No one can possibly visit Nashville without taking in a show at the Grand Ole’ Opry, it just wouldn’t be right. The Grand Ole Opry began as a radio program on WSN AM 650 back in 1925 and is now the longest running radio show in the world. The program continued to flourish during the Great Depression and even with a new generation of MTV junkies, the Grand Ole Opry remains as popular as ever and continues to attract new, younger fans. The Grand Ole Opry aired from the Ryman Auditorium from 1943 to 1974 with people crammed in to hear the likes of Patsy Cline and Roger Miller. Today, the Grand Ole Opry is staged in a magnificent multi-million dollar venue in Music Valley and is part of the Gaylord Opryland resort complex. The Opry continues to cater to fans of all ages with performances by legendary country stars like Willie Nelson and the superstars of today such as Garth Brooks and Tim McGraw. The Grand Ole Opry is a must see for every visitor to Nashville, especially country music fans for whom it is like the holy grail of country music.

Nashville is a city dedicated to the music. For country music fans, you won’t want to miss the opportunity to visit the Opry’s original home, Ryman Auditorium and of the course, the Country Music Hall of Fame. The Ryman Auditorium has been designated a National Historic Landmark and as the original home of country music. Great names like Elvis Presley and Patsy Cline graced the stage here. The auditorium continues to be utilized as a performance facility but during the day it is a museum displaying the fantastic history and stories of the Ryman. The Country Music Hall of Fame is located in the entertainment district and is not to be missed. The museum houses an extensive collection of memorabilia, costumes, photos and instruments as well as a wall dedicated to gold and platinum country records. If you are truly coming for the music, you will want to plan your holiday for June. The CMA Music Festival or Fan Fair is a four day country music celebration held in June. Over a 100,000 visitors make the trip to hear almost 200 up-and-coming artists and superstars perform concerts in downtown Nashville. Other events include Question and Answer sessions with some of your favourite artists, sporting tournaments and autograph signings. For entertainment anytime of year, check out any of Nashville’s bars, clubs or theatres. Among the favourites are BB King’s Blues Club, Wildhorse Saloon, Coyote Ugly, Gibson’s Bluegrass Showcase and Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge.

Nashville is also full of historic sites, plantations, museums, art galleries and more. For a little piece of history, you won’t want to miss Belle Meade Plantation known as ‘the queen of Tennessee plantations,’ the Parthenon, a full scale replica of the original in Athens and home to the Nashville Art Museum and the Tennessee State Museum, the largest of its kind in the United States with exhibits dating back to prehistoric times. Art aficionados will definitely want to visit the Carl Van Vechten Gallery which houses works by Picasso, Renoir and Cezanne as well as the Frist Center for the Visual Arts which showcases works by artists from the United States and around the world. No matter what you come for, a vacation to Nashville is all about fun. Nashville enjoys a pretty typical North American climate though their winters are generally milder than what we experience in most of Canada. Many of the regions festivals, fairs and events take place during the summer and early autumn when the weather is particularly welcoming. The summer months enjoy average temperatures of around 27˚C,. The winter months however are much cooler with an average of about 5˚C.