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 Little Big Heart
Posts: 4383
  
Location: MN | Yes or No on going there. Is it safe to stay downtown and walk around? Never been there, we both love country music and thought this might be a fun place to go for a week. Anybody with ideas for good hotels and eating places. Also we usually take our truck, would it be hard to park and get around with a truck? Another idea is Branson MO too. |
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  Fact Checker
Posts: 16575
  
Location: Displaced Iowegian | I haven't been to Nashville but if you love Country Music, there are tons of shows in Branson....inexpensive motels.....lots of shopping.....close to Silver Dollar city (if you have kids) and close to a huge lake. It is also not far from Springfield, MO where the huge PFI and Boot Daddy Western Store is located. |
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Little Big Heart
Posts: 4383
Location: MN | Thanks, both are a 10 hour drive from us so we could do either. Been 20 years since I have been to Branson. Just hubby and I kids are grown. We usually go out West, but decided we didn't want to drive all the hours this year. So that is why I thought either of those places would maybe be fun. Hubby doesn't like to sit around, he likes to go and do things daily or he gets bored. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1035
Location: TN | There are parking garages as well as parking lots in the downtown area. If you stay in a hotel close to downtown you might be able to leave your truck in the hotel garage and walk or take a cab around town. It's a relatively safe area. If you end up needing to drive downtown my favorite safe, nice parking garage for a night on the town is the Nashville public library's parking garage. You can go to the Country Music Hall of Fame and hit up the many honky tonks. Opryland Hotel is a nice resort-type hotel to stay in next to the Opry Mills Mall and Grand Ole Opry, but it's not close to downtown. There are several nice hotels close to or in downtown I just haven't stayed in any so it's hard to think of them, sorry. |
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Little Big Heart
Posts: 4383
Location: MN | KatieMac88 - 2014-05-03 3:52 PM There are parking garages as well as parking lots in the downtown area. If you stay in a hotel close to downtown you might be able to leave your truck in the hotel garage and walk or take a cab around town. It's a relatively safe area. If you end up needing to drive downtown my favorite safe, nice parking garage for a night on the town is the Nashville public library's parking garage. You can go to the Country Music Hall of Fame and hit up the many honky tonks. Opryland Hotel is a nice resort-type hotel to stay in next to the Opry Mills Mall and Grand Ole Opry, but it's not close to downtown. There are several nice hotels close to or in downtown I just haven't stayed in any so it's hard to think of them, sorry.
Thank you. |
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10D Crack Champion
| Country Music Hall of Fame, Ryman Auditorium (Opry-lots of history), Tootsie's, Printers Alley, lots of live music in all kinds of places, Opry House (Opryland). I would think you would have lots of fun things to do. Just google it and check your options. |
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Expert
Posts: 3147
| Ryman Theatre definitely and take the paid tour-not that expensive and you'll learn a lot of interesting tidbits about country music's super stars of the past. We did all our touring walking (except for a cab ride to Grand Ole Opry present site) and felt safe. We spent about half a day in the hotel where the Grand Ole Opry now performs-lots of shops, restaurants to choose from. |
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10D Crack Champion
| BMW - 2014-05-03 8:39 PM Ryman Theatre definitely and take the paid tour-not that expensive and you'll learn a lot of interesting tidbits about country music's super stars of the past. We did all our touring walking (except for a cab ride to Grand Ole Opry present site) and felt safe. We spent about half a day in the hotel where the Grand Ole Opry now performs-lots of shops, restaurants to choose from.
They hold the Opry at the Ryman Auditorium during the winter months I believe and then the rest of the performances are that the Opry House at Opryland. I may have the exacts wrong, but they do still have Opry performances there. If you go, you have to check to make sure the season and where it is being held. |
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Little Big Heart
Posts: 4383
Location: MN | Thank you everybody, I think this fits us to get away and have some fun. The tour sounds like something we would like and printers alley sounds fun too. |
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Expert
Posts: 1477
Location: In the land of peanuts and cotton | I would go to Nashville over most any place. Been before and I think it's relatively safe but of coarse every town has it's bad places.One thing I didn't get to do that's on my bucket list it a back stage tour if the Grand Ol Opry and getting to stand in the "circle". Portland hotel is very nice too. Make sure to go to Tootsies too.
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 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | Loving the suggestions as I am planning on taking a trip with my girlfriend soon!! |
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Little Big Heart
Posts: 4383
Location: MN | TessBelle - 2014-05-03 9:49 PM I would go to Nashville over most any place. Been before and I think it's relatively safe but of coarse every town has it's bad places.One thing I didn't get to do that's on my bucket list it a back stage tour if the Grand Ol Opry and getting to stand in the "circle". Portland hotel is very nice too. Make sure to go to Tootsies too.
Thanks. |
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Expert
Posts: 1956
Location: Ky | MNracer68 - 2014-05-03 11:33 AM Yes or No on going there. Is it safe to stay downtown and walk around? Never been there, we both love country music and thought this might be a fun place to go for a week. Anybody with ideas for good hotels and eating places. Also we usually take our truck, would it be hard to park and get around with a truck? Another idea is Branson MO too.
We stay downtown Nashville for the SEC tourney whenever it's there. Already got my room for next March. We stay at the Holiday Inn Express right downtown. Have stayed at the Marriott though.
The tourney is at Bridgestone Arena and those hotels are walking distance. never had the first concern about walking around downtown Nashville. We have some friends that know the owners of The Stage so we usually end up there but just walking around downtown Nashville and checking all the little honky tonks is a fun evening.
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Expert
Posts: 1477
Location: In the land of peanuts and cotton | MNracer68 - 2014-05-04 7:30 AM
TessBelle - 2014-05-03 9:49 PM I would go to Nashville over most any place. Been before and I think it's relatively safe but of coarse every town has it's bad places.One thing I didn't get to do that's on my bucket list it a back stage tour if the Grand Ol Opry and getting to stand in the "circle". Portland hotel is very nice too. Make sure to go to Tootsies too.
Thanks.
I didn't proof read before posting. It was suppose to be Opryland. Not sure how it got Portland out of that. |
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Blessed 
Location: Here | BMW - 2014-05-03 8:39 PM Ryman Theatre definitely and take the paid tour-not that expensive and you'll learn a lot of interesting tidbits about country music's super stars of the past. We did all our touring walking (except for a cab ride to Grand Ole Opry present site) and felt safe. We spent about half a day in the hotel where the Grand Ole Opry now performs-lots of shops, restaurants to choose from.
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 Midget Lover
Location: Kentucky | Jack Daniel's Distillery is an hour drive from Nashville but it's a free tour of their facility. It's really neat and tons of shopping in the square!! |
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Little Big Heart
Posts: 4383
Location: MN | Murphy - 2014-05-04 7:29 PM Jack Daniel's Distillery is an hour drive from Nashville but it's a free tour of their facility. It's really neat and tons of shopping in the square!!
will make sure to make time for this. Thanks |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 667
| I live about and hour south of Nashville and go downtown frequently. Fantastic place to visit. If you love country music that is the place to go. I enjoy going to listen to undiscovered artist down there. Every bar pretty much has live bands nightly. Bootleggers, Tootsies, Rippy's, The Wheel, ect are some of my favorites. Country music hall of fame is great.
Dining.... the Gulch has fantastic places to eat. Lots of patios and neat places there. as well as 2nd street.. there are some good places there too.
Hotels... Opryland is one of the best experiences. Coolest hotel and lots to see. Downtown hotels are extremely over priced... cabs are cheap and plentyful... if your not wanting to break the bank on hotels, there is a great hotel called Hotel Preston which is maybe a 10 min cab ride (MAYBE that long) and its a very neat place to stay.
THere is a great winery, Arrington Vineyards, about 35/40 min from nashville. kix brooks owns it. Right down the street from me and it is so beautiful and romantic. great wine too! |
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 Popped
Posts: 20421
Location: LuluLand~along I64 Indiana | we had a great evening at the comedy club at nashville. it was a great way to spend an evening. |
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 Mighty Elk Slayer
Posts: 2428
Location: Lewisburg, Tennessee | Born and raised in the Nashville, TN area then spent 20 years in Wyoming. Been back in my "home state" for 2 years now. Alot has changed but I'd say downtown is alot safer now that it used to be. Just like another poster said, there's shady areas anywhere you go - so if it doesn't look safe, don't park or walk there, lol! We usually take my car just because of parking in garages, etc., but it's not impossible to get around in a truck. There's lots of parking on the streets and you don't have to put money in the parking meters on the weekends.
My in-laws stayed with us for the month of December and we went to the Grand Ole Opry (which I'd never done) and it was amazing - check it out online www.opry.com - they have shows all the time and you never know who might just come up and jam onstage (that night Peter Frampton showed up and brought the house down!). I've heard good things about the backstage tours as well.
There's alot of cool shops and places to eat downtown (Demo's and The Ole Spaghetti Factory are a couple of favorites) and we saw a good amount of security cops tooling around on segways.
If you get a chance, check out the Arcade between 4th and 5th Streets - it was built in 1902 and is recognized as Nashville's first "mall" and has the best NY pizza:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nashville_Arcade
Printer's Alley - lots of history there as well!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Printer%27s_Alley
Riverfront Park is right at the end of Broadway in downtown and it has a replica of Fort Nashborough, but the Fort is closed right now for renovations.
I believe there's still a trolley system that's a pretty cheap way to go see things not directly downtown. But these places are about 15 minutes from downtown, depending on traffic:
You have to check out Union Station Hotel:
http://unionstationhotelnashville.com/about-us/history/
and Centennial Park where the Parthenon located:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g55229-d106498-Reviews-The_Parthenon-Nashville_Tennessee.html
That's probaby alot more than you wanted - but it gives you a start! If you have anymore questions I'll be glad to help if I can!
Edited by wyodrumrunner 2014-05-05 1:19 PM
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 Over Informed
Posts: 5372
Location: West Tennessee | MNracer68 - 2014-05-04 7:42 PM Murphy - 2014-05-04 7:29 PM Jack Daniel's Distillery is an hour drive from Nashville but it's a free tour of their facility. It's really neat and tons of shopping in the square!! will make sure to make time for this. Thanks
Just outside of Nashville is Hermitage, TN & Andrew Jackson's home The Hermitage.
Shoot, a tour of the Capitol is even interesting (at least, I've always enjoyed it)
eta: Also try to see/tour The Parthenon (a relica of the real one)
Edited by dme0324 2014-05-05 1:41 PM
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 Whack and Roll
Posts: 6342
Location: NE Texas | I too grew up in the middle Tennessee area, Franklin, and think it would be a fun place to visit. There is alot to do and alot of places to go and see. Always good music too.
I've haven't lived in TN since 1999 and what few times I have been back since then I can't believe how much it has changed! When I was a kid, we didn't even have a movie theatre in Franklin....had to go to Hickory Hollow, and our sit down restaurant was Shoney's! HAHA My how times have changed! |
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Little Big Heart
Posts: 4383
Location: MN | wyodrumrunner - 2014-05-05 1:02 PM Born and raised in the Nashville, TN area then spent 20 years in Wyoming. Been back in my "home state" for 2 years now. Alot has changed but I'd say downtown is alot safer now that it used to be. Just like another poster said, there's shady areas anywhere you go - so if it doesn't look safe, don't park or walk there, lol! We usually take my car just because of parking in garages, etc., but it's not impossible to get around in a truck. There's lots of parking on the streets and you don't have to put money in the parking meters on the weekends.
My in-laws stayed with us for the month of December and we went to the Grand Ole Opry (which I'd never done) and it was amazing - check it out online www.opry.com - they have shows all the time and you never know who might just come up and jam onstage (that night Peter Frampton showed up and brought the house down!). I've heard good things about the backstage tours as well.
There's alot of cool shops and places to eat downtown (Demo's and The Ole Spaghetti Factory are a couple of favorites) and we saw a good amount of security cops tooling around on segways.
If you get a chance, check out the Arcade between 4th and 5th Streets - it was built in 1902 and is recognized as Nashville's first "mall" and has the best NY pizza:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nashville_Arcade
Printer's Alley - lots of history there as well!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Printer%27s_Alley
Riverfront Park is right at the end of Broadway in downtown and it has a replica of Fort Nashborough, but the Fort is closed right now for renovations.
I believe there's still a trolley system that's a pretty cheap way to go see things not directly downtown. But these places are about 15 minutes from downtown, depending on traffic:
You have to check out Union Station Hotel:
http://unionstationhotelnashville.com/about-us/history/
and Centennial Park where the Parthenon located:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g55229-d106498-Reviews-The_Parthenon-Nashville_Tennessee.html
That's probaby alot more than you wanted - but it gives you a start! If you have anymore questions I'll be glad to help if I can!
Thank you, sounds like a place we would like. |
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Little Big Heart
Posts: 4383
Location: MN | Thank you everyone I am so glad I asked on here. |
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 Ms. Elvis
Posts: 9606
Location: Running barrels or watching nascar | It's on my bucketlist for one day! |
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 Wide Darn Open
Posts: 2141
| I've lived about an hour of Nashville my whole life so it's odd to think of vacationing there lol but it's a very fun place and if you like music you'll love it! |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 338
Location: NE TX | Either or if you can do both in my opinion. Went to Branson for Thanksgiving last year and it was great!! The shows there are great and the atmosphere is super and everyone is super nice. Went to Nashville the next weekend and stayed at Gaylord Opryland and got lost in that huge place a few times but it is very beautiful. Didn't get to play tourist as much there as I would have liked due to that trip being for work so most of my time was spent inside a conference room with no windows  . Either way I hope you enjoy both of them, as far as getting around in a truck, we were in a suburban and had no trouble at all getting through.
Enjoy them. They are both amazing places. |
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 Expert
Posts: 3782
Location: Gainesville, TX | Not sure where you're traveling from. But on your way to Nashville, if its on the way, you can stop in Memphis and go to Graceland. Belle Mead Plantation is also great to visit. We traveled through that area as a family back a while a go and these places were great in addition to Opryland in Nashville. |
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I Really Love Jeans
Posts: 3173
Location: North Dakota | Last summer we drove the entire state and I can tell you it was not really safe in Memphis or Nashville. In Memphis we had to run a red light because so guy came running out and actually tried to grab the door handle. I know for a fact he was going to try and car-jack us, 100%. Its like a poor broke down version of New Orleans, if you have ever been there. You will definately be the minority by about 90%!!!! I have heard lots of good things about Branson from a variety of people so I think that is a better choice. |
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Ms. Elvis
Posts: 9606
Location: Running barrels or watching nascar | oija - 2014-05-06 7:38 AM
Not sure where you're traveling from. But on your way to Nashville, if its on the way, you can stop in Memphis and go to Graceland. Belle Mead Plantation is also great to visit. We traveled through that area as a family back a while a go and these places were great in addition to Opryland in Nashville.
I'd love to do that someday. Memphis-Nashville-Charlotte, NC. I love to travel, even without horses! |
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Nashville TN for vacation?