Road Trip Ideas: 5 Top Places to Visit in Nashville, Tennessee

It’s that time of year again when you’re itching to go on a road trip. There are so many lovely road trips to take in the States, but you can’t seem to settle on one. We have the ideal destination for you! We have looked at Nashville and singled out 5 of the best places to visit in Nashville. They are in relatively close proximity to one another, so you won’t spend all day driving, but rather enjoying the sights. You could complete this road trip over a weekend or 3 days, given time will be spent at each stop-over point we recommend. We will also look at the fun places to visit in Nashville.

The History of Nashville, Tennessee

Nashville is the capital of Tennessee. It is known as the county seat of Davidson County and is situated on the Cumberland River. According to a 2020 US Census Nashville had a population of 689, 447 making it the 21st most populous city in America. It was named for Francis Nash, a Continental Army general at the time of the American Revolutionary War. The city was founded in 1779.

Nashville is a hub for the music industry, particularly country music and is known as “Music City”. It also has many colleges and universities. Major industries include healthcare, banking, publishing, automotive, transportation and technology in the area. There is much to see and do.

Top Places to Visit in Nashville

There are lots of fun places to visit in Nashville that we will look at. We delve deeper into the 5 best places to visit in Nashville.

1.   Starting Point: Grand Ole Orpy

Grand Ole Orpy Radio Show is known as the longest radio program in operation in the US. Its first broadcast was in 1925, and the station has presented over 5, 000 shows. It adds to Nashville’s identity as “Music City”. Throughout its lifetime the show has entertained music fans of bluegrass, country, old-time music, gospel and also popular music plus comedy.

This radio show broadcast is one of the more fun places to visit in Nashville. Buy your ticket in advance to ensure you get a seat and free parking at the nearby Opry Mills Mall. You can even do a backstage tour.

2.   Visiting the Gardens at Gaylord Opryland Resort

You don’t need to be a guest at the resort to explore the gardens on offer. They are home to 50, 000 tropical plants with some rare species. It is one of the top places to visit in Nashville. It plays on both your sight and smell senses. There are 9 acres of indoor space and 20 full-time horticulturists on the property. One-fifth of the gardens are found in the Garden Conservatory with palms and banana trees. The Cascades Atrium has 8, 000 tropical ornamentals including a 40-foot palm tree.

Delta Atrium, the third biggest garden, is subtropical. Black olive trees, mahoganies, 100 palm trees and banana trees line the area. There is much to take in and admire in this tranquil scene.

3.   Visiting Downtown Nashville

Downtown Nashville is one of the fun places to visit in Nashville. A lot of the music attractions are located in Downtown Nashville such as the Ryman Auditorium, plus Honky Tonk Row, the Johnny Cash Museum and the Country Music Hall of Fame Museum. Broadway is known as the hub for nightlife activities with live country music shows on offer.

There is also evidence of Nashville’s earliest settlers on the shores of Cumberland River at the site of Fort Nashborough. From the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge you can see landmarks in Downtown Nashville.

4.   Visiting Tennessee State Museum

Discover Tennessee’s social and natural history at this museum. This is one of the top places to visit in Nashville. Situated next to the Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, this museum covers 137, 000 square feet showing original displays, unique exhibits and multimedia displays too.

There are displays linking back to Tennessee’s role in the Civil War showcasing weapons and furniture. Art and paintings are also on display as well as displays themes centered on music and musicians. There is a theater, educational learning center and a gift shop where you can buy souvenirs to take home with you.

5. Final Stopping Point: Lane Motor Museum

If you’re a fan of cars this is the spot for you! This car museum has a large number of vehicles mostly from Europe, and from Japan and the US. You will be able to see the smallest French-made minicar with only enough room for one person and you don’t need a driver’s license. In the vintage cars section, you will see Adler coupes from the 1930s. The motorcycle section has a 1964 scooter.

What you will see are restored cars, close to the car’s original condition. Over an 8 year period the museum created a replica of the most unusual car ever made, known as a 1933 Dymaxion. It is the brainchild of Buckminster Fuller. The car is streamlined and dome-like and looks almost extra-terrestrial. You will certainly have fun at this car museum!

This is the end point on your Nashville road trip. We have examined the 5 top places to visit in Nashville.

Ensure You Have Breakdown Protection Before You Set Off on Your Nashville Road Trip

We presume you will head off on your road trip in the family car. Ensure you know the status of your vehicle’s coverage before you head out on the road. If your factory warranty will be expiring soon, we suggest you invest in auto coverage with Chaiz. Vehicle service contracts are commonly referred to as extended warranties. They are offered to you by third-party warranty providers.

You can buy the best vehicle service contract on Chaiz according to your driving and financial needs. Chaiz offers a variety of coverage options offering extensive to less extensive coverage which affects the price. The protection plans offered on the Chaiz marketplace are affordable and our platform is fully-integrated online. Don’t worry about being bothered by robocalls, we don’t utilize those. You can source and view quotes online in a matter of seconds by searching for your car’s make, model and mileage on our handy search tool.

‍

Having a Chaiz protection plan in place means you can enjoy your Nashville road trip with contentment knowing your car has coverage for a breakdown.

‍