Belle Meade Plantation - About all that is left of this once glorious 5,400 acre plantation is the ca 1850 Greek Revival mansion, a carriage house (replete with carriages of that period) and stables, a smokehouse, creamery and the late, 18th Century, Dunham Station log cabin. Oh, yes, and the
cemetery. In the mansion you are greeted by its famous curved stairway - just like in the old movies - and costumed guides who have a good repertoire of stories about the plantation days and the folks of that period.
When we last checked, we were informed that tours are conducted Monday through Saturday from 9a to 5p; Sundays 11a to 5p. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Days. Admission $10; kids 6 through 12, $4. They honor combo tickets available at the Visitors' Center.
For more information phone 1-800-270-3991 (toll free) or visit their web site:
BelleMeade.
If eastbound and driving toward Nashville on I-40, take exit 204 and follow TN-155 (Whitebridge Road) southbound US-70-S (Harding Pike) and turn left. Follow Harding to Leake Avenue, turn left and there is the Plantation.
If you are in Nashville or on I-40 westbound approaching Nashville, get on I-440 and take the US-70-S (West End Ave) exit. That will be exit 1 if traveling clockwise on I-440; exit 1-A of traveling counter-clockwise. The names of this highway change a couple times but it remains US-70-S. Follow it to Leake Avenue, turn left and there is the Plantation. The is a little over 6 miles from Nashville; the drive can take 20 minutes.
Cheekwood
The Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art is the 55-acre estate
which was, and is, the private home of the Cheekwood family. Opened to the public in 1960, both the extensive gardens and the grand, Georgia-style mansion are open to the public. This is very near the Belle Meade Plantation (see above) so, if you are in the area, it would be a shame to miss it. If you like to stroll through beautiful gardens - or tour old mansions -
go!
When we last checked, it was open Tuesday through Saturday from 9:30a to 4:30p; Sunday 11a to 4:30p. Closed Monday's (except federal holidays). Cheekwood is also closed the second Saturday in June, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Days. Admission $10; kids 6 through 17, $5. Family special, $20 per family. They
also honor 'combo tickets' available at the Visitors' Center.
For more information phone 1-615-356-8000 or visit their web site:
Cheekwood.
If eastbound and driving toward Nashville on I-40, take exit 204 and follow TN-155 (Whitebridge Road) southbound US-70-S (Harding Pike) and turn left. Follow Harding to Belle Meade Blvd and turn left. Follow Belle Meade to its end (about 2.5 miles) and turn right onto Page Road. Drive to the first road on your left (Forrest Park Drive) turn left and Cheekwood is at the top of the hill to your right.
If you are in Nashville or on I-40 westbound approaching Nashville, get on I-440 and take the US-70-S (West End Ave) exit. That will be exit 1 if traveling clockwise on I-440; exit 1-A of traveling counter-clockwise. The names of this highway change a couple times but it remains US-70-S. Follow it to Belle Meade Blvd and turn left. Follow Belle Meade to its end (about 2.5 miles) and turn right onto Page Road. Drive to the first road on your left (Forrest Park Drive) turn left and Cheekwood is at the top of the hill to your right.
Country Music Hall of Fame - When we were 'doing our homework' in
preparation for this excursion, we found that the web site for the Country Music Hall of Fame had been discontinued. Some 'Google' searches brought us to the conclusion that the Hall of Fame had been merged with Country Music Television (an Viacom network). The Hall of Fame is now housed in a new $37 million facility
spanning an entire city block in the heart of downtown Nashville's entertainment district.
Tour the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, visit historic RCA Studio B, Nashville's oldest surviving recording studio. Then take a narrated driving tour of Music Row.
When we last checked, the Hall of Fame was open daily from 10a to 6p. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Days. Tours of Studio B depart from the Hall of Fame (approximately) hourly between 10a and 2:30p. Admission $15.95; 'Youth', $7.95. They honor combo tickets available at the Visitors' Center.
For more information phone 1-800-852-6437 or visit their page on the CMT web site:
HallOfFame.
From I-40 eastbound, take exit 209-B. Drive straight across Broadway and turn left on Demonbreun. Follow Demonbreun to Fifth Avenue South.
From I-40 westbound take exit 209-B. Drive straight across Division Street and turn right on Demonbreun. Follow Demonbreun to Fifth Avenue South.
There is a parking garage on 5th about 2-1/2 blocks (turn left on 5th) from
Demonbreun.
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The Hermitage - Nashville's only remaining grand hotel from the old days of fast fun and loose money, the Hermitage has been restored to its original grandeur.
(It first opened its doors to guests in September of 1910.) This place has hosted the world's
elite; there are enough famous names in the old registers to choke a biographer.
Describing the original hotel, "Only the finest materials were used: Italian sienna marble in the entrance; wall panels of Russian walnut; a cut, stained glass ceiling in the vaulted lobby; Persian rugs; and massive, overstuffed furniture. Downstairs, adjoining the Oak Bar, was the Grille Room (now The Capitol Grille), which was originally planned as a rathskellar. The room was built by craftsmen imported from Germany and emerged as a private club for men only. As Nashville's first million-dollar hotel, it was the preferred gathering place for the city's socialites. It was the national platform for both pro-and anti-suffrage forces, and a national radio program originated from its famous dining room."
(courtesy of
the Hermitage)
The aesthetics have been retained and restored to their original brightness in the recent refurbishing and remodeling which required an investment of over $15 million.
A recent article published at
docnews.com described the reopening of the Hermitage. If you'd like to spend a night or two in luxury, >
click here
< to make your reservation (or just check out the rates and amenities).
Another reason to stay at the Hermitage; it is just a short walk away from downtown Nashville's entertainment district,
From I-40 eastbound, take exit 209-A and turn left on Church Street.
(skip next line)
From I-40 westbound, take exit 209 and turn right on Church Street.
Drive up Church Street to 6th Avenue, turn right and the Hermitage is on your right. If you can't park at the Hermitage, there is a parking garage in the middle of the next block (6th Ave).
Music Valley Wax Museum - Featuring over fifty exhibits of life-sized wax figures of famous country & western music stars. Also available for viewing is their famous 'Sidewalk of the Stars' with over 250 handprints and signatures of country & western music stars. Located across from the Opryland Hotel in the Opryland Complex.
For information, phone 1-615-883-3612. We couldn't find a web site that belongs to the museum though there are many other web sites mentioning them.
From I-40 eastbound, take exit 215-B and follow the Briley Parkway to exit 12-B. Exit and follow McGavock Pike (TN-155) westbound to the museums.
From I-40 westbound, take exit 215 and bear right to follow the Briley Parkway to exit 12-B. Exit and follow McGavock Pike (TN-155) westbound to the museums.
Music Valley Car Museum - Housing a collection of cars, some antiques, some having been owned by famous persons (including Grand Ole Opry stars), the museum is next door to the Wax Museum and across the street from the Opryland Hotel. See all three!
For information, phone 1-615-615-885-7400. We couldn't find a web site that belongs to the museum though there are many other web sites mentioning them.
From I-40 eastbound, take exit 215-B and follow the Briley Parkway to exit 12-B. Exit and follow McGavock Pike (TN-155) westbound to the museums.
From I-40 westbound, take exit 215 and bear right to follow the Briley Parkway to exit 12-B. Exit and follow McGavock Pike (TN-155) westbound to the museums.
Opryland Hotel - Yes, this is a 'working hotel'. You don’t have to be a Country Music fan to be awed by the Hotel’s extensive inside gardens. It is very well worth a two-hour stop and tour.
Located in the Opryland complex on the east bank of the Cumberland River, the property features three enclosed gardens displaying some 10,000 tropical plants, a well-planned array of shops and restaurants.
Surrounding the central hub is 4½ acres of landscaped canal with small bays (a large waterfall plummets into one of them) and passenger-carrying flatboats. Don’t miss the Flat-bottom Boat excursion nicely narrated by their seasoned tour guides. Its only $5 and well worth it!
The Christmas season brings a plethora of lights and other Christmas decorations. This is quite a place to see - and stay!
They do charge $10 to park in their huge parking lot – but, there is an adjacent shopping mall with free parking and it is an easy stroll to the rear of the hotel. When is the last time you got $10 to take an easy stroll?.
From I-40 eastbound, take exit 215-B and follow the Briley Parkway (TN-155) to exit 12B
(McGavock Pike West) and follow the signs.
From I-40 westbound, take exit 215 and bear right to follow the Briley Parkway (TN-155) to exit 12-B. Exit and follow the signs.
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