Nashville

Nashville is on a roll that just won't stop. Country-music stars are slapping their names on brand-new honky-tonks. Boutique hotels seem to open monthly. Bachelors and bachelorettes are arriving in hordes to party. And acclaimed chefs are going far beyond the meat-and-three, though biscuits and hot chicken are doing just fine.

But don't fret about all the change. For country fans and wannabe songwriters all over the world, a trip to Nashville is still the ultimate pilgrimage. Since the 1920s the city has been attracting musicians who have taken the country genre from the ‘hillbilly music’ of the early 20th century to the slick ‘Nashville sound’ of the 1960s to the punk-tinged alt-country of the 1990s to the heartfelt indie troubadours of today. Nashville's musical attractions range from the Country Music Hall of Fame to the revered Grand Ole Opry to Jack White’s niche record label.

Short Introduction

Honky-tonks, boutique hotels and chef-driven restaurants are opening at a head-snapping pace, welcoming bachelors and bachelorette parties galore and a gobsmacking stream of brand-new residents.

Music History

The Country Music Hall of Fame in downtown Nashville traces the history of country music, whereas museums dedicated to Johnny Cash, George Jones and Willie Nelson delve into their personal stories. Weekly country-music show the Grand Ole Opry, first broadcast on a Nashville radio station, will celebrate its 95th birthday in 2020.

The Modern Scene

The music scene today is as vibrant as ever: seven days a week the neon lights and beer-perfumed air of Lower Broadway draw crowds of grinning music-lovers into its rumbling honky-tonks, while just to the south the vast, undulating roof of Music City Center imprints a giant guitar shape onto the skyline. The Grand Ole Opry wows guests at Opryland and Ryman Auditorium, and hordes of country-music fans descend on the city for the CMA Music Festival. Several country stars have recently opened their own clubs on Broadway.

Vibrant Neighborhoods

Another reason Nashville's hot: a half-dozen flourishing neighborhoods packed tight with unique shops, indie coffeehouses, innovative bakeries, new breweries and distilleries, and a surprising number of bright murals ready to provide a backdrop for your selfie. East Nashville is home to the city's artisan scene, while 12th Ave S brings the shoppers with its stylish boutiques, vintage collections and gift shops. A sophisticated array of restaurants fills the Gulch, and people-watchers pack out patios in Hillsboro Village. Each neighborhood has a distinct personality, but they're linked by a common commitment to Southern hospitality.

The Great Outdoors

If you need a break from bachelorette-party shenanigans or a boring convention panel, step outside for natural distractions aplenty. An ever-growing network of pedestrian and bike-friendly greenways links Nashville's city parks, which unfurl over rolling hills and lush riparian landscapes. B-Cycle bike-rental stations are conveniently placed at greenway trailheads. Nature and outdoor centers inside the larger parks offer kid-friendly activities and nature walks. In total, the city's park system sprawls across more than 12,000 acres in 108 parks, with 19 greenways. Kayaking and canoeing trips on the gentle Harpeth River are well suited to families.

Must see in
Nashville

  • Country Music Hall of Fame

    The past, present and future collide in this immersive tribute to a uniquely American art form, one born in the hollers of Appalachia in the 1920s and enjoyed around the globe today. The Sing Me Back Home exhibit is the heart of the collection, tracing the history of country music through archival photos and videos, music recordings and fascinating artifacts. In the family gallery, step into a recording booth or try your hand at songwriting. The museum complex houses a historic print shop and an 800-seat theater.

  • Tootsie's Orchid Lounge

    The hotter, louder and more crowded it gets at this raucous honky-tonk, the better. A Lower Broadway mainstay, this boot-stompin' joint has nurtured singer-songwriters since the 1960s, when owner Tootsie Bess encouraged the likes of Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson. The club shares an alley with the Ryman, and back in the day musicians slipped over from the Grand Ole Opry for a beer. Or two. So c'mon, ya'll. Young or old. Hillbilly or high-falutin'. Squeeze yourself in for a cold beer and one last rowdy song.

  • Ryman Auditorium

    Whether you come for the acoustics, the history or the personalities, your soul will surely be stirred at the Mother Church of Country Music. Though renowned for its role as full-time host of the Grand Ole Opry radio show from 1943 to 1974, the Ryman doesn't rest on former glories. The 1892 auditorium still hosts the famous show in winter, but it's also known today for its compelling and diverse line-up of musicians, plus a few comedians and writers. The Backstage Tour delves into the venue's illustrious past.

  • Hot Chicken

    Nashville's signature dish? Fried chicken with an attitude. Infused with a fiery blend of spices, the crispy skin of a piece of hot chicken is a tantalizing challenge for your taste buds. Good thing there's a piece of white bread to soak up the juicy heat. From old-school Prince's to low-frills Pepperfire to the hip scene at Hattie B's, the fun is in picking the proper heat level and seeing how you do. The Shut the Cluck Up! at Hattie B's needs no further explanation.

  • Cycling the Greenways

    As you pedal beside the Cumberland River on the Shelby Bottoms Greenway, you might see a deer grazing in the woods. Or hear the roar of a passing train. With the wind ruffling your hair, it's all delightful…until a free-range toddler darts across your path and you swerve, realizing at once that your B-Cycle is an unwieldy weapon. We jest. Despite the heavy front wheel, B-Cycles are a fun and convenient way to enjoy more than 80 miles of multi-use greenways, which link parks, attractions and neighborhoods across the city.

  • Arrington Vineyards

    To understand the appeal of country music, you have to spend some time in the country. You'll command a sweeping view of Nashville's bucolic surroundings from the picnic tables fronting Arrington Vineyards, a vast winery and vineyard 30 miles south of the city. The view is best enjoyed with a Stag's White. Co-owned by Kix Brooks, of country-music duo Brooks & Dunn, the vineyard is the place to be on pretty weekend nights, when locals descend for bluegrass, jazz, wine tasting and picnicking. Brooks sometimes mingles with the crowd.

  • Appreciating Vinyl

    The vinyl record struts its stuff in Nashville, where pre-loved albums and freshly pressed records preen as if the world has never changed. Third Man Records, a labor of love from White Stripes frontman Jack White, presses records for his boutique label. Step inside to browse or record your own song. On Friday mornings, take a tour of United Record Pressing, which has made vinyl records since 1949. The used-vinyl collection at Grimey's is extensive, and you might find an old favorite at Carpe Diem Records in Franklin.

  • Shopping on 12th Avenue South

    Every stroll through the 12South shopping district should begin with a 100-layer doughnut from Five Daughters Bakery. Why the beginning, not the end? Because these delicious flavor bombs sell out. From here, clothing boutiques line the sidewalks, showcasing apparel lines from New York, LA and Nashville. Reese Witherspoon's preppy Draper James brought celebrity oomph to the party when it opened in 2015. Intriguing vintage stores, buzzy patios and top-notch eateries round out the appeal. And having your photo snapped beside the I Believe in Nashville mural is required.

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