The Meandering Mississippi
August 12, 2014
Nashville is a key port on our river cruises in North America, acting as a starting or finishing point for Cumberland river cruises or those traversing the mighty Mississippi. Known as Music City, thanks to its love of country music, Nashville is the capital of Tennessee and the perfect place to spend a day or two after your cruise or before boarding the beautiful American Queen steamboat.
If you choose to do this, here are just a few things this wonderful city has to offer.
Where better to start than the Country Music Hall of Fame? This interesting living museum will give you an insight into the lives of many country music stars and show you exactly why Nashville has earned its nickname. World famous inductees include Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers, whilst modern stars of the genre can often be seen performing live. On Saturdays there are Q and A sessions with songwriters and every Sunday there are live instrument demonstrations.
If the Hall of Fame has left you with a hankering for more Hank Williams, it's also worth taking a visit to the Ryman Auditorium. This beloved music venue has fantastic acoustics; it offers live performances and an in-depth backstage tour. However, if it's live country music that you looking to hear then head to Grand Old Opry House for the weekly iconic performances that have been going since 1925.
Proving that Music City has many strings to its bow, Cheekwood Botanical Gardens is a great way to spend a few hours. The 55-acre estate is inspired by the English country gardens of the 18th century and was the home of the Cheek family until the mid-1900s. Not only are there gardens devoted to herbs, wildflowers and water features, there is also a museum of art and contemporary art galleries on site. Those who enjoy the museum exhibits will also love a relaxed stroll around the sculpture trail and the Pineapple Room Restaurant is a great place to rest your legs and enjoy a spot of lunch after you have finished exploring the grounds.
Incidentally, lovers of green spaces may also want to check out Centennial Park, which features an alluring full-scale replica of Athens's Parthenon at its centre.
One of the best ways to see what Nashville is all about is to walk the strip Downtown and soak up the atmosphere. The area is full of shops, restaurants and bars, whilst every street corner is home to a budding singer trying to make themselves noticed in a city that has created so many iconic stars. It's fun to look around during the day, but the area comes alive at night as music is heard from every direction and the friendly locals head out in search of some fun.
The Downtown area is easy to navigate on foot but there are some great horse and carriage tours available too. Not only do these allow you to sit back and relax but expert guides will also give you all the information you need on the places you pass.
If Nashville sounds like your kind of city, we have plenty of Cumberland and Mississippi river cruises that can take you there. To find out about the itineraries we have available or to book your holiday, call our helpful team today.
