Tennessee Travel Guide
Nashville
Another great place to visit especially for devotees of Country and Western. This is the self styled C&W centre of the universe. Set to the west of Memphis it nestles in the gently rolling hills of mid Tennessee.
Nashville became State capital in 1843 and despite setbacks from war and disease it's growth has continued to leave it a sprawling city. The large student community keeps the city on its toes and it is also home to considerable heavy industry and commerce.
Despite these other 'attractions' it is the music that brings some 6 million visitors a year. Initially thought to have been born out of a mix of old British and Irish Folk music mixing with music from other ethnic sources especially the slave spirituals and gospel music, Country and Western as we know it has flourished in Nashville since the 1920's. So put on your Stetson, slip into those Rhinestone underpants and come see some Good Ole Boys. Yeee Harrr!!
Things To Do Places to See
Country and Western? Yep! We have both!
Nashville itself seems to be a living celebration of that particular style of music. Therefore, it shouldn't come as a great surprise to discover that there are many 'sights' devoted to C & W.
The country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is a good place to start. The building itself is heavy on musical symbolism; it is shaped like a giant G - clef and the interior is very modern. Using the most up to date technology, the museum presents a great mix of history, memorabilia and music. Enough to give anyone a full introduction to what Memphis is about.
Elsewhere fans may want to check out the Willie Nelson Museum or the Music City Wax Museum. There is also a Gibson Bluegrass Showcase where you can see the instruments, banjo's, mandolins and guitars being made.
Real fans will want to visit the Ryman Auditorium. For over thirty years, this magnificent building was home to the Grand Ole Opry. The current home of the 'Opry', a C & W institution, is now sited in a touristy area, Music Valley, just to the north of Downtown. The current Grand Ole Opry has performances on Friday and Saturday nights with backstage tours daily. There is also a Grand Ole Opry Museum. The Ryman Auditorium began life as a huge tabernacle to Gospel music but it gained the reputation as a star-maker when the Grand Ole Opry opened there in 1943. Elvis was turned down when he attempted to play there. When the Opry moved on the Ryman closed only to be reopened in 1994. There are still performances here as well as huge amounts of memorabilia.
The Parthenon
To celebrate the Tennessee Centennial Exposition in 1897 the good people of the city, clearly believing their own publicity that Nashville was the 'Athens of the South', created a full sized replica of the Parthenon. Sited in Centennial Park the original was only made of wood but was so popular it was replaced by a more permanent structure in the 1930's. This building now houses a splendid art museum with a mix of US painting and 'stuff about Ancient Greece including a 42ft replica statue of Athena.
Elsewhere in the city can be found the Frist Centre for the Visual Arts, which puts on an eclectic range of ever-changing exhibitions. Also worth a look for the artistically inclined is the Van Vechten Gallery, part of the Fisk University with works by notable US and European artists including Picasso and Georgia O'Keefe. The more traditional Vanderbilt University also houses touring exhibitions in it's Fine Arts Gallery.
Tennessee State Museum
An excellent place to gain an insight into the last 150 years turbulent history of the State. There are sections on the Civil War, the Abolitionist movement, Slavery, the KKK, Reconstruction and the Civil Rights Movement. Just about all the other 'cultural' sites in the city revolve around its musical heritage.
A Drop of Jack?
Now I fully realise that this place is a good hour-long drive from Nashville but - well, it is a lovely drink.
Jack Daniels 'No 1' appellation comes from the fact that this Tennessee whiskey factory is the oldest registered distillery in the country. First made in 1866 this is still the only place in the world where JD is produced. Hour long tours will tell you how the sour mash whiskey making method works but don't hold your breath waiting for free samples at the end. The unchanging village of Lynchburg that houses the distillery is in a dry county. You can buy the stuff to take away but can't drink it on the spot.
Eating, Drinking and Sleeping
There is music everywhere. So many bars,clubs, cafes, restauarants and hotels have live music that it is impossible to list them all. Some are big, some tiny and it isn't just C & W on offer just about any kind of music you can think of can be heard here. Some of it truly great. Apart from those above, try the honky tonks on Broadway especially the famed Bluebird Cafe.
Food varies from sublime Southern cuisine to Fast Food Chains and just about everything in between.
On the highways leading into Nashville on the Downtown side there are numerous cheap motels, there are campsites and in the city a range of hotels to suit all budgets.
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