A Guide to Nashville for Those That Love History!

Some people are all about history with its important leaders, unforgiving battles, and many outdated ways of doing things.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 19^th century to the early 20^th 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.

Make Father’s Day One to Remember in Nashville!

Don’t let another Father’s Day pass without a special getaway for your dad – take him on an excursion to Nashville where he can experience whatever suits his fancy, from country legend concerts to outdoor wildlife exhibits. Nashville is full of surprises, and whether this is your dad’s first or fiftieth visit to Nashville, you can always find something enjoyable for your family. This Tennessee city has attraction that number in the thousands, and your dad can find both outdoor activities like fishing and cruises as well as indoor appeal at performances and sports store shopping. Be sure you make reservations for Father’s Day at your choice of Nashville lodging.

Start Dad out on one of the most popular activities in Nashville, the General Jackson Showboat, which combines a luxury cruise, a live performance and a delicious dinner. This is an unforgettable experience that will take you out on the Cumberland River where you can view the city skyline and watch the skyscrapers as they reflect on the deep blue water below. Choose from either a lunch or dinner menu, and enjoy country classics from some of your favorite artists during the meal. Afterward, you may continue your sightseeing experience out on the deck.

For a tribute to our fallen heroes, take your dad out on the Civil War Tour: The Battle of Franklin, where he can discover a little bit of history about Tennessee he may not have known. The Battle of Franklin was one of the most deadly conflicts in the station, with more than 9,500 casualties within the first five hours. Your tour guide will answer any questions you or the rest of your family may have as you walk through the cemetery. As a special highlight of the tour, you’ll also see the Carnton Plantation.

Celebrate World-Class Country at Nashville’s CMA Festival!

The CMA Music Festival is an event that country music fans around the nation anticipate every year, and 2011 promises to provide an amazing lineup of country artists from June 9-12.  Catch all your favorites onstage such as Dierks Bentley, Sara Evans, Reba McEntire, Martina McBride and Josh Turner. The event will kick off at the Grand Ole Opry and provide a performance like no one has ever seen in Nashville. Prepare yourself as one of the most famous country events of all time makes its way to Nashville this summer. You’ll want to make reservations at a nearby hotel like the Gaylord Opryland, so be sure to reserve your Nashville lodging today.

Continue your Nashville entertainment experience with a show at the Nashville Nightlife Dinner Theater, combining a great meal with special performers such as Jeannie Seel or Tommy Cash. Chow down on chicken, polish sausage, homemade rolls, fresh vegetables and banana pudding. The show lasts approximately 90 minutes and features some of your favorite country songs from both the past and present. You’ll even have a chance to shake the performers’ hands after the show and get their autographs!

If you’d like to see a show at the historic Ryman Auditorium, you can reserve your tickets to the Ryman Bluegrass Nights, providing an amazing variety of smooth bluegrass and country in every song. Clap and sing along as you hear a series of exciting summer tunes from your favorite performers.  The Ryman Auditorium features nothing but the best performers in bluegrass, so you certainly won’t be disappointed! Bluegrass artists like The Grascals and Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder have played here before.

Soak in Nashville Sights Through the Outdoors!

If you’re planning an adventurous trip this October or November, the city of Nashville has great tours and attractions to keep you active and entertained. You’ll welcome Music City’s fresh air, lively atmosphere and fun local spirit. View the rugged and interesting architecture that still populates the historic parts of the city. Once you’ve seen the downtown area, you can head out to the rim of the city for fun zipline tours and other great opportunities. Don’t forget to bring the whole family along as you vacation as well for some great exercise and pleasurable sightseeing! Browse through each of the activities below to set up your itinerary.

Canopy Challenge Ropes Course

Begin your Nashville vacation with an exciting obstacle course that takes you 40 feet up in the air. You’ll be safely secured by ropes and cables, but the course still challenges you to complete several climbs, jumps and even group-oriented activities. Each obstacle provides you with a different puzzle, and you’ll have the option of either the Climb, Jump Swing course, Low Course Challenge, High Course Challenge, Great Rescue or the Canopy Challenge Ropes Course. Complete the challenge yourself and encourage your kids try it as well.

Eco Adventure Canopy Zipline Tour

The southern regions of the country are well-known for their lush plant life, and Tennessee is no different. On the Eco Adventure Canopy Zipline Tour, you’ll be able to fly past dozens of treelines  for a perfect picturesque view of the surrounding canopy. Guides will harness you up safely to a cable as you fly from one zip line tower to another. In between the fun zips, your guide will provide you with background information on the canopy’s beginnings, as well as answering any questions you may currently have.

Belle Meade Plantation Tour

Finally, for a great tour both inside and out, you can go through the Belle Meade Plantation, which pulls you back to the middle of the 1800′s, when the plantation first began. There are so many sights to see throughout the plantation, you’ll be hardpressed to see everything. Don’t forget about the well-known horse stables near the plantation, where the Harding family trained the ancestors of horses like Secretariat, Seabiscuit and Funny Cide! Inside, you’ll be able to view exhibits of paintings and beautiful furniture over a century old.

Smell the Nashville open air once you arrive here, and book the music and tours that will make your vacation simple and exciting. You’ll have a great time!

Nashville Grabs the Attention Visitors Through “Artrageous” Event

Held city-wide, Nashville’s fantastic annual ”Artrageous” is a powerful display of some of the finest arts and crafts that have been created by the city’s locals. If you decide to attend the tour taking place on November 13, you’ll have a selection of seven separate art galleries to walk through in Music City. Also, to accommodate the night owls, a special late party will be held from 10 pm – 1 am, complete with live entertainment and an auction giving away a prized seven day vacation to the Mexican Riviera. Make plans ahead of time to attend by booking your Nashville hotel online.

While you’re in Nashville, you’re welcome to attend some of the more artistic venues, such as the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, featuring some of the most famous recording artists of all time. Inside, you’ll be able to listen to the records of artists that received their humble beginnings in music city, along with special memorabilia. The museum is over 40,000 square feet, so you’ll have plenty of places to explore inside.

Along with the museum, you can also see small exhibits on the Belle Meade Plantation Tour, which takes a deep look into the Harding family, the original owners of the mansion. The house was built in 1853, and a tour guide will lead you from decorated hallways to the beautifully adorned stables where the ancestors of famous horses like Seabiscuit and Funny Cide were raised. Seven original outbuildings remain on the property.

Remember to tour Nashville this fall for a relaxing vacation before the end-of-the-year holidays hit. You’ll enjoy the arts and creativity of the local citizens.

Nashville Prepares for Music and Molasses Festival

During the third week of October, Nashville’s Ellington Agricultural Center will be celebrating the fall season in its own way with the Music and Molasses Festival, which provides plenty of activities for the young and old. Walk into a country-style atmosphere filled with twangy Bluegrass songs, legendary storytellers and fine craftsmanship. Don’t forget to try your hand at the molasses making, with enough warm delicious syrup to go around. Some of the other attractions featured are complimentary buggy rides, homemade cakes and pies, a grist mill, pony rides and all kinds of other animals your children can pet. Before you head on over to this great festival, make sure you book a Nashville hotel with all your favorite amenities.

Along with this fun festival, Nashville has all kinds of shows for you to go to including the famous Tribute to the King, where the incredible actor John Beardsley pulls off such a good impression of Elvis that you may not be able to tell the difference between the actor and the real deal. Beardsley sports five different costumes throughout the show representing the various eras and performances that the king of Rock n’ Roll attributed to over the years. You’ll hear all sorts of authentic music from Elvis’ past hits of the 1950′s and beyond.

You can receive some country cookin’ with your entertainment at the Nashville Nightlife Dinner Theater, which features some of the best Opry stars like Paula Poe, Diana Murrell and Jeannie Seely and many other familiar faces. The show has been awarded Music Valley’s “#1 Dinner and Show” and offers a menu of four types of entrees, a salad bar, baked potatoes, homemade rolls and much more. After the performance is over, you can come up by the stage to both meet these great performers and even get a picture and autograph with them.

The city of Nashville has so much to offer this fall, it would be a shame for you to miss out on it! Come on down today for great performances, festivals and all kinds of activities.

Take Friends and Family to Nashville for Historic Daniel Smith Days!

Explore the history of Nashville’s Historic Rock Castle near Hendersonville on September 25 and 26 with the annual “Daniel Smith Days.” The event incorporates a late 19th century camp along with reenactments from various performers to show the Colonial Traders. While walking on the Smith plantation grounds, you can taste old recipes and listen to the music of the day. After taking in your fill, you can head back to some of the Nashville area lodging for a great night’s rest.

Nashville has other fun ways to experience its history, such as a walk through Barbara Mandrell’s home with the Fontanel Mansion Tour. The tour is self-guided, so you can take your time as you view the 27,000 square foot impressive structure. The mansion features older decor combining thirteen restrooms, two kitchens and five fireplaces into one shelter. There is also a Farm House restaurant in the area in case you get hungry.

For the history buffs craving a look at some of the older Greek Revival architecture, the Belle Meade Plantation Tour certainly fits the description. Built in 1853, the plantation was well-known for its skilled horsebreeders raising the descendants of Smarty Jones, Funny Cide and Seabiscuit back to the farm. Inside the whitewashed pillard building, there are 19th century art pieces, fixtures and an included narration from your knowledgeable guide.

Learn all about the antiquity and past of Music City in a fun and exciting way. The festivals, tours and other activities will make your stay pleasureable and smooth.

Nashville to Reopen Opry House for Grand Ole Opry Showings

The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville will be returning to the Grand Opry House on September 28, moving from the Historic Ryman Auditorium, where the show has taken place the majority of the past few months. Due to flooding of the city in May, the Grand Ole Opry had to move to the Ryman Auditorium, which gave the show a different, historical setting and the same great performance. Of course, fans of the Ryman can expect to see the Opry returning to the auditorium for the winter season. If you’d like to see a show now or in late September, you can set up your Nashville lodging beforehand.

For a mix of Southern traditions with your Opry performance, you can visit one of Nashville’s homes with the Belle Meade Plantation Tour. The restored mansion was built back in 1853, and it is well-known for it’s race horse breeding, with famous thoroughbred horses. Other highlights of the tour include a visit to the Durham Station Log Cabin, Carriage House and Stables, an antique carriage collection, and more.

You can see another beautiful mansion on the two hour Fontanel Mansion Tour, which covers 27,000 square feet and is the home of Country Music Hall of Fame member Barbara Mandrell. The tour is self-guided, so you’re free to roam about the home to see the enormous indoor pool, sprawling hiking trails, and much more. The mansion is recognizable for the camera shooting site of several music videos.

Nashville is loaded with activities and attractions for the young and the old, and whether you decide to do these activities or others, you’ll be enthralled with the history of music!

Nashville African American Street Festival Provides Cultural Wisdom

Join the over 100,000 who will gather in Nashville for the 28th annual African Street Festival taking place from September 17-19. The event’s activities will all be held at Tennessee State University, and you’ll have plenty of time to experience everything the festival offers, including a children’s pavilion, authentic African dining opportunities, music from genres like Jazz, Gospel and Reggae, and dancing. You won’t want to miss the event, and you can get prepared by booking lodging in nearby hotels.

In addition to the African culture, you can also experience the traditions of Nashville by attending a performance like the Nashville Nightlife Dinner Theater which celebrates authentic country music by music artists of the past. Sit back in your seat for a touch of humor and big talent as special guests like Tommy Cash, Dianna Murrell, and many more sing their melodies. On top of the performance, the theater also provides an delectable buffet with four meat and pasta entrees, crisp salads, buttery rolls, and much more.

For another show, you can go to the Opry Country Classics, which reenacts the traditions and history of Nashville through talented live musical performances by famous country music artists. The tunes will be a sweet song to your ears as you hear both old and contemporary forms of country songs.

Fulfill your dreams in the Nashville area by experiencing both foreign and local culture. The music and history will make your vacation experience enjoyable.

Nashville Stays Hoppin’ with Annual Head Jamz Festival

Taking place for the second year in a row, the rockin’ Annual Head Jamz Festival will start up on the Red River in Adams, TN, just north of Nashville during Labor Day weekend. From September 3-5, you can hear some of the local favorites in the music world, including the Old Union, Max Allen Band, Cornmeal, Future Rock, and much more. There are all kinds of summer activities like canoeing and disk golf to participate in while you’re there as well. While you’re staying in the area, check out nearby lodging in Nashville to remain rested and comfortable each night.

If you would like to see some other types of entertainment during Labor Day weekend, Nashville Nightlife Dinner Theater offers a hearty southern meal and country music performances with the likes of Jeannie Seely, Diana Murrell and Tommy Cash. The show is a great choice of entertainment, whether it’s just you or the whole family!

For a more focused type of entertainment, the Tribute to the King offers an authentic view of Elvis Presley’s life from the time leading up to his fame to his last days. Impersonator John Beardsley is so talented at copying Elvis’ mannerisms and costumes that you’ll have a hard time distinguishing differences between the two. The show features all of the King’s music hits.

Your summer excursion will provide you with enough musical entertainment and activity to last you through the rest of the year. Come down to Nashville today!

Next Page »