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Music and More RVing Nashville
"There's 1,352 guitar pickers in Nashville" according to John Sebastian's
"Nashvllle Cats". But Nashville, Tennessee is more than just Music City USA and
"guitar pickers" for RVers. Recently voted one of the friendliest cities in the
country, Nashville offers something for the whole family. The Adventure Science
Museum, the Nashville Zoo, Belle Meade Plantation, The Hermitage and the Valley
Fair Amusement Park are just a few places with family friendly activities that
make Nashville an exciting RVing destination.
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The Country Music Hall of Fame in downtown Nashville offers RVers A Journey
Through Country Music. Nashville is more than Music City USA.
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Nashville is convenient to
RVing from all over the Southeast with I-24, I-65 and I-20 all converge on
Nashville in central Tennessee. The Natchez Trace begins here, too, and winds
southwest to the Mississippi River at Natchez. RVers navigating through the city
can use I-440, an inner beltway, and I-840, an outer beltway between I-40 and
I-24 and I-24 and I-65, was recently completed for travel around Nashville.
As Music City USA, Nashville has become one of the leading music recording
cities in the country. Country, rock, blues, gospel, jazz or bluegrass -
Nashville delivers on its title every day. Take a drive down Music Row and see
where deals are made in the recording industry. Stop at RCA Studio B, where
renowned musicians like Elvis Presley and the Everly Brothers made music
history. Stop by the famous Bluebird café where songwriters and musicians
perform nightly. Artists like Faith Hill and Garth Brooks got their starts at
the Bluebird café. Although there are no "maps to the stars' homes" several tour
companies provide tour services to help RVers find their favorite recording
artists.
Along with its incomparable musical backdrop, Nashville also boasts
history and heritage with museums, historic homes, and cultural and family
attractions. Nashville offers RVers everything from the Civil War to Faith
Hill's dress. Belle Meade Plantation (phone 615-356-0501), The Hermitage, Home
of President Andrew Jackson (phone 615-889-2941) the Adventure Science Museum
(615-862-5160) and the Nashville Zoo (615-833-1534) are just a few of
Nashville's family friendly places.
Bullets riddled the massive columns at Belle Meade Plantation during the
Battle of Nashville in the Civil War. The evidence is still visible today. |
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Belle Meade Plantation grew from a log
cabin and 250 acres on the Natchez Trace to a 5,400-acre plantation and
thoroughbred horse farm. In the early years Andrew Jackson boarded horses at
Belle Meade. During the Battle of Nashville in the Civil War, Union and rebel
forces skirmished in the front yard, and the mansion's massive stone columns
were riddled with bullets, the evidence still visible today. Visitors can tour
the mansion, grounds and colossal carriage house with guides dressed in period
costume. Seasonal exhibits and special events change annually. The 20th Annual
Fall Fest is scheduled for September 17 and 18 at Belle Meade. The grounds turn
into a mini festival featuring antiques, crafts, food, music, antique cars, a
children's area and tours of the mansion. Admission is $8.00.
Explore the
one-of-a-kind Adventure Tower, join in hands-on investigation, discover the
universe in our planetarium and much more at the Adventure Science Center, 800
Fort Negley Boulevard. Climb into the cockpit of BlueMax, a full-motion flight
simulator, and engage in interactive dog fighting, carrier landings and
aerobatic maneuvers. BodyQuest, an exploration of the human body examines how it
all works together and how different choices affect your health and
well-being.
The Nashville Zoo, 3777 Nolensville Road features a new African
elephant habitat. The Unseen New World, full of reptiles, amphibians and bats in
natural habitats, and Bamboo Trail with animals exhibited in a forest of bamboo
as well as the Entry Village with gibbons, macaws and meerkats are must see
attractions. RVers can also visit the Grassmere Historic Home and Farm, a 19th
century farm complete with the original Grassmere home.
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The 1,352 guitar pickers in Nashville have plenty of guitars to choose from
at Gruhn Guitars, the world's most famous vintage instrument store.
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RVers visiting the
Loveless Cafe (615-646-9700), located on Highway 100 in Nashville at the
Northern Terminus of the Natchez Trace Parkway, have the opportunity to rub
elbows with the stars. Just about any country star you can name has pulled up a
chair to the Loveless Café' red checkered tablecloths.
The Music City Jazz,
Blues & Heritage Festival at Riverfront Park September 3 & 4 combines
nationally acclaimed artists with colorful local talent. The Music City Jazz,
Blues & Heritage Festival is hosted by Nashville's own Kirk Whalum with
other featured artists such as Gerald Albright, Waymon Tisdale, Tommy Sims,
Johnny Lang and Grammy Award winning musician Al Jarreau.
Nearby Nashville,
the Jack Daniel's Distillery in Lynchburg (931-759-6180) and the George Dickel
Distillery in Tullahoma (615-857-3124) offer tours (but no samples) for RVers.
RVing campgrounds around Nashville include Montgomery Bell State Park
(1-800-250-8613), and Jellystone Park (1-800-547-4480).
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