6 Non-Music Things To Do In Nashville

Nashville – the home of all things country music. In fact, just try mentioning the place without someone saying Dolly Parton or Kenny Rogers and see how far you get. It’s the Mecca of country music and for many fans, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see where the magic takes place. But for every avid country music fan visiting the Grand Ole Opry or the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, there’s a family member that’s tagging along and quite possibly bored out of their mind. 

Well, thankfully Nashville isn’t just the home of country music. It’s actually a pretty great city to visit with plenty of things to do. So forget Dolly and Kenny (yeah that’s not going to happen is it?), from checking out giraffes to playing a hand of Texas Holdem, here are 6 great non-music related things to do in Nashville.

Head To The Zoo

Yes, there’s a zoo in Nashville. Well, it’s located in Grassmere, about 6 miles from Downtown but if you have a car, then it’s pretty close. The zoo is one of the best in the area and is home to around 339 species of animals. 340 if you include the visitors. There are over 6,000 individual animals and they are all really well looked after.

What’s great about this zoo is that it’s laid out in such a way that it’s incredibly easy to get around not to mention relaxing. Did you know that it is the state of Tennessee’s most popular paid attraction? That’s a record not to be sniffed at considering that the Country Music Hall of Fame is just down the road. If animals are your thing, then this should definitely be on your itinerary. 

Hitch A Ride To A Casino

There are no casinos in Nashville so if you want to go all Kenny Rogers and play some poker like the Gambler (sorry, musical reference!) then you have to hitch a ride out of state. It’s such a popular thing to do that there are companies that organize luxury transport from Nashville directly to the poker tables of Harrah’s or Tropicana Casino. They pick you up in the morning and drop you back in the evening. You can play everything from slot machines to roulette but there’s only one game you should be playing and we all know that’s poker, right?

Now, you may think you know how to play poker and maybe you do. But for those of you that think it’s all about luck, we’ve got news for you – It ain’t! Poker is a game of strategy and you’re not going to get anywhere playing your cards close to your chest and throwing what you think is a poker stare at your opponents. Nope, if you want to hold your own at the table, then you’ll really want to have at least a basic understanding of the rules and hand values. If you want to try your luck, then stick with the slots!

Learn About Science

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Science rocks but you already know that. What you probably don’t know is that Nashville is home to the Adventure Science Center. This is a non-profit science museum that is actually a place for people of all ages to learn about the wonders of science. Here you can learn about beekeeping, have fun in the adventure tower, pick up some interesting facts about space and the universe, or sit outside in the Galactic Gardens. The best activity though has to be Virtual Reality. That’s so much fun and well worth a look. 

Even if science isn’t really your thing, the center is a great place to go as the views of the city are pretty spectacular. Nah, forget that, this place is amazing, so get back inside and check out the planetarium or one of the many temporary exhibits that are held throughout the year. 

Visit Andrew Jackson’s Plantation

You know Andrew Jackson, the seventh president of the US? Yes, that Andrew Jackson. Well, his former plantation is called The Hermitage and is located and easy ten-mile drive from Downtown Nashville. You may be wondering why you’d want to visit what is essentially and old farm but the thing is, The Hermitage is so much more than a plantation. 

This is a chance to step back in time and learn about the inner workings of the former president’s plantation. There are guided tours that take you through the plantation and the museum, while you can also wander around a bit yourself if you’re feeling a little more adventurous. If you’re feeling tired from all that country music stuff you’ve been doing downtown, then there’s a nice wagon tour that’s highly recommended. 

Gawk At Old Cars

Photo credit: Flickr / CC BY-ND 2.0

If you like old cars and motorbikes, then you’re going to love Lane Motor Museum. It’s a non-profit museum established by Jeff Lane in 2002. He’s a local car enthusiast who loves nothing more than finding old cars and restoring them to their former glory. 

The museum is home to over 150 cars and motorcycles and the largest collection of European cars in the United States and known as one of the top car museums in the country. You’ll find cars there from all over the world and there are even a few old prototypes that never went into production. Their claim to fame at this museum is that every car and motorcycle in the building is in perfect working order. Even for non-car enthusiasts, it’s quite an interesting way to spend an afternoon. 

The Honorable Mention

The honorable mention has to go to Madame Tussauds. Even though the Nashville location is pretty much totally musically-orientated, it’s a fine spot for some fun and photos. Yeah, I know this is supposed to be non-music stuff but where else can you get a photo of Miley Cyrus, Rihanna, and Katy Perry? They even have Bono, too.

So there you have it. Whether it’s a day trip to the casino for a few hands of poker, or an afternoon spent checking out the largest collection of European cars on this side of the Atlantic, there are plenty of things to do in Nashville that don’t revolve around the Grand Ole Opry. Now, there’s no excuses for being bored even if country music isn’t your thing.