When I was planning my first visit to Nashville with my brother, I was intentionally looking forward to visit some of the touristy attractions.
One of the attractions was the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. There is a lot of history and memorabilia and you can take your time wandering through the museum. Be sure to stop by the museum shop when you exit for some souvenirs to bring back home.
I am an unapologetic fan of Taylor Swift and her country music, so I was on the lookout for areas that features her. I really enjoyed seeing the songwriting draft of “Tim McGraw” (pictured below)
After the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, we continued with the Studio B Tour, which kicked off right outside the museum with a pickup. At the Studio B tour, the building and the equipment are preserved/dated. It was quite interesting to visit the studio where Elvis Presley and other country music titans have recorded their music.
We also visited the Grand Ole Opry. There are live performances but at the time of our visit, there wasn’t a particular one that called to us. We ended up doing the Grand Ole Opry house tours instead. If you want some fresh air and photo opportunities, you can walk around the outside area as well. They don’t let you into the building until closer to your scheduled tour time. There is a shop you can check out.
The Grand Old Opry is much smaller than I expected, compared to some of the larger stadium size concert arenas. However, I can definitely see how it makes for a more intimate concert setting and experience.
Wandering around downtown Nashville
When you are done checking out the local tourist attractions, you can just check out downtown Nashville, which is very vibrant. Every restaurant or bar you pass by (at least during the summer), you can hear live music.
We ended up dining at the Honky-Tonk for a late lunch. It was nice after a long day to wind down and eat, getting to enjoy the view while listening to some live music at the same time.
If you’re looking for a place to visit, I would recommend Nashville I have haven’t. I had a good time in Nashville. I thought it’s a vibrant place to visit and it’s especially fun too if you enjoy country music.
What are some other touristy or non-touristy gems in Nashville you might recommend to your fellow readers?
I stayed at the Hilton. Great location. I didn’t even need a car. Walk to everything almost. Highly recommend.
Fantastic suggestion. I have a hotel review coming up on Hilton next. It’s definitely not for the faint of the heart if you happen to stay on one of the top floors (and afraid of heights!) I agreed that it is a great location – very walkable.