Hey, Nashville! Nice little town you got there.

Just came back from a week there on business, but I had a chance to see the sights.

Country Music Hall of Fame: Wonderful, even for someone like me who doesn't know the first thing about country music. They really make an effort to reach the novice visitors. Very nice.

The Hermitage: So-so. Lovely grounds, but the tour guides were a bit thin on details and not very informative. Bought a book on Andrew Jackson to read about him myself.

Grand Ole Opry: Great experience. $30 for two-and-a-half hours of country music is not a bad deal. Had an uncomfortable "red-state/blue-state" culture clash moment, though. The people seated in front of me were from Alabama... very friendly and talkative until I mentioned that I was from Massachusetts. Hmmm. Glad I didn't mention that I was a JEWISH LIBERAL DEMOCRAT FROM MASSACHUSETTS WHO SUPPORTS GAY MARRIAGE. I might not have left the auditorium alive.

Gaylord Opryland Hotel: Stayed there for the week. OK, but definitely creepy in a kind of Biosphere/Truman Show/Disney World kind of way. The food prices were exorbitant.

Oh, and the half of Nashville that Gaylord doesn't own appears to be owned or supported by the Frist family. What's the deal?

Any thoughts from other visitors or Nashvillians?

-MR

edited for grammar.

Liberals go to Centennial park, with the Parthenon, Cumberland Broadway ciruit, bi-centennial mall and run through the fountains. I hope you got a chance to visit the song writers bars. Did you know that Nashville has the largest religious book publisher in the world and the largest XXX book store in the world in sight of each other. The weather here is pretty darn good as well. In fact if the selfish republicans would just move somewhere else this would be a damn good place to live.

music - ya gotta love Nashville. A Friday or Saturday nite stroll along Broadway is a delight. You have a variety of music to choose from. Printer's Alley is great fun every weekend.

There are Broadway shows, opera, symphony and a host of concerts to thrill everyone all the time. You have the giant flea market at the fairgrounds each month.

I'm a native Alabamian, but my Mom was born in TN. My family has been here 6 yrs and have grown to love it. And the Democratic Party is growing stronger here every day!

I feel so... ashamed.

I shoulda known to check in at DU for Travel Tips for Liberals.

;-)

the country music lovers. Next time you come let us know and we will direct you to the real Nashville.

I stayed in this old hotel near the State Capital, in downtown Nashville. Spent time downtown, on Broadway, around the corner from the Ryman....lots of people on the street, lots of music in the bars. A real party scene, which was suprising as I didnt expect that ..thinking Nashville was pretty 'sanitized".

Then a drive to the Vanderbilt /Centennial Park area (got a soda float at the Elleston Place Soda Shop), then a drive to Belle Meade to these wondeful gardens on this old estate..forgot the name, but this is well worth the trip and entrance fee. Possibly the best gardens outside of Longwood (Philly) or the Morton Arboreteum (Chicago)

Then, yes, a trip to The Hermitage to take the tour, and we drove around Opryland Hotel , but didnt go in.

Didnt do Music Row or the Hall of Fame, though. Maybe next time.

Nashville is actually sort of suprisingly funky and interesting.

Try the Loveless Cafe for good eats. :)

I've never actually eaten there, but their smoked meats don't do it for me. Can't taste the difference between the bacon and the sausage. The preserves, on the other hand. ..

Bypass Opryland (unless BR5-49 are playing on the plaza) and check out lower Broadway. Explore Tootsie's and Robert's Western Wear, and the back alley between those clubs and the Ryman.

Go check out our Zoo. Animal-wise, it's not much to write home about but it's a terrific walk in through the trails.

Drive down Nolensville road and check out what the in-crowd refer to as "South Nashville," with a knowing look. Great, cheap ethnic restaurants - Mex, Thai, Ethiopian, Chinese, all good (well, the Chinese is merely mediocre here, at best). 10 dollars will buy you a feast.

Head back downtown, to the other side of the Centennial Mall and find Morello's for down-home cooking, served open pub-style.

Head to the Green Hills suburb for the Bluebird Cafe, where there are songwriters-in-the-round almost every night. For more rockish and modern music, you'll want the Exit-In or 12th & Porter.

I don't get the Alabamans, either.

I know you wherent posting to me, but I have been thinking of a return trip to "Music City"....so this is pretty good ifo...

Yeah, I forgot to mention it. The Nashville Zoo was a wonderful surprise. My two-year-old son loved it, and it was a great walk.

As far as Opryland is concerned, I really had no choice on the accomodations- my meeting was there. Still, I wish I had stopped by here to get some travel advice. I really regret missing Centennial Park now.

-MR

The food is so-so, but the floats are great

http://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Overview.aspx?RefID=97

..great place for a malted milk.

is a good funky place full of liberals. Visit the Belcourt Theatre for independent movies and lurk around the shops.