Welcome to the most music-oriented city in America. I mean, we’re talking about a place that nicknamed itself Music City nearly 100 years ago. So yeah, it’s safe to say that Nashville knows what it’s about. Nashville is about giving people access to the best music on earth, and teaching us the history behind that music all the while. Before we dive into the most impressive of Nashville’s music venues, I want to take a moment to acknowledge that Nashville has impressive value outside of its musical influence. The city’s Centennial Park is as humongous as it is beautiful – and the full-scale model Parthenon that resides in the park earned Nashville its reputation as the Athens of the South. There, now that you know that music isn’t all that Nashville offers, let’s talk about why it’s the best of what Nashville offers. The following venues are must-see destinations for any Nashville vacationers with an appreciation for music.
Schermerhorn Symphony Center
One of life’s greatest and simplest pleasures is listening to a high-quality song. You know what’s even better? Listening to some of your favorite tunes right alongside 1,800 other folks who are equally enthusiastic about the art you’re hearing. The Schermerhorn Symphony Center is host to some of the biggest names in the music scene. Any one of the Schermerhorn’s shows is easily worth the price of admission, but why not see your favorite? Check to see how the Schermerhorn Symphony Center’s performance schedule lines up with your Nashville vacation, and buy your tickets in advance! Once the show’s over, you can grab some grub at the Center’s Urban Cookhouse Cafe. This charming restaurant offers sandwiches, wraps, snacks, and more to guests of Schermerhorn Symphony Center. Here’s a bonus for the couples out there: Nashville is romantic, and Schermerhorn is one of the best date spots in Music City.
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Admittedly, this particular venue’s name doesn’t leave much to the imagination. But no trip to Music City would be complete without at least a few hours spent tooling around the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Not only does the museum portion feature one of the largest collections of music in the world, it’s also simply one of the largest music museums known to humankind! The Country Music Hall of Fame opened in 1964; since then, its staff has worked to get antiquities, props, documentation, and more for each of the members who has been inducted into the Hall since it first started operating.
The Museum, meanwhile, holds the actual instruments of said musicians, as well as other notable items from their lives. The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is also one of the best places in Nashville for kids – there’s a ton of things to look at and plenty of learning experiences. Just remind them that even a fun museum like this one is for seeing, not touching. As a bonus game, see who in your crew can find the most famous musician within five minutes of arrival!
The Grand Ole Opry
You didn’t seriously think we were going to talk about the hottest music venues in Nashville without bringing up the Grand Ole Opry, did you? After all, this has to be one of the few music settings in the world that is practically a household name. The Grand Ole Opry has been hailed as “Country’s Most Famous Stage” and the “Home of American Music,” and for good reason. The Opry sees hundreds of thousands of visitors every year, coming from every country on Earth. It’s easily the most popular attraction in Music City. Even if you hated music, (although it would be weird if you had made it this far into the article if you did), The Opry would still be worth the visit for the glorious architecture and rich history of the building. Oh, plus, you can catch a music superstar performing their heart out in one of the oldest musical venues in America. Sign up for a tour before you catch a musician’s show to see what the behind-the-scenes of The Opry looks like!
Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row
Finally, a place to let loose. Aside from being a dope music venue, Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row is pretty much the polar opposite of The Grand Ole Opry. Whereas The Opry has an air of grandeur and sophistication, Whiskey Row is all about fun. Whiskey Row is a three-story building that operates simultaneously as a bar, restaurant, and nightclub. It also puts you within walking distance of other awesome Music City attractions, like the Johnny Cash Museum. We’re running out of space to talk about cool Nashville places, but with a name like the Johnny Cash Museum, you probably know what you’re signing up for. Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row is the perfect place to hang out while you decide what you want to do with the rest of your time in Music City.
Well, how about it? Which of these appealing attractions is your favorite, and which one are going to first? One thing to consider is that you have to decide where to stay in Nashville for music. Once you’ve got a nice place picked out, you’ll be all set for your Music City adventure! Have fun, and remember to bring ear protection so that the only ringing in your ears after the shows comes from the Nashville Carillon’s rendition of the Tennessee Waltz.
