Nashville Highlights Van Tour

Get a local’s view/angle on this vibrant and complex city. Music, history, scandals, scoundrels, and great historical stories. Nashville’s roots lie in a complex start with a large immigration from the Northeast, native Americans, and frontier minded people. After the Civil War, downtown served as a town that supported many saloons, served a pivotal role in women’s suffrage, was the epicenter of successful change in the civil rights movement, and laid foundation to the city know worldwide as music city.

This one of the most overlooked gems of Nashville. The Museum/Hall of Fame pays tribute to musicians of all genres and is operated by Nashville guitar legend Joe Chambers, formerly of Chambers Guitar. Housed in the Municipal auditorium, extensive exhibits feature artists ranging from Jimmy Hendrix, Bob Dylan, to Johnny Cash.

Ride through the great outdoor space the is state park celebrating 200 of Tennessee! The park features a comprehensive marble wall historical timeline, amphitheater (this is Nashville you know), fountains, and various memorials. This park is located next to other great venues: Nashville Sounds Baseball Stadium (AAA) with the guitar scoreboard, the Tennessee State Library, Tennessee State Museum, and the Nashville Farmer’s Market.

Named as an area of town housing multiple printing and publishing services in the 1800s, prohibition soon transferred Printer’s Alley into a musical hotspot and entertainment center laced with speakeasies and a lazier faire attitude among business owners and guests. Home of a Nashville treasure, Skull’s Rainbow Room, the alley is still destination for fun, entertainment, and great music! Jimmy Hendrix, Bob Dylan, Sammy Davis Jr., Paul McCartney, Elvis, and Johnny Cash were among the many entertainers that have graced this beloved area.

This is one of the few churches in the U.S. to be built in Egyptian Revival architecture by famed architect William Strickland (also the architect of the Tennessee State Capital). This pre-Civil War building also served as Union hospital during the Civil War and is also the home church of President Andrew Jackson.

Tennessee’s’ state capital survived the civil war and has stood since the 1850’s. Architecture by the renown William Strickland, the Greek Revival structure is quite unique in that it is a one of only 12 state capitals that does not feature a dome. A couple of folks are entombed in the building as well.

Great place for shops, distillery, brewery, and the home of American Pickers. The village is what used to be the early 20th century automobile company Marathon Motor Works. As is common in Nashville, Marathon also has an exciting performance venue.

Often confused with Lower Broadway, this area of town helped put Nashville on the map as Music City. From Dylan, Elvis, Foo Fighters, Tim McGraw, George Strait, Paul McCartney, Johnny Cash to all of the thousands of others that have recorded here, this makes Nashville special. The area is lined with recording studios, recording labels, publishing companies, songwriter’s studios, and all thins music. Historical and functioning at the same time.

I like to call this am Upscale Nuovo part of town with a bit of old sprinkled in for good measure. Trendy, mix of old and new this is another great place for people watching. A good mix of locals and visitors enjoying Nashville shops, food, and entertainment. Upscale hotels with crazy rooftop bars can be found near a Nashville treasure, The Bluegrass Inn.