Author: libby1
Date: 09/28/2008, 02:24 pm

My husband and I are traveling by car to Nashville for two nights (on our way to Charleston). We love country music and want to go to the Grand Old Opry--we will only have one full day in Nashville. We like to stay in smaller elegant, luxury hotels, but it seems as if the ones in Opryland are all lower-end except for Gaylord Resort and that looks like a huge Disneyworld type place-which we don't like either. Any suggestions for a very nice place to stay that is convenient for what we want to do? We have a reservation at the Hermitage, but that seems too far from Opryland. Help!

The first thing you should do is to make sure you can get tickets to the Grand Old Opry, if you don't have them already, and check the venue - sometimes it goes back to the Ryman, which puts you in an entirely different neighborhood.

Performances in Nov. and Dec., for example are at the Ryman.

You can get the info here: www.opry.com

debCT is correct about the Opry moving to the Ryman in the winter. I believe they are there in December, January an February. You will need to check on that. If you are here when the Opry is at the Ryman, the Hermitage would be perfect. If it is important for you to stay near Opryland, the only good choice you have is to stay at Gaylord, which is huge. Nashville also has nice properties at Union Station and there is also a Hotel Indigo on West End.

The Hermitage would get my vote as well. And if the show is at the Ryman, you're in for a treat. And if you can't get tickets, just head for Robert's Western Wear on Broadway for live music...and, of course, there's always Tootsie's Orchid Lounge.

www.hereinfanklin.wordpress.com

Be sure not to miss the Country Music Hall of Fame. www.countrymusichalloffame.com

I would also recommend staying downtown (where the Hermitage is). It's not that far from the Opry / Opryland Hotel area (15 minutes maybe).

I stayed at Gaylord in Nashville and thought it was fine. Yes, itis huge, but it was very nice and not like Disney for me. It may not be what you are looking for, but I don't think you'd be too upset by it, either. I think part of its size is that the convention hall is built into it... which is why I was there... for a business convention.

While there, however, I drove into downtown Nashville and was fine. Saw the Country Music Hall of Fame and some live music/dancing at the Wildhorse Saloon. Loved them both. I think you'd do fine if you stayed downtown. It was not a long drive and easy enough for me to handle on my own with a rental car and map, having never been there before.

Enjoy!

We really enjoyed the Gaylord. It's a lovely property with gardens, water features, etc. We would definitely go back again.