Nashville

"Music City," with live country music in the Broadway honky-tonks, the Grand Ole Opry and the Country Music Hall of Fame—one of America's fastest-growing entertainment destinations.

Nashville, the capital of Tennessee, sits on the Cumberland River in the middle of the state. Home to a wealth of record labels, recording studios and live music venues, it is known as "Music City" and is the center of country music, as well as one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S. in recent years. The city divides into several areas: Downtown (the Lower Broadway honky-tonks, the Ryman Auditorium, the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Johnny Cash Museum, the National Museum of African American Music, Printers Alley and the pedestrian bridge); the Capitol Hill area (the Tennessee State Capitol, Bicentennial Mall, the Tennessee State Museum and the Farmers' Market); West End and Midtown (the Parthenon in Centennial Park, Music Row and RCA Studio B, the Gulch, and 12South); the Opryland complex to the northeast (the Grand Ole Opry and Gaylord Opryland Resort) and The Hermitage to the east; and to the south, Belle Meade, Cheekwood, the Bluebird Cafe and the town of Franklin. For a day trip, visit the Jack Daniel's Distillery in Lynchburg. The climate has four distinct seasons: Apr–Jun and Sep–Oct are most pleasant, Jul–Aug is hot and humid, and winter brings occasional ice and snow; hotel prices soar during CMA Fest in June. Getting around: Nashville International Airport is about 15 km from downtown; attractions are spread out and public transit is limited, so take rideshares or rent a car, though downtown is walkable. Plan to stay 3–4 days. Don't miss Nashville hot chicken and Southern barbecue. Bars check ID strictly, so carry your passport.

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