Classic Kia Waukegan’s Travel Guide to Nashville, Tennessee’s Most Loved Destinations and Hidden Gems

Saddle up your horses and let’s hit the road!  Today’s travel guide is all about Nashville, Tennessee! We’re going to check out some of the classic stops and sites to visit, but also some great places with more untapped potential.  We want to highlight some of the more unique and interesting places that are often left off travel guides, and we hope you’ll find them intriguing enough to explore on your own!

And of course, as always, if we’ve left your fave destination off our list, you can suggest it in the comments of our social media. We love hearing from you and looking into reader suggestions for future travel guides.

• Grand Ole Opry is synonymous with Nashville. This American Country Music stage has been open since 1925 when it began as a 1-hour radio show on WSM, and has since been host to just about every legend in the genre!  You can book a behind the scenes tour of the facility for an up-close look at the past and present of country music performance, and then snag tickets to a show after!

• Country Music Hall of Fame Museum is a leading institute for research and preservation of American Music History, and one of the world’s largest museums dedicated to music.  It has an incredible and extensive musical collection of more than 2 million artifacts from the industry. And it’s been building new exhibits and preserving more history year after year since the mid-to-late 1960s! Visit on your own self-guided, or schedule a tour with a local guide and group.

• Johnny Cash Museum is an amazing destination which commemorates the life, contributions, and career of the iconic music legend, and it’s one of Nashville’s top must-see attractions.

• Gaylord Opryland Resort and Garden Conservatory is more than just a beautiful place to stay!  In fact, you can enjoy it even if you haven’t booked your lodgings there.  The grounds are open to the public and managed by a staff of more than 20 horticulturalists. You can book a ticket and explore the grounds, visit the indoor and outdoor water park, and talk a walk through the historic hotel.

• The Nashville Parthenon at Centennial Park is an incredibly impressive full-scale replica of the Athens Parthenon in Greece, since Nashville was known as “Athens of the South.”  Originally built in 1897 as part of the Tennessee Centennial Expo, the city tore the structure down in 1920, and rebuilt it from long-lasting materials in 1931. A $12million restoration and renovation project was unveiled in 2001, and it is now reopened to the public for all to enjoy.  The Parthenon is open 7 days a week to the general public with minimal entry fees.

• “Music Row” is set in the heart of Nashville, and is home to just about every record label, radio station, and recording studio in the Country Music industry.  Many streets in the area are even named in honour of country music stars!  You can take a sightseeing tour and get an in-depth look at the industry for a more intimate experience.  You’ll even find RCA Studio B, home to recording artists like Elvis and Dolly Parton!  And if you play your cards right, you might catch a glimpse of some of your country music faves as they head in for a session or stroll about the town.

• Tennessee State Museum is a wonderful new place to explore the history of Tennessee in depth!  The rotating series of exhibitions and permanent collections cover the rich cultural history of the state.  Enjoy lectures and workshops on the history of community, culinary traditions, entertainment and music, sports and so much more.  Explore and learn about the Civil War, check out artifacts and clothing, and get an up close look at history.

• Lane Motor Museum holds one of the largest collections of European Cars and Motorcycles in the whole USA!  This non-profit organization was founded by the Lane family to commemorate the family automotive business, and chronicle the automotive industry.  Explore the permanent collection and a rotating series of exhibits with memorabilia, media, and more.  Your whole family will love looking at the unique cars and vehicles and archival goodies!

• Frist Art Museum has been contributing to the preservation of arts and culture in the area for more than 20 years now.  Housed in the historical building a former US Post Office, this 24,000 square foot facility is dedicated to providing locals with a rotating collection of arts programming, historical artifacts, and in depth overview of art from around the globe.  You’ll find everything from paintings to sculptures to lectures to historical costuming!  It’s a fantastic place where fun meets curiosity and education.

• Texas Troubadour Theatre is a wonderful historic spot to enjoy live radio shows and musical performances, and is also home to a non denominational Sunday worship service if you’re into that sort of thing. It’s right across the street to the Gaylord Opryland Resort, which would be the perfect way to end your day, enjoying live music with the family!

• Natchez Trace Parkway is a historic forest trail and roadway that runs 400+ miles from Nashville down to Natchez in Mississippi, and is a great mini-road trip side step on your getaway.  This route commemorates the “Old Natchez Trace” route, originally created and used by Native Americans in the region for centuries,; later, European traders and American explorers used it as a trade/travel route between eastern states and southern frontier land with food and lodging stations dotting the way.  It’s now one of the most used Federal Roads in the entire National Parks System!

• Music City Escape Room is a popular stop-off for friend groups and families to enjoy a little break from all the sight-seeing and concert performances.  Keep your brains active and thinking caps on as you race against the clock to escape the many themed rooms and puzzles.

• Marathon Village is housed in the brick building of the former Marathon Motor Works automotive factory which was built in 1881! This historic building is home to a bustling creative community including small businesses, one-of-a-kind retail shops, a bourbon distillery, antiques shop, and is also the homebase for the folks at American Pickers on HIstory Channel!  The site is also host to many wonderful, vibrant special events, workshops, and series  open to the public. It’s a hotspot for eclectic nightlife activities and unique dining options.

• Sri Ganesha Hindu Temple of Nashville is a bustling cultural hub for educational and spiritual activities, and promotes a very welcoming environment to all folks from all social, religious, and cultural backgrounds!  Attend a meditation workshop, explore the beautiful architecture and artwork, and visit the cafe restaurant on site.  It’s a very unique stop on your trip!

• Nashville Food Tours, Pedal Party Bars, and Local Distilleries/Breweries are plentiful in downtown Nashville.  You can take a pedal tour and do a pub/distillery crawl, or visit such places as the Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery, Tennessee Brew Works,  and more!

Looking for unique places to eat in the area? Here are some of the top recommendations from locals and frequent visitors:

• Bluebird Cafe
• Butcher & Bee on Main Street
• Arnold’s Country Kitchen on 8th Ave South
• The Stillery on 2nd Ave North
• The Continental Restaurant
• Once Upon a Time in France
• Henrietta Red
• Ellington’s
• Rolf & Daughters
• Hattie B’s Hot Chicken Midtown on 19th Ave
• Bolton’s Spicy Chicken Main street
• Prince’s Hot CHicken Shack South Nolensville Pike
• Biscuit Love

Got a unique stop and destination in Nashville we might’ve left off our list or a fave local eatery we should know about? Tell us in the comments section of our social media, and your suggestions might make it into an updated Travel Guide!

Check out these additional local suggestions and vacation tips:

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