What should I know about Nashville?

[LuvTigger]

I'll be going to Nashville in 3 weeks for a conference at the Gaylord Opryland Resort.

Is there anything special I should know? Someplace I HAVE to see (I won't have a car)? Someplace especially good to eat? A good place to get Nashville souvenirs?

I'll be there for about 5 full days. One of the special events for my conference is going to be at the Country Music Hall of Fame, and we'll have some time to explore Downtown on our own (I want to go to Hard Rock to pick up some souvenirs).

How is the Opry Mills Mall? I think I'll have access to a shuttle to the mall, so I plan to spend some time there.

Is Cracker Barrel within walking distance of the Gaylord Opryland, or the Opry Mills mall? I really wanted to go there since I read so many DISers discussions on it!

 

[Megan's Mom]

As far as Opry Mills you could walk there from the hotel. There is a Cracker Barrel across the side road and some other places to eat but I don't remember what. You could walk over there as well if you wanted to. Heat might be a factor in walking though.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

I was there last year for a conference and yes, Cracker Barrel is just across the street. The hotel is beautiful! If you like BBQ, try Jack's Bar-B-Que downtown at 416 Broadway. Some of the best ever!

 

[TheDisneyTraveler06]

Did you do a Yahoo or Google search? Maybe you can find some info there.

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

Short of Disney World, I have never been in a larger or more stunning hotel/convention center than the Gaylord. Be sure to take your camera, because there are many really neat places in the hotel for pictures.

Also, good luck not getting lost. It's also the most confusing hotel I've ever stayed in. I think there are three lobbies, four unique themed areas, and miles upon miles of hallways. I don't think I managed to take the same route twice to get from my room to the convention site. It was usually a surprise when I actually found my way to where I was going. I've been there twice, and I'm still overwhelmed at the size of the place. Our convention had 2,500 attendees, plus many wives. At the same time, there were two other like-sized conventions going on.

I can't remember the name of it (a woman's name like Linda's Buffet or something like that), but there was an absolutely wonderful buffet in the hotel. I ate there two nights it was so good. I highly recommend it.

I never did the boat ride through the hotel. (Yes, the place is that big.) It seemed a little too expensive for me. I was there alone on business, so there wasn't any romance in riding. That might have made the difference.

At Opry Mills, there's an aquarium-style restaurant (not dissimilar to Coral Reef). We'd already eaten the night we checked it out, and were disappointed we weren't going to get to try it.

If you're going to attempt to walk the whole mall, make sure you have your Disney walking shoes on. It's a hike and a half! (At least Opry Mills is a circle, unlike the same company's Potomac Mills near Washington, DC where you have to walk the whole distance down, then back.)

There's a shuttle that runs from the hotel to the mall, but I usually found it easier just to walk across the parking lot.

 

[Keli]

I love the opryland hotel. It's just soooooo beautiful. If your employer spluges for a room with a balcony looking over an atriam (sp?) you will really enjoy it. It's a lot of fun to sit out on that balcony at breakfast or later in the evening and people watch.

Opry mills mall is a great mall too. A couple of good places to eat in there is the rainforst cafe or the aquarium. Both are fun. Lots of good shopping. And my nephews love the glow golf.

 

[DebbieTN]

So glad you'll be coming to Nashville for a visit even if it is for business. The hotel is really beautiful. They used to have a beautiful dancing water show with live music, but I'm not sure if they still do. If they have a shuttle to the mall, I would take it. The mall is nice, as malls go, but everyone is still upset that they tore down our only theme park, Opryland USA, to put up a MALL. It is a hugh mall though. Be sure and go to the Disney Outlet store. Johnny Rocket's is a really cool restaurant to eat at also. There all kinds of shops downtown. I don't know if you were going to eat at Hardrock or not, if you don't, you should try Demos Steak & Spaghetti on 3rd ave, or The Old Spaghetti Factory on 2nd ave. Great sit-down resturants. The Cracker Barrel near the hotel would be quite a little walk, but it could probable be done. You do have to cross a very busy street to get to it, but there are some things to see in that area also. I hope you have a nice stay. I'll be happy to answer any other questions you have.

 

[need_a_Disney_fix]

My DH and I stayed at the Opryland in a jr. suite and it was GORGEOUS. I hated to leave. While he was at his meetings, I walked and walked and walked in the hotel itself...its huge. The best part of the trip was going downtown. We will NEVER forget Tootsie's Orchid Lounge or just Tootsie's. That was fun!!!!

 

[minnie56]

You'll love it! When I was there last there was a 'Titanic' exhibit in the hotel...very interesting. It will be HOT too!

 

[Michie]

I have stayed at all 3 Gaylords!! You can not go wrong staying there!!

 

[BrinxFam]

Have never stayed at the Opryland Hotel but have visited many times just for the scenery. It is a beautiful place but HUGE!
It is a nice walk from the hotel to Opry Mills. My mom and I once took the river taxi to downtown and it was enjoyable. I don't know if they still do that or not but it wasn't expensive and convienent for us.
Our trips to Nashville are usually during hockey season.

 

[LuvTigger]

Thank you very much for all of your suggestions and advice!

You have me curious about the Aquarium restaurant in Opry Mills, and I'm glad to hear Cracker Barrel isn't too far away.

DebbieTN, you mentioned that you have to cross a busy street to get to Cracker Barrel -- is there at least a crosswalk/traffic light somewhat nearby?

I wasn't planning to eat at Hard Rock, just picking up souvenirs. I'm not sure if we're going to be fed at the event that's being held at the Country Music Hall of Fame, but I will keep Jack's BBQ (thanks for providing the address, Laugh O. Grams!) and Demo's in mind!

Is Jack's close to the Country Music Hall of Fame? A friend was telling me about a good ribs place, I think in Downtown, but her directions were pretty convoluted. She mentioned that it's 2 stories, and apprently really popular because people are always running in to pick up take-out orders.

I'm really excited about the hotel too. Thank you to all who provided comments on it! You have further heightened my excitement about this trip!

 

[nannerbadnanner]

Nashville's great! You should definitely be able to walk to kack's BBQ from the Hall of Fame. It's about two blocks away. Opry Mills is huge. It has an IMax theater, The Aquarium Restaurant, and a Rainforest Cafe. There are also several other restaurants, many outlet stores, etc.

Right now, the Frist Center downtown is having an exhibit on Egyptian artifacts that is supposed to be great.

The Parthenon is also awesome (and cheap!).

I think the best kept secret in Nashville is the art museum located at Fisk University. Georgia O'Keefe left a large portion of her personal art collection to Fisk. I was amazed the first time I visited - it's this tiny little museum with original works by O'Keefe, Picasso, etc. Very cool.

Of course, if you like country music, you may run into a few celebrities. That's always fun.

 

[lemondog]

If you're going to eat in Opry Mills definitely do the Aquarium. The food is much better than Rainforest Cafe, although both have equally fun atmospheres. The Disney Outlet there is AWESOME! It's a real Disney-owned store too, not like the regular Disney Stores.

There is a crosswalk to get to Cracker Barrel, I am pretty sure.

Downtown I would pick Old Spaghetti Factory for a yummy, inexpensive meal. It's right on 2nd Ave. The Frist is about 5 blocks up from the Hall of Fame (and I do mean UP, lol) but the Egypt exhibit sounds very intriguing. If you want a glimpse of Nicole Kidman rent a car and hang out in the Green Hills area of town for the day. She is always out and about.

Have fun!

 

[DebbieTN]

I would think that there would be a crosswalk from the hotel property to the attractions on the other side of the street. There are lots of stop lights and they probably have the crossing signs. Jack's BBQ is right on Broadway, the main street downtown, so you can't miss it. The Hall of Fame is just behind the Gaylord Entertainment Center, not far from there. There are lots of shops and restaurants within a few blocks. If you look down the street toward 8th ave and see a big fort looking school on the corner, Hume Fogg, that's where I graduated from as well as my husband, sister, father, uncle, and several cousins, and oh yeah, Dianah Shore(she graduated with my uncle). We have a lot of history at that school.

 

[Liliyana]

Wow, you're lucky... dbf and I have gone to that hotel just to "look". It's full of plants, and there are even buildings inside the building As for the mall, are you into cosmetics? If so, make sure you go into the Cosmetic Company Store. Discounted (and often discontinued) stuff from MAC, Bobbi Brown, Stila, etc. And yes, the Aquarium restaurant is quite good! Not to mention there is a Marble Slab (or Cold Stone, I forget which) across from it There is an Imax theater in the mall as well.