Nashville was founded in the late 18th century near the settlement of Fort Nashborough, which was named after a decorated Revolutionary War hero. The city's valuable location made it an important strategic point for both the North and the South during the Civil War; it stayed in Union hands during much of the struggle. After the war, the city discovered great prosperity, remnants of which can still be found in the buildings of the downtown area. During the Great Depression, the area got an economic boost from the construction and energy produced by the Tennessee Valley Authority. Since then, Nashville has experienced tremendous economic growth and prosperity. The city took advantage of the 1990's boom by increasing construction and restoring old landmarks.
Like the rest of the Southeast U.S., Nashville experiences a subtropical climate with moderately cold winters and hot humid summers. Temperatures during the peak summer months hover in the high 80's. Tourists are attracted to the city from spring to fall for the extensive music scene, Civil War history, and rich cultural tradition.
Attractions
Country Music Hall of Fame and Music Review
Nashville is synonymous with country music, so it's practically obligatory that you visit the Country Music Hall of Fame and Music Review when you're in town. Featuring tributes to country's brightest stars like Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, and Dolly Parton, the expansive museum will take you at least a few hours to get through. The Country Music Hall of Fame and Music Review also sponsors rotating film events and live performances throughout the year.
The Wild Horse Saloon
Part tavern, part restaurant, the Wild Horse Saloon is the stuff of Nashville legends, boasting repeat visits from many of Nashville's musical elite. Until 10, the Wild Horse Saloon serves food and is open to all age groups. After 10, the food stops and it becomes a bar for adults over 21 only. If you find yourself in the mood for a cocktail or a nip of that classic Tennessee whiskey, the Wild Horse is the place to go.
Cheekwood Botanical Gardens and Museum of Art
Nashville isn't all about country music. In fact, the music city has a world-class art scene as well. At the Cheekwood Botanical Gardens and Museum of Art, you can get a glimpse at the region's indigenous plant life in all of its well-maintained glory, complete with outdoor sculptures from some of the world's greatest artists. Inside the museum, you'll find rotating exhibits and one of the world's largest permanent collections of Faberge pieces.
Belle Meade Plantation
Often referred to as the finest example of Tennessee plantations, the Belle Meade Plantation is a Greek Revival style home set on one of the notorious Civil War battlegrounds. The fully furnished Belle Meade plantation, complete with original bullet holes from battle, is open to tour groups and individuals looking for a little bit of authentic Civil War history. The Belle Meade Plantation also has a restaurant on-site so you can sample some down-home, old-fashioned dishes.
Grand Ole Opry
A trip to Nashville simply wouldn't be complete without a visit to the Grand Ole Opry. A live performance and radio broadcast center for more than 70 years, the Grand Ole Opry is a national treasure, and in many ways, was responsible for the popularization of country music. The Grand Ole Opry stage regularly hosts traveling musicians, ranging from superstar veterans of the country music scene to up-and-coming young performers. Shows sell out fast at the Grand Ole Opry, so get your tickets early.
Getting Around
The Music City Circuit
The Music City Circuit is Nashville's downtown public transportation system. It features a Green Circuit, a Blue Circuit and a Purple Circuit that travel to over 75 downtown destinations each day from 11:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Passengers may board buses that travel on the Music City Circuit at popular destinations including the Music City Central Bus Terminal, Riverfront Station, Bicentennial Hall, the Schermertern Symphony Center, the Second Avenue Historical District and Herschel Greer Stadium.
BusLink Shuttle Service
BusLink is the Nashville Metro Transit Authority's regional shuttle service that offers service on demand to destinations located between Nashville and Antioch each day from 5 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Passengers may board BusLink® shuttles at Hickory Hollow Mall, Southeast Library and Priest Lake Shopping Center. Passengers may schedule rides on BusLink® shuttles by calling the Nashville Metro Transit Authority during normal business hours.
Music City Star Commuter Light Rail Service
The Music City Star is a regional light rail service that travels to destinations located in Donelson, Hermitage, Lebanon, Nashville, Martha and Mt. Juliet. Passengers may board the Music City Star in Nashville at Riverfront Station each weekday morning from 8-11 a.m. and each weekday afternoon from 3:30-7:30 p.m. Be sure to look for a blue Music City Star logo near the train platforms to aid in your search for Music City Star trains.
Bus Route 11
Bus Route 11 travels to many destinations located in Nashville's West End neighborhood each day from 7:30 a.m.-11:30 p.m. It also travels to several bus stops that make connections with the Music City West End shuttle. Passengers may board buses that travel on bus route 11 at stops located near Belmont University, Vanderbilt University, the Bellevue Parking Center, and the Music City Central Bus Terminal.
Bus Route 18
Bus route 18 is one of the busiest bus routes operated by the Nashville Metro Transit Authority. It travels to many popular destinations including Nashville International Airport, Elm Hill Pike and the Music City Central Bus Terminal. Passengers may board buses that travel on route 18 each day from 6 a.m.-10:45 p.m.
Bus Route 34
Bus route 34 is a popular tourist route that travels to destinations in Music Row and to The Grand Ole Opry each day from 7:30 a.m.-11:30 p.m. Passengers may board buses that travel on bus route 34 at Oaks Mall, the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Tennessee Performing Arts Center and Bridgestone Arena. Be sure to arrive at your stop at least five minutes early to avoid travel delays.
Sports & Recreation in Nashville
Sports & Recreation in Nashville, TN from spring through summer includes the opportunity to attend a minor league baseball game played by the Nashville Sounds ball club. Founded in 1978, the Triple A team plays home games at the Herschel Greer Stadium and are affiliated with the Milwaukee Brewers major league team. The many titles the Sounds won during their history include the 2005 Pacific Coast League Championship. The stadium seats over 10,000 spectators. The venue is widely known for the massive 116-foot (35 meter) guitar shaped scoreboard located behind the wall in left field.
The fall months enable football fans to sit in the stands and cheer on the Tennessee Titans, Nashville's professional football team. Established in 1960, the team has a long career of playing in the American Football League. Formerly known as the Houston Oilers, the team won two AFL championships before becoming part of the AFL-NFL conference. The team plays home games at the LP Field, an open-air stadium, which seats over 68,000 spectators.
Every winter, hockey fans venture to the Bridgestone Arena and watch the Nashville Predators play professional hockey. The Predators played their first game on Nashville ice in the fall of 1998. From that time, the team soon amassed a group of loyal fans. Belonging to the Central Division within the Western Conference, the Predators made it to the quarter and semifinals four times, but never won the Stanley Cup. Many individual players have accumulated personal achievement awards.
When searching for sports & recreation in Nashville, TN, many head to the Centennial Park. The location offers over 132 acres of outdoor activities that includes cycling, jogging, walking trails, an exercise trail, and sand volleyball courts. Visitors also have the opportunity of spending time on a paddleboat on the small manmade lake. The park additionally boasts an arts center, museum, and a sunken garden.
The Nashville Shores Marina, Waterpark, and RV resort offers a number of land-based and water-based activities for the outdoor enthusiast. The location features the Treetop Adventure Park where guests have the chance to match their endurance and skills against 100 obstacles that include cargo nets, rope ladders, and jumps. Facilities offer rental options for canoes, kayaks, jet skis and other watercraft for adventures on the Percy Priest Lake. The location also features a waterpark filled with a variety of pools and slides appropriate for guests of varied ages.
Special Events
GMX, or the Geek Media Expo, is a multi-fandom convention held in the fall. This is a great convention for anyone who loves comic books, science fiction, video games, and other relevant popular arts. They have discussion panels with topics like "How to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse" and information on comic book collecting. There are panels on Star Trek, Star Wars, all things Joss Whedon, and many other popular topics, including the horror genre, art, literature, and music.
MTAC is the Middle Tennessee Anime Convention held each spring to celebrate anime, manga, and other similar animated art forms. The event first began in 1999 and has grown each year to the huge convention it is today. There are costume contests and other competitions, guest panels and events for anyone who loves anime and manga and for those who enjoy "CosPlay", as costume role-playing is called. The convention lasts for 3 days and hosts special guests including bands, cartoon and anime voice actors, and scriptwriters. Booths selling gear and art are also featured.
Nashville's roller derby teams, known collectively as the Nashville Roller Girls, has races throughout the March to September season. The teams are known as the Music City All Stars and Music City Brawl Stars and the Crawl Stars are their roller girls in training. The derby is held at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium for all home games during the regular season and these are often double headers featuring a bout with each of two main teams. Some preseason home bouts are held at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds.
First Saturday Art Crawl is an art event, which takes place from Fifth Street to Broadway, on the first Saturday of each month of the year. There are exhibits and installations at several art galleries in the art district of downtown Nashville. During these events galleries feature both local and international art and artists from every type and genre of artwork. Admission is free and many gallery receptions will make free refreshments available, including wine. The crawl begins at 6 PM and goes on until 9 PM. There is a free shuttle service to travel between galleries.
Soundland Music Festival is held each year in the fall. Founded in 2005, the SMF is a one-day concert festival featuring more than a dozen local bands, art, food and more. The festival is held on the grounds at Riverfront Park.
FAQs about hotels near Downtown Nashville
How much does a cheap hotel near Downtown Nashville cost per night?
In the last year, a 2 star hotel near Downtown Nashville can be as cheap as $114.75 per night. (based on HotelPlanner prices)
How much does a 3 star hotel near Downtown Nashville cost per night?
In the last year, the average 3 star hotel near Downtown Nashville has been $173.63 per night. (based on HotelPlanner prices)
How much does a higher-end hotel near Downtown Nashville cost?
In the last year, the average 4 star hotel near Downtown Nashville has been $266.49 per night. (based on HotelPlanner prices)