If you fancy a break that’s all about laid-back vibes, great music, double denim and way, way too much food, then Nashville’s for you…
The weather is pretty mild, making it a good, year-round destination. Most of the rain falls in spring, snow is rare in winter and summer’s festival season averages a humid 32oC, while autumn is a procession of warm days, cooler evenings and riotous colours as the leaves change hue.
Nashville’s all about music. Head down to Broadway or Printer’s Alley and there’s hundreds of jazz, country and blues bars lining the streets, as well as big name performers at the Ryman Auditorium and local stadiums. Just grab a beer and follow your ears.
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum has a fascinating collection showcasing the rise of country and folk music from the 19th century to the present day. The Taylor Swift Education Centre may prove a hit with younger family members. There are song-writing workshops, videos and interactive exhibits, including recording booths in case you’re suddenly inspired to lay down some demos.
Like much of the south, Tennessee excels in comfort food and artery-clogging portions, finding a way to add butter, fat and spice to almost everything. The city’s a delight for carnivores with everything from meatloaf, brisket and smoky barbecue ribs to fried chicken and catfish. The city’s signature dishes include chicken coated in cayenne paste and fried and deadly Goo Goo Clusters, bite-size chocolates containing caramel, marshmallow, nougat and peanuts. Another Broken Egg Café might your best bet if you want to reintroduce greenery into your diet.
If music or gluttony’s not your thing, there are some fabulous experiences and places to explore.
Why not spend a day or two at a Dude Ranch? You can saddle up even if you’ve never ridden before, then live out your cowboy fantasies. The French Broad Outpost Ranch lies in the Cherokee National Forest and is part of an all-inclusive resort where you can also hike and go white water rafting. If you head to the Sequatchie Valley’s somewhat literally-named A Tennessee Dude and Guest Ranch, you’re assigned your own horse when you check in and they offer lessons if you need a hand with your horsemanship. They even offer week and fortnight long horsecamps for kids.
As you’d expect from the location, Nashville and the surrounding area’s historic sites are often difficult to reconcile with modern thinking. You can visit the Belle Meade Plantation, a Greek Revival Mansion that was home to the Harding family, one of Nashville’s largest slaveholders. Guides in period costume share the contrasts between the lives of the family and their pampered racehorses and the slaves who worked the land.
You’ll also find Franklin, site of one of the Civil War’s bloodiest battles, around half an hour away. The Carter family house became the Federal Army’s battle HQ, while the Carnton Plantation acted as a hospital for wounded Confederate soldiers. The guides are excellent, but it’s difficult to separate history from current day politics.
If you prefer your history to be ancient, then you’ll find the slightly surreal full-scale replica of the Parthenon in Centennial Park, complete with a 42 foot high statue of Athena, of interest. It’s now an art gallery and museum. The park also has walking trails, landscaped gardens, a lake, a historic steam locomotive, a Korean War fighter jet and some cannons.
As we said, Nashville offers something for everyone.