Nashville Attractions

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Nashville is one of the most important cities in the South, both in the past and in modern times. It is a city of music, art and culture. It is fairly cosmopolitan, despite its image of having a rural personality.

Here are some of the biggest attractions in Nashville as well as some that are below the radar.

Budget

Nashville has interesting public spaces. Bicentennial Mall, which is near the state capitol building, features memorials and fountains. A nearby farmers’ market is an added attraction during the summer. There are 112 other park areas in the city, the most popular being Centennial Park (West End Avenue at 25th Avenue). It features a lake, walkways and several important monuments, such as a scale replica of the Parthenon.

Nashville has numerous quirky, independently-owned shops. Grimley’s (1604 8th Ave. South) is one of the most popular independent record stores in the South. Artists frequently make in-store appearances and there are CD release parties and a huge selection of music. The nearby Hillsboro Center houses an independent bookstore, a local jewelry and art gallery and a host of other independently owned retail venues.

Value

The Yazoo Brewery is a working brewery that offers tours on Saturday, when the staff is off. This is a great place for beer-lovers to visit, especially since the tour includes a free tasting session.

There are other music-themed venues in Nashville aside from the Opry and Hall of Fame (see splurge below). The Bluebird Café (4104 Hillsboro Pike) is where nationally known songwriters come to perform their work in front of an audience that often includes talent scouts and record label executives. The Bluebird offers insight into the industry as well as giving people a chance to glimpse up-and-coming stars and some of music’s biggest names in an intimate setting.

Splurge

It is well known that Nashville is the epicenter of the country music industry. The Grand Ole Opry is the most famous music venue in the city. It has been hosting shows since 1925 and is the most important venue for country music stars. For a bit of country music history, the Country Music Hall of Fame (222 Fifth Ave) features the past’s most prolific songwriters, musicians, and singers.

The Belmont Mansion (1900 Belmont Blvd) is one of those old Southern mansions you might picture in your imagination when you think of Nashville. Guided tours are available daily. The marble statues and décor are what you’d imagine a southern mansion to be furnished with.