Anyone from nashville??

[lovetheprincesses]

Should we stay at the Hermitage Hotel or Gaylord?? Which do you like better? What is there to do close to each? What is there to do in Nashville? Favorite activities or restaurants? We are going to a concert and wanted to make a short trip of it.

 

[mary0305]

The Hermitage Hotel is downtown. If your concert is at Sommet Center, you might want to stay here. It is within walking distance to plenty to do downtown. Lots of clubs and restaurants on 2nd Avenue. Ryman Auditorium is nearby as well as other sites...Tootsie's Orchid Lounge, Hatch Show Print, etc.

Gaylord Opryland is a great property, but you will have to drive downtown (15-20 min). Opry Mills Mall is next door to Gaylord Opryland. The hotel is a city within itself with plenty to do on property. Also the Grand Old Opry is on property if you are interested in seeing a show.

I really don't know what else you might be interested in. You can post back or pm me ages, likes and dislikes and I will be able to help you with more sites to see.

 

[lovetheprincesses]

Wow, thanks a bunch! I have a 10 year old DD. Will just be us three. I just didn't know if there would be anything interesting enough about the Gaylord to spend a day there and like you said, thought we'd have to drive to see anything but the hotel. We are not country music fans. Will be in town to see the Jo Bros. The Hermitage looks beautiful, as does the Gaylord. You say we can walk from the Hermitage to Sommet? Would that be "safe" at night to do? The concert is at 7 I believe on a Tuesday night.

 

[CarolA]

You can walk and after a concert it will be fine. It's like most downtowns.. 2 AM when it's deserted might not be safe, but....

 

[twhitaker]

I think I would stay at the Gaylord hotel. I've been to Nashville a number of times and we always stay in that area. There is a great mall (Opry Mills Mall) and some great restaurants around there. In the mall there is a Rainforest Cafe, an Aqaurium Restaurant, IMAX Theater, and so many great shops!!

 

[Ladygator]

As others have mentioned it depends on what you want to do. You can walk to Opry Mills from the Gaylord and there are lots of shops, restaurants and movies at Opry Mills.

 

[mikesjoy]

I would say the Hermitage for sure. Gaylord is neat to see the inside of, but the parking prices are awful, and when my parents won a weekend there last year, the rooms were funky!! The Hermitage is close enough to walk to the Sommet. You should be fine walking. If you want to see the Gaylord, go to Opry Mills Mall and park there and then walk across. It will save you the parking fee, and it is just across the parking lot.

We like to eat at Demos, and the Big River Grill. We went to a concert a month or so ago (NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK!! WOO HOO) and parked behind the Sommet and walked to Big River to eat. Both are easy walks.

Hope this helps!

 

[NeedaVacation03]

I am another vote for the Hermitage. I like to visit the Gaylord, but we love to stay downtown. My family likes the downtown feel. We dont really go out of town to shop though, so the mall is not a big selling feature for us.

 

[mary0305]

We will be at the Jonas Brothers concert also. I would feel safe walking from the Hermitage Hotel to the Sommet Center. Now that I know you have a 10 year old with you, here are some things my children like in the area.

The Adventure Science Center is just south of downtown. You will have to drive from the Hermitage, but it is only 5-10 minutes. It has a new planetarium and lots of activities to do.

The Nashville Zoo is 10-15 minutes from downtown. If you are a zoo member where you are from, you may be able to get free admission if your zoo does reciprocal visits with our zoo.

The Country Music Hall of Fame is across the street from the Sommet Center. Very interesting even if you are not a fan of country music.

Wave Country is near Gaylord. It is a wave pool. Don't know how good..we haven't been there in awhile. Definately not Typhoon Lagoon.

It is fun to visit Gaylord Opryland even if you are not staying there. I agree with another poster about parking at Opry Mills and walking over. The hotel charges $15-20 just to park for the day.

Search Nashville for the visitor center's website and it may have coupons or specials for admission to some sites.

Hope you have a great visit and enjoy the concert!!

 

[lovetheprincesses]

Mary, thank you so much! I appreciate all the responses! This will make for a fun trip! I wish I could give you a high five! Just what I needed to know.

 

[Leigha]

I don't know that downtown has enough to interest my daughters. I would probably go Opryland Hotel because you can walk to Opry Mills. My girls love to stay there. I think most of the rooms have been updated (ours had just been finished when we stayed there a few months ago) and you could certainly ask for one of those. They have neat pools. Are you set on the Hermitage? You might think about Pricelining a 4* downtown. Sometimes you can search for codes for Opryland too. Our last stay was $99 plus taxes and fees. We always park in Opry Mills lot instead of paying. It is often closer than the self parking depending on what section of the hotel you're in. HTH.

 

[lttlmc3]

Hermitage Hotel is also where a lot of famous people stay while they are here. You could be staying in the hotel as the Jonas Brothers!

 

[lovetheprincesses]

WOOHOO! That would definitely make DD's weekend! However, we have the worst luck imaginable....we could be right next door and still miss them!

 

[Debbie-TN]

Both hotel's are beautiful, but I think you would enjoy the Gaylord Opryland Hotel. The Observatory is beautiful. I'm not sure if they still have it, but there used to be a little boat ride inside the hotel. Are you driving? On the other side of the mall are all kinds of restaurants. Rivergate Mall is just a few miles north of the hotel, and they can give you easy directions(I actually live about half way between the hotel and the mall). When you go downtown, there is all kinds of parking. Just make sure you give yourself plenty of travel time because traffic can be brutal getting to and from downtown. If you have any other questions, PM me and I'll try to help.

 

[poegirl30]

Another vote for the Gaylord Opryland Hotel. I've stayed there with school groups and for a teachers' conference, and have loved it every time. My kids have gone there for over night field trips, and have enjoyed it. It's a short walk to the Opry Mills, and most kids (and adults) like it.