A Glimpse of Nashville, Tennessee

I grew up in the state of Pennsylvania and most of my fondest childhood memories are from the hot and hazy days of summer. I realized last summer I didn't really know the meaning of the word "hot". My favorite singer Greg Page was playing a few shows in Nashville with the legendary TCB Band. This band is best known for backing Elvis Presley late in his career. Greg Page is from Australia so I knew this might be my only chance to see him sing. I'm not a huge fan of Country music so I never imagined I would end up in Nashville. I flew to Indianapolis to meet a few friends and we drove south on Interstate 65 through Kentucky to Tennessee.

We stayed in downtown Nashville at a hotel near the Tennessee Performing Arts Center where Greg was performing. Luckily we were within walking distance of quite a few great things to do in this city. I didn't mind the walking so much. It was the sweltering heat that got to me. The minute I stepped outside from the comfort of the hotel air-conditioning I was wishing I could go back inside and take another shower, preferably a cold one! I knew I was a wimp when a sweet lady with a soft, Southern twang said to me, "Nice weather we're having!" For a moment I thought she was kidding but I could tell from her smile that she was not. I couldn't imagine what the locals considered hot to be. However, you shouldn't let the heat scare you away. Despite the soaring temperatures, I have some great memories of this city to share.

Where To Stay

The Doubletree (315 4th Avenue North) turned out to be a great location in the downtown section of the city. It is located on the corners of 4th Avenue and Deaderick Street. The only draw back was that most of this area of Nashville shuts down after five in the afternoon. The staff at the hotel was pleasant and accommodating. The hotel has a nice restaurant off the lobby with a wall made of windows. This lets in the natural sunlight while keeping the restaurant nice and cool. They also have a small bar next to the restaurant that was open during the evening hours. They have a pool on the second floor and a workout center. If you are a coffee fiend like I am, you will be happy to find a Starbucks in the lobby of this hotel. If you are flying into Nashville this hotel is a short ten-minute drive from the airport. The phone number for the Doubletree is 615-244-8200.

Must See

The Country Music Hall of Fame (222 Fifth Avenue South) is a short hike from the Doubletree. We walked down 4th Avenue straight across Broadway and the Hall of Fame was straight ahead. The building itself is unique with a circular roof over one section of the structure. The trip through the Hall of Fame is well worth the admission price. They have a recording studio on site, as well as a Cadillac that had belonged to Elvis. The history of Country and Western music is covered here from its earliest roots to its present day artists. Many of the displays are interactive and present a fun and interesting way to learn about the Country music genre. The number for the Hall of Fame is 615-416-2001. This attraction is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. They are open all year long with the exception of Christmas, Thanksgiving and New Years Day.

Shopping

On the walk back from the Country Music Hall of Fame we stopped on Broadway for a bit of shopping. Broadway has something for just about everyone. There are many small shops where you can purchase Country and Western attire. The amount of hats and boots I saw on display was astounding! We stopped inside "Trail West" (312 Broadway) for a quick look around. We also stopped inside a little shop called "Flag World and Kites" (323 Broadway) and found flags from around the world and a lot of interesting souvenirs to take home. There are also many small bars on Broadway that feature live music. If you are hungry, a Hard Rock Café (100 Broadway) sits on the corner of Broadway and 2nd Avenue.

Nightlife

The Wild Horse Saloon (120 Second Avenue North) is a must see for Country music fans. Many come to Nashville with dreams of making it big and have played on the stage at the Wildhorse. Some have succeeded and many others have not. The dance floor here is huge and covers three levels. There is a bar on each level and plenty to see and do on any given night. The Wildhorse has DJ's to keep the crowd moving when there is no live music. They even have free line dancing lessons. The Wildhorse also has reasonably priced and tasty food items. They have the traditional bar food items such as wings and burgers along with a variety of soups, salads, appetizers, BBQ, and steaks. The phone number for the Wildhorse Saloon is 615-902-8200. They are open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 a.m. and on Mondays they are open from 5 p.m. to 3 a.m.