Things to do in Nashville – Must-See Attractions
The Bluebird Cafe
When planning a trip to Nashville, it is best to start with the foundation of the city’s draw: Songwriting. Songwriters from all over the world come to “Music City” to learn the art and share their passion for songwriting. The famous Bluebird Cafe showcases songwriters performing their original music in an intimate “in the round” setting that was created in Nashville and allows them to share the stories of inspiration behind their songs.
Honky Tonks on Broadway
The honky tonks are the next focus for the Nashville visitor and country music fan. Live music can be seen and heard every day and night of the week in Nashville. The world-famous honky tonks, located on Broadway, offer free live music 365 days a year.
Visitors will want to experience Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, Legends Corner, Second Fiddle, The Stage, Layla’s Bluegrass Inn and Robert’s Western World, which are all experts at serving up cool longnecks and hot country music. You never know who you’ll see in these Lower Broadway clubs in the shadow of the Ryman. Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Gretchen Wilson, Dierks Bentley and other stars began their careers on Lower Broadway.
The Ryman Auditorium
Visitors will absolutely want to stop into the “Mother Church of Country Music”, also known as the Ryman Auditorium. Fans can see where hundreds of famous artists, from James Brown and Patsy Cline to Bruce Springsteen and Mumford & Sons, have performed.
The auditorium first opened as the Union Gospel Tabernacle in 1892. It was built by Thomas Ryman, a riverboat captain and Nashville businessman who owned several saloons. It was used for the Grand Ole Opry broadcasts from 1943 until 1974, when the Opry built a larger venue just outside Nashville at the Opryland USA theme park.
Even when the Opry moved from the Ryman Auditorium in 1974, fans still continued to visit to see the famous stage, take photographs and buy souvenirs. Major motion pictures also continued to be filmed on location at the auditorium. Today, visitors have two tour options: the self-guided tour and the “backstage” tour. Both tours offer an intimate look at the historic country music landmark.
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
photo: c/o Country Music Hall of Fame
Getting around Nashville is pretty easy. Visitors can take a Hop On/Hop Off tour in the historic and music-filled downtown scene on the Music City Trolley. Hop off at your leisure at historic spots such as The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, which is appropriately nestled in the very heart of Music City and offers an unmatched view of the evolution of country music. This state-of-the-art facility houses an impressive collection of over 2 million artifacts, ranging from stage costumes to instruments. Return guests are dazzled by new displays alongside storied favorites such as Elvis Presley’s solid gold Cadillac!
Things to do in Nashville- Major Music City Events
The CMA Music Festival
Visitors to Nashville often plan their visits around the musical happenings in the city. The CMA Music Festival is the first weekend in June and it is called “Country Music’s Biggest Party”.
The party takes place over 4 days and features more than 70 hours of musical performances, autograph signings, celebrity sports competitions, and other events with more than 400 artists and celebrities participating.
CMA Music Awards
“Country Music’s Biggest Night” represents the pinnacle of achievement for country music artists, musicians, producers, publishers, songwriters, video directors and industry executives who work in America’s most popular music genre. The CMA Awards Show takes place in November each year. Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood have hosted the event for the past several and you won’t want to miss the show!
CMA Country Christmas
Enjoy the magic of the holidays with your favorite country stars, as they perform classic Christmas songs and share their treasured holiday memories. CMA Country Christmas is taped at Bridgestone Arena each year just days after the CMA Awards in November and aired later in the holiday season on ABC.
Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival
The Bluebird Café is one of the hosts of the annual Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival, which allows budding songwriters to share their talent and get a taste of the spotlight. Over the course of five days, more than 300 songwriters perform at venues around town.
Country Music Marathon
The St. Jude Country Music Marathon & 1/2 Marathon, which takes place in the spring, is recognized as the ultimate tour of Music City. The event features historic sites like the Parthenon, The Country Music Hall of Fame, Nashville’s world-renowned Music Row and an expansive finish line festival outside the Tennessee Titan’s home, LP Field, located along the Cumberland River.
The event culminates with a post-race concert, which has featured past acts such as Sara Evans, Brad Paisley, Phil Vassar, Jo Dee Messina, Diamond Rio, Martina McBride and Kenny Rogers.
Where to Stay in Nashville- Top-Notch Nashville Accommodations
photo: c/o Omni Nashville Hotel
Finding a place to stay in Nashville isn’t difficult. There are many world-class hotels available. The country music fan turned visitor will want to consider what attractions are in walking distance from their accommodations. The Omni Nashville Hotel, for example, is absolutely beautiful and located near many of the key music attractions. The lobby is actually connected to the Country Music Hall of Fame! It is also in walking distance from the Ryman Auditorium and the Johnny Cash Museum. What country music fan wouldn’t want to be near the man in black?
No matter what type of music you enjoy, Nashville is an enchanting city and the amount things to do in Nashville is endless. The many attractions, dining, and festivals make it a vacation destination year round. To the country music fan, however, Nashville is so much more than a place to simply plan a vacation. It is the birthplace of the songs that they have grown to love and the artists that they hold dear. Nashville truly earns its nickname of “Music City.”
