Getaways

Say "Music City" and we all know it’s Nashville, the epicenter of all things not only country, but also blues, rock ’n’ roll, jazz—you name it. Great barbecue, a lively cultural scene, impressive history and an abundance of true Southern hospitality await. Live music in the airport will help put you in the mood. (www.musiccityusa.com)

SEE: Or should we say, "hear?" No visit is complete without an evening at the Grand Ole Opry, of course. The best live music in more intimate settings can be found at Tootsies Orchid Lounge, The Bluebird Café and Exit/In. Must-sees include the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum (among its extensive 800,000 artifacts is Elvis’ gold piano) and, for historical perspective, The Hermitage, Andrew Jackson’s elegant home where guides dress in period costume.

STAY: The recently renovated Hermitage Hotel is Nashville’s five-star, gracious grande dame; don’t miss the formal afternoon tea. Plenty of local hospitality—with 3,000 rooms—greets visitors at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, along with nine acres of gardens, a re-creation of a Mississippi River town, boutiques galore and dancing fountains that rival the Bellagio’s in Vegas.

DINE: Down-home vittles at the Loveless Cafe and Park Cafe will satisfy country cravings. Make the pilgrimage to Jack’s Bar-B-Que, worthy of its "world-famous" reputation. Satisfy a sweet tooth at the time-warp-vintage Elliston Place Soda Shop, and for a buzz-worthy blend of Southern and tropical cuisine, Cabana welcomes diners with booths, tables, or private cabanas with flat-screen TVs.

SHOP: Legendary Gruhn Guitars will sell you one, with lots of attendant history. The Ernest Tubb Record Shop has every country disc extant, past and present; Hatch Show Print provides the same in original concert posters. Katy K’s Ranch Dressing has the best vintage and custom country togs, and for rare books for children and Southern history, check out Elder’s Bookstore.

INSIDER’S TIP: The Nashville Symphony is in session at the new Schermerhorn Symphony Center, an acoustical and architectural wonder. For lovers of the visual arts, the Frist Center, listed in the National Register of Historic Places, offers sophisticated art exhibitions.