TOUR THE MUSIC CAPITAL OF

Nashville, Tennessee, is one of the most talked about cities in the U.S. for its lively music towns and great hospitality. Anyone who comes down has a grand old time. But sometimes it can get confusing on what to do and where to go, especially in a big city like Nashville. There are so many attractions to visit that it becomes hard to determine where to start. There’s an array of music museums, art galleries and amazing restaurants to choose from. What do you do? Well, no worries. I am here to help break down the sights, sounds and smells (food) of the nation’s music capital. Music Museums

Nashville has a variety of music museums that showcase priceless artifacts such as song recordings, photographs, stage costumes, musical instruments and many more. You will also get to have a sneak peek into the lives of past and present musicians from all genres of music who have shaped the city into the music capital that it is today. Here are a few of them: Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum This museum is one of the largest museums in the world that is specifically dedicated to country music. Learn about the cultural importance and history of country music through several exhibits, publications and educational programs. Explore the permanent objects collection that includes more than 800 costumes, 600 instruments and many other objects like microphones and automobiles. You can also upgrade your experience by adding in a tour of the Historic RCA Studio B, which is the only studio tour that gives you an inside look into the heart of Nashville’s Sound during one of its most exciting, classic periods. If you are a diehard country music fan, this museum is the perfect one to visit and an excellent way to start off your Nashville trip. You can visit the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum website for more information on ticket sales and what else the museum has to offer at countrymusichalloffame.org.

The Johnny Cash Museum

Any Johnny Cash fan will fall absolutely in love with this museum! The Johnny Cash Museum is located in the heart of downtown Nashville and has the world’s biggest collection of artifacts and memorabilia dedicated to the late “Man in Black.” Reminisce Cash’s life and legacy through his costumes, instruments, personal letters, handwritten lyrics and contributions that were made from his family and friends. For more information about the Johnny Cash Museum, you can check out the website at johnnycashmuseum.com.

Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum

Have you ever wondered who the brilliant minds were behind some of the most iconic songs of our time? Well, you can learn more about these musicians in the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum. This museum has several exhibits honoring the musicians, engineers and producers who have contributed to your favorite songs, but have never been seen. The museum also features memorabilia from artists, including Elvis Presley’s studio, Glen Campbell’s guitars and one of Jimi Hendrix’s Stratocaster guitars and the Nashville stage he performed on. There is also a Grammy Museum Gallery, which is an interactive exhibit where you can mix your own music in a real sound booth, perform on a stage or even sing backup for Ray Charles. This museum is definitely one you want on your tour list. You can visit the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum website for more information on what else the museum has to offer at musicianshalloffame.com.

AS THE WORLD’S ONLY FULL-SCALE REPLICA OF THE FAMOUS GREEK TEMPLE, THE PARTHENON STANDS AS THE CENTERPIECE OF THE CENTEN NIAL PARK, WHICH IS ONE OF NASHVILLE’S MOST FAMOUS PARKS.

National Museum of African American Music

Discover the significant role African Americans have played in making and shaping all genres of American music at the National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM). This museum combines history and interactive exhibits to share the story of more than 50 genres of music such as classical, country, jazz, hip hop and sub-genres too. It’s an amazing opportunity to learn more about the contribution African American musicians and artists have made in creating some of the most popular musical genres of all time. If you would like more information about the National Museum of African American Music, you can visit their website nmaam.org.

Visual Art Museums

Along with the thriving music scene in Nashville, the city’s art scene is growing day by day with its creative murals, street art, art galleries and museums showcasing the many new and upcoming artists in the city and state. Here are a few art museums that will surely have you appreciating the wonders of art a bit more.

The Parthenon

As the world’s only full-scale replica of the famous Greek temple, the Parthenon stands as the centerpiece of the Centennial Park, which is one of Nashville’s most famous parks. The Parthenon serves as a monument to what is considered to be the epitome of classical architecture and art. The museum inside focuses on the Parthenon’s collection of 63 paintings by 19th and 20th century American artists that were donated by James M. Cowan. There is also a recreation of the famous statue of Athena Parthenosstanding at 42 feet, it is the tallest indoor sculpture of the Western world. One of my friends recently took a road trip to Nashville and absolutely loved the Parthenon. She said the artwork was really interesting and beautiful. This is definitely a must-see for any visitor who comes to Nashville. For more information on the Parthenon, you can check out their website nashvilleparthenon.com.

21c Museum Hotel

The 21c Museum Hotel is not only a hotel but includes one of the “largest, multi-venue contemporary art museums in the United States.” The 21c was originally Nashville’s historic Gray & Dudley building, but has been reinvented into a public contemporary art museum, hotel, restaurant and bar. The museum has around 10,500 square feet of space where organized art exhibitions and installations reflect the contemporary culture. The exhibitions and cultural programming rotate, so there is no bad time to come and visit this exquisite museum. As of now, only hotel and restaurant patrons can visit the museum. But the hotel is a great place to stay as well, so if you love contemporary art and are looking for a place to stay, this would be an excellent place for you. You can visit the 21c Museum Hotel website at 21cmuseumhotels.com/nashville/ for more information about their museum and hotel reservations.

Tennessee State Museum

As one of the largest state museums in the country, the Tennessee State Museum showcases over 13,000 years of Tennessean art and history. The museum features several interactive exhibits including a “Tennessee Time Tunnel,” a children’s gallery and a digital learning center. Tennessee State also hosts special exhibitions dedicated towards Tennessean art, crafts, music and history. In 2020, an exhibition celebrated the centennial of the passing of the 19th amendmentwhich gave women the right to vote-and will be available for visitation till September 26, 2021. If you would like more information on the Tennessee State Museum, you can check out their website tnmuseum.org.

Where to Eat

In addition to the amount of fun and entertaining attractions Nashville has to offer, there are many delicious restaurants and food spots to try out. From culinary food, brunch dishes, barbecue and the classic Nashville hot chicken sandwich, they have it all. My friend recommended the top three restaurants she thinks are some of the best ones to check out while in Nashville:

Stateside Kitchen

Located inside the DREAM Nashville Hotel, Stateside Kitchen offers tasty seasonal cuisines in a brasserie-style restaurant. They focus on creating dishes that are made out of fresh flavors and locally sourced ingredients that suit every kind of taste palette. The restaurant itself is housed under a glass atrium that was designed by a Nashville design firm called Meyer Davis Studio. The restaurant has a new theme each season, and at the time my friend went, there was a springtime garden theme. Plus, the hotel itself is right around the corner from the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum so you can just pop right on over after having a delicious meal. If you would like more information about Stateside Kitchen, you can visit the DREAM Nashville Hotel website at dreamhotels.com/nashville/dining-en.html. Dierks Bentely’s Whiskey Row

Named after one of the most famous country singers Dierks Bentely, Whiskey Row is a casual, gastropub that has a wide variety of sandwiches, burgers, and entrees. If you are looking for a good brunch spot, Whiskey Row has all your favorite dishes from Monte Cristo French Toast, Dierks scrambled egg to the classic chicken and waffles. For lunch, my friend ordered the Catfish and Chips, which is a cornmeal-crusted catfish served with a brussels sprout slaw, tartar sauce and fries. The restaurant features two floors and a rooftop patio. The first two floors have live music daily, with the second floor including a DJ booth, dance floor and VIP tables for flight service. The patio is open daily and has a beautiful view of Lower Broadway and the historic Ryman Auditorium. This is a great restaurant for anyone looking for a casual spot to eat, and is perfectly situated on the corner of Broadway and 4th Ave N., so you can enjoy the downtown life of Nashville at the same time. For more information on Dierks Bentely’s Whiskey Row, you can visit their website at dierkswhiskeyrow.com/nashville-tn/. Gracie’s Milkshake Bar

Looking for something sweet instead? Gracie's Milkshake Bar specializes in monster-sized, extravagant milkshakes that could possibly be eaten as a meal for breakfast, lunch or dinner. There are so many milkshakes to choose from like The Cookie Monster, The Bonfire (smore’s) and The Fuego which is a bit spicy. My friend got The Unicorn shake, which is a strawberry milkshake rolled in vanilla icing and dipped in sprinkles, topped with whipped cream, a pop tart, a waffle cone and a cherry. Gracie’s also has simple milkshakes, ice cream floats and fries. Anyone who has a big sweet tooth will love this place. If you would like more information about Gracie’s Milkshake Bar, you can visit their website at graciesmilkshakebar.info. Nashville is an amazing tourist spot for anyone who has a love for music and art. There are so many attractions to visit, from the music and art museums, delicious restaurants to eat at and an exciting nightlife. If you are looking to party it up somewhere this summer, there is no place better to do so than in the music capitol of the country. For more information on what else you can do in Nashville, you can visit their tourist website at visitmusiccity.com. blob:file:///42949e38-68f2-40c8-a814-

Shivani Goswami Read this article and more: thetravelintel.com/articles/tour-the-music-capital-of-the-country Read more articles from Shivani Goswami thetravelintel.com/united-states/seminole/travel/shivani-goswami