Things to do in Nashville for self travelers

Downtown Nashville sounds like the music of many genres, groups, and instruments at once. With its so many historic music landmarks, it's perfect for curious melomaniacs. Yet, Nashville is not only about tunes of all sorts. You'll first witness the state's history embodied in the Bicentennial Park and step your feet on its lawns to literally touch it. Your next stop, the Tennessee State Capitol, is the essence of its statehood and virtues and the country's architectural pride. Getting back to the music topic, you will reach the Musicians Hall of Fame, crowned by a large dome. Preserving the legacy of the Nashville Music Auditorium that hosted legendary star-studded concerts, it's an award-winning top-notch event space. Then, tour around the music industry sites and drop in the Metro Riverfront Park, a symbol of Nashville's history, to amuse yourself by walking along the Cumberland River. If you decide to enter the Johnny Cash Museum, one of the top six attractions in Nashville, you will see chords from the guitars once owned by the famous Johnny Cash alongside his other artifacts. The Music City Center, a modern architecture gem with free live performances, awaits you at the end. During your walk, do not miss indulging in the delicious treats and embracing the city's multiple food scenes (and many more facilities). Join the tour and get to know the city's history while enjoying the music coming to your ears from everywhere!

At NMAAM, you can discover the importance of African American music in shaping the American soundscape. Begin your visit in the Roots Theater and learn about West and Central African culture, the institution of slavery, and the evolution of a distinctly African American culture that had its own unique musical traditions. Next up, charter the entire chronology of African American music at the River of Rhythms Pathways. Animated interactive touch panels will showcase the beginnings of musical traditions to the present day, covering southern gospel and blues to contemporary R&B and hip-hop. The remaining five exhibits take a deeper dive into moments in history and how they helped to shape the music and stars that came out of them. Inside these galleries, you’ll be able to see instruments, stage costumes, sheet music, and more. Key moments and movements include the Harlem Renaissance, jazz, and post-war R&B.

Come watch the monkeys swinging, hear the birds singing, and maybe even see some crocodiles swimming at one of Nashville's top attractions! Almost 3,000 animals representing over 350 different species call this historic space home, and meeting them all makes Nashville Zoo one of Tennessee's best family day trips. Daily talks from the dedicated staff aim to teach you fun facts about the animals, from flamingos to kangaroos, meerkats, rhinos and even guinea pigs! Where else can you brush a goat and pet a kangaroo all on the same day?

There's more than 1 million gallons of water sloshing about in the hydro hijinks at Nashville Shores, and with so much water you can bet it'll make a splash in your memory! Nashville Shores makes the most of its location! Challenge your family and friends to a game of beach volleyball, build sandcastles, or cool off by dipping your toes in beautiful Percy Priest Lake. Will you take on the floating obstacle course on the lake? You can even go banana boating for a small, extra fee. The whole family can enjoy raft slides, like the Big Kahuna, before they feel speeds of 25 miles per hour on the Music City Racer waterslide. Don't miss the all-new, four-lane Riptide Racer, speeding you through varying sections of side-by-side racing, hairpin curves, and steep drops. The longest slide of its type in the world stands more than 50 feet high and is longer than a football field!

As one of the best places for family fun in Nashville, these Adventure Science Center tickets will keep you and the little explorers happy for hours. Stimulate your brains and imaginations with a multitude of mind-boggling interactive exhibits across four fun floors. Play a piano by walking on it, make friends with your own shadow, and discover what you'd weigh if you set foot on a different planet! The second floor is devoted to the human body. Take a thrilling ride through a digestive tract, crawl into the chambers of a beating heart, and study your inner self with the X-ray machine.

Explore the dream-stained streets of _Music City_ with a healthy helping of _transportainment_ on the Nashville Old Town Trolley. A highly knowledgeable and funny guide will give you a southerner's take on over 100 fascinating points of interest across the city. See over 100 fascinating points of interest across the city where you can hop on and hop off at 13 stops. You'll get the inside scoop on the city's best-kept secrets, with some insightful commentary from a local Tennessee guide on the Nashville Old Town Trolley Tour. Pass by Nashville's most famous music halls like Grand Ole Opry and Ryman Auditorium, and take some notes on where to visit for some evening entertainment! You're in _Music City_, after all! Other prominent highlights along the way include the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, the Bicentennial Capitol Mall, and the Parthenon, a full-scale replica of the Greek monument.

Discover Cheekwood, a Country Place-era estate, located eight miles southwest of downtown Nashville. This 1930s estate, once home to Mabel and Leslie Cheek, features 55 acres of gardens and a 30,000-square-foot mansion. Today, it serves as a botanical garden, arboretum, and art museum. Explore American art from the 18th to mid-20th centuries in period-furnished rooms and permanent collection galleries. Admire 13 unique gardens and a 1.5-mile woodland trail with outdoor sculptures. Cheekwood offers year-round events, including Cheekwood in Bloom, Summertime at Cheekwood, Cheekwood Harvest, and Holiday LIGHTS. It's accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, recognized as a Level II Arboretum, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Grand Ole Opry Country Music Show is a spectacular live performance showcase that features today's country music stars, superstars, and rising stars all on one stage, every week in Music City! From the radio show that made country music famous in 1925, to the cultural landmark and global music phenomenon it is today, the Opry is the biggest stage in country music and a must-experience for any music fan. Put on your cowboy hats and snap up your Standard Admission ticket to the world-famous show, which has been bringing country music and its fans together for 100 years!

Katy Perry, Captain Kirk, Beyoncé and Obama, Johnny Depp and Johnny Cash - they're all waiting for you and your selfies inside Madame Tussauds Nashville. You'll also meet the lyrical legends who made American music so famous, right next to the Grand Ole Opry House.