Did some research and came up with a bunch of fun possibilities for people to partake of while in Nashville. Will add too it as I find them.
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The Parthenon
The Parthenon stands proudly as the centerpiece of Centennial Park, Nashville's premier urban park. The re-creation of the 42-foot statue Athena is the focus of the Parthenon just as it was in ancient Greece. The building and the Athena statue are both full-scale replicas of the Athenian originals.
Originally built for Tennessee's 1897 Centennial Exposition, this replica of the original Parthenon in Athens serves as a monument to what is considered the pinnacle of classical architecture. The plaster replicas of the Parthenon Marbles found in the Naos are direct casts of the original sculptures which adorned the pediments of the Athenian Parthenon, dating back to 438 B.C. The originals of these powerful fragments are housed in the British Museum in London.
The Parthenon also serves as the city of Nashville's art museum. The focus of the Parthenon's permanent collection is a group of 63 paintings by 19th and 20th century American artists donated by James M. Cowan. Additional gallery spaces provide a venue for a variety of temporary shows and exhibits.
Tickets are only $7 ($5 for old folks)
Nashville’s Parthenon is a wonderful setting for your next event. From the soaring columns and art galleries, to the majestic statue of Athena, this is the event your guests will rave about for years to come. If you have questions or would like to schedule a site visit, please feel free to contact us at the Parthenon 615-862-8431 Ext 233. or email events@conservencyonline.org
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Just got this info from a friend who lives there:
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If there are a couple of hours to do this, I'd visit the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum:
http://countrymusichalloffame.org/
Here's a tour of the locations/sites from the TV series NASHVILLE:
http://graylinetn.com/abcs-nashville/
The pedestrian bridge over the Cumberland River has a great view of Nashville, and a cool new park on the other side of the river:
http://www.nashville.gov/Parks-and-Recreation/Parks/Cumberland-Park.aspx
All up and down Broadway, from 1st to 5th Aves. are the honky tonks, such a s Tootsie's Orchid Lounge. Note: some honky /bars allow smoking.
http://www.tootsies.net/
Tour the Ryman Auditorium:
http://ryman.com/
And just down the street from those is Puckett's Grocery (a good, reasonable, friendly restaurant, often with live local music):
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Or, for family style dining, on great Southern food, is Monell's (just North of downtown, in historic Germantown);
http://monellstn.com/
If there is more time, these attractions are nice (and are all along the same route westward out of town):
Belle Meade Plantation (about 7 miles from downtown, in beautiful Belle Meade):
http://bellemeadeplantation.com/
This restaurant, Harding House, is on the plantation grounds, and can feed a lot of people:
http://hardinghousebellemeade.com/
Cheekwood Mansion/Botanical Gardens/Art Museum (about 9 miles from downtown):
http://www.cheekwood.org/
They have a restaurant on site as well. The Pineapple Room:
http://www.cheekwood.org/Visitors/Pineapple_Room_Restaurant.aspx
And, to be a true tourist, this place is a good Southern meal. The Loveless Cafe (about 15 miles from downtown, on Hwy. 100):
http://www.lovelesscafe.com/
For the theatrical-minded, my cousin owns this dinner theatre (about 14 miles from downtown, also on Hwy. 100), Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre:
www.dinnertheatre.com
Centennial Park (Parthenon) is being torn up/renovated in a big way, so it might be worth just driving by it, at the most. But check on the progress, closer to the trip. No restaurant there, and not much interesting to eat nearby.
http://www.nashville.gov/Parks-and-Recreation/Parks/Centennial-Park.aspx
Good luck!
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More input from another friend (some of this duplicates the above.)
"Your BecomeAnEx reunion sounds like a lot of fun! Nashville has so much to offer. Here are a few of my favorite activities….
- Country music hall of fame – tickets are around $25 and there are group tour options. Also check the website calendar. There are special singer/song writer showcases throughout the month.
- Union Station Hotel – This may not be the best group activity, but it is my favorite building in Nashville. The arched ceiling with stain glass in the lobby is just beautiful. I always encourage people to take 5 to 10 mins to walk into the lobby and just look up.
- Opryland hotel – Amazing hotel….Just beautiful to walk around the large atriums with a cup of joe….Of note beware of the parking costs ($20 to park, but if you don’t mind a long walk you can park in the mall parking for free).
- Grand Ole Opry – Gotta go see a live show (tickets range from $35 and up). This is a must do.
- Johnny Cash Museum is suppose to be very good though I have not visited it yet
- Frist art Museum is lovely ($8.00 per person for a group tour but you need to reserve the tour about a month out. $10 for a regular tour).
- Walk the strip (aka Broadway or 21st Ave)… Broadway Honky Tonk is Music City Central….It will be full sidewalks and lots of loud music and lots of young silly inebriated people. It is less crowded during the daytime.
- Check Centennial Park’s calendar (this is where the Parathenon replica resides). They often have plays in the park or some type of cultural fair or even swing dances.
- Franklin, TN (20-30mins from downtown) has a cute downtown square, lots of shops, antiques, old factory that has been restored with shops and eats…it is a nice place for a stroll/shop/eat if the group wants to break up into smaller entities.
- Barbara Mandrell’s house (The Fontanel) is 20 to 30 mins North of Nashville. It is the world’s larger log house (27,000 sq ft). Tickets are around $25. They have group tours, a nice Italian restaurant and outdoor concerts. Check the website (http://fontanelmansion.com/) for more details.
Good restaurants for crowds…
- Maggiano’s is yummy heavy rich Italian food….I love this place and they have rooms for groups. They have a valet but you can park in the garage behind the building for free. It is located on West End. Prices is around $13-25 for entrees
- Noshville Deli (Midtown area on Broadway aka 21st Ave aka Hillsboro Rd) is a yummy spot for lunch. Check their hours though because they close at 2:30 some days. They have larger booths so groups of 6 to 7 can sit together and they may be able to accommodate y’all at one large table if you call ahead.
- Lovelss Café is a classic southern joint that is very popular for tourist. It is out of town on the west side (20-30 mins from downtown). They can accommodate groups from 20-75 people in their private rooms.
- Mere Bulles in a lovely plantation home with wonderful food. They can accommodate large groups. Check the menu prices with the group members it is a little more pricey.
- Monell’s in Germantown (they have a few locations around the city). This a really cool place to eat. It is located in an old Victorian house. They serve southern food in a communal style (all you can eat). Check the website for what they will be serving each day. Also call ahead to reserve a table for a large group (they have unusual seating…They have several large tables and they combine parties around the large tables….kinda in the southern idea of hospitality letting strangers become friends over food).
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