Several years ago, I visited Nashville, Tennessee. My husband was attending a conference and we stayed at the Gaylord Opryland Resort. Not only did we stay at the Gaylord, we stayed in the presidential suite at the Gaylord. Wow. It was bigger than my house and certainly more impressive!
That was my overall impression of Nashville… Wow! Everything is larger than life and so very impressive. Energy pumps out of each little honkey tonk and the people are wonderful, warm and welcoming. If you’re looking for unique student, performance or homeschool adventure, plan a trip to Nashville!
Nashville History
History, science and, of course, music are at the heart of this lively capital city. For a glimpse of southern living at its historical best, visit the Belmont Mansion, the largest house museum in Tennessee. Step into the Hermitage, a jewel of the antebellum south and home of President Andrew Jackson. Backtrack just a bit further in time to The Parthenon, a full-sized replica of the Greek original built in 1897 for Tennessee’s Centennial Exposition.
Nashville STEM
For a more educational slant, be sure to stop at the Adventure Science Center, with interactive exhibits and award-winning programs guaranteed to inspire any budding scientist. Explore the exquisite Cheekwood Botanical Gardens and Museum for beautiful gardens and galleries. Take in the Nashville Zoo, a 200-acre zoo and historic plantation farmhouse just outside of Nashville. So much fun and so much to learn!
Nashville Music
At its core, however, Nashville IS the Music City! The sights and sounds of country music are the essence and soul of this town. The Ryman Auditorium, known as the Mother Church of Country Music, is a must-see. Take in a show or tour and you’ll feel the history of the place.
Visit the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum for a nitty-gritty exploration of the roots of country music. Sidestep over to the Wildhorse Saloon for outstanding grub AND line dancing lessons! Of course, you can’t visit Nashville without a backstage pass to the famed Grand Ole Opry– you never know who you’ll run into!
Perhaps best of all, you and your students can be stars for a day on the Historic RCA Studio B tour! Walk the iconic halls of the recording studio of Elvis Presley and other music industry giants and spend time in the studio at the legendary microphone with a professional sound engineer. Very cool!
All of these incredible attractions are student-friendly, easily accessible and just scratch the surface of what is available. As a destination, Nashville is as “on fleek” as they come (hmm… I will have to ask my ten-year old if I used that term correctly). If you are looking for an exceptional travel opportunity for student, performance or homeschool groups, plan a trip to Nashville. Much like the Gaylord, it is larger than life and very impressive!
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