Nashville Explorer

Get your bearings this morning with an orientation tour. Take in some of the best places in Nashville, the famous Music Row and Broadway, Riverfront Park, Tennessee State Capitol, and Centennial State Park where you'll be transported straight to Athens as you admire the Parthenon, a surprisingly exact replica of the original. Then it’s a return to true Nashville with a visit to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, “The Smithsonian of Music.” Immerse yourself in the famous Nashville sound through legends such as Jim Reeves and Roy Orbison. In a city that has been attracting country music songwriters and musicians since the 1920's, there’s enough to keep you humming a tune all day.

Your musical day continues with a guided tour of RCA's iconic Studio B. Once home to titans such as Elvis Presley, Chet Atkins, Roy Orbison, and the Everly Brothers, Studio B became a cradle of the Nashville sound in the late 1950s and is still cranking out hits from artists such as Carrie Underwood and Martina McBride. See the instruments and hear the stories of the studio that produced more than 35,000 legendary songs. Stop for a regional lunch featuring regional specialties - Nashville is known for dishes such as hot chicken, Tennessee barbeque, and biscuits. This evening is at your leisure. Head to a honky-tonk on Broadway or ask your Travel Director for recommendations for where to soak in the best of the city. (B/L)

This morning offers your choice of museums. Nashville's newest museum, the National Museum of African American Music, is the only museum in the country that celebrates and preserves both African American history and music. Through photos, instruments, and recordings, you’ll be immersed in the music. Or, enjoy a backstage tour of music history at Ryman Auditorium. At the original home of the Grand Ole Opry, the "The Mother Church of Country Music," and the very spot where Johnny Cash met June Carter, you’ll go behind the scenes and stage in an immersive theater experience.

Dive Into Culture this afternoon with a trip out of town to Nearest Green Distillery. Named for the Nathan “Nearest” Green (the first known African-American master distiller) who taught Jack Daniel how to distill! Nearest Green Distillery is a local, all minority-led business. Learn how Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey is made and taste the products for yourself. Then head back to Nashville for a special evening. Tonight, it’s off to the Grand Ole Opry, one of the best things to do in Nashville. Your live show may feature rising talent, or superstars, country or bluegrass. You never know who you’ll discover at the Opry. (B)

Connect With Locals this morning with a visit to a modern-day recording studio. Go behind the scenes as you meet industry pros and learn hands-on how a song is made from start to finish. Break for lunch on your own at the Nashville Farmers' Market where you’ll Connect With Locals and Meet the Makers. Founded in the early 1800s, the market offers local produce, artisanal foods, and crafts by Nashville makers with an attached Market House featuring 20 locally owned shops and restaurants. Hungry for more?

The afternoon is your choice of Dive Into Culture through regional food and drink. Join a cooking class to try your hand at making Nashville classics such as Hot Chicken, buttermilk biscuits and gravy, black eyed peas, or succotash. Pair it with the famed mint julep for a real taste of the South. Or, visit Nashville’s most historic distillery. Nelson's Green Brier Distillery is a family-founded, intimate maker of Tennessee’s original whiskey. Hear the family legacy, tour the production floor, and sample a flight of the city's signature beverage. Tonight, it’s a final toast to the best of Nashville at your Farewell Dinner celebrating Nashville sightseeing with one last Southern meal and drink. (B/FD)