When you think about Nashville, the chances are that you have visions of country music stars meandering from bar to bar, live shows on every corner, and new starlets singing their songs at local underground hotspots. The creativity in Nashville is second to none. If you are a country music lover, there are very few places on the planet more synonymous with the genre of music that you adore. Whip on some cowboy boots, and get heel kicking down to some of these iconic music venues to enjoy some of the best country music in the United States, if not the world.
Where To Stay
First things first – you need a place to rest your weary bones after trekking around the country music haunts. Luckily, hotel rooms in Nashville, TN are plentiful. You could hot foot it to the Best Western, close to all major attractions and with a free breakfast thrown in to boot. The rooms are comfy, the price is reasonable, and you won’t have to worry about parking, because this is free too. Hotels in Nashville range from the dingy to the luxurious, so this classy mid-range option is the ideal choice.
Country Music Hall Of Fame
No visit to the country music capital of the world would be complete without a jaunt to the hall of fame. Here, you can explore all the icons of country music, past and present. There are some crazy pieces of country music memorabilia to marvel at, including Webb Pierce’s silver studded Cadillac. If you’re taking your brood with you, there are loads of educational workshops available to sign up for too.
Printer’s Alley
If you want to experience the true heritage of Nashville, head down to the historic Printer’s Alley. Here, you will find numerous small but perfectly formed clubs that host live music nearly every night. It wasn’t always this way though. In the 1900s these streets were full of thriving publishing houses, newspapers and print shops. Now, Alley Taps and Skulls Rainbow Room are the hotspots to frequent. Top country music stars have jammed down here after more salubrious gigs. If you fancy trying to spot a star in the making, head down to Printer’s Alley and enjoy soaking up the ambience.
Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge
Sounding like a bar that could be at home in a 1950s Hollywood noir thriller, Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge is an iconic purple building located behind the Ryman Auditorium. Tootsie Bess picked up the honky tonk bar in 1960 and quickly became a legend of the country music scene, helping to promote musicians and give them a chance on her stage. Currently there are three floors each with different live music sessions running. There is still local talent hunting going on as well as more established acts frequenting the historic bar. Patsy Cline, Roger Miller and Willie Nelson all played gigs here, helping to establish Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge as a must-visit place for country music lovers.
If you fancy taking a trip to Nashville, don’t miss these incredible tourist attractions.
The Bitter Lemon 