NASHVILLE
Area: Cities
Country: United States of America


Location:
In the E United States, in the upper part of the "American South", towards the centre of the state of Tennessee. 209 miles NE of Memphis. 8 miles W of Nashville international airport.

Telephone code from UK:
1 615

Website:
http://www.nashvillecvb.com

Position:
In broad, fairly flat, verdant terrain astride the wide Cumberland River. Bounded to the SE by the large J Percy Priest Lake and several parks.

Description:
Tennessee's state capital and former residence of the seventh US President, Andrew Jackson, Nashville is better known as the home of country music and the birthplace of the line-dancing craze. A sprawling, fairly low-rise city that measures roughly 14 mls by 12, most of tourist interest lies in downtown Nashville, an area measuring about 4 mls by 5, and including Centennial Park's "Athenian" architecture and a revitalised old quarter of restored buildings, lively bars, shops and small breweries known simply as "The District". Music Row is home to nearly 200 record companies and recording studios, testimony to the city's importance to the music industry. Country-music fans are also drawn to the Opryland and Music Valley area, 10 mls from downtown, where they can find such famous institutions as the Opryland Hotel, Grand Ole Opry House (with weekend shows) and the Willie Nelson Museum.

Suitability:
A must for country-music lovers and line-dancers everywhere, with accommodation and food to suit all pockets. Its strong Southern tradition, historic buildings and involvement in the American Civil War will entice history buffs.

Accommodation:
All shapes and sizes, from a handful of historic hotels through modern luxury hotels to budget motels and motor inns around downtown and in the Opryland area.

Shopping:
Tourist-orientated shops in the historic quarter around 2nd Avenue and Broadway sell mainly souvenirs, T-shirts and local memorabilia. Most larger department stores at various malls outside town. Opry Mills in the Opryland area is a vast shopping and entertainment venue, offering a wide range of discounted branded goods, especially clothes, sports and outdoor gear and abundant country-music souvenirs, from printed T-shirts to rhinestone boots.

Entertainments:
Daytime: various downtown museums, including the Tennessee State Museum. State Capitol building; Centennial Park's replica Parthenon. Country Music Hall of Fame. The Opryland and Music Valley area has numerous attractions for country-music lovers. Host to summer Annual Fan Fair _ world's biggest country-music festival. Nashville Zoo. Nashville Shores water park. Nightlife: very lively and varied. "The District" has a plethora of lively bars and honky-tonks, most hosting live music and dancing. Star-studded country music at the famous Grand Ole Opry House at weekends: usually packed out, so book well in advance. Typical Southern-style entertainment and floor shows on the paddle-steamer showboat, General Jackson. The Ryman Auditorium presents musicals as well as traditional country music, rock 'n' roll and blues. Murder mystery dinners.

Eating:
Everything from smart international hotel restaurants to simple roadside diners. Dominated by Southern-style and Creole cuisine and huge portions: pancakes, biscuits, grits and gravy for breakfast!; barbecued pork and numerous fried chicken recipes. Usual array of international fast-food chains and pizza parlours.

Public-transport:
Buses serve the downtown area, with coach transport around the widespread suburban area and Opryland. Plentiful taxis. Nashville is very spread out and not overcrowded, so a car is beneficial.

Local-excursions:
Half day: the Hermitage (site of home and grave of President Andrew Jackson); Nashville Speedway (summer). Full day: self-drive tour of numerous Civil War battlefields; Belle Meade Plantation; Tennessee Antebellum Trail _ self-drive tour of grand old mansions and plantations; Jack Daniel's Distillery in Lynchburg; Chattanooga. Two days: Memphis.