Where to stay in Nashville

[GaryS]

My wife and I are planning an August vacation, part of which will be in Nashville.

I'm looking for recommendations for the general area where we should stay. I don't need a specific recommendation, just what areas are good and which are not so good.

Our plans include the Country Music Hall of Fame, Grand Ole Opry, Music Row, and similar attractions.

We also plan to do some driving around doing advanced scouting of possible relocation sites, so good versus bad residential area information would be helpful as well.

Any other thoughts on things to do would also be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[Stu1205]

One place I wouldn't stay at again is the Loews Vanderbilt.
I was there last month on a business trip.
At every entrance to the hotel, there are signs that say,
"No Firearms Allowed"

I told the manager when checking out that I would never stay
there again, or at any other Loews hotel.

He didn't seem too upset, but that is okay.
There are plenty of other hotels to stay at.

Stu

 

[GaryS]

That's on my list of criteria. Part of our trip includes going to AL to visit my son and his family. I know that he's going to want to shoot with me and I'm bringing one target pistol with me. I'm also bringing a couple of carry hand guns as well.

We picked TN in part because it's generally considered firearms friendly.

One place I wouldn't stay at again is the Loews Vanderbilt.
I was there last month on a business trip.
At every entrance to the hotel, there are signs that say,
"No Firearms Allowed"

I told the manager when checking out that I would never stay
there again, or at any other Loews hotel.

He didn't seem too upset, but that is okay.
There are plenty of other hotels to stay at.

Stu

 

[rwsmith]

The last time.....

The last time we tried to stay in Nashville there was a music convention in town that had invited every wino that wanted to be a country music star. Everywhere we went winos with guitars were in the parking lots, hotel balconies, you name it. After a while we gave up and drove somewhere past Bucksnort before we found a place to stay. I hope your trip is more pleasant than ours was.

 

[GaryS]

I worked EMS in Boston for over 30 years. Every weekend night downtown was like that! Between the college campuses and drunks in the downtown hotels, I often thought that Prohibition wasn't such a bad idea.

I will definitely check to see if there is anything like that scheduled for the days we'll be there. Thanks.

The last time we tried to stay in Nashville there was a music convention in town that had invited every wino that wanted to be a country music star. Everywhere we went winos with guitars were in the parking lots, hotel balconies, you name it. After a while we gave up and drove somewhere past Bucksnort before we found a place to stay. I hope your trip is more pleasant than ours was.

 

[P&R Fan]

I've only stayed in Nashville once, for a business convention. Missus P&R Fan and I stayed at the Hotel at the Grand Ole Opry. It was AWESOME!
That place is a city in and of itself.

And I can't let that go without an....ahem, story.
We checked in and were hungry. Saw they had room-service pizza. Decided to order one. Called the front desk and they said it would be about 45 minutes. No problem, we can wait. Now, what can an incredibly good looking couple find to do in a hotel room for 45 minutes? Hmmmm. I thought of somethin'. About 20 minutes later there was a knock on the door. Just a minute! Went to the door and picked up the pizza, thanked the delivery guy, and shoved what I thought was a 20 dollar bill at him and told him to keep the change. Set the pizza down and resumed what we were doing. (We were praying, for those of you younger people). About ten minutes later the phone rang. (This just ain't my night). The caller asked if we had just ordered a pizza. "Yeah, it's great, best we ever had". Caller said he was glad to hear that, but wondered if we had meant to give the delivery guy a hundred dollar bill, and wanted him to keep the change? No, I really didn't! "Well, would you like him to come back up and return the change?" "Yeas, Sir, thank you very much".
We tipped him a double sawbuck for the courtesy.

Bet that hotel still remembers us.
Jim

 

[gregintenn]

The Opryland Hotel is quite a place to see as well as stay, but it is rather expensive. If you're looking for a more economical place to stay, just avoid Dickerson Road, Murfreesboro Road, and Trinity lane, and you'll be o.k.
I would suggest while Downtown, you take a stroll through the Bicentennial Mall, Check out the Parthenon, and Tennessee State Museum in the basement of the James K. Polk building.
Gruhen's Guitar store is a must see as well.

 

[GaryS]

We're already staying at the Heartbreak Hotel while we're in Memphis, so that's one theme hotel. I generally like Holiday Inn Express (not just because it makes me smarter) or Hampton Inn. Reasonably priced, clean, and usually in decent areas.

Thanks for the areas to avoid, that's the sort of thing I'm looking for.

Oh, does TN have binding signage for gun prohibition?

The Opryland Hotel is quite a place to see as well as stay, but it is rather expensive. If you're looking for a more economical place to stay, just avoid Dickerson Road, Murfreesboro Road, and Trinity lane, and you'll be o.k.
I would suggest while Downtown, you take a stroll through the Bicentennial Mall, Check out the Parthenon, and Tennessee State Museum in the basement of the James K. Polk building.
Gruhen's Guitar store is a must see as well.

 

[keith44spl]

I personally like the Opryland Hotel......Stay there every once in a while

 

[bdmoss88]

We're already staying at the Heartbreak Hotel while we're in Memphis, so that's one theme hotel. I generally like Holiday Inn Express (not just because it makes me smarter) or Hampton Inn. Reasonably priced, clean, and usually in decent areas.

Thanks for the areas to avoid, that's the sort of thing I'm looking for.

Oh, does TN have binding signage for gun prohibition?

We've stayed at the Holiday Inn Express - Brentwood North at exit 74 off I-65 a couple of times. Seemed like a decent area last year when we were there.

 

[Jst1mr]

Nashville can be a real blast! I like to stay in one of two places: either the DoubleTree downtown - central to just about anything, walking distance to many points of interest (and a really good warm chocolate chip cookie when you check in!); or just south in Franklin - neat historical places to visit, a little more calm, good restaurants and shopping (if that counts).

 

[gregintenn]

Historic Nashville Hotel Offering Boutique Accommodations and Service - Union Station
This is a very interesting place.

Oh, does TN have binding signage for gun prohibition?

Please doublecheck any info I give you, because I an NOT a lawyer.

Tennessee does have a standardized gunbuster sign with the picture of the handgun with a circle around it and a slash through it. There is also a standard size and certain verbage.

I believe that if you are in a place such signed, all they can do it to ask you to leave. There are exceptions to this, such as federal buildings, some local parks, etc. It's very confusing. Conceal carry is your friend.

 

[LoadedRound]

"I generally like Holiday Inn Express (not just because it makes me smarter) or Hampton Inn. Reasonably priced, clean, and usually in decent areas. "

There is a great example of both downtown. Either one is within walking distance of the Country Music Hall of Fame, Broadway, 2nd Ave. and all the stuff people want to see. Were I you, I would either stay downtown or in the Music Valley area (close to the Grand ole Opry).

Nashville is a great town. I hope you have a wonderful trip.

 

[GaryS]

Thank you. We're looking forward to the trip.

I also appreciate the tips from everyone on things to do while we're there.

"I generally like Holiday Inn Express (not just because it makes me smarter) or Hampton Inn. Reasonably priced, clean, and usually in decent areas. "

There is a great example of both downtown. Either one is within walking distance of the Country Music Hall of Fame, Broadway, 2nd Ave. and all the stuff people want to see. Were I you, I would either stay downtown or in the Music Valley area (close to the Grand ole Opry).

Nashville is a great town. I hope you have a wonderful trip.

 

[LittleCooner]

You will find Alabama very gun friendly. Outside of the normal government buildings, CC is everywhere and in all my ramblings, i do not remember encountering a sign on a private building that says guns are not allowed. Welcome to the gun friendly south, a place where when you go out in the yard and start shooting and you hear a car speeding down the driveway, its only a neighbor who heard the shooting, and threw a few guns and ammo in the car and came in a hurry, hoping to join the fun.

 

[GaryS]

LOL! My son lives within the city limits or he'd be able to shoot on his property. The city/county thing is pretty new to me as in MA counties don't count for much.

He's been down there a year and has gone from owning zero guns to owning four. My daughter in law is right there with him and once the baby is born, she'll do more shooting.

Considering that he's from MA and she's from NJ, they are adapting to and loving the southern life style.

You will find Alabama very gun friendly. Outside of the normal government buildings, CC is everywhere and in all my ramblings, i do not remember encountering a sign on a private building that says guns are not allowed. Welcome to the gun friendly south, a place where when you go out in the yard and start shooting and you hear a car speeding down the driveway, its only a neighbor who heard the shooting, and threw a few guns and ammo in the car and came in a hurry, hoping to join the fun.

 

[jframe]

We were in Franklin this past weekend at a car cruise. I'm only a couple hours from Nashville; we go quite a bit. Franklin is a quaint old town if you take the time to go west of the Interstate and explore downtown, which is on old Highway 31. Brentwood is just north of Franklin, and is about as uppity as it gets. Rode through some of their subdivisions, and really felt as if I should have been driving a Porsche and wearing a dinner jacket. Both areas are good places to stay, I would assume, and are twenty minutes from downtown Nashville. If it was me, I'd look for a neat bed and breakfast or something in downtown Franklin. Old town with a square and a LOT of Civil War history; got to be a B&B somewhere there.

 

[GaryS]

Thanks. This is the sort of local information I'm looking for. Brentwood sounds like a couple of towns around here that don't particularly like the hoi polloi driving around the neighborhood.

We were in Franklin this past weekend at a car cruise. I'm only a couple hours from Nashville; we go quite a bit. Franklin is a quaint old town if you take the time to go west of the Interstate and explore downtown, which is on old Highway 31. Brentwood is just north of Franklin, and is about as uppity as it gets. Rode through some of their subdivisions, and really felt as if I should have been driving a Porsche and wearing a dinner jacket. Both areas are good places to stay, I would assume, and are twenty minutes from downtown Nashville. If it was me, I'd look for a neat bed and breakfast or something in downtown Franklin. Old town with a square and a LOT of Civil War history; got to be a B&B somewhere there.

 

[gregintenn]

*Nashville Maroons
Why not check out a vintage baseball game while in town? We went to one, and it was a hoot! Admission is free as well.

 

[TheGreatGonzo]

I spend a lot of time in Nashville and the Nashville Hilton Dowtown quickly became like a 2nd home. You know you spend a lot of time at a hotel when the valet staff knows you and greets you by name. Really a great hotel in a fantastic location. If you want the location but a smaller bill at the end of your stay, consider the Hampton Inn almost directly across the street.

While you are in town, eat at Dimo's.

Gonzo