My hubby and two kids, ages 4 and 10 will be driving from Dallas to Nashville and arrive on Christmas Eve to stay a week.
Any info on a good place to have Christmas dinner?
Are there things we should or should not see/do?
Your opinions about the items already on my list would be greatly appreciated!!
General Jackson dinner cruise, Opry show, Opry museum, ICE show.
Also, is it worth staying the whole week of should we stay a day or two somewhere along the way as well?
Thanks!
Happy Travels

Things on your list:

I massively recommend the Grand Old Opry show, I loved it. It's a great intro to, or hit of, country music. No act sings more than 2 songs so no chance of getting stuck in a concert by someone you can't relate to.

I also recommend spending time at Opryland, and with kids it would be even better, beforehand. As you may know it is an 8 acre hotel - hotel itself 8 acres, not hotel + property.

It has rivers in it, you can take boat rides - we liked being there as day turned to night as the atmosphere changed.

We ate happily at the buffet restaurant in there which might be good choice with kids.

And the Country Hall of Fame Museum is one of the best places I've ever been in my life (I live in NYC, if you'd like a reference point about me). If like me you aren't a country music expert I'd definitely go there before the Opry, it gave me a frame of reference.

Also: I found it worthwhile to buy the guidebook which had coupons in it giving me a discount for my lunch and giftshop purchases.

I don't know about the Opry Museum, if that is something different.

If I were there longer I'd take a bus tour that shows you stars' homes, hangouts, etc. There is on called Nash Trash which is my 1st choice but probably doesn't allow kiddies, I believe it is intentionally & cheerfully a bit vulgar & alcohol-y.

I'd also go see the model of the Parthenon in a park somewhere. As you can guess I am planning to go back.

Hi there, I live in Nashville so I thought I'd chime in. I'm not sure what restaurants are open on Christmas Day. I'm afraid you may not have much of a selection. Also, I think a week here will be way too much. Yes, there are some unique attractions, but it's highly doubtful that you'll find anything interesting enough to warrant a full week - especially with the kiddos. There is the Adventure Science Center which may be fun for the kids - but if you've been to really good museums in the past, then it won't impress.

I don't mean to sound negative, just want to give you a heads-up so you can plan accordingly.

I'm no Nashville expert - though I loved it there - having spent 2 days ther - but until a knowledgeable person turns up I'll keep this aloft and say:

If I had to find me a Xmas dinner in Nashville I'd check out Opryland - hotels are usually the places that have Xmas dinners in their restaurants and Opry land has many restaurants in it.

I think it's called Gaylord Opry land.

We have been on the General Jackson a couple times...food was good and the entertainment is always top notch..
They have a new special Christmas show now.
Go to the www.oprylandhotel.com website and it tells you what the show is, plus pricing, times...even gives you the dinner menu. We went to the ice exhibit last year and it was pretty interesting.
Amazing how they can sculpt everything.
Wished it had been a little longer tour for the money, though. But, I would still go back again. Think your kids would enjoy it. They had two ice slides last year. The hotel is beautiful at Christmas and can take you a while to go through it.
The Country Hall of Fame Museum is downtown across from the Hilton Suites on 4th Ave...I have heard great reviews about it but have never gone there.
However we did stay at the Hilton Suites and it was wonderful.
The Opry Museum you are referring to might be the Ryman Auditorium (which was the orig. Grand Ole Opry)..it also is downtown. The new Grand old Opry is right next to Opryland Hotel as is the ice show and the General Jackson.