Downtown Nashville Tennessee

All I really knew about Nashville, Tennessee is that it is the home of country music. What else did I need to know? After all, Nashville is where all my favourite country music comes from…so what else could there be?

Well, on our first trip to Nashville I did enjoy my country music but also discovered Nashville has a lot more to offer, too.

So join us on a quick tour of Nashville.

Hint: Tourist information is readily available on-line and/or at this excellent visitor center in downtown Nashville. The center is a rather unique shape so if you are near the Ryman theatre you are sure to notice it.

First discovery…Opryland is part of Nashville but it is a long drive away from downtown Nashville. I am talking about “quite a drive on high speed freeway” type of distances. So consider that when you book a place to stay.

Second discovery…downtown Nashville is where you definitely must spend some time.

This photo captures many aspects of the downtown.

On the left of the photo is a building all country and western music fans will recognize…the Ryman Auditorium.

On the right is the iconic “Batman Building”…otherwise known as the AT&T Building.

In the background are high rises that house, among other things, record companies.

In the foreground are some of the bars and clubs on Broadway.

Third discovery…Nashville has a Broadway!

This guitar is on Broadway, just down from the Ryman.

How many “Honky Tonk Heroes”do you recognize?

(Hint: click on the photo to enlarge it.)

In this area you will find legendary honky-tonks Coyote Ugly, BB King, Cadillac Ranch, etc.

Just wander down Broadway listening to the live music coming from each venue. When one catches your interest head on in and enjoy a set or two.

Walking the historic downtown is very do-able. Just park the car and stroll!

Horse and carriage rides are available in the historic downtown.

The hop on/off trolley will take you through the historic downtown and beyond, into the music row district, government district, etc.

Discovery four: Nashville is the capitol of Tennessee. Who knew!

Discovery five: Am I still in Nashville?

To learn more about “Athens of the South” click here.

If you drive west on Broadway you will come this roundabout/traffic circle.

This seems to be a landmark for a few reasons. One…Turn south here to go to Music Row. If I understand correctly this is the area where there are a lot of recording studios. Two…It is named for Buddy Killen, a record producer and movie publisher. Three…The dancers are naked! (Apparently this caused quite a stir when unveiled.)

But let’s head back east and back to the historic downtown district….

Riverfront Park and the Cumberland River

(the General Jackson riverboat docks here.)

LP Field (now Nissan Stadium) where the Titans play football.

Country Music Hall of Fame (left)

Sommet Center (now Bridgestone Arena) where the Predators play hockey. (right)

Aside: Re Country Music Hall of Fame. If you are a country music fan it is easy to spend a whole day in this special building.

Ryman Auditorium (former home of the Grand Ole Opry)

While the radio show is now broadcast from a new building in the Opryland area, concerts are still held here. During the Christmas Season when there are special shows at Opryland, the radio show comes back here to the Mother Church (Ryman).

Plus you can take tours of the building. Come and meet Minnie Pearl and Roy Acuff.

And nearby is the Ernest Tubb record store.

I would think they could get you any country music song that has ever been recorded! The Midnight Jamboree radio show used to be broadcast from here.

I did not know that last fact until I had the pleasure of watching the movie Made in Japan.

Aside: It is a movie about the music and life of Tomi Fujiyama, a dynamic Japanese lady who sings country and western with the best of them in the world. Truly! If you do not know her music, check it out on You Tube and if you get a chance to see the movie Made in Japan, definitely attend. 

But I digress! After the Grand Ole Opry show was off air, artists would head on over to the Ernest Tubb’s Texas Troubadour Theatre and the Midnight Jamboree where the music continued.

I have to close with this photo…just because of its name.

Hume Fogg Academic High School in Nashville, TN.

Now that is truly a southern name, eh.

See more of Nashville and more USA , click here.

and/or

Visit another country, click here.

Happy travels!