Nashville is one of the most famous music destinations in the world, known for its energy and vibrancy.
Because of its importance in the music industry, it is known as “Music City.”
There are more bars, clubs, concert halls, music studios, and recording studios than you can shake a microphone at on its streets.
There are, however, other sides to Nashville.
Because it is on the river, it has beautiful natural landscapes with forests and ravines.
There is history to be learned from its landmarks and memorials, as it was the birthplace of several notable figures.
A vacation that is well-rounded will take advantage of all of the city’s attractions.
Here are a few suggestions for your bucket list if you’re looking for the best things to do in Nashville, Tennessee.
Nashville’s Best Attractions
Broadway
While many visitors come to Nashville to learn about country music’s history at the city’s museums, others prefer to hear the music live. Stopping into one of the many bars that line Broadway, Nashville’s main thoroughfare, is the best way to do so. Because of the numerous establishments that host live acts on a daily basis, Lower Broadway is dubbed “Honky Tonk Highway.” Furthermore, there is no cover charge, so you can go to as many bars as you want.
Parthenon
Nashville used to be known for higher education before it became known for country music. It was dubbed “the Athens of the South” because it had the most colleges and universities of any city in Tennessee.
In 1897, builders decided to capitalise on that moniker by erecting a full-scale replica of the Parthenon in the heart of Nashville. The Parthenon now serves as a cultural centre and an art museum.
It houses a collection of classical paintings, texts, statues, and sculptures. It’s one of Nashville’s most popular tourist attractions, especially for art lovers; theatre troupes frequently perform Greek plays on the front steps.
The Parthenon is unquestionably one of Nashville’s most popular attractions.
Grassmere Zoo in Nashville
The Nashville Zoo at Grassmere is a great place to visit if you’re an animal lover or just looking for a fun family outing. Clouded leopards, giraffes, meerkats, red pandas, white rhinoceroses, alligators, and anacondas are among the 350 animal species and nearly 3,000 animals at the zoo.
There are also fish and bird exhibits, which feature both local and exotic animals. The Critter Encounters (where you can get up close and personal with various animals), Kangaroo Kickabout (where you can pet kangaroos), and Lorikeet Landing (where you can pet lorikeets) are all popular with kids (where you can see parrots and feed them for a small fee).
A historic home and garden, a zip line over animals, and a Wilderness Express Train are also available at the zoo.
Cheekwood Estate & Gardens is a beautiful place to visit.
The Cheekwood Estate & Gardens is a must-see for art enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. The 55-acre Botanical Garden, with its greenhouses, sculpture trail, and chromatic flower display, provides a respite from the hustle and bustle of downtown.
The on-site art museum is equally lovely: The museum, which is housed in the original Georgian-style Cheek family mansion in the grounds’ heart, houses an impressive collection of 19th- and 20th-century American art, as well as antique furniture, temporary exhibitions, and artefacts from around the world.
Dyer Observatory at Vanderbilt University
The Vanderbilt Dyer Observatory’s large white dome is easy to spot. It’s one of Tennessee’s largest astronomy centres, and it sits atop a large hill with clear, unobstructed views of the night sky.
If you want to learn a few constellations while you’re in Nashville, tours and telescopes are available to the public. Summer camps and eclipse parties are among the many special events held at the observatory.
They even host outdoor concerts; bring snacks and a blanket to relax on the grass while listening to the music. When the performers have finished performing, the observatory staff will bring out the telescopes so you can finish your evening with a view of the moon.
One of the most enjoyable things to do in Nashville is visit the Vanderbilt Dyer Observatory.
The dome may entice you in, and the music may pull you in irresistibly. You’ll have a great time under the stars in either case.
The Johnny Cash Museum
Visit The Johnny Cash Museum to learn more about the mystery surrounding The Man in Black. The museum houses the world’s largest collection of Johnny Cash artefacts and memorabilia, including films, handwritten notes and letters from Cash himself, and famous costumes from his career.
Different periods of Cash’s life are highlighted in exhibits, including his time in the Air Force, his marriage to June Carter, and his famous prison concert tour.
Because the Cash family has officially endorsed the museum, you can expect to find other personal mementos not available anywhere else, such as a stone wall excavated from Johnny and June’s Hendersonville Lake House and repurposed into one of the exhibits. Fans of Johnny Cash will enjoy the wealth of information available at this museum.
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