The Best City in the South

My favorite city in the south is Music City - Nashville, Tennessee. This is the place where up and coming country music stars come to get discovered, so there is always something going on. The streets in downtown Nashville are dotted with clubs and bars with live entertainment. The city pulsates when thousands of fans flock to the city in June for the annual CMA Music Festival. Four days of non-stop concerts and events for country music fans to mingle with their idols and rising stars. Stop by Legend's Corner to find out how some country stars got started. Check out the Wildhorse Saloon, an interesting place with a stage and a huge TV screen and dance floor. Not only they serve delicious Southern food (fried pickles, anyone?), there's usually a band playing, and you are welcomed to participate in a line dancing class! If country music is not your thing, there is always blues, rock and roll, and other genres playing at various clubs.

For the history buffs, there is the The Hermitage, home of President Andrew Jackson. You can tour the home and its grounds (a 1,000-acre property), which include a garden, Jackson's tomb, and a church, and learn about the president's life and the life of the slaves who worked there from 1804 to 1865. Belle Meade Plantation is another location where you can learn about life in the 1800s.

If you thought the south is just rural farmland, you will be in for more surprises. Fifteen minutes away is the Gaylord Opryland Resort Hotel & Convention Center. This landmark Nashville hotel is a must see. A mind boggling 50,000 tropical plants in the beautifully landscaped indoor gardens will take your breath away. You can enjoy a nice stroll to admire the spectacular scenery, or enjoy a scrumptious meal at any of the great restaurants here. A couple of blocks away is the Grand Ole Opry. They have a show several times a week. Check their schedule to see who's performing. Across from the Opry House is the Opry Mills outlet. The Aquarium is a unique dining restaurant. You are seated around the 200,000 gallon centerpiece aquarium, and you can watch the colorful tropical fish swim as you dine. Other interesting shops include the Bass Pro Shops and Gibson Showcase. If you are lucky, you may even catch someone making a guitar at the workshop.

Come and discover Nashville. You too will be pleasantly surprised.