Nashville
Best known as "Music City," Nashville is really
a city of many faces, with new attractions combining with Southern hospitality
to create a unique, exciting atmosphere that is truly special. With all the live
music, professional sports, cuisine, culture, and shopping opportunities, you are
never at a loss for things to do.
The Nashville Sound is the embodiment of many facets -- soul stirring blues, a
classical symphony, heartfelt gospel, alternative rock, the sweet sound of
bluegrass, and a country extravaganza which defies stereotype. For countless musicians, Nashville has long
been the mecca of creative energy and opportunity needed to spark a career.
One venerable institution which has stood the test of time as a musician's
showcase is the Grand Ole Opry. It started as a platform for National Life and
Accident Insurance Company to sell their services while providing entertainment
from the large pool of folk singers and fiddle players in the area. Decade after
decade, the Opry survived and thrived to become the world's longest running radio
show. Hundreds of thousands of
music lovers come every year to hear Opry members such as Vince Gill, Garth
Brooks, Little Jimmy Dickens, and Lorrie Morgan continue the tradition.
Another musical monument is the famed Music Row, home of RCA's Studio B. A
veritable "who's who" of recording artists are part of the studio's history. The all-star
roster includes Elvis, the Everly Brothers, Waylon Jennings and Dolly Parton. The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is
also located on Music Row although a fabulous new facility is currently under
construction downtown.
Debuting on the scene last month is Opry Mills, a $200 million retail and
entertainment-oriented center with more than 200 specialty retailers, manufacturers
and retail outlets, off-price retailers, category dominant stores and dining and
entertainment venues under one roof. Tenants in the 1.2 million
square foot center, adjacent to the Grand Ole Opry and the
Opryland Hotel complex, include the Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, Virgin Megastore,
Rainforest Cafe, Wolfgang Puck's Cafe, Alabama Grill, Regal Cinemas and IMAX.
Nashville has a long tradition of artistic and
educational excellence and has
earned the reputation as the
"Athens of the South." The nickname has its roots in the
Centennial Celebration of 1897.
Centennial Park near Vanderbilt
University was the site for a grand exhibition featuring several wonders of the world.
There were pyramids and a sphinx as well as an exact replica of The Parthenon.
At the end of the celebration, everything was dismantled but The Parthenon, which
was later rebuilt using more lasting materials. The city's art museum is housed
here now. Anyone who doubts the authenticity of detail need only step inside and
come face to foot with Athena Parthenos, a 42-foot statue which happens to be the
tallest indoor sculpture in the Western world.
Close by is Vanderbilt University, a beautiful red-brick wonder that reminds one of Stanford University.
Other attractions include the Opryland Hotel, Nashville Zoo, Cumberland Science Museum,
the Ryman Auditorium, and the Grand Ole Opry Museum. The Hermitage, the home of President Andrew Jackson,
offers an in-depth look at the nation's seventh president. Recent renovations have
reinstated the home to the era of the president's final years.
The atmosphere in the city is friendly and family-oriented. The revitalized downtown
and public parks sparkle. Downtown is the home of both
the NHL's Nashville Predators and the Tennessee Oilers. The city sits among gently-rolling, tree-lined hills surrounded by lakes.
The Cumberland River snakes its way around downtown.
Nashville has countless choices to tempt even the most
discriminating palate. Whether you are dining in cocktail attire or in jeans, you can
always count on the food to be memorable.
For a gourmet meal in elegant surroundings, the Wild Boar fits the bill. It has a
15,000- bottle wine cellar and will even serve its sumptuous continental food on
18K gold plates if desired. Mario's Ristorante has won every major restaurant award
with its Italian fare. Jimmy Kelly's, a Nashville tradition, serves up steaks, veal and
lamb in a picturesque Victorian home.
Arthur's in the historic Union Station Hotel and the Capitol Grille in the Westin
Hermitage Suite Hotel are two other equally lavish options. Many restaurants are
experimenting with Southern cuisine, and the results are truly savory. Cafe 123,
South Street, and the Bound'ry are all popular for their new twist on old favorites.
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