Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
The new Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum opened its doors in May 2001, following its re-location from Music Row to its impressive new home in the heart of Nashville's downtown entertainment district. Spanning an entire city block and soaring 33m (107ft) above a lush urban park, the US$37 million facility features over 3,700 sq m (40,000 sq ft) of exhibition space.

The self-guided tour takes the visitor on a chronological journey through the history of country music, from its ‘back porch' beginnings, through the heyday of the Grand Ole Opry and right up to the present. This fascinating tour takes around three hours, features over one million items of memorabilia (from Elvis Presley's Gold Cadillac to Patsy Cline's cowboy boots) and is accompanied by archive recordings from radio, television and many of the country music's most important recorded works, as well as numerous interactive features.

The Country Music Hall of Fame is home to the largest country music archive in the world and the museum's archivists and restoration experts can be viewed at work through the glass walls of their hi-tech studios. An enormous two-storey wall displays every gold and platinum record ever to make the country charts. There is daily live music in the atrium, in the form of live CMT (Country Music Television) broadcasts. The museum also boasts the Ford Theater, a 214-seat state-of-the-art performance venue featuring a digital film presentation on country music from around the world. The 1,676 sq m (5,500 sq ft) museum shop offers one of Nashville's best selections of vintage and current country music CDs, tapes, books, videos, collectibles and apparel. A full-service restaurant features contemporary Southern cuisine and is open for lunch.

222 Fifth Avenue South (corner of Demonbreun Street)
Tel: (615) 416 2001 or 1 800 852 6437.
Website: www.countrymusichalloffame.com  
Opening hours: Daily 0900-1700.
Admission charge.

Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum
One of Music City's latest additions, opened in 2006, is the first museum and hall of fame to honour the studio musician. Owned and created by former singer/songwriter Joe Chambers, the museum features artefacts and instruments used during legendary recording sessions, a 465 sq m (5,000 sq ft) performance hall, functioning recording hall, and school of music which offers lessons to students of all ages.

301 Sixth Avenue South
Tel: (615) 244 3263.
Website: www.musicianshalloffame.com
Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 1000-1800, Fri-Sat 1000-1700.
Admission charge.

The Hermitage
The home of Andrew Jackson (America's seventh president) is Nashville's national treasure, attracting 250,000 visitors every year. Jackson first bought the property in 1804 and some of the original log cabins still survive. Rather more grand is the Greek Revival mansion he built in 1837, which has been fully restored, containing almost all original period furnishings. The gardens are impressive too and there is a museum on the site, as well as a restaurant and gift shop.

4580 Rachel's Lane, Hermitage
Tel: (615) 889 2941.
Website: www.thehermitage.com  
Opening hours: Daily 0830-1700 (Apr-mid Oct); 0900-1630 (mid Oct-Mar).
Admission charge.

Ryman Auditorium
One of downtown Nashville's prime attractions is the original home of the Grand Ole Opry, which still puts on all kinds of musical shows in the evening. By day, visitors can tour the auditorium, stand on the stage and hear anecdotes from the tour guides about the country stars who played here. These include Hank Williams, Patsy Cline and even a young Elvis Presley, when he was still regarded as a country singer. Memorabilia is on display, with some stage outfits and guitars. Ryman was a riverboat captain who built the theatre in 1892, as a venue for religious meetings.

116 Fifth Avenue North
Tel: (615) 889 3060.
Website: www.ryman.com  
Opening hours: Daily 0900-1600; evening shows vary.
Admission charge.

Cheekwood
Known as Nashville's ‘Home of Art and Gardens' and also the Museum of Art, Cheekwood covers a site of 22 hectares (55 acres). The three-storey Georgian-style Cheek Mansion was built in the 1930s, by Leslie and Mabel Cheek - Leslie Cheek being a successful local businessman. The art collection concentrates on local artists, such as the sculptor, Will Edmondson - the first African-American whose work was displayed at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, in 1937. American art and fine art of the 19th and 20th centuries are also covered. The gardens of the estate are magnificent and include a botanic hall and woodland sculpture trail. There is a restaurant open for lunch and a gift shop. Seasonal classes and workshops, exhibits, auctions and community events are held regularly at Cheekwood.

1200 Forrest Park Drive
Tel: (615) 356 8000.
Website: www.cheekwood.org  
Opening hours: Tues-Sat 0930-1630, Sun 1100-1630.
Admission charge.

Tennessee State Museum
This stimulating collection tells the story of the state, from prehistoric times through to the early 20th century. Special attention is paid to prominent characters, such as Andrew Jackson and Davy Crockett, as well as the Civil War. Historical arts and crafts items are also displayed and, in addition to the permanent collection, there are temporary exhibitions, for which there is usually a small admission charge.

Polk Cultural Centre, 505 Deaderick Street
Tel: (615) 741 2692 or 1 800 407 4324.
Website: www.tnmuseum.org
Opening hours: Tues-Sat 1000-1700, Sun 1300-1700.
Free admission.

Tennessee State Capitol
The Tennessee State Capitol was built in 1859 and many parts of it, including the library and the Supreme Court chamber, have been restored to their original grandeur. Portraits of local dignitaries gaze down from the walls, while statues of famous Tennesseans, such as General Andrew Jackson and President James Polk, stand in the Capitol's grounds.

Charlotte Avenue, between Sixth and Seventh Avenues
Tel: (615) 741 1621.
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1600.
Free admission; group tours also available.

Belle Meade Plantation
The Belle Meade Plantation (huge grounds known as ‘The Queen of Tennessee Plantations') contains one of the oldest houses in Tennessee - a log cabin from 1790. The star attraction, however, is the 1853 Greek Revival Mansion, which has been lovingly restored to its original elegance. Other original outbuildings survive on the 12-hectare (30-acre) site, including the stables and an 1890s carriage house, which are popular venues for weddings and large parties. Guides dressed in period costume give tours. There is also a visitor centre, tearoom and gift shop.

5025 Harding Road
Tel: (615) 356 0501 or 1 800 270 3991.
Website: www.bellemeadeplantation.com  
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 0900-1700, Sun 1100-1700.
Admission charge.

Adventure Science Center
This was formerly the Cumberland Science Museum, and it remains firmly aimed at younger visitors. There are numerous hands-on exhibits and daily displays on scientific subjects. A simulated flight over Nashville is one attraction. Touring exhibitions are also housed here. A new, state-of-the-art Sudekum Planetarium will open in summer 2008 to replace the existing planetarium.

800 Fort Negley Boulevard
Tel: (615) 862 5160.
Website: www.adventuresci.com  
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 1000-1700, Sun 1230-1730.
Admission charge.

Parthenon
Over the years, Nashville has established itself as the one of the foremost seats of learning in the USA, with its prominent university (Vanderbilt) and famous medical and film schools. Because of this, Nashville is sometimes referred to as the ‘Athens of the South'. This replica of Greece's most famous building was erected in 1897, to house the international art exhibition for the Centennial Exposition in recognition of this achievement. It now serves as Nashville's art museum, but the real focus of the Parthenon is the gilded 13m (42ft) re-created statue of the goddess Athena. The statue took eight years to build on-site, and while walking or driving around the illuminated Parthenon at night, you may be fortunate enough to catch a glimpse through rarely opened doors of an event such as a private wedding reception gathered under the stunning gaze of the golden Athena. The glory of ancient Greece has indeed been meticulously re-created.

West End and 25th Avenues, Centennial Park
Tel: (615) 862 8431.
Website: www.parthenon.org  
Opening hours: Tues-Sat 0900-1630 (year round); Sun 1230-1630 (Jun-Aug).
Admission charge.