World City Guide

Nashville is the self-styled Music City USA – with Dolly Parton, the Grand Ole Opry, Robert Altman’s Oscar-winning movie Nashville (1975) and the Country Music Hall of Fame. It may then come as a surprise to the first-time visitor to find a modern American city of stylishly designed skyscrapers and a healthy financial community embracing new commerce, publishing and other offshoots of the music industry. Although, of course, reflected in these skyscrapers are the bars where Hank Williams drank and where country singers still perform, in the hope of becoming the next Willie Nelson or Loretta Lynn.

Almost slap in the centre of Tennessee, Nashville is the booming city of the upper South. Its population is rapidly expanding as it attracts citizens from the surrounding states (such as Kentucky and Alabama), and even from New York and Los Angeles, to work in the music and wider entertainment business. The city has long attracted singers, of course, ever since the Grand Ole Opry started its weekly radio broadcast in 1925. Only established to rival Chicago’s ‘National Barn Dance’ radio show, it was so popular that today it certainly isn’t Chicago that springs to mind when we think of America’s ‘Country Capital’.

The city’s roots go back a long way. It was first home to bison and deer, which attracted the hunters who settled here – as archaeological finds have proven. In the late 18th century, the first non-Indians arrived, in the form of a few French fur trappers and traders, one of who was the famous Daniel Boone. Soon after, migrants from the Appalachians began to settle and provided the beginnings of a sizeable community until, in 1835, Nashville became the state capital.
Today, Downtown Nashville, where most of the best hotels and the nightlife are concentrated, is an area of only about eight blocks square. It is a mix of chic hotels, businesses and honky-tonks, where Nashvillians work and where tourists wander around looking for the authentic country experience. Music Row, which is actually the business heart of the country industry, is in midtown Nashville, southwest of Downtown. Out of the city, to the northeast, is the vast Opryland complex, from where the Grand Ole Opry is now broadcast and where country music museums and the Opryland Hotel all cluster.

The bulk of visitors choose to visit Nashville in the spring and autumn, wisely avoiding July and August, which can be hot and humid. Winter months are quite mild, with occasional snow flurries, although December to March are best avoided, as driving rain and wind can occur. June brings fans and stars together for the International Country Music Fan Fair. It is during an event such as this that Nashville most provides that which visitors come to see. People expect to see men in 10-gallon hats walking down the streets with guitars slung across their back and to meet country singers in Downtown bookstores and bars – and that is just what they get.

Other industries, such as new media, the healthcare services and the many venture capital companies, may well be hugely financially important (the major healthcare companies generate 10 times as much revenue as the entire tourist industry), but they are much less visible. Without the country music, who would know the name of Nashville? Much of the boom in the boomtown comes from ancillary music industries, such as publishing, management, TV and recording studios. So as long as country music survives, then Nashville surely will thrive.

Getting There By Air

Nashville International Airport (BNA)
Tel: (615) 275 1675.
Website: www.flynashville.com
Nashville International Airport is located 13km (eight miles) southeast of central Nashville. The airport has no direct international flights (except to Canada) but is a domestic hub, with around eight million passengers annually using the airport and over 400 flights per day.

Major airlines: National airline American Airlines (tel: (800) 433 7300 or 223 5436; website: www.aa.com ) used Nashville International Airport as their main hub in previous years, but no longer dominate. Other carriers include Air Canada, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Northwest, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines and US Airways.

Approximate flight times to Nashville: From London is 11 hours; from New York is 2 hours 30 minutes; from Los Angeles is 4 hours 15 minutes; from Toronto is 2 hours and from Sydney is 22 hours.

Airport facilities: These include ATMs, bureau de change, bank, restaurants, cafés, shops, post boxes, lockers, a massage bar and a children’s play area. Car hire is available from all major agencies including Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National and Thrifty.

Business facilities: The Wright Travel Business Center (tel: (615) 275 2660, website: www.wrighttravel.net ) provides photocopiers, faxes and PC workstations. There is also a fully equipped conference room for hire. Other services include a travel agent, courier, translation, mobile phone and other equipment hire.

Arrival/departure tax: Taxes, ranging from about US$22 for domestic flights up to US$105 for long-haul flights (depending on the destination), are included in the price of the ticket.

Transport to the city: Most hotels near the airport have their own shuttle buses. Hotels Downtown, in Vanderbilt and on Music Row, use the Gray Line Airport Express (tel: (615) 275 1180 or 883 5555, www.graylinenashville.com ). This operates daily 0600-2300, every 15-20 minutes from the airport or every 30 minutes from each hotel. The fare is US$11 one way or US$17 return (journey time – 30 minutes). Alternatively, the Metropolitan Transit Authority – MTA (tel: (615) 862 5950, website: www.nashvillemta.org ) runs both express and local bus services to Downtown Nashville. The very slow local bus runs (0645-1700) with a journey time of 30-45 minutes, depending on traffic, whereas the express bus, the N18, runs (0813-1730) with a journey time of 15 minutes or 25 minutes in rush hour. One-way fares are US$1.45. Exact change required. Taxis are available outside the terminal and a fare into central Nashville should cost US$15-20. Rates to the Opryland complex should be a flat fare of $20.

Getting There By Water

Getting There By Road

The USA has a network of Interstates (designated by the letter ‘I’ on a blue sign) and highways (designated by the letters ‘HWY’ on a black and white sign) with a corresponding number, as in I-440 or I-65. Driving in Tennessee, as anywhere else in the United States, is on the right. The roads in and around Nashville are generally good, although there are plenty of back roads in Tennessee that are not always smooth rides. The speed limit on interstates and freeways is 105kph (65mph), while most other highways have a speed limit of 89kph (55mph). In the city, the speed limit varies between 40-72kph (25-45mph). Drink and driving regulations are strictly enforced and the maximum legal alcohol to blood ratio for driving is 0.10%.

For UK nationals, a full UK driving licence is sufficient to drive in the USA. Other nationalities are required to have an International Driving Permit, accompanied by a full driving licence from their home country. In Tennessee, the minimum age for driving is 16 years. Tennessee is one of the few states in the USA that does not require cars to be insured. This is obviously not recommended, however. Visitors are encouraged to seek insurance, as expenses incurred through accidents, particularly medical expenses, are very high. Seatbelts are compulsory for the driver and all passengers. Children under the age of five years must sit in the rear in an approved child safety harness.

The American Automobile Association (tel: (800) 222 1333; website: www.aaa.com ) provides information and may offer reciprocal benefits to members of automobile clubs in other countries.

Emergency breakdown service: AAA (800) AAA HELP or 222 4357.

Routes to the city: Main routes from Nashville are Highway 40 east to Knoxville and the Appalachian Mountains and west to Memphis. Highway 65 runs north towards Louisville and south to Birmingham. Highway 24 runs southeast to Chattanooga and northwest to Paducah.

Driving times to the city: From Chattanooga – 2 hours 30 minutes; Louisville – 3 hours 30 minutes; Knoxville – 3 hours 30 minutes; Memphis – 4 hours.

Coach services: Greyhound (tel: (615) 255 3556 or (800) 229 9424; website: www.greyhound.com ) operates national bus services out of their terminal at 200 Eighth Avenue South. Facilities at the terminal are basic. Regular nation-wide services include eight departures per day to Memphis and nine to New Orleans.

Getting There By Rail

Amtrak (tel: (800) 872 7245; website: www.amtrak.com) operates the national railway network, however, this does not stop at Nashville and there are no railway stations. The nearest passenger station is in Memphis.

Getting Around

Downtown Nashville is quite small and easily managed on foot. The Metropolitan Transit Authority – MTA (tel: (615) 862 5950; website: www.nashvillemta.org ) operates bus and trolley services in Nashville.

Each bus route operates different hours but these usually start at approximately 0530 and run until 2400 on weekdays, after which time a night but service for central Nashville comes into operation, departing from Central Landport from 0015.

The Music Valley Express (bus 34) links Downtown with Opryland/Music Valley (a one-way fare is US$1.75). Once there, the Music Valley Trolley shuttles along Music Drive. The MTA also operates a network of local bus services – fares costs US$0.25 for Downtown or US$1.45 for further afield. Tickets are purchased upon boarding or at the ticket booths on Deaderik at Fifth Avenue and 1011 Demonbreun. A Weekly Pass and a Monthly Flash Pass are available from the ticket booths for US$14.70 and US$48 respectively.

The Nashville Trolley Co (tel: (615) 862 5950) operates three trolley routes. The Lunch Line is routed on a loop through the central business district, from Second Broadway to Union and Sixth Avenue. It is a free service, leaving every seven to eight minutes between 1130-1330. The Frist Arts Trolley leaves the Frist Arts Center, 919 Broadway, on a two-hour round trip that takes in tourist hot spots such as the Vanderbilt Arts Center, Centennial Park, the Parthenon and Belle Meade Mansion. It costs US$1 and there are only two departures – one at midday, the other at 1400. The 34x Music Valley Express Bus operates every 40 minutes or so, daily 0815-1815, to the Downtown and Music Valley Drive. The fare is US$1.75.

Taxis
There are several taxi services in Nashville but it is far easier to book one by telephone than to find one on the street. If the booking has been made some time ahead, it is sensible for travellers to telephone again on the day to confirm. Main firms include Allied Cab (tel: (615) 883 2323), Checker Cab (tel: (615) 256 7000), Music City Taxi (tel: (615) 262 0451) and Yellow Cab (tel: (615) 256 0101). Rates start at US$3 and go up by US$1.90 per mile. A tip of 10% is expected.

Limousines
There are numerous limousine companies serving the Nashville area, including stretch limousines for up to 10 passengers. Rates start at about US$60 per hour on weekdays and rise to US$65 at weekends. Companies include Black Tie Limousines (tel: (615) 254 1254), Capitol Limousines Inc (tel: (615) 883 6777), Carey Limousine (tel: (615) 360 8700) and Country Music Limousine (tel: (615) 226 9692).

Driving in the City
Nashville’s roads have not really kept pace with the town’s expansion and it is a long-standing joke that Nashville is difficult to navigate. There is just enough of a Downtown grid system to lull drivers into a false sense of security but then some streets simply stop, others change their names and some veer off across the river and head for Opryland. Most streets Downtown are one way and signposting is poor. Other than this idiosyncrasy, driving is no better or worse than any other small American city, although rush hours (0700-0900 and 1600-1800) are best avoided. Right turns on red lights are legal, unless a sign says otherwise.

Many of the special parking meter lanes in the city centre are inactive during rush hours – cars left there during these periods will be towed away. There is a large 24-hour public car park Downtown, at the junction of First Street South and Broadway, at a cost of US$1 per hour. There are several other parking lots, municipal and private, in that area.

Car Hire
Service providers include Alamo/National (tel: (615) 361 7467 or (800) 462 5266; website: www.alamo.com ), Avis (tel: (615) 361 1212; website: www.avis.com ), Budget (tel: (800) 763 2999; website: www.budget.com ), Enterprise (tel: (615) 872 7722; website: www.enterprise.com ) and Thrifty (tel: (615) 275 4257 or 361 6050; website: www.thrifty.com ).
To hire a car, visitors must have a full driving licence from their home country, be at least 25 years old and have a major credit card for payment. Rates start from US$40 per day, for a medium-sized vehicle. Car hire prices will not include insurance and various levels of insurance are usually available as surcharges. Unlimited mileage is also recommended, if excursions are planned for outside the city.

Bicycle Hire
Cycling is not unheard-of in Nashville and some local commuters travel to work this way. However, this is fairly uncommon. It is even less common to see visitors risking the Downtown traffic. Most attractions can be reached on foot or by the Nashville Trolley.
Nevertheless, there are five state bicycle tours in the hills around Nashville, with details available from the Tennessee Department of Transportation (tel: (615) 741 2848). However, it is very difficult to hire bicycles in Nashville. The best way for visitors to find out about bicycle hire is to get in touch with the tourist office.

Business

Business Profile
After a period of positive growth in the healthcare and music publishing industries, the US economy slowdown has hit Nashville and the impact of the attack on the World Trade Center swiftly impacted the city’s economy. Unemployment rose to 3.2% in the Nashville region. Nevertheless, this is still lower than the rest of Tennessee at 4.6% and the national average of 5.4%. The service industry and manufacturing have been badly affected in the state of Tennessee, with 3,400 and 1,500 jobs cut in those sectors respectively.

It is likely, however, that Nashville’s main industries will not disappear overnight, as the city has become a centre for healthcare companies – Nashville’s Columbia/HCA is the largest healthcare firm of its kind in the country. Healthtrust and Equicorp are also based here. In all, there are 14 healthcare companies within the city, generating annual combined revenue of some US$22billion. In addition, there are a further 12 investment and venture capital companies that deal primarily with healthcare. On the back of this success, biotech companies (one of the few industries to benefit from the attacks on the US) are looking at Nashville as a good place to invest.

This rather puts the music industry revenue of Music City USA (estimated at just over US$3.2billion annually) in the shade. However, the music industry has a much wider reach, as that income is spread across 200 recording studios, while the industry provides work for almost 6,000 union-registered musicians. It is estimated that about 25,000 people in Nashville work directly in the entertainment business. The music industry also embraces ancillary industries, such as publishing, the new media and broadcasting. Companies such as Gaylord Entertainment (who run the Grand Ole Opry, the Opryland Hotel, Country Music Television International, the renowned Acuff-Rose Music Publishing and several other related business operations) have a finger in every pie. It may be low income compared to healthcare but it is high profile. Everyone has heard of Nashville, because of its music industry. This obviously attracts an enormous number of visitors to the city – tourism revenue is currently running at US$2.2billion per annum.

Another area of development is new technology. Dell Computers recently chose Nashville as their first expansion in the USA outside their home state of Texas. Dell is building a manufacturing centre and a technical support centre, estimated to provide at least 3,000 new jobs over the next five years.
The main business districts are located in Downtown Nashville (private business and government offices) and the West End, around Vanderbilt University (financial and music businesses). Other music businesses are, of course, located around Music Row.

Business Etiquette
In a city used to seeing entertainment industry folk dressed down, the Nashville approach tends to be more casual than elsewhere in the USA. Some meetings will be conducted in jeans, although it is important for business visitors to gauge the situation correctly, as the city’s financial and healthcare executives can be as formal as their musical counterparts are informal. Few restaurants or clubs require a jacket and tie and casual-smart will suit most places.

Business cards should always be exchanged – only at the end of a meeting. More formal colleagues will prefer a business lunch to dinner, while in the entertainment industry, a social drink after work, followed by some music, would not be out of the ordinary. Southern hospitality may often lead to an invitation to a host’s home – an invitation sincerely meant and one that should be gratefully accepted. Southern states tend to be more conservative than the north, so visitors should limit themselves to moderate social drinking until they know their hosts. Bad language tends to be frowned upon, although again, the music business has its own rules. Courtesies are all-important and ‘Sir’ and ‘Ma’am’ will be frequently heard. If a host appears to be unduly formal, it is very likely due to the courteous Southern upbringing. Southerners tend to stick together too and side with fellow Southerners, so visitors should avoid talking about politics until they know whom they are dealing with.

Business hours are generally 0900-1700 Monday to Friday, although the entertainment businesses usually start and finish later.

Sightseeing

Sightseeing Overview
There is more than enough to see in Nashville to warrant a stay of several days, perhaps splitting the time between Downtown Nashville and the Opryland area, northeast of the city centre. Add in the surrounding rural attractions and a few more days can be spent profitably. A car is essential for rural pursuits, although central Nashville can be easily explored on foot and with the tourist transport options.

The bright and well-stocked Visitor Information Center is a good place to start, right on Broadway. Trolleys pass here, heading for Music Row, where the Country Music Hall of Fame was originally located. It has relocated to new Downtown premises in May 2001. Across Broadway and half a block up Fifth Avenue is the Ryman Auditorium, a place of pilgrimage for country music fans. Further on along Sixth Avenue is the Tennessee Performing Art Centre, State Museum and State Capitol.

Transport, private or public, is needed to get to Opryland (see the Excursions section), home of the Grand Ole Opry and a cluster of country music museums. Here too is the Opryland Hotel, an attraction in its own right, with indoor gardens that even include an indoor lake. Nashville was never known for its understatement and this is no exception.

Tourist Information
Visitor Information Center
Gaylord Entertainment Centre, 501 Broadway, corner of Fifth Avenue
Tel: (615) 259 4700 or (800) 657 6910.
E-mail: nashcvb@musiccityusa.com
Website: www.nashvillecvb.com
Opening hours: Daily 0830-1730 (winter); daily 0830-1900 (summer).

Passes
www.musiccityusa.com
Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau offer a variety of passes allowing discounted entry to Nashville tourist attractions. The Pick 3 pass costs US$24.99 and offers free entry to three of nine smaller participating attractions, while the Take 2 pass costs US$44.99 and offers free entry to two of 10 participating attractions. The two tickets can be combined – at a cost of US$69.98. There is also the Parent Pass and the Kids on the House pass. All are available from the Visitor Information Center (see above).

Key Attractions

Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
The new Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum opened its doors in May 2001, following its re-location from Music Row to its impressive new home in the heart of Nashville’s Downtown entertainment district. Spanning an entire city block and soaring 33m (107ft) above a lush urban park, the new US$37million facility features over 40,000 square feet of exhibition space.
The self-guided tour takes the visitor on a chronological journey through the history of country music, from its ‘back porch’ beginnings, through the heyday of the Grand Ole Opry and right up to the present. This fascinating tour takes around three hours, features over one million items of memorabilia (from Elvis Presley’s Gold Cadillac to Patsy Cline’s cowboy boots) and is accompanied by archive recordings from radio, television and many of the country music’s most important recorded works, as well as numerous interactive features.
The Country Music Hall of Fame is home to the largest country music archive in the world and the museum’s archivists and restoration experts can be viewed at work through the glass walls of their hi-tech studios. An enormous two-storey wall displays every gold and platinum record ever to make the country charts. There is daily live music in the atrium, in the form of live CMT (Country Music Television) broadcasts. The museum also boasts the Ford Theater, a 214-seat state-of-the-art performance venue featuring a digital film presentation on country music from around the world. The 1,676sq-metre (5500sq-ft) museum shop offers one of Nashville’s best selections of vintage and current country music CDs, tapes, books, videos, collectibles and apparel. A full-service restaurant features contemporary Southern cuisine and is open for lunch.
222 Fifth Avenue South (Demonbreun Street)
Tel: (615) 416 2001 or (800) 852 6437.
E-mail: eblast@countrymusichalloffame.com
Website: www.countrymusichalloffame.com
Transport: Nashville Trolley from Downtown.
Opening hours: Daily 1000-1800.
Admission: US$15.95, concessions available.

The Hermitage
The home of Andrew Jackson (America’s seventh President) is Nashville’s national treasure, attracting 250,000 visitors every year. Jackson first bought the property in 1804 and some of the original log cabins still survive. Rather more grand is the Greek Revival mansion he built in 1837, which has been fully restored, containing almost all original period furnishings. The gardens are impressive too and there is a museum on the site, as well as a restaurant and gift shop.
4580 Rachel’s Lane, Hermitage
Tel: (615) 889 2941. Fax: (615) 889 9909.
E-mail: info@thehermitage.com
Website: www.thehermitage.com
Transport: By car along Interstate 40, exit 221A.
Opening hours: Daily 0900-1700.
Admission: US$12, concessions available.

Ryman Auditorium
One of Downtown Nashville’s prime attractions is the original home of the Grand Ole Opry, which still puts on all kinds of musical shows in the evening. By day, visitors can tour the auditorium, stand on the stage and hear anecdotes from the tour guides about the country stars who played here. These include Hank Williams, Patsy Cline and even a young Elvis Presley, when he was still regarded as a country singer. Memorabilia is on display, with some stage outfits and guitars. Ryman was a riverboat captain who built the theatre in 1892, as a venue for religious meetings.
116 Fifth Avenue North
Tel: (615) 254 1445 or 889 3060.
Website: www.ryman.com
Transport: Nashville Trolley to Downtown.
Opening hours: Daily 0900-1600; evening shows vary.
Admission: US$8, concessions available.

Cheekwood
Known as Nashville’s ‘Home of Art and Gardens’ and now also the Museum of Art, after an US$18million restoration, Cheekwood covers a site of 22 hectares (55 acres). The three-storey Georgian-style Cheek Mansion was built in the 1930s, by Leslie and Mabel Cheek – Leslie Cheek being a successful local businessman. The art collection concentrates on local artists, such as the sculptor, Will Edmondson – the first African-American whose work was displayed at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, in 1937. American art and fine art of the 19th and 20th centuries are also covered. The gardens of the estate are magnificent and include a botanic hall and woodland sculpture trail. There is a restaurant open for lunch and a gift shop.
1200 Forrest Park Drive
Tel: (615) 356 8000.
Website: www.cheekwood.org
Transport: By car along Belle Meade Boulevard, Page Road and on to Forrest Park Drive.
Opening hours: Tues-Sat 0930-1630. Sun 1100-1630.
Admission: US$10, concessions available.

Tennessee State Museum
This stimulating collection tells the story of the state, from prehistoric times through to the early 20th century. Special attention is paid to prominent characters, such as Andrew Jackson and Davy Crockett, as well as the Civil War. Historical arts and crafts items are also displayed and, in addition to the permanent collection, there are temporary exhibitions, for which there is usually a small admission charge.
Polk Cultural Center, 505 Deaderick Street
Tel: (615) 741 2692 or (800) 407 4324.
Fax: (615) 741 7231.
E-mail: info@ tnmuseum.org
Website: www.tnmuseum.org
Transport: Nashville Trolley to Downtown.
Opening hours: Tues-Sat 1000-1700, Sun 1300-1700.
Admission: Free.

Tennessee State Capitol
The Tennessee State Capitol was built in 1859 and many parts of it, including the library and the Supreme Court chamber, have been restored to their original grandeur. Portraits of local dignitaries gaze down from the walls, while statues of famous Tennesseeans, such as General Andrew Jackson and President James Polk, stand in the Capitol’s grounds.
Charlotte Avenue, between Sixth and Seventh Avenues
Tel: (615) 741 1621.
Transport: Nashville Trolley to Downtown.
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1600.
Admission: Free.

Belle Meade Plantation
The Belle Meade Plantation (huge grounds known as ‘The Queen of Tennessee Plantations’) contains one of the oldest houses in Tennessee – a log cabin from 1790. The star attraction, however, is the 1853 Greek Revival Mansion, which has been lovingly restored to its original elegance. Other original outbuildings survive on the 12-hectare (30-acre) site, including the stables and an 1890 carriage house. Tours are given by guides dressed in period costume. There is also a visitor centre, tea room and gift shop.
5025 Harding Road
Tel: (615) 356 0501 or (800) 270 3991. Fax: (615) 356 2336.
E-mail: information@bellemeadeplantation.com
Website: www.bellemeadeplantation.com
Transport: MTA trolley bus 3 from Riverfront Park.
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 0900-1700, Sun 1100-1700.
Admission: US$10, concessions available.

Cumberland Science Museum
This was formerly the Nashville Children’s Museum and it remains firmly aimed at younger visitors. There are numerous hands-on exhibits and daily displays on scientific subjects. A simulated flight over Nashville is one attraction. Touring exhibitions are also housed here. There are daily shows in the Planetarium too, including a live presentation explaining the ‘Skies over Nashville’.
800 Fort Negley Boulevard
Tel: (615) 862 5160. Fax: (615) 862 5178.
E-mail: info@adventuresci.com
Website: www.csmisfun.com
Transport: Nashville Trolley from Downtown.
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 1000-1700, Sun 1230-1730; planetarium shows 1100, 1400 and 1500 and occasionally at 1200.
Admission: US$8.75, concessions available; extra US$2 for planetarium.

Parthenon
Over the years, Nashville has established itself as the one of the foremost seats of learning in the US, with its prominent university (Vanderbilt) and famous medical and film schools. Because of this, Nashville is sometimes referred to as ‘the Athens of the South.’ This replica of Greece’s most famous building was built in 1897, to house the international art exhibition for the Centennial Exposition in recognition of this achievement.
West End and 25th Avenues, Centennial Park
Tel: (615) 862 8431. Fax: (615) 880 2265.
E-mail: info@parthenon.org
Website: www.parthenon.org
Transport: Nashville Trolley from Downtown.
Opening hours: Tues-Sat 0900-1630, Sun 1230-1630 (Apr-Sep); Tues-Sat 0900-1630 (Oct-Mar). Admission: US$3.50, concessions available.

Further Distractions

Belmont Mansion
This Italianate mansion was built in 1853 by Adelicia Acklen, who at the time, was one of the wealthiest women in America – thanks in part to her cotton-trading with both sides during the Civil War. There are 16 rooms that are open to the public, with guided tours showing the original furniture and artworks. The grounds, now part of Belmont University, also contain a gazebo and statuary.
1900 Belmont Boulevard
Tel: (615) 460 5459. Fax: (615) 460 5688.
E-mail: belmontmansion@mail.belmont.edu
Website: www.belmontmansion.com
Transport: Bus 2 from Landport Clement.
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 1000-1600, Sun 1300-1600 (from 2004).
Admission: US$8, concessions available.

Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park
This large park covers an area of eight hectares (19 acres) to the north of the State Capitol. The grounds contain 31 fountains (corresponding to the main rivers of Tennessee) and a vast granite map of the state. The park also has walks, a Wall of History and good views, especially leading up to the Capitol itself.
598 James Robertson Parkway
Tel: (615) 741 5280.
Website: www.state.tn.us/environment/parks/parks/Bicentennial/
Transport: Nashville Trolley to Downtown.
Opening hours: Daily dawn-midnight.
Admission: Free.

Frist Center for the Visual Arts
The Frist Center for the Visual Arts is a non-profit art-exhibition centre in Downtown Nashville, with approximately 7,315sq metres (24,000sq ft) of gallery space, dedicated to presenting the finest visual art from local, state and regional artists, as well as major US and international exhibitions. It is housed in a beautiful 1930s Art Deco building, which was originally Nashville’s historic main post office. The building was renovated in the late 1990s, with great care taken to preserve its interior period ornamental features.
919 Broadway
Tel: (615) 244 3340.
E-mail: mail@fristcenter.org
Website: www.fristcenter.org
Transport: Bus 96 from Deaderick Street.
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 1000-1730, Sun 1300-1700, Thurs 1000-2000.
Admission: US$8.50, concessions available.

Tours of the City

Walking Tours
The City Walk is a marked trail of two miles (three kilometres), which begins at Fort Nashborough and ends at the Hatch Show Print Shop on Broadway. Visitors should either follow the blue line or obtain a leaflet from the Visitor Information Center, Gaylord Entertainment Centre, 501 Broadway, corner of Fifth Avenue (tel: (615) 259 4700; website: www.nashvillecvb.com).

Bus Tours
Numerous companies offer bus tours of Nashville, invariably focusing on the country music scene and often including a drive past the homes of some of the stars, such as Dolly Parton and Johnny Cash. Grand Ole Opry Tours (tel: (615) 889 9490 or 883 2211) offers a variety of tours one of which includes an exclusive backstage tour of the Grand Ole Opry building as well. Other companies include Gray Line Tours (tel: (615) 883 5555; website: www.graylinenashville.com/tours.cfm ), Johnny WalkerTours (tel: (615) 834 8585 or (800) 722 1524; website: www.johnnywalkertours.com ) and the very funny and very irreverent NashTrash Tours (tel: (615) 226 7300 or (800) 342 2132; website: www.nashtrash.com ).

Other Tours
The Second Avenue Carriage Service (tel: (615) 244 7113) provides horse-drawn carriage tours of historic Nashville. These start from the junction of Broadway and First Avenue and usually run after 1900 Monday-Saturday, at a cost of about US$25 for four people for 20 minutes.

Excursions

For a Half Day
Opryland: This is one of Nashville’s major attractions but, as it is located about 10 kilometres (six miles) from Downtown Nashville, the visitor will need to allow at least half a day to get there and see everything. Opryland is a collective term for the whole area, also known as Music Valley, which contains the Opryland Hotel and the Grand Ole Opry. Other attractions include the Music Valley Car Museum, the Music Valley Wax Museum, the Nashville Toy Museum and the Willie Nelson and Friends Showcase Museum. From Downtown, the area is easily accessed by the Music Valley Express (bus 34) and, once there, the Music Valley Trolley shuttles along Music Drive. The Music Valley Drive Information Center, Suite 100, 2416 Music Valley Drive (tel: (615) 871 4005 or (800) 847 9102) provides information on all the following attractions.

The Grand Ole Opry (website: www.opry.com ) is America’s longest continuously running radio show and celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2000. There are two shows a night on Fridays and Saturdays, for most of the year, as well as a Tuesday matinee mid-June to mid-August. These shows get booked up well in advance, so reservations should be made (tel: (615) 889 6611). There is also a Grand Ole Opry Museum, devoted to the stars from the shows.

The Opryland Hotel Indoor Gardens and Collections has three huge glass-roofed atriums, which enclose magnificent gardens. The largest of these covers 1.8 hectares (4.5 acres) and contains a 400m-long (1,320ft) river. At night, there is live music and a laser show.

The Music Valley Car Museum has vehicles that belonged to Elvis Presley, Dolly Parton and other musical luminaries. The Music Valley Wax Museum contains over 50 waxworks of country music’s greatest stars, in their original stage costumes, as well as a Sidewalk of the Stars, with the feet, hands and signatures of the country music stars imprinted in the concrete. The Nashville Toy Museum concentrates on antique toys – mainly toy trains, with two huge model layouts. The Willie Nelson and Friends Showcase Museum focuses on the country music legend but also features displays on his friends, who included Roy Orbison, Patsy Cline and Elvis Presley.

Nashville Zoo: Over 600 animals are on display in this innovative zoo, which covers 81 hectares (200 acres) not far from the centre of the city. There are Bengal tigers, cheetahs, a new ‘Elephant Exhibit’, the USA’s largest community-built playground for the children, the aptly named Gibbon Islands, an ‘Unseen New World’ exhibit (with over 200 reptiles, insects, amphibians and fish) and the old Croft House. This was built in 1810 and now houses a working farm exhibit and a young children’s petting zoo.
3777 Nolensville Road, Grassmere
Tel: (615) 833 1534.
E-mail: pr@nashvillezoo.org
Website: www.nashvillezoo.org
Transport: bus 12 to Nolensville Road/Harding Place.
Opening hours: daily 0900-1800 (Apr-Oct), 0900-1600 (Nov-Mar).
Admission: US$8, concessions are available.

For a Whole Day
Natchez Trace Parkway: No one should visit Nashville without sampling at least a short stretch of this unique drive, which begins about 24km (15 miles) southwest of the city centre. The whole parkway, one of the country’s first interstate highways, runs for 320km (200 miles) to Natchez in Mississippi and was an ancient trading route for early European settlers. Today, with a leisurely 80kph (50mph) speed limit and only recreational traffic, it makes a wonderfully peaceful drive through unspoilt scenery, with many historic landmarks (such as the Meriwether Lewis National Monument, where the early American explorer is buried) along the way. Any viewing point or picnic ground can serve as a turning-back point but visitors should remember to fill up with petrol before they leave Nashville, as there is only one petrol station along the whole road.

Sport

Nashville is home to all the spectator sports expected in a major American city, including baseball, American football, ice hockey and speedway.

The Nashville Sounds (website: www.nashvillesounds.com ) baseball team is an AAA team for the Pittsburgh Pirates, who play from April to September at the Herschel Greer Stadium, Chestnut Street and Eighth Street (tel: (615) 242 4371). The NFL Tennessee Titans (website: www.titansonline.com ) play from August to January at the new 67,000-seater Adelphia Coliseum, 1 Titans Way (tel: (615) 565 4200), by the Cumberland River. The Nashville Predators (tel: (615) 770 7825; email: predators@nashvillepredators.com; website: www.nashvillepredators.com ) play ice hockey from October to April, at the Nashville Arena, 501 Broadway (tel: (615) 770 2000).
The Nashville Speedway (tel: (615) 726 1818; website: www.fairgroundsspeedway.net ) is at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds (tel: (615) 862 8980; website: www.tennesseestatefair.org ), Nolensville Road exit from I-440 West, and has weekly events from April to September.
For participation in sports, most people head outside the city to the Tennessee countryside, to indulge in hiking, cycling, fishing, hunting and golf. Alternatively, for visitors looking to attend a sporting event, tickets are available from Ticketmaster (tel: (615) 255 9600; website: www.ticketmaster.com ).

Bowling: No American city worth its salt is without a bowling alley or three. In Nashville, there is Donelson Bowling Center, 117 Donelson Pike (tel: (615) 883 3313), Melrose Bowling Lanes, 2600 Franklin Pike (tel: (615) 297 7142) and Tusculum Lanes, 5315 Nolensville Road (tel: (615) 833 2881). Also should you feel the need to strike out of the everyday experience of the Opryland mall, there is a bowling alley there named Jillian’s ( tel: (615) 514 1400).

Fitness Centres: The Downtown Athletic Club, 520 Commerce Street (tel: (615) 271 2616), is open to visitors and has gym, sauna, volleyball, basketball, aerobics, weights and other facilities. Other gyms include Steps, 2207 21st Avenue South (tel: (615) 269 8844) and Arm-O’s, 1907 Division (tel: (615) 321 0714) in the Music Row district.

Golf: There are numerous courses and resorts close to Nashville, including a championship course at the Springhouse Golf Club, part of the Opryland Hotel, 18 Springhouse Lane (tel: (615) 871 7759). Other championship resorts are Hermitage Golf Course, 3939 Old Hickory Boulevard (tel: (615) 847 4001, www.hermitagegolf.com ) and Legends Club of Tennessee, 1500 Legends Club Lane, Franklin (tel: (615) 791 8100). Clubs include the Forrest Crossing Golf Course, 750 Riverview Drive (tel: (615) 794 9400), and The Legacy, 100 Ray Floyd Drive, Springfield (tel: (615) 384 4653). Weekday green fees for non-members start at approximately US$45 per day.

Horseriding: Tennessee is natural horseriding country, with plenty of stables and ranches in the Nashville vicinity. These cater for beginners and more advanced riders alike and include Cedars of Lebanon Riding Stables, 328 Cedar Forest Road, Lebanon (tel: (615) 444 5465), Ju-Ro Stables, 7149 Cairo Bend Road, Mt Juliet (tel: (615) 773 7433; website: www.jurostables.com ) and Ramblin’ Breeze Ranch, 3665 Knight Road, Whites Creek (tel: (615) 876 1029). Rates cost approximately US$20 per hour.

Ice Skating: There is a rink at the Thomas Frist Centennial Sportsplex, 25th Avenue, at Brandau (tel: (615) 862 8480). Cost is US$7 per hour.

Swimming: Plenty of public pools help Nashvillians to cool off in the summer heat. These include Glencliff, 150 Antioch Pike (tel: (615) 862 8470), Pearl-Cohn, 904 26th Avenue North (tel: (615) 862 8471). Admission to both outdoors pools is free. The Thomas Frist Centennial Sportsplex, 25th Avenue, at Brandau (tel: (615) 862 8480) also has a pool, indoors, with an admission cost of US$6.

Tennis: There are several free tennis courts around the city, run by Metro Parks and Recreation. The Thomas Frist Centennial Sportsplex, 25th Avenue, at Brandau (tel: (615) 862 8480), has both indoor and outdoor courts from US$5-15 per hour. Pre-booked municipal indoor and outdoor courts are available at the Metro Sports and Recreation Center, East Park, 700 Woodland St (tel: (615) 862 8448).

Watersports: Several lakes are very close to Nashville, where fishing and boating equipment are available for hire. These include Old Hickory Lake and Percy Priest Lake, less than a half-hour drive from Downtown. To fish, a Tennessee fishing licence is necessary – these are readily available at marinas and sporting goods stores. Rod and Gun Guide Service, 3502 Amanda Avenue (tel: (615) 385 1116) provides fly-fishing guides.

Shopping

The best buys in Nashville are inevitably music-related and can be found in Music City. Difficult-to-get-hold-of CDs can be easier to find here, while some record stores are attractions in their own right. One such is Ernest Tubb’s Record Shop No 1, 417 Broadway (tel: (615) 255 7503; website: www.ernesttubb.com ), founded by the ‘Texas Troubador’. It has an excellent stock of country music, with memorabilia as well as vinyl and CDs. Other branches are at 1516 Demonbruen (tel: (615) 244 2845) and 2416 Music Valley Drive (tel: (615) 889 2474). For a wider choice, the biggest record store in Nashville is Tower Records, 2400 West End Avenue (tel: (615) 327 3722). Nashville’s mecca of hard-to-find vinyl and CDs is Grimey’s Preloved Music, 2825 Bransford Avenue (tel: (615) 269 5501, website: www.grimeys.com ). The main musical instrument store (one of the best in the USA) is Gruhn Guitars, 400 Broadway (tel: (615) 256 2033, website: www.gruhn.com ), and is worth a visit just to look at its vintage guitars.

Clothing goes hand-in-hand with country music and outrageous outfits can be bought at Trail West, 219 Broadway (tel: (615) 255 7030) and Manuel Exclusive Clothier, 1922 Broadway (tel: (615) 321 5444). For clothing and accessories that time has forgot&or at least perhaps, should have forgotten check out Flashback, 2204 Elliston Place (tel. (615) 321 5326) or Smack Vintage to Vinyl Clothing, 2201 Elliston Place (tel. (615) 321 9030).Unusual and distinctive music souvenirs are available for purchase at Hatch Show Print Shop, 316 Broadway (tel: (615) 256 2805), a working print shop that has many vintage as well as contemporary show posters for sale, along with postcards and photographs.

The best shopping malls are out of town. The biggest and newest is Opry Mills, 433 Opry Mills Mall (tel: (615) 514 1100), with 200 stores, restaurants, cafés and entertainment venues – including an IMAX theatre. Slightly smaller, with 165 stores and good for clothing in particular, is the Cool Springs Galleria, 1800 Galleria Boulevard, off I-65 (tel: (615) 771 2128).

From 14 June to November, the Nashville Food Fair (tel: (615) 444 6104) takes place in five different locations all on church grounds on various days of the week. These open-air farmers markets are located in various church grounds at 6401 Harding Road (Tuesday), 4101 Harding Road (Wednesday), 643 Harding Place (Thursday), 2100 Woodmont Boulevard (Friday) and 3061 Nolensville Road (Saturday). All manner of farm produce goes on sale between 0700 and 1200.
Opening hours tend to be Mon-Sat 1000-1800 Downtown and Mon-Sat 1000-2100 and Sun 1300-1800 in the suburbs. In Nashville, the sales tax is 8.25%, which is non-refundable.

Culture

The dominance of country music tends to overshadow the fact that Nashville is also a hotbed of many other types of art and culture. There is a Nashville Ballet, Nashville Opera, Nashville Symphony Orchestra and Nashville Chamber Orchestra, not to mention many theatres, music schools, art galleries and dance venues. Indeed, many musicians lead dual lives, switching from country to classical with ease.

The city’s prime venue is the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, 505 Deaderick Street (tel: (615) 782 4066; fax: (615) 782 4001; website: www.tpac.org ). TPAC, as it is known, has three theatres, which usually have shows running simultaneously. The large Jackson Hall is home to the Nashville Symphony but also hosts rock concerts, musicals, opera and dance. The small Polk Theater is used for drama and more intimate musical evenings and the Johnson Theater is also for smaller-scale events, such as TV shows, conferences, trade shows and drama productions.

Local newspaper The Tennessean (website: www.tennessean.com ) features listings in its Thursday and Sunday editions. Key Magazine (website: www.nashvillekey.com ) is a weekly guide to events in the area, while Nashville Scene (website: www.nashvillescene.com), published every Wednesday, is an in-depth guide to events in the city.

All tickets can be obtained from the various venues directly or from Ticketmaster (tel: (615) 255 9600; website: www.ticketmaster.com ), which is based at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center. There are additional Ticketmaster outlets in most major department stores.

Music: The Nashville Chamber Orchestra performs in various venues throughout the city, including the Blair Recital Hall, Blair School of Music, 2400 Blakemore Avenue (tel: (615) 322 7651; website: www.vanderbilt.edu\blair ). The Nashville Opera (tel: (615) 832 5242; fax: (615) 832 5243; website: www.nashvilleopera.org ) performs at the Polk Theatre, Tennessee Performing Arts Center, 505 Deaderick Street (tel: (615) 782 4066; website: www.tpac.org ) and the Nashville Symphony (tel: (615) 783 1200; website: www.nashvillesymphony.com ) performs at the Jackson Hall, Tennessee Performing Arts Center, 505 Deaderick Street (tel: (615) 782 4066; website: www.tpac.org).

Theatre: The theatre scene flourishes with a range of companies and venues. Major touring productions are staged at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, 505 Deaderick Street (tel: (615) 782 4066; website: www.tpac.org ), while the Tennessee Repertory Theater Company (tel: (615) 244 4878; website: www.tnrep.org ) performs at the Polk Theater, in the same venue. The Nashville Children’s Theater, 724 Second Avenue South (tel: (615) 254 9103; fax: (615) 254 3255; website: www.nct-dragonsite.org ), also stages good performances.

Dance: The principal venue is again the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, 505 Deaderick Street (tel: (615) 846 0638; website: www.tpac.org ), which is home to the Nashville Ballet (tel: (615) 297 2966; website: www.nashvilleballet.com ).

Film: Nashville has several multiplex cinemas showing the latest major releases, such as Regal Hollywood 27, 719 Thomposon Lane-100 Oaks Mall (tel: (615) 298 3445) and Wynnsong 10, 721 Myatt Drive (tel: (615) 860 7686). Two other venues concentrate on arthouse films – the Surratt Cinema, 2301 Vanderbilt Place (tel: (615) 322 2425) and the Belcourt Theater, 2101 Belcourt Avenue, Hillsboro Village (tel: (615) 383 9140).
The most famous film set here is Robert Altman’s Nashville (1975), a sharp satire of the country music scene. A more recent film about the music business is The Thing Called Love (1993), starring River Phoenix. Various country music bio-pics have been filmed here, including Coal Miner’s Daughter (1980), in which Sissy Spacek portrays Loretta Lynn, and Sweet Dreams (1985), starring Jessica Lange as Patsy Cline.

Cultural Events: Nashville’s year is filled with events, many naturally involving music. Crafts feature too and the summer kicks off with the Tennessee Crafts Fair in May, followed by the American Artisan Crafts Fair in June, both in Centennial Park. June also sees the big music event of the year, the Country Music Fan Fair International. This week-long jamboree centres on concerts at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds, but visiting stars pop up all over town, doing sets and signing sessions. Also in June, the five-day Nashville International Film Festival takes place at Royal Green Hills. The Italian Street Fair celebrates the city’s Italian culture and takes up the long Labor Day weekend in late August or early September. Despite its name, it takes place in Centennial Park. The Nashville Shakespeare Festival mounts a Shakespeare production every August. In Downtown Franklin, to the south of Nashville, is September’s Franklin Jazz Festival, while the African Street Festival also takes place that month, at the TSU State Campus. German culture is showcased in Germantown at the Oktoberfest, not surprisingly in October, while the same month also sees the Grand Ole Opry Birthday Celebration, at the Grand Ole Opry House. October also has the Southern Festival of Books and the Tennessee Association of Craft Artists (TACA) Fall Fair. Finally, Christmas Nashville-style is celebrated in Country Christmas, throughout November and December at the Opryland Hotel.

Literary Notes: Nashville has numerous literary connections, including the city’s name, which comes from an ancestor of the humorous poet, Ogden Nash. The United States’ first official Poet Laureate, Robert Penn Warren, studied English at Nashville’s Vanderbilt University and his novel, At Heaven’s Gate (1943), is set in the financial world of 1930s Nashville. Although not born in Nashville, novelist Alfred Leland Crabb lived there for much of his life and wrote several historical novels set in the city, including Breakfast at the Hermitage (1945), as well as the non-fiction Nashville: Personality of a City (1960). The distinguished Southern novelist Peter Taylor also attended Vanderbilt and set many of his short stories in Nashville, including some from his collection In the Miro District and Other Stories (1977).

Perhaps best known for penning the hit record Harper Valley PTA (1968), the musician and writer Tom T Hall wrote the semi-autobiographical novel The Storyteller’s Nashville (1979). Outsiders’ views on Nashville include those of Trinidadian-born V S Naipaul, who visited the city for his book A Turn in the South (1989). New York Brat Pack author Jay McInerney is married to a Nashville jewellery designer and spends part of his time in her home town, which increasingly features in his fiction, including The Last of the Savages (1996). An inside view of the contemporary music scene can be had in Walkin’ After Midnight (2000), by Lauren St John, which includes interviews with such luminaries as Steve Earle and Emmylou Harris.

Nightlife

Music is the focus of Nashville’s nightlife, of course, with many of the city’s bars starting their music stints at 1000, when they open. Acts play throughout the day and into the night – sometimes two acts play simultaneously in different rooms at the same venue. Country music is not the only attraction, however, as Nashville also attracts rock, swing and jazz musicians. Downtown is the hub, with many of the liveliest places along Broadway or nearby in Printer’s Alley.

The legal drinking age in Tennessee is 21 years and bars are licensed until 0300. Beers cost, on average, US$2, or US$3 for imported beers. Expect to pay US$4-5 for wine and spirits. A tip of 20% is expected at the bar and table. Dress code is ‘anything goes’ in the honky-tonks and ‘smart-casual’ elsewhere, although Nashville is always more casual than smart.

The free, pocket-sized weekly listings magazine The Rage (website: www.nashvillerage.com ) and the more comprehensive free weekly paper, Nashville Scene (website: www.nashvillescene.com ) provide information on nightlife venues and events. Listings information is also available online (website: http://nashville.citysearch.com ).

Bars: These are too numerous to mention them all, however, no one should miss Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, 422 Broadway. Close to the stage door of Ryman Auditorium, musicians used to nip in here for a drink between shows and famous visitors have included Hank Williams, Willie Nelson and Kris Kristoffersen. Other nearby options with live bands include the Bluegrass Inn, 418 Broadway, where there would be no prizes for guessing that bluegrass is always playing, Wolfy’s, 425 Broadway, with a more club-like atmosphere and the hill-billy hang-out, Robert’s Western World, 416 Broadway, where the band BR5-49 launched their career.

Casinos: There are no casinos in the Nashville area.

Clubs: Swing, salsa and disco, with live music, can be had at The Lava Lounge, 1719 West End Avenue. Blues music, a bar and good food is available at the ever-busy Bourbon Street Blues and Boogie Bar, 220 Printer’s Alley. There are several sophisticated jazz clubs, including Gibson Caffe Milano, 176 Third Avenue and Manhattan’s, 901 Second Avenue North.

Live Music: As one would perhaps expect, Nashville is a thriving live music centre – and not just for country music. Great live performances can be caught just about every night of the week, in one or other of the city’s numerous bars and clubs. The Bluegrass Inn, 418 Broadway, Robert’s Western World, 416 Broadway, Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, 422 Broadway, and Wildhorse Saloon, 120 2nd Avenue North, have live bands virtually around the clock. The Ryman Auditorium, 116 Fifth Avenue (see Key Attractions), has bigger acts, as does the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, 505 Deaderick Street (see Culture section). Only a short cab ride away, The Station Inn, 402 12th Avenue South, hosts bluegrass in home-style surroundings.

City Statistics

Location: Davidson County, Tennessee, southeastern USA.
Country dialling code: 1.
Population: 569,891 (Nashville/Davidson County); 1.2 million (metropolitan area).
Ethnic mix: 80% white, 15% black, 3.2% Hispanic, 1.5% Asian, 0.3% Native American
Religion: Mostly Christian with a strong Baptist following.
Time zone: GMT - 5 (GMT - 4 from first Sunday in April to last Sunday in October).
Electricity: 110 volts AC, 50Hz; round two-pin plugs are standard.
Average January temp: 3ºC (37ºF).
Average July temp: 27ºC (80ºF).
Annual rainfall: 1,232mm (48.5 inches).

Special Events

Battle of New Orleans Anniversary Celebration, Jan, throughout the city
Martin Luther King Day, public holiday and parade, 19 Jan, throughout the city
Presidents Day, public holiday, 17 Feb, throughout the city
Andrew Jackson Birthday Celebration, laying of wreaths, 15 Mar, Hermitage
Tennessee Crafts Fair, May, Centennial Park
Memorial Day, public holiday, 26 May, throughout the city
American Artisan Crafts Fair, Jun, Centennial Park
Country Music Fan Fair International, Jun, Tennessee State Fairgrounds and other venues
Nashville International Film Festival, Jun, Royal Green Hills
Nashville Food Fair, open-air farmers markets, mid-Jun-Nov, 6401 Harding Road (Tue), 4101 Harding Road (Wed), 643 Harding Place (Thurs), 2100 Woodmont Boulevard (Fri) and 3061 Nolensville Road (Sat)
Independence Day, public holiday, 4 Jul, throughout the city
Italian Street Fair, beginning of Sep, Centennial Park
Nashville Shakespeare Festival, Aug, various venues
Franklin Jazz Festival, Aug, Downtown
Franklin African Street Festival, Aug, TSU State Campus
Tennessee State Fair, Sep, Tennessee State Fairgrounds
Labour Day, public holiday, 2 Sep, throughout the city
Oktoberfest, German cultural celebrations, Oct, Germantown
Grand Ole Opry Birthday Celebration, Oct, Grand Ole Opry House
Southern Festival of Books, Oct, throughout the city
Tennessee Association of Craft Artists (TACA) Fall Fair, Oct, throughout the city
Columbus Day, public holiday, 14 Oct, throughout the city
Country Christmas, Nov-Dec, Opryland Hotel
Veterans’ Day, public holiday, 11 Nov, throughout the city
Thanksgiving, public holiday, 25 Nov, throughout the city
Christmas Day, public holiday, 25 Dec, throughout the city

Cost of Living

One-litre bottle of mineral water: US$1
33cl bottle of beer: US$2.25
Financial Times newspaper: US$1.50
36-exposure colour film: US$4.95
City-centre bus ticket: US$1.45
Adult football ticket: US$40
Three-course meal with wine/beer: US$15-25

1 American Dollar (US$1) = £0.57; C$1.16; A$1.31; ¬0.83
Currency conversion rates as of October 2005