mansion, which has been lovingly restored to its original elegance. Other original outbuildings survive on the 12-hectare (30-acre) site, including the stables and an 1890s carriage house, which are popular venues for weddings and large parties. Guides dressed in period costume give tours. There is also a visitor center, tearoom and gift shop.

5025 Harding Road
Tel: (615) 356 0501 or 1 800 270 3991.
Website: www.bellemeadeplantation.com  
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 0900-1700, Sun 1100-1700.
Admission charge.

Adventure Science Center
This was formerly the Cumberland Science Museum, and it remains firmly aimed at younger visitors. There are numerous hands-on exhibits and daily displays on scientific subjects. A simulated flight over Nashville is one attraction. Touring exhibitions are also housed here. A new, state-of-the-art Sudekum Planetarium will open in summer 2008 to replace the existing planetarium.

800 Fort Negley Boulevard
Tel: (615) 862 5160.
Website: www.adventuresci.com  
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 1000-1700, Sun 1230-1730.
Admission charge.

Parthenon
Over the years, Nashville has established itself as the one of the foremost seats of learning in the USA, with its prominent university (Vanderbilt) and famous medical and film schools. Because of this, Nashville is sometimes referred to as the ‘Athens of the South’. This replica of Greece’s most famous building was erected in 1897, to house the international art exhibition for the Centennial Exposition in recognition of this achievement. It now serves as Nashville’s art museum, but the real focus of the Parthenon is the gilded 13m (42ft) re-created statue of the goddess Athena. The statue took eight years to build on-site, and while walking or driving around the illuminated Parthenon at night, you may be fortunate enough to catch a glimpse through rarely opened doors of an event such as a private wedding reception gathered under the stunning gaze of the golden Athena. The glory of ancient Greece has indeed been meticulously re-created.

West End and 25th Avenues, Centennial Park
Tel: (615) 862 8431.
Website: www.parthenon.org  
Opening hours: Tues-Sat 0900-1630 (year round); Sun 1230-1630 (Jun-Aug).
Admission charge.

Further Distractions:

Belmont Mansion
This Italianate mansion was built in 1853 by Adelicia Acklen, who at the time was one of the wealthiest women in America - thanks in part to her cotton trading with both sides during the Civil War. There are 16 rooms that are open to the public, with guided tours showing the original furniture and artworks. The grounds, now part of Belmont University, also contain a gazebo and statuary.

1900 Belmont Boulevard
Tel: (615) 460 5459.
Website: www.belmontmansion.com  
Admission charge.

Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park
This large park covers an area of eight hectares (19 acres) to the north of the State Capitol. The grounds contain 31 fountains (corresponding to the main rivers of Tennessee) and a vast granite map of the state. The park also has walks, a Wall of History, an amphitheater, and good views, especially leading up to the Capitol itself.

600 James Robertson Parkway
Tel: (615) 741 5280.
Website: www.tennessee.gov/environment/parks/Bicentennial  
Free admission.

Frist Center for the Visual Arts
The Frist Center for the Visual Arts is a non-profit art-exhibition center in downtown Nashville, with approximately 7,315 sq m (24,000 sq ft) of gallery space, dedicated to presenting the finest visual art from local, state and regional artists, as well as major US and international exhibitions. It is housed in a beautiful 1930s art deco building, which was originally Nashville’s historic main post office. The building was renovated in the late 1990s, with great care taken to preserve its interior period ornamental features. Hands-on activities in the ArtQuest Gallery provide interactive and educational experiences for all ages. On Thursday and Friday evenings the center features live music in the lobby and wine is available at the cash bar. Frist Fridays is a popular outdoor concert series held once a month from May to October. Frist Center Kids Club offers free Saturday afternoon art classes for kids aged five to 10 years.

919 Broadway
Tel: (615) 244 3340.
Website: www.fristcenter.org  
Admission charge.

Nashville Shores Yacht Club & Marina
A summertime only (May to September) water park on Percy Priest Lake, featuring boat and jet ski hire, water slides, swimming pools and mini-golf.

4001 Bell Road, Hermitage
Tel: (615) 889 7050.
Website: www.nashvilleshores.com  
Admission charge.

Lane Motor Museum
Unique collection of over 175 European cars, all in driveable condition, dating from the 1920s. Housed in an original 12,263 sq m (132,000 sq ft) Sunbeam bakery building. The collection is owned and maintained by the Lane family.

702 Murfreesboro Pike
Tel: (615) 742 7445.
Website: www.lanemotormuseum.org
Admission charge.

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Graceland	Grand Ole Opry