Welcome back y'all! This week, we take you along as we explore the famous Music City... Nashville, Tennessee!
Located at the northern end of the beautiful Natchez Trace Parkway in Middle Tennessee, Nashville is also known as the Athens of the South.
We'll share several FREE things to do in Nashville, some Nashville history (along with some Texas history that Nashville shares), some of the live music venues, popular Nashville tourist spots, some hidden gems to see while you're in Nashville, and where we RV camped during our visit.
There are SO MANY fun and interesting things to do in Nashville TN, that it was really difficult to narrow down what to see and do during our 6 night visit. We cover a lot of unique Nashville venues in this video, and we will absolutely be back to see more!
Why is Nashville a Travel Destination?
- Nashville is Music City! There is live music EVERYWHERE!
- Nashville is the Capital of Tennessee.
- There are a lot of FREE things to do in Nashville.
- Nashville embraces its history.
- You can explore Nashville by trolley, bus or riverboat.
- Nashville is home to professional football, soccer, hockey and AAA baseball.
- Nashville is full of museums.
- World famous music venues like the historic Ryman Auditorium and the Grand Ole Opry call Nashville home.
- Nashville has unique architecture including an 1897 replica of the Parthenon in Athens, Greece.
- Nashville straddles the Cumberland River. You can kayak or paddleboard from downtown!
- Over 15 Million tourists visit Nashville each year.
- Nashville is the "Bachelorette Capital of the U.S".
- Lower Broadway (otherwise known as the Honky Tonk Highway or NashVegas) has been a tourist hotspot since the 1960s.
- With so many attractions and venues, the options for things to do in Nashville can be overwhelming!
7 FREE Things To Do in Nashville TN
- Visit the Tennessee State History Museum
- Stroll the History Walk in Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park
- Take a Guided Tour of the Tennessee State Capitol Building
- Wander the street, listen to live music and people watch on Lower Broadway
- Walk or dance your way across the historic John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge
- See classic cars and equipment amongst an eclectic collection of shops at Marathon Village
- Discover the unusual, unique and almost forgotten at the Nashville store of Antique Archaeology
Fun Things to Do in Nashville
Tennessee Capitol Building Tours
Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park
The Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge AKA the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge
Lower Broadway AKA The Honky Tonk Highway or NashVegas
We also visited Fort Nashborough, a replica of the 1780s fort at the settlement that would become Nashville. Unfortunately, there was not much to see.
Places to Eat in Nashville
We enjoyed these Nashville restaurants during our visit.
Caney Fork River Valley Grille
Scoreboard Bar and Grill (Get the Hot Chicken!)
Our Campsite in Nashville
More Things to Do in Nashville
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
The Willie Nelson and Friends Museum
Nashville Trolley
Why is Nashville called "The Athens of the South"?
Aside from the obvious answer (and definitely one of the most unique features of Nashville): the city's full-scale replica of the Parthenon in Athens, Greece, the name is also said to be related to higher education. Nashville is home to more than 20 colleges and universities including Vanderbilt University. By the way, they say that Nashville's Parthenon is the only full-scale replica of the original in the world! You'll find the Parthenon on the West End of the city.
Tips for Visiting Nashville
If you are visiting Nashville for the first time, you'll definitely want to spend at least a little time on Music Row and visiting the iconic venues that historic downtown Nashville is known for, but don't forget to take the time to learn some of Nashville's and Tennessee's history by visiting the Tennessee State Museum, the State of Tennessee Capitol Building and Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park.
You can find live music performances and rising stars everywhere in town from the top attractions to the downtown area and even the Taco Bell. And it's not just for country music fans! The heart of Nashville is its live music scene, and during our visit we heard a LOT of different musical genres.
When you've had your fill of music venues, consider visiting the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame or Centennial Park featuring the replica of the Parthenon complete with a 42 foot tall statue of Athena (said to be the largest indoor statue in the United States). This was the site of the 1897 Tennessee Centennial Exposition.
If you are staying near the Opry, like we did, many of the motels and RV parks are served by a Downtown Shuttle Bus. For a fee ($10/per person at the time of our visit), the shuttle will drop you off and pick you back up in front of the Country Music Hall of Fame. All of downtown Nashville is an easy walk from there. You'll need to let the shuttle service know that you plan to ride.
Our Basecamps for Nashville
📍 Nashville RV Resort and Cabins
📍 Nashville East / Lebanon KOA
For More Information on Visiting Nashville
Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp
Nashville TN Fun Facts
Approximate Population
692,587
Elevation
554'
Year Founded
1779
Average Summer Temperatures
65° - 90°
Average Winter Temperatures
29° - 52°
Geographic Area
526 square miles
A Few Photos from Our Visit to Nashville
Exploring the Honky Tonk Highway
General Jackson Showboat
Baseball's Only Guitar-Shaped Scoreboard
Tom "Playing" Jazz at Madame Tussauds
One of Many Murals Around Town
Sunset View From the Pedestrian Bridge
Live Music Everywhere!
