USA TRAVEL GUIDE, “SOUTHEAST” TENNESSEE

NASHVILLE: MUSIC CITY

BY CLAY LARROY

There is nothing more exciting than traveling. Whether you are going for a road trip to see something new in your own state, or heading off to somewhere for the very first time to visit a city you have always dreamed of, there are some travel basics that you should know. Travel in the off seasons from November to April, to avoid crowds, save money and enjoy temperate weather. In those months, many families with children cannot travel due to school commitments, making many tourist attractions much less crowded. This may also result in lower costs for airfare and hotels.  When you are ready to plan a vacation contact me!

NASHVILLE: MUSIC CITY

Nashville History

Prior to the arrival of Europeans in the 16th century, the area that is now occupied by Nashville was home to a succession of Native American tribes, among them the Cherokee, Chickasaw and Shawnee, who were drawn to the region by its fertile land and plentiful wildlife.

But their reign was came to an abrupt end when Hernando de Soto explored the area in the 16th century, paving the way for an influx of French fur traders. Nevertheless, it took a pair of Britons to construct the first permanent settlement, Bluff Station, which was put up in 1780.

By 1800, Nashville had begun to establish itself as a center for cotton growing, getting its city charter in 1806 and expanding to become capital of Tennessee in 1843. Its first setback came in 1861, when Tennessee became the last state to join the Confederacy - a move that immediately made Nashville a primary target for Union forces. In 1862, it became the first state capital to fall to the Union Army during the American Civil War and was the scene of a bloody battle in 1864.

In the years that followed, Nashville expanded rapidly, becoming a hub for trade, in particular for cotton and coffee. In 1918, its trading prowess led to a disaster remembered as the Great Train Wreck, which saw an inbound passenger train collide with an outbound express, killing 101 people in the process. The incident remains one of the deadliest in US history.

As the early 20th century wore on, Nashville's growth remained steady and was barely interrupted by WWI and WWII. Nashville's music industry was born during the same period, starting with the Grand Ole Opry which arrived in 1920.

By the 1940s, the Opry had moved downtown and recording labels were flocking to the city. The Country Music Association was founded soon after, ensuring the city's future success. The Opry moved to the Gaylord complex in 1974, and as country music went global, the city's stock rose even further and it became the iconic destination it is today.

Did you know?
- Elvis Presley recorded more than 200 of his songs on Nashville's famous Music Row.
- The city also became the first in the US to get a radio broadcasting license, attaining its credentials in 1941.
- Nashville's 42m-high (138ft) Athena Parthenos is the largest free-standing statue in the Western hemisphere.

Tours & Excursions

Tourist Information Centers

Visitor Information Centre

·        Telephone:  +1 615 259 4747.

·        Website:  http://www.visitmusiccity.com

·        Hours of Operation:

Mon-Sat 0800-1730, Sun 1000-1700.

Excursions

Nashville Zoo

·        Over 1,350 animals from 255 different species are on display in this innovative zoo, 3777 Nolensville Road, Grassmere, which covers 81 hectares (200 acres) not far from the center of the city. There are Bengal tigers, cheetahs, an 'African Elephant Savannah', the USA's largest community-built playground for the children, the aptly named Gibbon Islands exhibit, an 'Unseen New World' exhibit (with over 200 reptiles, insects, amphibians and fish) and the old Croft House. This was built in 1810 and now houses a working farm exhibit and a young children's petting zoo. Newest exhibits feature ocelots, giraffes and alligators.

·        Telephone:  (615) 833 1534.

·        Website:  http://www.nashvillezoo.org

 

Gaylord Opryland

·        One of Nashville's major attractions, located about 10km (6 miles) from downtown Nashville. Allow at least half a day to see everything. Opryland is a collective term for the whole area, also known as Music Valley, which contains the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, Opry Mills and the Grand Ole Opry (temporarily closed due to floods at the time of writing, and rehoused in the Ryman). Other attractions include the Music Valley Wax Museum, the Ernest Tubb Midnight Jamboree, and the Willie Nelson and Friends Showcase Museum. From Downtown, the area is easily accessed by the Opry Mills Express (bus 34).

·        Website:  http://www.gaylordhotels.com/gaylord-opryland

 

Natchez Trace Parkway

·        No one should visit Nashville without sampling at least a short stretch of this unique drive, which begins about 24km (15 miles) southwest of the city centre. The whole parkway, one of the country's first interstate highways, runs for 715km (444 miles) to Natchez, Mississippi and was an ancient trading route for early European settlers and American Indians. Today, with a leisurely 80kph (50mph) speed limit and only recreational traffic, it makes a wonderfully peaceful drive through unspoilt scenery.

·        Telephone:  1 800 305 7417.

·        Website:  http://www.nps.gov/natr

Tours

Walking tours

·        For a good - and not too strenuous - overview of the city, the City Walk is a marked trail of 3km (2 miles), which begins at Fort Nashborough and ends at the Hatch Show Print Shop on Broadway. Visitors should either follow the blue line or obtain a leaflet from the Visitor Information Centre, Gaylord Entertainment Centre, 501 Broadway, corner of Fifth Avenue.

·        Telephone: (615) 259 4747.

·        Website: http://www.visitmusiccity.com

 

Bus tours

·        Numerous companies offer tours, invariably focusing on the country music scene and often including a drive past the homes of Dolly Parton and Johnny Cash. Grand Ole Opry Tours offers a variety, one including a backstage tour of the Grand Ole Opry. Other companies include the very irreverent NashTrash Tours.

·        Telephone: (615) 889 9490 ; (615) 226 7300 or 1 800 342 2132.

·        Website: http://www.nashtrash.com

 

Boat tours

·        General Jackson Showboat takes you back to a bygone era aboard the 91m (300ft), four-deck paddlewheel showboat. Named after the first steamboat to operate on the Cumberland River, and namesake of the Tennessean-born US President, the General Jackson offers a variety of cruise packages, which navigate the Cumberland River from Opry Mills to Riverfront Park in Downtown Nashville.

Wanderin' Star Yacht Charters offers three-hour sailing cruises on Old Hickory Lake on a Catalina 25. Gourmet cocktail cruises or evening sunset cruises are the most romantic. Sailing lessons also available. Cruises and lessons run between April and October.

·        Telephone: (615) 458 3900 ; (615) 851 4274.

·        Website: http://www.generaljackson.com

REFERENCE SITES:

http://www.travelresearchonline.com/

I grew up in east Tennessee, and everybody knew everybody's business.

 Kenny Chesney
 

Live Life, Have Fun and Travel Often!