Nashville
We’ve compiled the best of the best in Nashville - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
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We’ve compiled the best of the best in Nashville - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
This park on the east bank of the Cumberland River at the foot of the Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge was designed with kids and families in mind. Sandboxes, a "sprayground" of fountains, an obstacle course, a climbing wall, and trails (one designed to attract butterflies) are among the offerings for kids; there's also a picnic area and 1,200-seat amphitheater. You can also enjoy great views of the river with the Nashville skyline just beyond the bank.
David Lusk’s Memphis gallery has been around since 1995; the Nashville location opened in 2014 and features paintings, photography, and sculpture by regional and national artists. The gallery takes part in the Wedgwood-Houston art crawls and also hosts receptions and other events.
Capping one of Nashville’s highest points, the Dyer Observatory rises above Radnor Lake State Park with its imposing steel dome. Inside the dome is the Seyfert telescope, used for viewing the rings of Saturn and other astral wonders. On the second Friday of each month (March through November), the observatory hosts telescope nights for guests to stargaze and mingle with astronomers. Or, for a daytime visit, you can attend an open house between 9 am and noon on the first Tuesday of each month (March through November) to view the sun through a solar telescope and receive a tour from an astronomer. These are both ticketed events, but the cost is minimal (sometimes even free). Simply preregister online.
This art gallery and studio space in the Buchanan Arts District of North Nashville is irreverent, colorful, weird, and brilliant. The gallery presents both group and solo exhibitions in any style— even Garfield-themed or clown-themed styles. If you get the chance to attend a show here, you’ll notice a distinct house party vibe, complete with box wine in the kitchen and bowls of chips. Recent shows have featured face painting and a pie bake-off.
This long strip of park bordering Richland Creek is The Nations’ greenway. Featuring a paved loop trail that is part of the Richland Creek Greenway, picnic tables, and large trees, England Park offers serenity in the city.
While Hillsboro Village itself offers plenty of charming outdoor walking space, the nearby Fannie Mae Dee's Park is the perfect place to stop for a picnic with your Fido goodies. Take the little ones to play on the playground, and check out the large dragon statue. Kids can play on it, but, with its bright colors and funky design, it's just as fun for adults who love a good photo op.
First Tennessee Park is home to Nashville's triple-A baseball team the Nashville Sounds. Game attendees will enjoy a variety of concessions, including craft cocktails and small bites at outfield bar the Band Box. And if you can't sit through an entire baseball game without getting fidgety, the park also has Ping-Pong tables and a mini-golf course to keep you entertained.
The Mansion at Fontanel is a 33,000-square-foot log cabin in Whites Creek, Tennessee, filled with country music memorabilia, instruments, and stories. It was once home to country music star Barbara Mandrell, and her glitzy taste is unmistakable throughout. (There’s even an indoor shooting range.) Guided tours of the mansion are offered daily, but that’s only the beginning. The Fontanel estate also includes the Natchez Hills Winery tasting room, Prichard’s rum and whiskey distillery, Café Fontanella, Adventureworks Zip Lines, a boutique hotel, more than 3 miles of wooded trails, and Vintage Creek, a clothing boutique and gift shop.
Fort Granger was an earthwork fort created by the Union troops during the Civil War. Today, it’s a park along the Harpeth River with a self-guided walking tour through the Franklin Battlefield. Start at the beginning of the path and follow the placards to learn the history of the Battle of Franklin. If you follow the path all the way to the end, it will lead you to Pinkerton Park.
A makers' space offering classes, workshops, and studio and workspaces, the on-site gallery at Fort Houston has changing exhibits and is a key part of the monthly Wedgewood-Houston art crawls. Tours of the 17,000-square-foot facility are available by appointment. There is also an on-site eatery called The Loading Dock Cafe.
The history of the Civil War–era fort is told through videos in the visitor center and panels along outdoor pathways. This is also the site of veterans events throughout the year. There’s a gift shop and views of the Nashville skyline.
This enormously popular radio show, performed in the Grand Ole Opry House, has been broadcasting country music since 1925. You can see superstars, legends, and up-and-coming stars on this stage. The Opry seats about 4,400 people and is broadcast live on WSM AM 650 every Tuesday (7 pm), Friday (8 pm), and Saturday (6 and 9 pm); buy tickets ($25–$57) well in advance, particularly during CMA Music Festival week in June. Tours of the Grand Ole Opry are also available.
Berry Hill and the surrounding areas are rich in early Tennessee state history, full of key markers for the battle lines during the Battle of Nashville and housing homesteads like Judge John Overton’s, which has been preserved as Travellers Rest Plantation. With archaeological finds and Civil War significance, the plantation is a museum and is a popular stop for history buffs.
Founded in 2013, artist Julia Martin’s eponymous gallery plays a leading role in the monthly Wedgwood-Houston art crawl. The gallery shows contemporary work by local and national artists working in painting, sculpture, and other media.
One's man passion for automobiles (and motorcycles) led to this collection of mostly European vehicles of all shapes and sizes, from mini cars (including a Smart car) to an amphibious car—one vehicle for almost every letter of the alphabet. The museum also includes a children's area, art gallery and gift shop.
Built in 1858, this grand house in downtown Franklin was home to a family of German immigrants during the years surrounding the Civil War. Even those who don’t care for Civil War history will enjoy touring this house. It contains one of the best antique collections in Tennessee, as well as the art of Matilda Lotz, who became a world-renowned painter of animals after the war.
Sitting squarely in the Music Row roundabout (also known as Buddy Killen Circle), Musica was originally a point of controversy, but now represents the artistic and cultural diversity of this thriving city. Musica is a bronze statue depicting nine dancing nude figures—including African American, Asian American, Native, and Latinx men and women—enthralled by music. At its pinnacle stands a woman holding a tambourine. The 14- and 15-foot-tall figures also stand on limestone boulders, which are native to the area.
Traditional tours are great, but sometimes the best way to explore a new place is through laughter. NashTrash Tours provides plenty of laughs in its tours of Music City, which showcase the city's sights, sounds, and significant spots through the eyes of two zany sisters. NashTrash offers three different tours, each tailored to different neighborhoods and themes.
Part of the official Tennessee Whiskey Trail, this facility offers tours for those 21 and older. They are known for small-batch spirits with clever names inspired by Nashville, such as Naked Biscuit Sorghum Spirit and Crane City Gin.
Site of auto races and other sporting events, craft fairs and monthly flea markets, the annual Christmas Village holiday market, concerts, and other special events throughout the year, the Tennessee State Fair has been held here for more than 100 years, but may need a new home if the fairgrounds are redeveloped to include a soccer stadium for Nashville’s new pro soccer team.
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