29/05/2026
👢Boots On the Ground in Nashville👢
The morning included visits past several Tennessee state monuments and parks, along with a stop at Marathon Village, a unique shopping and dining precinct housed inside a former automobile factory dating back to the early 1900s. Lots of quirky local stores and hidden gems to explore.
We also visited Nashville’s full-scale replica of The Parthenon, originally built for Tennessee’s 1897 Centennial Exposition. Seeing a replica of an ancient Greek landmark sitting in the middle of Tennessee is not something you expect.
Next stop was the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, which was much larger than expected and packed with incredible memorabilia, costumes, instruments, and exhibits (including a small but interesting Dolly Parton exhibit) covering decades of country music history. Even non-country fans would find plenty to appreciate.
Lunch was naturally at a honky-tonk bar downtown, and our group chose Category 10 — Luke Combs’ venue on Broadway. Great atmosphere, live music, line dancing, and genuinely good food. Broadway itself is absolute sensory overload in the best possible way: neon signs, live bands pouring out of every doorway, rooftop bars, and party vibes from midday onwards.
We finished the night with a visit to the legendary Grand Ole Opry for a live radio show, which came with a very unexpected bonus appearance from Garth Brooks. He was there to present fellow Opry member Steve Wariner with a special award celebrating his 30-year Opry anniversary. Sadly there was no impromptu performance from Garth, but just seeing him in person was still a huge highlight for everyone.
Dragged myself out of bed this morning for a tour of RCA Studio B on Nashville’s famous Music Row and it was hands down the highlight of the trip so far.
Known as the “Home of 1,000 Hits,” Studio B is where legends including Elvis Presley, Dolly Parton, Roy Orbison, and the Everly Brothers recorded some of country music’s most iconic songs. Walking through the studio and hearing the stories behind the recordings was fascinating, even for those who aren’t die-hard country fans. You could almost feel the musical history in the room.
This was followed by a guided tour of the beautiful Ryman Auditorium, often referred to as the “Mother Church of Country Music.” Originally built as a church in the 1890s, the venue has incredible acoustics and so much history attached to it. Definitely one of those places that feels special the moment you walk inside.
Tonight we headed back to Broadway for an evening of dancing, cocktails, live music, and general Nashville chaos. There may or may not have been dancing on the bar at Coyote Ugly Saloon. 🕺🕺🕺