Guidebook for Nashville

Becky
Guidebook for Nashville

Arts & Culture

Why is a Greek Temple located in Nashville? The Parthenon was built in 1897 for the centennial celebration of Tennessee's statehood representing Nashville as the "Athens of the South" due to all the universities in town (Vanderbilt, Belmont, etc.). The Parthenon is a full sized architecturally accurate reproduction of the original Parthenon in Athens, Greece and houses a lovely art collection and an amazing statue of Athena. The structure is located in the middle of Centennial Park which is a great place to take a walk or have a picnic. Not in the usual line up of country music icons, but an unusual site worth at least a drive by to say you have seen it.
699 locals recommend
The Parthenon
2500 West End Ave
699 locals recommend
Why is a Greek Temple located in Nashville? The Parthenon was built in 1897 for the centennial celebration of Tennessee's statehood representing Nashville as the "Athens of the South" due to all the universities in town (Vanderbilt, Belmont, etc.). The Parthenon is a full sized architecturally accurate reproduction of the original Parthenon in Athens, Greece and houses a lovely art collection and an amazing statue of Athena. The structure is located in the middle of Centennial Park which is a great place to take a walk or have a picnic. Not in the usual line up of country music icons, but an unusual site worth at least a drive by to say you have seen it.
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tennessee is one of the world’s largest museums and research centers dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of American vernacular music. Excellent interactive exhibits and great historical perspective.
1208 locals recommend
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
222 Rep. John Lewis Way S
1208 locals recommend
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tennessee is one of the world’s largest museums and research centers dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of American vernacular music. Excellent interactive exhibits and great historical perspective.
In the heart of downtown Nashville and a few steps off the "Honky Tonk Highway" (lower Broadway), this Museum & Cafe is a tribute to The Man in Black. With all the facets of an exquisite museum, The Johnny Cash Museum offers a great day of culture in Nashville. It is considered one of the top museums in the city. "If you're a fan of Johnny Cash, it's Mecca, and worth every penny." It includes History Museum, Event Space, Music Venue, Wedding Reception and Banquet Space
466 locals recommend
The Johnny Cash Museum
119 3rd Ave S
466 locals recommend
In the heart of downtown Nashville and a few steps off the "Honky Tonk Highway" (lower Broadway), this Museum & Cafe is a tribute to The Man in Black. With all the facets of an exquisite museum, The Johnny Cash Museum offers a great day of culture in Nashville. It is considered one of the top museums in the city. "If you're a fan of Johnny Cash, it's Mecca, and worth every penny." It includes History Museum, Event Space, Music Venue, Wedding Reception and Banquet Space

Parks & Nature

The Bells Bend Outdoor Center is an environmental education and outdoor recreation facility of the Nashville Metropolitan Board of Parks and Recreation System. The outdoor center is a place where people and nature come together. It serves as a jumping-off point for exploring the 808 acres of Northwest Davidson County’s Bells Bend Park offering a wide range of environmental education programs, school field trips, educator training workshops, outdoor recreation programs, and other special activities for people of all ages. Bells Bend serves as a natural and cultural history and education reference center for individuals and groups.
12 locals recommend
Bells Bend Outdoor Center
4187 Old Hickory Blvd
12 locals recommend
The Bells Bend Outdoor Center is an environmental education and outdoor recreation facility of the Nashville Metropolitan Board of Parks and Recreation System. The outdoor center is a place where people and nature come together. It serves as a jumping-off point for exploring the 808 acres of Northwest Davidson County’s Bells Bend Park offering a wide range of environmental education programs, school field trips, educator training workshops, outdoor recreation programs, and other special activities for people of all ages. Bells Bend serves as a natural and cultural history and education reference center for individuals and groups.
Located in northwest Nashville, this wild and rugged land is a unique treasure in Nashville’s park system and features a Highland Rim forest type, unique plant associations and species, and a rugged landscape with steep slopes, narrow hollows, and streams and waterfalls. Beaman Park is a rugged sanctuary of unique natural beauty where visitors can experience a peaceful connection with nature, view and learn about plants and wildlife, and realize the importance of preserving the natural world for future generations.
39 locals recommend
Beaman Park Nature Center
5911 Old Hickory Blvd
39 locals recommend
Located in northwest Nashville, this wild and rugged land is a unique treasure in Nashville’s park system and features a Highland Rim forest type, unique plant associations and species, and a rugged landscape with steep slopes, narrow hollows, and streams and waterfalls. Beaman Park is a rugged sanctuary of unique natural beauty where visitors can experience a peaceful connection with nature, view and learn about plants and wildlife, and realize the importance of preserving the natural world for future generations.

Food Scene

Great organic "farm to table" restaurant and bar with live music some nights. Great Saturday and Sunday Brunches. Quote from website: "There is a hidden retreat, full of Southern charm, just 10 minutes from downtown Nashville. This historic Old School is situated on nine acres of sustainable farmland which supplies our Farm to Table Restaurant with seasonal produce that is expertly prepared by our chefs. As a tribute to times gone by, this rustic 1936 schoolhouse has been lovingly restored to its former glory. Original wooden floors, high ceilings, and classic architectural warmth make it the perfect dining choice or event space for your special occasion."
24 locals recommend
The Old School
5022 Old Hydes Ferry Pike
24 locals recommend
Great organic "farm to table" restaurant and bar with live music some nights. Great Saturday and Sunday Brunches. Quote from website: "There is a hidden retreat, full of Southern charm, just 10 minutes from downtown Nashville. This historic Old School is situated on nine acres of sustainable farmland which supplies our Farm to Table Restaurant with seasonal produce that is expertly prepared by our chefs. As a tribute to times gone by, this rustic 1936 schoolhouse has been lovingly restored to its former glory. Original wooden floors, high ceilings, and classic architectural warmth make it the perfect dining choice or event space for your special occasion."
Local country store provides essentials (beer, chips, etc). Also serves great homemade biscuits and gravy for breakfast, burgers, BBQ, "baloney sammiches" and salads for lunch. They have a nice seating area with an impressive collection of antique guns on display, a front porch with rocking chairs and a front yard with their antique tractor collection and an old Andy of Mayberry style police car. Drop in and check it out, Typically open 5 am to 8 pm.
Lewis Country Store
4249 Old Hickory Blvd
Local country store provides essentials (beer, chips, etc). Also serves great homemade biscuits and gravy for breakfast, burgers, BBQ, "baloney sammiches" and salads for lunch. They have a nice seating area with an impressive collection of antique guns on display, a front porch with rocking chairs and a front yard with their antique tractor collection and an old Andy of Mayberry style police car. Drop in and check it out, Typically open 5 am to 8 pm.
Simply some of the best BBQ around.
181 locals recommend
Peg Leg Porker BBQ
903 Gleaves St
181 locals recommend
Simply some of the best BBQ around.
Famous for their biscuits, jam, fried chicken and country ham. This place started as a local motel with a good cafe and is now an icon in the Nashville food scene. They have added some shops and a music barn as well. Open 7 am - 9 pm.
418 locals recommend
The Loveless Cafe
8400 TN-100
418 locals recommend
Famous for their biscuits, jam, fried chicken and country ham. This place started as a local motel with a good cafe and is now an icon in the Nashville food scene. They have added some shops and a music barn as well. Open 7 am - 9 pm.
Elliston Place Soda Shop has been in operation over 75 years serving great "meat and three" plates, burgers, fries & shakes and best pies ever. It was chosen as the location for the celebration to launch the US Postal Service "Soda Fountain Favorites" stamp series. Elliston Place was chosen in part because it still offers all five desserts depicted on the stamps – double-scoop ice cream cone, egg cream, banana split, root beer float and hot fudge sundae.
Elliston Place
Elliston Place
Elliston Place Soda Shop has been in operation over 75 years serving great "meat and three" plates, burgers, fries & shakes and best pies ever. It was chosen as the location for the celebration to launch the US Postal Service "Soda Fountain Favorites" stamp series. Elliston Place was chosen in part because it still offers all five desserts depicted on the stamps – double-scoop ice cream cone, egg cream, banana split, root beer float and hot fudge sundae.

Sightseeing

Description from their website: "The Mansion at Fontanel is a 33,000 square foot log cabin and former home of Country Music legend and Hall of Fame member Barbara Mandrell is open for daily tours. This is the only “home of the star” tour in Nashville that you can actually go inside! The Mansion boasts over 20 rooms, 13 bathrooms, 5 fireplaces, 2 kitchens, an indoor pool and even an indoor shooting range." Also on the property there is a distillery, a winery, shops and a zipline tour!
46 locals recommend
Fontanel
4125 Whites Creek Pike
46 locals recommend
Description from their website: "The Mansion at Fontanel is a 33,000 square foot log cabin and former home of Country Music legend and Hall of Fame member Barbara Mandrell is open for daily tours. This is the only “home of the star” tour in Nashville that you can actually go inside! The Mansion boasts over 20 rooms, 13 bathrooms, 5 fireplaces, 2 kitchens, an indoor pool and even an indoor shooting range." Also on the property there is a distillery, a winery, shops and a zipline tour!

Drinks & Nightlife

Descr from Wiki: "The Station Inn is a concert venue in Nashville, Tennessee that hosts bluegrass acts. Frommers wrote that it is "widely regarded as one of the best bluegrass venues around". This place has been here for over 40 years promoting and preserving the history of bluegrass.
245 locals recommend
The Station Inn
402 12th Ave S
245 locals recommend
Descr from Wiki: "The Station Inn is a concert venue in Nashville, Tennessee that hosts bluegrass acts. Frommers wrote that it is "widely regarded as one of the best bluegrass venues around". This place has been here for over 40 years promoting and preserving the history of bluegrass.
Great place to get dinner and serves as a good starting point for listening to music and exploring lower Broadway The "stunning views" are from the second story watching the street and bar life below you on the "Honky Tonk Highway". The legendary Tootsie's Orchid Lounge and Robert's Western World are across the street.
57 locals recommend
Rippy's Bar & Grill
429 Broadway
57 locals recommend
Great place to get dinner and serves as a good starting point for listening to music and exploring lower Broadway The "stunning views" are from the second story watching the street and bar life below you on the "Honky Tonk Highway". The legendary Tootsie's Orchid Lounge and Robert's Western World are across the street.
Carefully crafted upscale cocktails are served in this location much like a 1920's speakeasy. Good place for a dress-up evening. Small bar appetizer type plates. Great cocktails.
368 locals recommend
The Patterson House
1711 Division St
368 locals recommend
Carefully crafted upscale cocktails are served in this location much like a 1920's speakeasy. Good place for a dress-up evening. Small bar appetizer type plates. Great cocktails.
Excellent house band with a great blues tradition. (Tell the Bass player, Andre, that Becky says hi.) Located in the downtown music scene. Also serves great barbeque and fried pickles, a southern specialty favorite of BB King himself. Great place to start or finish your night.
48 locals recommend
B.B. King's Blues Club
152 2nd Ave N
48 locals recommend
Excellent house band with a great blues tradition. (Tell the Bass player, Andre, that Becky says hi.) Located in the downtown music scene. Also serves great barbeque and fried pickles, a southern specialty favorite of BB King himself. Great place to start or finish your night.