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Nashville |
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Nashville [1] is a city in Davidson County of the American state of Tennessee and is sometimes called the "Country Music Capital of the World" or more often "Music City"; however, in recent years, Nashville has done much to escape its country music image and become a regional center of culture and commerce. In fact, Dell, Nissan, and Saturn have all moved some operations to or near the city. The music is various; major rap artists and rock bands (Young Buck, Haystak, Kings of Leon, Paramore) claim Nashville as their hometown.
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SEE DO EAT
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 SEE
Nashville is a very historic town and as such, many of its attractions are restorations or museums.
- Belle Meade Plantation, 5025 Harding Road, +1 615 356 0501 (group sales: 1-800-270-3991), [13]. Tours by costumed guides available M-Sa 9:30AM-4PM, Su 11:30AM-4PM. Featuring the mansion built in 1853 and restored restored, as well as the carriage house from 1890 and one of the oldest log cabins in Tennessee, built in 1790. There is a great deal of history associated with the plantation starting from before the American Civil War. Adult $11, Seniors $10, Children 6-12 $5, Children under 6, Free.
- BellSouth Tower. An instantly recognizable downtown Nashville landmark, the Bellsouth Tower is the tallest building in Tennessee and can be seen from quite some distance when the hills aren't in your way. It's two tall spires on the building have resulted in it being nicknamed "The Batman Building."
- Bicentennial Mall A fascinating state park stretched out in front of the state capitol building. Features a giant map of the state, monuments recounting the history of the state since prehistoric times, a carillon, and more. In the summer, the fountains are often filled with splashing kids. The park is located right next to the farmers market, which includes a food court, fish market, nursery, as well as the expected vendors hawking fruits and vegetables.
- Belmont Mansion 1900 Blemont Blvd, +1 615 460-5459, [14]. M-Sa 10AM-4PM, Su 1PM-4PM. Closed Memorial Day. An approximate one hour guided tour of 16 rooms in the mansion. Also walk the grounds to examine the marble statues and cast iron ornaments in the gardens. Adults $8, Seniors $7, Children (6-12) $3.
- Centennial Park, West End Avenue at 25th Avenue. Features a nice duck pond, where you can get up close with the ducks and feed them, as well as a real steam engine train, dating back in the 1800's and a fighter jet on a large, metal stand, to give the appearance of flight.
- The Parthenon, located in Centennial Park, [15]. Tu-Sa 9AM-4:30PM. Also Su 12:30PM-4:30PM from June to August. Originally created for Tennessee's Centennial Exposition, this monument was such a well-received attraction that a permanent form was constructed. It maintains the dimensions of the original Athens Parthenon to within a quarter of an inch (at 2/3 the scale), though constructed mainly of concrete as opposed to marble. Inside stands a replica of the statue of the goddess Athena thought to have existed in the original Parthenon. Adults $5, Seniors $2.50, Children 4-17 $2.50, Children under 4 free.
- Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art, 1200 Forrest Park Dr, +1 615 356-800, [16]. Tu-Sa 9:30AM-4:30PM, Su 11AM-4:30PM. Closed on every Monday except for Memorial Day and Labor Day. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's day, as well as the second Saturday in June. A 55 acre estate built by the founders of Maxwell House coffee on the fringes of the city featuring an art museum and a beautiful botanical garden. The art museum features American and Europeans exhibits. Adults $10, Seniors $8, College Students $5, Children 3-13 $5, Children under 3 free. The most any family will pay is $30, thanks to an admission cap.
- Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, 222 Fifth Ave S, 1-800-852-6437, [17]. Daily 9AM-5PM except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Days. Regularly changing exhibits and live performances make this Nashville landmark someplace to visit often. The original Country Music Hall of Fame was built in 1967 and lasted until 2000 when they moved into their new $37 million dollar location. Ticket packages for guided or audio tours also available, as well as combining a tour with the RCA Studio B and the Ryman Auditorium. Adult $17.95, Youth $8.95, Children under 5 free.
- Fort Negley. A civil-war era fort partially reconstructed by the Works Progress Administration in the 1930s. Taken by Union forces early in the war, Nashville quickly became second most fortified city in the US during the Civil War because it was seen as crucial to supplying troops engaged on the war's western front. The 1864 Battle of Nashville -- a failed attempt by the Confederate army to retake the city -- raged throughout what are now the residential and commercial districts on the fringes of the city. Fort Negley is one of the few remaining reminders of this time period. Much of the work on the fort was done by slaves and freed blacks who were rounded up and forced to work on the structure. The fort was closed for years (allegedly because it reminded many Nashvillians of the Union occupation), but reopened in 2004 with new boardwalks and interpretive signs.
- Frist Center for the Visual Arts, 919 Broadway, [18]. M-W 10AM-5:30PM, Th 10AM-8PM, Fr 10AM-9PM, Sa 10AM-5:30PM, Su 1PM-5PM. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's, shortened hours the day after Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve. Featuring 24,000 sq. feet of gallery space with exhibits from local through to regio
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- Adventure Science Center, [25]. Formerly the Cumberland Science Museum, it's been remodeled recently. You should be able to get in for under ten bucks, and they have a lot of interesting exhibits which change every few weeks.
- Centennial Sportsplex, 222 25th Avenue N, +1 615 862-8480, [26]. Featuring two indoor ice skating rinks, two pools, indoor and outdoor tennis courts, and a fitness room. Ice skating admission is $6 with skate rentals available for $2. Memberships are available. Call or check online for the schedules, as they vary from month to month. The Sportsplex is also a practice location for the Nashville Predators professional hockey team.
- General Jackson Showboat, 2800 Opryland Dr, +1 615 458-3900, [27]. Get a meal and a show on this classically styled 300 foot long paddlewheel boat. Midday cruises, including buffet and show, $38.95 plus tax for adults and $21.95 for kids 4-11. Dinner cruises range from $44.95 to $74.95 for adults and $27.95 to $42.95 for kids. Shows and schedules vary throughout the year.
- Nashville Zoo at Grassmere, 3777 Nolensville Rd, +1 615 833-1534, [28]. Displaying many animals and hosting activities for the family, including a large playground with two-story netting that you can swing onto (off a rope), or just jump and roll around on. The zoo is getting bigger and better every day. Two recent additions include an aviary where you can feed lorikeets nectar by hand, and an amazing hand-carved wooden carousel. Admission from April through October is $11 for adults, $9.50 for seniors (65+), and $7 for children (3-12) and the hours are from 9AM-6PM. From November through March, $8 for adults, $7 for seniors, $6 for children with hours of 9AM-4PM. Closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. Inclement weather may cause an unannounced closing for safety.
- Nashville Candy. Did you know that the first documentation for "...commercializing cotton candy was in 1897 when it was produced by the Nashville candy makers William Morrison and John C. Wharton..." [29]? Did you know that the first "combination" candy bar was invented in 1912 by the Standard Candy Company in Nashville? Candy is as popular now as it was then. Visit the home of the GooGoo Cluster, Standard Candy Company [30].
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EAT
There are a number of pizza restaurants and Chinese buffets in and around the area. The following are examples of more prominent establishments in the Nashville area:
- Arnold's, 605 8th Avenue South on the corner of Gleaves Street, 615.256.4455. A classic "meat and 3" restaurant located in downtown. Arnold's has been a Nashville establishment for years and always attracts a crowd. They serve some of the best fried green tomatoes you'll ever eat, but the pie has so much sugar it's grainy. The green beans were really good, as well as the okra, stewed chicken, and the greens. Only open for lunch.
- Hermitage Cafe, just south of downtown on Hermitage Ave. Open 24 hours, this diner-coffeeshop is divey, friendly, cheap, greasy, and as southern as white gravy on fried chicken. Perfect if you're drunk or a night owl, which most of the other customers here are (except at breakfast, which draws a mix of polite older couples and hungover kids). An ancient cigarette machine and a well-stocked jukebox.
- Jersey Mike's, three locations, including White Bridge Road. Get a really good sub-sandwich (think Subway with a little more flavor) meal here for under seven bucks.
- Bobby's Dairy Dip. An endearingly dingy 50s ice cream stand on Charlotte Ave., recently revived into a popular summer mainstay that's popular with every demographic. Their hamburgers, hot dogs, and fries are some of Nashville's favorites, and the strawberry shortcake's great.
- Las Palmas, on Charlotte Ave (between White Bridge and 42nd; another location off Broadway at 19th Ave and one at Nipper's Corner in Brentwood), A pretty good Mexican place. You can get a nice filling meal here for under ten bucks.
- Las Paletas, 12th Ave. S (at Kirkwood in the Cypress Building). Save room after your Mexican meal for Las Paletas' delicious homemade popsicles in exotic flavors! The Paz sisters ate them often when growing up in Mexico and have now brought us their own take on the treats. Hibiscus, basil, chocolate jalapeno, and rose petal are all delicious; so are the tamer versions, like mango, raspberry, chai tea, chocolate chip cookie, and Mexican caramel.
- Taste of India, on Church Street near 18th. If you're in midtown at midday, check out this little Indian place. Its $6 lunch buffet is cheaper than that at Sitar down the block, and is more varied. Sitar's buffet is slightly more expensive but has a better reputation in the community and has won numerous awards.
- La Hacienda Taqueria, two outposts along the largely Hispanic strip of Nolensville Road. This popular restaurant serves some of Nashville's most authentic Mexican food. The tacos and shrimp cocktail are very popular.
- Bongo Java, on Belmont Blvd (across from the school). The first and most relaxed in a very successful local mini-chain of quirky coffeehouses, Bongo Java is a meeting place for the young, the arty, and the students at Belmont University just across the street. Linger for hours on the huge porch over several cups of their incredibly strong, flavorful coffee, and take advantage of the free computer, wifi, and chess set use. Nearby sister coffeehouse Fido in Hillsboro Village attracts a more yuppie/Vandy crowd.
- Rotier's, on Elliston near F.Y.E. An old, friendly neighborhood joint whose hamburger and milkshake are consistently voted the best in Nashville. Get the grilled version of the cheeseburger -- basically a grilled cheese with a hamburger in it.
- Pizza Perfect. Fabulous pizza, quite simply. Nashville isn't much of a town for pizza, but this place more than makes up for it. The plain slices are great, but even the fancier ones (like the Fantasy) don't gild the lily. Free liva jazz Thursday nights at the 21st Ave. location (between Vandy and Hillsboro Village); there's another smaller shop on Granny White/12th Ave. across from Lipscomb.
- The Arcade, in downtown. It's an open-air 2-level arcade that runs between 4th Avenue North and 5th Avenue North. The Arcade primarily caters to the local downtown workers during the work week, but many great lunch restaurants can be found here, including Manny's House of Pizza, Phillip's Deli, and others. There are also several hairstylists, jewelers, florists, and other businesses. Be sure to visit the historic Peanut Shop.
- Woodlands Indian Vegetarian, on West End between the exits from I-440 W and I-440 E (It's in a condo building and almost obscured by trees). Amazing southern Indian food. Very long menu, but the servers are helpful. The specials are a good sampler.
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