Nashville welcomed a record-breaking 15.2 million visitors in 2018. That’s almost a 5% increase from 2017’s impressive numbers.
So, why is everyone going to Nashville? Well, with their booming country music scene, gorgeous weather, and unique activities, there’s really something to do here for everyone.
But with so many amazing Nashville attractions, how will you choose the right ones?
Luckily, we’re here to help. Keep reading to discover the top 7 attractions you have to check out when you’re in Nashville, Tennessee.
Consider planning a city tour on one of your first days. This is a great way to get a general introduction to the city and learn the lay of the land.
You can learn about the history of the area and even discover some interesting sites that you may want to visit more in-depth later. But you’ll be able to hit a lot of the main sites you want to see, like the Historic RCA Studio B and the Country Music Hall of Fame, in one convenient tour, saving you precious time.
You can also visit Legends Corner and the Ryman Auditorium, arguably two of the best places to see some live music. Of course, both have a rich history that will help you appreciate the city even more.
If you have a free afternoon (or a few), you can't miss the chance to wander around Music Row. It's located in downtown Nashville and is the heart of the music industry in Tennessee.
Here is where you’ll find the Country Music Hall of Fame as well as tons of souvenir shops and museums. While you can do some prior research to figure out what you want to do in this area, it can also be fun to just walk around and go inside whatever shop or museum catches your eye.
When you think of Tennessee, two things probably come to mind: country music and good ole Tennessee whiskey! Perhaps the most famous whiskey brand, Jack Daniel's, has a distillery near Nashville.
Of course, there are tons of other distilleries to choose from. Brands like George Dickel, Collier and McKeel, Nelson's Green Brier, Leiper's Fork, and Tenn South all make whiskey in the area.
If you only have time to visit one, you can’t go wrong with a Jack Daniels Distillery tour. But if you have a free afternoon, consider picking a few and see how the whiskeys compare to each other.
What can you do if whiskey isn’t your favorite type of alcohol? While it’ll still be fun to do a distillery tour, you may be more interested in learning how wine is made.
If you opt to tour a vineyard, you’ll start by making your way through the rows and rows of grapes waiting to be harvested.
Your guide will tell you all about these grapes and, depending on the time of year, you may even be able to pick a few grapes straight off the vine! Of course, this is also a gorgeous location to snap a few unforgettable pictures.
When you’re done in the field, you’ll move inside and actually see how wine is made. You can then sample the wine at the end of your tour, so you can see every step of the process from vine to glass.
There are tons of vineyards to choose from, but some of the best include Arrington Vineyards, Natchez Hills Winery, Belle Meade Winery, Grinder's Switch, Amber Falls Winery & Cellars, and Pickers Creek to name a few.
Brewery tours are another great option as Nashville has a booming craft beer culture. You can see how the beer is made and try a few samples at the end of the tour.
Consider stopping at Jackalope, The Black Abbey, TailGate, Bearded Iris, or Yazoo for some of the best brews in town.
Why travel all the way to Greece when you can see the Parthenon right here in Tennessee? That’s right—Nashville actually has its own full-size replica of the Parthenon.
It's been turned into an art museum where you can see a variety of paintings from the 19th and 20th centuries. But right in the middle is a giant Athena statue that’s been covered in gold leaf, which was designed to look exactly how it would have been in the original Parthenon.
Now that’s something you don’t see every day.
It’s no secret that Nashville is known for its music. In fact, some of your favorite musicians may have a history in this area.
While you’re here, why not take the opportunity to follow in their steps?
Although Taylor Swift grew up in Pennsylvania, she moved down to Nashville with her family when she was just 14 years old. You can drive by her old alma mater, Hendersonville High School, which is a short drive outside Nashville.
If you’re more of a Garth Brooks fan, don’t forget to drive past his gorgeous Nashville mansion.
Of course, not every musician in Nashville is a country singer. Elvis Presley recorded some of his songs in the Historic RCA Studio B. Later, artists like Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson also recorded here.
You also can't miss the chance to see the Walk of Fame, which is located right across the street from the Country Music Hall of Fame. Here you can see tributes to those who have made significant contributions to the music world.
If you find yourself in Tennessee, you can’t miss a trip to Nashville. From taking a distillery tour to visiting the Historic RCA Studio B, there are so many Nashville attractions that you won’t want to miss.
Do you want to get the most out of your upcoming trip? Then book a Nashville tour with us today!
Posted on May 16 2019
Share on Social Media
