Music brings people together, so Nashville is a prime spot for bonding with your nearest and dearest. From listening to live jazz at the airport to "discovering" new talent at the Opry, you'll make melodic memories in Music City. And with pro sports teams, historical landmarks and museums to boot, visiting this city will leave everyone whistling a happy tune.
A Season in Nashville
Nashville has four distinct seasons. Summer is steamy and sticky, with average highs hovering just below 90 F. When you take in the blooming tulips in spring and admire the changing foliage in fall, expect average high temperatures in the 60s and 70s. Winter is chilly, but not bone-chilling. Average highs are near 50 F around the holidays, and this Southern city sees an average of 5 to 6 inches of snowfall per year. May is the wettest month, with about 5.5 inches of rain, while the city averages about 3 to 4 inches of precipitation per month the rest of the year.
Fun in Nashvegas
Channel your inner Reba or Waylon at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum; it boasts a rotating collection of exhibits, but there are always kid-friendly attractions. Catch a live show or backstage tour at the Grand Ole Opry, where up-and-coming country singers become overnight sensations. This city isn't all about crooners and steel guitars, though. Cheer from the sidelines of a pro football or hockey game—the Tennessee Titans and Nashville Predators call this town home—or explore the lush gardens and stately mansion of President Andrew Jackson. Nashville is also home to the Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art, the Tennessee State Capitol building and Historic RCA Studio B, where Elvis Presley recorded more than 260 songs. Tours are available at each one.
Boomin' Business In the Athens of the South
Forbes has called Nashville one of the best cities for business and one of the fastest-growing economies in the country. Health care, banking and transportation are leading industries, as is education; Vanderbilt University is the largest employer in Nashville. In keeping with the Music City's reputation, Country Music Television and the Country Music Association are also headquartered here.
Music City Travels in Style
An airport you're not in a hurry to leave? You must be at Nashville International. Drop your bags, and then grab a tall glass of sweet tea and relax with live music; there are four stages located throughout the terminal, where local artists regularly jam. The airport is served by 11 airlines, including American, Delta, Southwest and United. Several major interstate highways feed into the Music City, including Interstates 40, 24 and 65. Greyhound buses serve the city, but the closest Amtrak stations are in Newbern or Memphis, both about a 3-hour drive from Nashville.