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 Nashville Though it is most frequently identified as "Music City USA",
Nashville has a little something for everyone with a broad range
of activities and attractions. The Nashville area is the home of the 7th US President Andrew Jackson and 11th US President James K. Polk. Plan to visit Jackson's Greek Revival home, The Hermitage, for a taste of Southern history. In addition to the presidential mansion, visit the fascinating outbuildings, and check in on the progress of the archeological digs. Belle Meade, the Queen of Tennessee Plantations, showcases the 1853 Greek Revival mansion and seven outbuildings including the colossal Carriage House and stables housing an antique carriage collection. The elegant Belle Meade Plantation was home to one of the most famous thoroughbred horse farms in the world. Famous winners such as Seattle Slew and Citation trace their bloodlines to Belle Meade.
The Grand Ole Opry provides an incredible mix of talent. Summer is highlighted by free Opry Plaza Parties on weekend nights and Tuesday Night Opry in addition to the usual Friday and Saturday night performances. It would be a mistake to assume that country is the only song that Music City has to sing. The Fisk Jubilee Singers brought African American spirituals to the world's attention in the late 19th century and gospel and spiritual music is still an important part of the Nashville music scene. Blues have also been a mainstay in Nashville since the 1950s when Jefferson Street nightclubs boasted Little Richard, Muddy Waters and Ray Charles. Education Nashville's reputation as a center for education is enhanced by the presence of 18 postsecondary colleges and universities in the area, including Vanderbilt University, Fisk University, Tennessee State University, and the Nashville School of Law. Multicultural Attractions From its founding in 1866 as a liberal arts institution committed to educating the newly freed slaves, Fisk University has been one of America's outstanding universities. Visit the chapel and Jubilee Hall at Fisk University to experience the charm and history of the first university in the United States dedicated to the education of African Americans. Meharry Medical College, founded in 1876, was the first medical college to provide for the medical education of African American students. It continues to provide superior health sciences education primarily to African Americans and other students of color. Fine Arts The Van Vechten Gallery, also at Fisk University, houses the Stieglitz collection, donated by Georgia O'Keeffe. The collection has more than 100 works of 20th century artists such as O'Keeffe, Cezanne, Picasso, Renoir and others and includes Georgia O'Keeffe's famous painting of the Radiator Building. Cheekwood, Nashville's Home of Art and Gardens, is a 55 acre botanical garden and center for the arts which houses American works of the 19th and 20th centuries, with a special emphasis on the work of the region's leading artists. The gardens include the Color Garden, Seasons Garden, Water Garden, and the Woodland Sculpture Trail. The Frist Center for the Visual Arts is not to be missed. Located in the painstakingly restored Art Deco post office, the lobby itself is a work of art - a soaring space featuring all of the original fixtures and ornamental elements including elaborate cast aluminum doors, decorative grillwork, colored marble floors and walls and unique chandeliers. The museum is comprised of gallery space as well as an interactive education area, and a media and technology resource center. The collection includes works by Rubens, Monet, Degas, van Gogh and Picasso. Sports Nashville's temperate climate is condusive to outdoor sport activities of all kinds including tennis, horseback riding, hiking, boating, and fishing. A dozen public and private courses are available for the rankest amateur to the seasoned professional. Don't miss the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame, a 7,200 square foot museum that pays tribute to Tennessee's rich sports history. Honorees include Payton Manning, Tracy Caulkins, Wilma Rudolph, Pat Head Summitt and Tim McCarver among others. The museum, which focuses on everything from team to extreme sports, features virtual reality basketball, two theaters, a continuous video stream of Tennessee sports images and interactive stations. Nightlife A visit to any one of the area's clubs, honkey tonks or listening rooms provides an insider's view of the latest breakthrough artists. Tootsie's Orchid Lounge was the watering hole for the Grand Ole Opry stars when the Opry was performed at the Ryman Auditorium. Today, the faded pictures of legends line the wall while new musicians reach for stardom. The Bluebird Cafe's "Writer's Night" brings hundreds of hopefuls out to try for the golden opportunity to play on a Sunday night. Museums The Music Valley Wax Museum features more than 50 lifelike wax figures of country music's greatest stars. The figures closely resemble the artists they portray as they are dressed in original costumes and placed in settings designed to capture them in their most natural surroundings. Shopping The District is located in the heart of Nashville. Located on the banks of the Cumberland River, these charming, century-old Victorian buildings house chic restaurants, hip nightclubs and trendy shops with everything from jewelry to clothing to local art to nostalgic Americana. Nashville has two antique districts -- Third Avenue South and Eighth Avenue. A collector's and antique lover's paradise, each shop is unique in character, with everything from fine period European and American antique furniture and accessories to Victorian and Art Deco collectibles. Dining Landmarks Another musical monument is the Music Row. The formation of the Acuff-Rose publishing company on 17th A v e n u e touched off the development of various music-related business. One of the most famous is RCA's Studio B. A veritable "who's who" of recording artists is part of the studio's history. Studio B has been newly renovated to reflect its original purpose as a state of the art recording facility. Elvis recorded over 200 songs at Studio B and you can make a recording too!
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Nashville is for Families! Nashville and the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center are outstanding venues for family fun. There is something for everyone's taste in Nashville! In addition to the outstanding child care options at Gaylord Opryland Nashville, there is a vast array of attractions and activities for all ages. Historical and educational attractions abound in Nashville. The Tennessee Fox Trot Carousel is a unique tribute to the state's culture and history. Nashville native and internationally renowned artist Red Grooms created 37 riding figures for the carousel tracing the history of Tennessee from Andrew Jackson and Davy Crockett to country great Kitty Wells. The carousel is a combination of historical tribute, sculptural landmark and just plain fun. Fort Nashborough is authentic in its reflection of frontier pioneer lifestyles -- an exact replica of the original settlement of Nashville. ArtQuest at the Frist Center for the Visual Arts is dedicated to art exploration with a hands-on emphasis for children. Consisting of approximately 30 activities, ArtQuest encourages art education through lines, texture, color, artistic media and discussions. And it's free for patrons 18 and under. The Adventure Science Center emphasizes hands-on education bringing science to life for children. A special must-see exhibit, The Adventure Tower, soars 75 feet into the air through the roof of the center and provides children with 75 'interactivities'. Explore the free park that tells of Tennessee's rich history, Bicentennial Mall State Park. Walk the 200-foot-long granite map of the state, visitor the World War II memorial, and hear the carillons chime The Tennessee Waltz. Mansker's Fort and the Bowen Plantation together illustrate the transition early settlers made from life in a fortified station to estate living. The reconstruction of Mansker's Fort which many believe to have been Middle Tennessee's earliest fortified structure, is considered to be one of the most historically accurate in the nation. Take a free guided tour of the Tennessee State Capitol! This historic landmark was designed by William Strickland, most noted for his design of the US Capitol. The Nashville Zoo at Grassmere is more than a traditional zoo. On the property are a historic working farm, the world's largest built community jungle gym and a fully-operational animal nursery. Just across the parking lot from Opryland Nashville is the Opry Mills mall. In this vast, climate-controlled venue, you will find many days worth of entertainment -- even if shopping is not your idea of fun! Check out Jillian's for a wide variety of activities including television cube walls in the video cafe, Brunswick pool tables, Hi-Life bowling, an amazing game room and three restaurants. At the NASCAR Silicon Motor Speedway, drive a virtual reality racecar and feel the exhilaration as you strap yourself in for the ride of your life. The Regal IMAX theatre offers a broad range of subjects to choose from including the environment, geography, space exploration and technology. The outdoor lover will want to check out Bass Pro Shop's Outdoor World for an opportunity to explore the outdoors while indoors. The music lovers will want to take in a live performance at The Gibson Bluegrass Showcase. And don't forget that there are more eating establishments in Opry Mills than you could eat at in a month of Sundays! Music Valley, the area of Nashville immediately around Opryland Hotel, holds many attractions as well. Both the Music Valley Wax Museum and the Music Valley Car Museum provide hours of entertainment. The Willie Nelson & Friends Museum and the Grand Ole Opry Museum are also fascinating -- particularly to the country music buff. Also in the area is Valley Park, a small amusement park with a Ferris wheel, ten thrill rides and ten kiddie rides. For the more sports-minded, play a round of putt-putt at Grand Old Golf! Or, check out one of the 20 public and private golf courses in the Nashville area. For the hot, humid days of summer in Nashville, you'll want to cool off at Nashville Shores Outdoor Water Park. Featuring the seven largest waterslides in Tennessee as well as giant pools and miniature golf, Nashville Shores also offers additional family adventures with jet skis, pontoon boats, and parasailing. The opportunities are boundless for an exciting family experience
in Nashville. Information about Transportation, Lodging, Dining and Daycare
Diagnosed in 1990 with a potentially life- threatening liver disease, Naomi faced the tragedy with strength and unwavering optimism. Declaring "the Lord as her doctor and the fans as her medicine," she embarked on the triumphant 1991 Farewell Tour across the United States to personally thank the fans who had become so important to her. Currently in remission from active hepatitis, Naomi spends time at her farm, Peaceful Valley, outside of Nashville with her husband, Larry Strickland. Her autobiography, Love Can Build A Bridge, recently cracked the top ten on the New York Times best-seller list and was the basis for the critically acclaimed NBC mini-series for which she served as co-executive producer. Naomi's speech, "Love Can Build A Bridge," is a motivational account of her victory over nearly insurmountable challenges amid the disappointment of walking away from country music at the height of her career. A sought-after speaker, she translates faith and values, medical knowledge, humor, common sense, and belief in the mind-body-spirit connection into a powerful and unforgettable message.
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