NASHVILLE

Music to the Ears

Nashville is the capital of Tennessee that's known around the world as "Music City USA." That's because Nashville is home to major country music recording studios and the historic Ryman Auditorium, which hosted the Grand Ole Opry for decades before it moved to the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center. The Tennessee Performing Arts Center, the Frist Center for the Visual Arts, and the Cheekwood Botanical Gardens and Museum are among the city's additional cultural assets. Nashville's economic vitality is enhanced by the downtown location of Vanderbilt University, one of the South's leading institutions of higher learning that includes a top-tier medical school and cutting-edge research center. And at Centennial Park is Nashville's most unique attraction: a full-scale replica of the Parthenon on the Acropolis in Athens, Greece, complete with a 42-foot-tall statue of the goddess Athena.

Crossville

Crossville is known as "The Golf Capital of Tennessee" because of the 14 area championship courses that visitors and residents can play. It's also the gateway to the natural wonders of the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, while downtown Crossville features local artwork at The Depot and cultural events at The Palace theater.

Cookeville

Cookeville is the commercial hub of the Cumberland Plateau region, offering top-quality medical and professional services plus a delightful downtown with two historic districts. Relaxing diversions include walking trails connecting the city's 10 public parks, dramas and comedies at the Cumberland County Playhouse, and symphony concerts at the Cookeville Center for the Performing Arts.

Columbia

Columbia is best known for its impressive collection of lovingly restored antebellum homes, the Mule Town Music Festival in Riverwalk Park every fall, and the popular network of horseback riding trails in the nearby Yanahli Wildlife Management Area.