Nashville in Tennessee

Nashville, the capital city of Tennessee, is best known for its music, food, and history. Autumn is, without a doubt, the best time of year to spend a long weekend exploring this town, with the best weather all year. Since Tennessee borders 8 other states, Nashville’s central location makes it a hub of the south  –  just a short drive from many cities, like Memphis, Atlanta, or Birmingham. Nashville – Music This southern city has made a name for itself as the center of the music industry, earning the title Music City, USA. Though Nashville is most popular for country music, all styles of live music can be heard around the city, even just walking around downtown in the middle of the day. Music Row, located in mid-town Nashville, is home to hundreds of record labels, recording studios, and music publishers. Places of Interest Don’t miss the historic Ryman Auditorium, located right downtown. Once home of the Grand Ole Opry, the beautiful Ryman began as a church. Its wooden pews and stained-glass windows provide the perfect setting for an intimate concert by your favorite artist. The venue offers backstage tours that will fill you in on the history of the building, and all the music legends that played there. The Country Music Hall of Fame downtown tells the story of country music through its large collection of music history’s artifacts. The main downtown street, Broadway, is lined with lively honky-tonks such as Robert’s Western World, where artists perform on stage every evening. Next door, Jack’s Bar-B-Que cooks up some of the best barbecue in town.Try the beef brisket sandwich and sample the many styles of barbecue sauce while you sip on a glass of sweet tea. Pop in to the Hatch Show Print, the historic print shop that created the iconic style of Nashville and the music scene, and check out the letterpress equipment, and buy some prints and postcards to send home. Also on Broadway are plenty of western-wear shops where you can pick up a pair of cowboy boots before heading over to the Wildhorse Saloon on 2nd for some country line dancing lessons. Not far from downtown, Centennial Park hosts the only full-scale replica of the Greek temple, the Parthenon, in the world. Built in 1897 for Tennessee’s Centennial Expo, the Parthenon was chosen to represent Nashville’s status as the Athens of the South, because of its many universities, like Vanderbilt, Belmont, and Fisk. Nashville’s other historic sites include civil war battlefields, the Belle Meade Plantation, and the Hermitage, which was owned by President Andrew Jackson, is now a museum and point of architectural and historical interest. If you can afford it, you can even stay at the Hermitage Hotel, a 5-star luxury hotel recently voted as one of the top 10 hotels in the country. Another lodging option for country music lovers is the Opryland Hotel, located right next to the Grand Ole Opry. Where to Eat Nashville is a major center for culinary adventures, with everything from traditional to trendy at all price points. The list of places to try goes on and on, but here are a few top picks: The Pancake Pantry is a great spot for breakfast where you just might spot your favorite country music star, but you may want to save this treat for a weekday – on weekend mornings, the line to get in wraps around the corner. If the line there is too long, head down the street to Noshville for some great food, and pick up a black-and-white cookie on your way out. Rotier’s serves up some of the best burgers in town, Mafiaoza’s in the 12th South neighborhood makes the best pizza you’ll find, and both are inexpensive options. Finally, the Loveless Cafe, though located a bit far from downtown, is absolutely worth the drive. Enjoy the biscuits with some honey or jam, and some of the best southern fare in town. The Loveless Cafe is a popular spot for weekend brunch and dinner, so there will be a bit of a wait. The grounds have plenty to keep you busy, though, from the smoke house to shops where you can purchase jam, antiques, and other souvenirs.