Hello,

I will be going to Nashville at the beginning of December on business. I will have only the evenings and all day Saturday to see the sights as I will be attending a conference.

I am staying at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel on Commerce Street near the convention center. I wasn't planning on renting a car, but would if the Fodorites think it best.

What are the must see sights? Is public transportation (cabs, buses) accessible? How would you spend your one day of site seeing?

And most importantly...any good restuarants I shouldn't miss? Both walking distance and farther afield from where I am staying?

Any and all recommendations are greatly appreciated!

The Opryland Hotel will be decorated for Xmas and is quite the hotel. Many restaurants and one can get lost (literally)......Last time I was there I went to the Ryman for the Grand Ole Opry. Public transportation is available.

Thank you RRB. I will check out the Opryland Hotel!

There are some great places to eat: Tayst, Midtown Cafe, Bricktop's - but you would need a car or taxi. The Frist is open some evenings late and is lovely. If you are there on a thursday or saturday you might check out the Nashville Symphony which is world class and you could walk there from your hotel. They play Thursday and Saturday nights but you would have to check the dates. There are a whole bunch of new restaurants downtown but I almost never get down there anymore. Your hotel can help you. Lots of new places in the area they call the Gulch.

If you are staying Saturday night, you need to attend the Grand Ole Opry which will be at the Ryman by December. You need to buy tickets soon.

On Friday night you should go to the Bluebird Cafe. The web site has bookings quite a ways out, and you can buy tix over the site. Very reasonable. Always a good show.

Both can be done by taxi from your hotel. Depends on your daytime plan if you need a car.

Normaloney,

On your free Saturday I would recommend two totally different Nashville "sights," the Country Music Hall of Fame (sort of downtown?) and the Belle Meade Plantation in Belle Meade (20 minutes from downtown.) The CMHF is really well done, and very interesting, celebrating the entire range of country music. Belle Meade Plantation will be decorated for Christmas by then and is an interesting look at a well-preserved antebellum mansion and grounds. If you have one more night, I would recommend the Station Inn, in the area called "The Gulch," for excellent bluegrass; google their website for schedules. Have fun!

Thank you so much. I will try and get tickets to the Opry. The restuarant recommendations are much appreciated.

Agree with everyone above. If you want to do much sightseeing outside the downtown area, I'd rent a car; our public transport is not great. Some of the restaurants SharonG mentioned may have a hotel shuttle - I believe Midtown's web site mentions one, for example, but as I live here I've never used it. Worth checking into if you plan to eat there.

Other great restaurants you might want to consider:

Mad Platter
The Acorn
Germantown Cafe

All a short cab ride from your hotel

For kitsch and live music...Tootsies Orchid Lounge on Lower Broadway- you can walk there.

www.hereinfranklin.wordpress.com

If you like steaks, then the "Stockyard" has to be at the top of your list...and they will come pick you up! www.stock-yardrestaurant.com

Thank you BBlakely