How to spend your summer vacation in Nashville
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A view of downtown Nashville. Photo: J. David Ake/Getty Images
If you're looking to sing your way through summer vacation, Nashville is the perfect destination.
Why it matters: Music City has been the end of the yellow brick road for generations of aspiring musicians. As such, it is loaded with must-see landmarks for any music lover.
The big picture: The New York Times infamously dubbed Nashville an "it city" in 2013. Things have not slowed down since.
- Celebrity chefs have set up shop, new attractions are taking shape and the famed corridor of honky-tonks on Lower Broadway keeps getting brighter.
The intrigue: Many of the best spots are hidden in plain sight, but our friends at Axios Nashville have helped us build the ultimate insider's guide to make your visit a success.
🐦 The Bluebird Cafe: Nashville has no shortage of amazing venues. But The Bluebird is special. The iconic 90-seat club where Taylor Swift and Garth Brooks were discovered is tucked away between a laundromat and a Verizon store.
- It's where the songwriters behind radio hits get to step into the spotlight in an incredibly intimate setting. And if you're lucky, you might catch an up-and-comer on the cusp of a record deal.
🎙️ RCA Studio B: A few miles away, you can tour the historic recording studio known as the "Home of 1,000 Hits," where Dolly Parton first recorded "I Will Always Love You."
🏛 The Parthenon: Originally built for the Tennessee Centennial Exposition in 1897, this replica of the famed temple in Greece is one of the most recognizable structures in the Athens of the South.
- Bonus: Swifties will want to linger in the surrounding Centennial Park to check out a bench dedicated to Swift. She wrote about visiting the park in her song "invisible string."
🎙 National Museum of African American Music: A sprawling tribute that traces the influence of Black artists across genres — including the Fisk Jubilee Singers, who earned Nashville its Music City nickname.
🎤 The Ryman Auditorium: The Mother Church of Country Music is the former home of the Grand Ole Opry. Sitting in the pews before the stage where Patsy Cline and Johnny Cash once performed is worth the price of a ticket on its own.
🎵 Country Music Hall of Fame: A must for any fan who has ever sung along with Reba, Patsy or Johnny.
🔥 One souvenir to go: Every true Nashvillian has one thing in common — a poster from the legendary Hatch Show Print.
- The letterpress print shop has been in operation since 1879 and has produced posters for everyone from Elvis to Carly Rae Jepsen.
- The shop is now located in the lobby of the Hall of Fame. You can make your own merch during "block parties" or browse their stock of distinctive concert posters.