A Guide to Nashville for Those That Love History!
July 15, 2011 by admin
Filed under Nashville TN, VME
Some people are all about history with its important leaders, unforgiving battles, and many outdated ways of doing things. If you’re on of these people, then Nashville has some great attractions for you to experience. Just spend a few days in the city and explore the history it has to offer. We’ll get you outstanding Nashville lodging to make your trip as easy and convenient as possible. From the 19th century to the early 20th century, this destination is entrenched in a deep history that you can’t refuse to uncover.
The Hermitage – Home of President Andrew Jackson is an intriguing look at a presidential estate. This property was purchased by Andrew Jackson in 1804 and it was here that Jackson and his wife, Rachel, lived in a log cabin and learned how to farm. He eventually built more and more buildings which you can take a look in, and the mansion Jackson built in 1820 is here, too. This self-guided tour is perfect for Civil War buffs.
The Belle Meade Plantation Tour takes you on a journey through a historic plantation complete with a restored 1853 antebellum mansion. This plantation was famous for its racing horses, sold around the world! There are 1890s stables and a carriage house along with an antique carriage collection. Seven other historic buildings accompany a 1790s log cabin. See what a plantation was really like.
Want to go on both tours? Well, here’s the perfect option for you. The Historic Tennessee Tour includes both the Hermitage and the Bill Meade Plantation so you’ll get to experience both historic sites. This is a must if you want to get all the history you can on your visit.
Christmas Comes to the Country Music Capital of the World
November 27, 2009 by admin
Filed under Nashville TN
As the Winter season officially sets in much of Music City will be covered in the warmth and cheer of the season, if not necessarily a blanket of snow. From luxurious resorts to historic homesteads, throughout the area travelers will find a wealth of options for enjoying a traditional Nashville vacation coated with a touch of the holidays!
Gaylord Opryland Resort’s encompassing A Country Christmas has all four atriums of the popular resort decked out for the holidays while the resort’s Gaslight Theatre plays host to both Louise Mandrell’s “Joy to the World” Christmas Dinner & Show and the interactive ICE!, featuring classic scenes from “A Charlie Brown Christmas” through exquisite ice sculptures. Additionally, the famed Radio City Rockettes will be performing at the nearby Grand Ole Opry House as part of the festival!
Throughout December, the Belle Meade Plantation will tweak its typical historical entertainment and education to provide a more concentrated look at Christmas in the 19th century. Victorian finery and a general sense of luxury and sophistication will be on display as you experience how the elite of yester year celebrated the holidays.
The General Jackson Showboat and Tim Watson will be teaming up this Winter season to bring Nashville visitors a historic and lively time along the Cumberland River with Tim Watson’s Tennessee Christmas. Tim Watson’s acclaimed fiddle abilities will be put on center stage as he combines his perfected style with the nostalgia of Christmas classics. Of course, dinner and stunning views of Nashville will help compliment your experience for a varied occasion of entertainment.
Nashville Home to Historical Gems
November 19, 2009 by admin
Filed under Nashville TN
When most people think of Nashville, they think of country music. Those who are familiar with the city know that there is so much more to Music City than music. There is so much history hidden in Nashville, and if you’re going to be in the area you should definitely visit some of these historical gems!
Take a deep breath and relax as you tour this restored 1853 antebellum mansion. The Belle Meade Plantation is unlike any other estate in the South. The original owners of the plantation were famous for their stables and the thoroughbred horses they produced. Champions such as Seabiscuit and Smarty Jones can trace their lineage back to the stables at Belle Meade! The house itself is filled with period furnishings and decor and surrounded by seven original outbuildings.
Ryman Auditorium Self-Guided Tours
This tour is a unique experience in Nashville, which is quite a feat. The tour begins with a documentary film about the history of the Auditorium narrated by Trisha Yearwood. Guests will enjoy the film while sitting in the original pews that once filled the Auditorium. After the film, guests will be led to the stage where they can have a picture ‘singing’ in front of the Grand Ole Opry audience. Guests will also have access to all of the artifacts and memorabilia housed throughout the building.
The Hermitage, Home of President Andrew Jackson
Tour the Nashville estate of President Andrew Jackson with this amazing tour. This beautiful estate has been preserved as both a historical home and a museum. The entire property includes several outbuildings, a garden designed by President Jackson for his wife, the original log cabin, stables, the famous antebellum mansion, and the final resting place of presidential couple. Staff in period costume can be found around the estate to answer any questions you may have, historical or not.
Visit Nashville’s First And Only Winery
November 12, 2009 by admin
Filed under Nashville TN
If you’ve ever visited the Belle Meade Plantation, you know that this historic home should not be missed. And now there is one more reason you should visit the Belle Meade Plantation. On November 16, the Plantation is opening the doors to The Winery at Belle Meade Plantation!
The city of Nashville has never played home to a winery until now. The Belle Meade Plantation is the first to consider opening one and they faced one major problem. Where do they grow the grapes? The answer was found just south of Columbia in Hampshire, Tennessee. Once Belle Meade Plantation secured land for the grapes, they contracted Brian Hamm, a talented wine-maker from the Keg Springs Winery, to guide the crafting of the Belle Meade Plantation vino.
The Plantation has made a promise to support local farming in their endeavor by buying predominantly Tennessee-grown grapes. However, representatives will occasionally make pilgrimages to the wine country of California to purchase grapes for Cagernet Sauvignons and Rieslings.
Not only will the Plantation feature special wines, crafted specifically for Belle Meade, they have added a Wine Tasting Room. No construction was used to add the wine room because it was adapted from the current structure. Guests will be able to sample some of the amazing wine before carting bottles back home.
The Winery at Belle Meade Plantation will offer wine tastings seven days a week, beginning at the time of the Grand Opening on November 16. The Grand Opening will be happening at the Belle Meade Plantation from 4 PM until 6 PM.
You don’t want to miss this once-in-a-lifetime chance to visit Nashville’s first and only winery! Plan a trip to Nashville, complete with a stop at Belle Meade Plantation!
Enjoy Historical Tours in Nashville, TN
In addition to enjoying a show at the Grand Ole Opry or a cruise aboard the General Jackson Showboat, find time to feed your brain this summer by witnessing some of Nashville’s variety of historical attractions. A city steeped in history, Nashville provides just the right opportunities to help create a memorable and educational summer vacation.
What better way to explore the history of the entire region than with the Historic Tennessee Tour? The 4.5-hour tour takes you back to the days of the Civil War era by taking you through two of the area’s most famous sites, the Belle Meade Plantation and the Hermitage. At the Belle Meade Plantation, you will explore the stately mansion and grounds that date back to the mid-19th century. The property also features a slave cabin, stables, and other original outbuildings. Andrew Jackson’s estate, the Hermitage, has been been preserved with some of its original features, including wallpaper, furniture, and even a few of the former president’s personal effects.
For a look at Nashville’s and the surrounding area’s cultures as they relate to the Civil War, try out the Civil War Tour. The tour provides you with an in-depth look into the Battle of Franklin, allowing you to walk the very fields where thousands were killed in one historic clash. Throughout the six-hour tour, you will hear stories of some of these soldiers who lost their lives before setting out to explore the town of Franklin itself. The Carnton Plantation is a particularly emotional experience on the tour, as you will learn the role the mansion served during this trying time in history.
Nashville owes a lot of its popularity to the Ryman Auditorium, as the building has hosted the Grand Ole Opry for over 30 years. A self-guided tour of Ryman Auditorium is the perfect way to better understand the significance of the building, from its beginnings to its present. You can also take a Backstage Guided Tour, where you’ll see dressing rooms and various other “behind the scenes” attractions within the auditorium.
For a look at the events and sites that helped shape Nashville and its surrounding areas into what they are today, don’t miss your chance to witness some of these historical tours on your next visit to the Music City!
