Nashville, TN

A September 2009 trip to Nashville by weeblewobble46

Grand Ole Opry House Photo - Grand Ole Opry, Nashville, Tennessee

Quote: A description of a frenzied two day trip to this wonderful city

18 Photos

Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center

Attraction | "Indoor Garden at the Opryland Hotel"

Quote:

The Gaylord Corporation has hit a real home run in the tourist industry by building this hotel. Not only does this hotel have rooms that overlook a beautiful atrium, but it has a river that flows through it and a retail island (with shops and restaurants) in the middle. Water from all over the world (waterways listed on plaques placed along the side of the river) was placed in the river at it's foundation.

The shops are few and varied. My favorite had Christmas ornaments and wine stoppers and opened onto a patio. You can easily spend a morning just walking around and admiring the views.

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on October 1, 2009

Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center
2800 Opryland Drive
Nashville, Tennessee 37214

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Ryman Auditorium

Attraction

Quote:

Entry to the building is not on 5th Street where our GPS guided us, instead it is closer to 4th Street, at the back of the original building.The day we arrived at the Ryman, the backstage tour was unavailable due to a scheduled concert that night. The band, Decemberist, was setting up on the stage and using the backstage facilities. We were disappointed, but took it in stride.The tour of the Ryman begins in the back of the auditorium with a video. The tour, booklet explains what you see and where to go next, is self-guided and interesting. Displays of costumes and instruments are in cases in the back of the auditorium. The stairs, metal and hollow sounding, with ornate dec...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on October 1, 2009

Ryman Auditorium
116 Fifth Avenue North
Nashville, Tennessee 37219
(615) 254-1445

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Honky Tonk Row

Attraction | "Honky Tonk madness"

Quote:

A visit to Broadway is necessary to appreciate the effect that country music has had on this town. Just a short walk from the Ryman and the Hall of Fame (really it is right in the middle of them ), Broadway is a tourist attraction on its own.Walk along the sidewalk and you hear music coming from each of the bar/restaurant establishments. The volume is loud enough to blast apart a few eardrums. We were hoping to eat at a restaurant on Broadway, but the volume of the music made us rethink our priorities (we value our hearing too much). We even walked down to the Hard Rock - not one of my favorites - but it was closed for a private party. Even the gift shops had music in them, but someti...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on October 1, 2009

Honky Tonk Row
Lower Broadway
Nashville

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Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Attraction | "Where the Music Lives"

Quote:

Country music encompasses many forms and each is displayed in some way in this museum. We start the tour on the third floor with a Brenda Lee exhibit. It shows her career from the early years (age 11) to present day. Several of her album covers are displayed, recordings play and videos show her performing on various shows.The rest of the museum shows the progress of country music and the Opry from the earliest recordings to today's melange of artists and genres. A section on the second floor is devoted to the Williams family, from Hank, Sr., to Hank, Jr., and his offspring. Many of the displays show the costumes and instruments of some of the more well known performers. I...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on October 1, 2009

Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
222 Fifth Avenue South
Nashville, Tennessee 37203
(615) 416-2001

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Grand Ole Opry

Attraction | "Grand Ole Opry at Last"

Quote:

We arrived in Nashville in mid afternoon and quickly changed into jeans for our night at the Opry. We found that our choice of attire was the dominant choice of most of the patrons, although there were a few that were in shorts and T's and a few that were done up in sequined tops and bedazzled jeans. (They must have taken lessons from Manuel and Nudie because some of the designs were very detailed.)

The Opry starts at 7PM and the doors open around 6:15. This gives you time to purchase some food and beverages before going to your seat. Most of the patrons arrive around 6:45 and the aisles get crowded so try to get there early, if possible. Alcoholic beverages are available for purchase, if you choose. Food is the typical hot dogs, burgers and fries.

We had seats in the back of the main floor area and I would suggest that you try to get seats in the front area (sections 1-7) and in the closest rows possible (they start at A and progress through the alphabet). We were barely able to see the performers, let alone tell who they were. If it wasn't for the big screen at the back of the stage, we wouldn't have had a clue who was performing on stage. We were lucky to "see" Pam Tillis, Billy Dean and Craig Morgan. Pam Tillis stopped the show with a rendition of the Beatle's "I Want To Hold Your Hand" that brought country into new areas. The harmony was terrific and the bluegrass twang made me want to run right out and get the CD.

We took the Backstage Tour (tickets available at the ticket office or in the Gift Shop) after the show. Everyone met in the lobby and were escorted back into the theater where we were shown a short video history of the Opry. We then were taken to the artist arrival area and shown the mailboxes that receive the fan mail (if you don't know the address and box number - just put the artist's name and "Grand Ole Opry at Opryland, Nashville, TN" and it will get to them). And you thought only Santa had that kind of service!!!

The dressing rooms and green room were next on the tour. At the end we were able to stand on the stage and see what the actual performers see. There is a circle of wood from the old Ryman stage in the center of the new stage, It was taken from the wing area where the artists enter so the Opry could be sure that every member had walked on it. (It seems that some members avoid the center of the stage so that area was not considered).

The tour takes about an hour and our guides, Michelle and Ms. Eloise, were willing to take questions that were not covered by the tour patter. It was very informative and fun to boot.

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Member Rating 5 out of 5 on October 1, 2009

Grand Ole Opry
2804 Opryland Drive
Nashville, Tennessee 37214
(615) 871-6779

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About the Writer

weeblewobble46
Marietta, Georgia

"I enjoy travel, but wish someone would invent a self-unpacking suitcase. I've pared down my content..."
42 journals
327 photos
136 reviews

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