It's no wonder Nashville, TN, draws in more than 15 million tourists every year. There are so many things to do in Nashville that it's hard for people to stay away! The Nashville community has new surprises around every corner, whether one enjoys outdoor adventures, fine dining, history, art, or live music. There is never a lack of things to do for those fortunate enough to visit Music City. Keep reading to find a closer look at some of the most popular attractions in Nashville.

Country Music Hall of Fame: A Nashville Gem

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is located in the heart of the Downtown Nashville neighborhood, surrounded by high-rise condos and the Bridgestone Arena (home of the Nashville Predators NHL team). The museum doubled in size after an expansion back in 2014 and now encompasses 350,000 square feet of music history, archival storage, gift shops, and two performance theaters.

The museum curates hundreds of country music artifacts once owned by some of the industry's biggest stars. Examples include Gene Autry's guitar, Johnny Cash's leather overcoat, and Scotty Stoneman's fiddle. The Recorded Sound Collection at the museum curates more than 200,000 recordings, including 98 percent of all country music songs recorded before World War II.

The CMA Theater at the museum is considered one of the best places to catch an intimate concert in Nashville, with just 776 seats available, all of which are amazingly close to the stage. The Hall of Fame Rotunda features rotating exhibits celebrating country music legends. The museum also regularly holds classes and workshops for students interested in music. Tickets to tour the museum and view everything it offers are currently $67.95 for adults and $52.95 for kids 12 and under.

Centennial Park: Nature in Nashville

Centennial Park is a 132-acre park located in the Midtown neighborhood, on West End and 25th Avenue North. It's the only location in the US where visitors can tour a full-sized replica of the Greek Parthenon. The park has a one-mile trail for walking and jogging that circles around beautiful Lake Watauga. In the park's central area, visitors can view the Parthenon, the Tennessee Woman Suffrage Monument, and Nashville's Civil War Memorial.

There is a playground for children in this large park located toward the south end, next to the Centennial Performing Arts Studios. In the north end of the park, there's a lovely botanical garden near the Event Center Pavilion. A large area in the western part of the park is reserved as an off-leash dog park, with plenty of shade trees and open space for dogs to run around and play.

The northeastern section of the park houses the Centennial Sportsplex. This fitness facility has tennis courts, group fitness and aerobics classes, a weight room, swimming pools, an ice skating rink, and a hockey rink. It's a large facility that is open to the public. Most events at Centennial Park are free, but day passes to use the Sportsplex facility are $9 for adults and $8 for kids under 18.

Lower Broadway: Nashville Food, Fun & Music

Lower Broadway Street in Downtown Nashville is an important historical district that showcases and celebrates 20th-century American music. Walking around the district, visitors will find everything from honky tonk bars with live music to historic music stores, auditoriums, and museums.

The Johnny Cash Museum, the Patsy Cline Museum, and the Glenn Campbell Museum are all within a short distance in "Lower Broad." These are the officially authorized museums of the respective artists' estates and feature memorabilia, personal belongings, and much more for fans to view. Another highlight on Broadway is the National Museum of African American Music, which opened in 2020. It features a historical look at African American music in the US from the 1600s until today.

It doesn't cost anything to walk around Broadway and view the many shops and bars. There are admission fees to tour the museums; fees vary depending on the venue. A great way to tour Broadway and the rest of Downtown Nashville is by hopping on a Nashville Trolley Tour, which departs from Broadway. Expert tour guides drive this bus around Downtown Nashville and share stories about the area's history, with tickets starting at about $45.

Grand Ole Opry: Nashville's Top Country Music Venue

The world-famous Grand Ole Opry house first opened its doors back in 1925, and every fan of country music is familiar with this Nashville landmark. The Saturday Night Opry radio broadcast on WSM has been on the air for more than 95 years, making it the longest-running radio show in American history. It is still considered, to this day, to be one of the biggest honors in country music for an artist to be accepted as a performing member at the Opry.

The primary purpose of the Grand Ole Opry is live music, and the venue features live shows several times per week. The stage features both up-and-coming artists and established stars from the industry. Ticket prices range from $45 for standing room prices to more than $100 for premium seating and Grand Ole Opry ticket upgrades. The box office at the Opry is open seven days a week, and many of the shows sell out fast.

The Opry also has a large gift shop where visitors can purchase unique merchandise from their visit, including men's, women's, and children's apparel, accessories, home decor, and albums of featured artists.

Frist Art Museum: Fine Art in Nashville

The Frist Art Museum is located in a beautiful art deco building in Downtown Nashville. It's one of the best places in the city to view historical works of art from around the world. For example, in late 2021 and early 2022, the museum featured Medieval works of art from Bologna, Italy. Visitors could view manuscripts, paintings, and sculptures created in northern Italy between 1200 and 1400. On a different floor, the museum simultaneously featured "American Art Deco" -- works of art created in the USA between 1918 and 1938.

The Martin ArtQuest gallery at the Frist Museum is a chance for families with children to receive hands-on lessons in sketching, painting, and print-making from expert artists. Even the museum itself is a work of art; visitors can attend an architectural tour every Saturday at 4:30 p.m. On tour, visitors learn about the Art Deco style, the architect who designed the inside and outside of the fantastic building, and much more. Admittance tickets for the Frist Art Museum are $15 for adults. Kids 18 and under can attend free with a paying adult.

Nashville Attractions Are Fun For All

Nashville has an amazingly diverse landscape for a populated metropolitan area. From sleek Nashville condos and townhomes to sprawling luxury estates to a thriving music scene, the city has something for everyone. The many popular attractions in the city are a significant reason why so many people come to visit or end up moving to Nashville.

If the opportunities of Nashville excite you, contact The Ashton Real Estate Group of RE/MAX Advantage with Nashville's MLS at (615) 603-3602 to get in touch with local real estate agents who can help find the perfect Nashville home for you today.