Nashville, the state capital and Tennessee’s second-largest city, is nicknamed the Athens of the South after its full-scale reproduction of the original Parthenon in Athens, Greece. The city is a center for the music, health care, publishing, banking, and transportation industries, and is home to a number of colleges and universities. Like Memphis, music draws people. The city on the Cumberland River is a crossroads of American culture and one of the fastest growing areas of the South.
Here are 5 spots you may want to suggest to clients:
1. Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly American country music stage concert in Nashville, founded on November 28, 1925, by George D. Hay, as a one-hour radio “barn dance” on WSM. Currently owned and operated by Opry Entertainment, it is the longest-running radio broadcast in US history. Dedicated to honoring country music and its history, the Opry showcases a mix of famous singers and contemporary chart-toppers performing country, Bluegress, Americana, folk, and gospel music as well as comedic performances and skits. It attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the world and millions of radio and internet listeners.
2. The Country Music Hall of Fame
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, located in downtown Nashville, has been called the “Smithsonian of country music,” celebrated for its broad cultural impact, educational mission, and unrivaled collection of historically important artifacts related to country music. Chartered by the state of Tennessee in 1964, the Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, educational organization.
3. Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center
Situated in the heart of Nashville, Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center welcomes guests to a stunning, one-of-a-kind resort experience. From SoundWaves, the city’s premier aquatic attraction, to an exciting lineup of family-friendly activities and entertainment, there’s something for the entire family to enjoy. Guests can explore 9 acres of airy, indoor garden atriums, a wide selection of award-winning restaurants & bars, the world-class Relâche Spa, and a state-of-the-art fitness center. The resort is located near Nashville Intl Airport, downtown, and attractions like the Grand Ole Opry and Ryman Auditorium for guests wishing to explore Music City.
4. General Jackson Showboat
One of the largest showboats ever built, the grand General Jackson is an elegant triumph of American ingenuity. With its elegant lacy filigree and stately design, the boat is reminiscent of the opulence of the American Victorian era. Showboats have long been a colorful part of our nation’s history, and this most unique Nashville attraction epitomizes the grace and grandeur of the South.
The General Jackson Showboat is named after the first steamboat to operate on the Cumberland River in 1817.
Built by the largest inland shipbuilder in the United States, Jeffboat, located in Indiana, the General Jackson was launched on the Ohio River in Indiana to start the journey to its new home on Nashville’s Cumberland River on April 20, 1985.
5. Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage
The Hermitage is where clients can walk through Andrew Jackson’s life and home, explore a beautiful, historic Tennessee farm and experience an important piece of Nashville and our nation.
Rated the third best Presidential Site in the nation by USA TODAY, this is a must-see for any visitor to Music City! Visitors can experience their award-winning exhibit, Andrew Jackson: Born for a Storm. They are open Thursday through Tuesday and offer facility rentals.
