Nashville is a terrific place to visit and is filled with lively people and southern hospitality. You do not need to be a fan of country music, blues or rockabilly to appreciate the musical influence and southern feel of this town. You and your family are sure to have a memorable visit of Nashville, Tennessee.
Book your lodging as soon as possible, especially April through October, as this tends to be the busy tourist season. There are a variety of hotel rooms and lodging available both for families, rooms for business travelers, romantic escapes for couples and everything in between. You may wish to invest in a tour package the first time you visit Nashville that includes lodging and area attractions to take the worry out of your visit. You will have a list of hotels and attractions to choose from. This will give you a good idea of the landscape, and tours are good at pointing out sights you will not want to miss.
Do not miss the Grand Ole Opry grounds--even if you do not see a show it is good just to walk around the grounds. A few hours before performances, musicians will play on the grounds. There is also a free museum, Opry Mills Mall, filled with hundreds of interesting shops and restaurants, and a large movie theater including IMAX. You can also park here while you walk over to the Gaylord Hotel, also on the Opry grounds. You can take an inside boat ride and observe the gardens and beautiful glass ceiling. The hotel also features several unique shops and restaurants in a fun environment, including everything from casual and family to fine dining. There are some featured theme type restaurants the kids are sure to love.
Take a walking tour of downtown Nashville and do not forget to visit Tootsie's, Hard Rock Cafe and Roberts. There are also many other taverns and restaurants you can sit and listen to artists. They open in the late morning and stay open until bar closing time. Some of the night clubs do not open until after lunch. There are also many shops and diversions to keep you entertained from morning until night. There is hourly and daily parking along the riverfront. Do not forget to stop into the sports arena and tour center to get more information on local sites and events.
Tour the Reiman Auditorium and take lots of pictures. Tickets can be purchased at the box office or as part of a tour package. This is something you will not want to miss. You can stand on the stage right where many stars stood. There are also concerts here. Check the schedule of appearances for more details. Stop by the Country Music Hall of Fame for their "Artist in Residence" concert series or a walk through time and history. There are even some life-size exhibits in the museum of your favorite stars. This is sure to be a family favorite.
Try a visit to the Nashville zoo. This is especially handy for tour groups, families with kids and anyone who likes animals. There are annual featured exhibits as well as special events throughout the summer months. There is a playland there for the kids to climb on, as well as hundreds of animals, birds, reptiles, insects, amphibians and a few surprise guests. Show your zoo pass from a participating zoo for reduced or free admission or your AAA card.
Go on the homes of the stars tour. This is normally accomplished by joining a tour bus in downtown Nashville, through a hotel or signing up on the Internet. You will see where real Nashville stars call home. It is a very interesting tour, you will see sights here that you may not have known existed.
Riverboat Cruises are abound here in downtown Nashville. Some feature dinner, dancing, comedy, holiday celebrations, shows, concerts and just general tours. There are both day, evening and weekend cruises as well as special events. Some popular cruise lines are the General Jackson, Tennessee Riverboat Cruise Company and the Riverboat Queen. You can obtain tickets on any of their websites by calling or as part of a tour package to save money. There are also informational brochures located in most hotel lobbies.
