Nashville, Tennessee, also called Music City USA, is more than just Country Music.
There is culture, history, adventure, shopping, fine dining and more.
Yet there is plenty of country music and a honky-tonk on every corner you find.
Many groups pass on this amazing destination because they think you have to like Country Music to appreciate it.
The fact is, if you visit Nashville, you are more likely to love Country Music by the time you are ready to leave.
Though I had driven through Nashville on I-65, I never took the time to get off of the interstate to explore this amazing destination.
My first of many trips to Nashville came just a few years ago.
I had the opportunity to visit Nashville during the CMA Music Festival so there was music everywhere I turned - in every honkytonk, restaurant, shopping mall, and even in the airport.
And, it was all great music! I was amazed how many talented musicians I heard.
The highlights of the music tour had to be the Country Music Hall of Fame, with a private tour of RCA Studio B.
Historic RCA Studio B is one of the world's most important and successful recording studios.
More than 35,000 songs were brought to life by the Studio B magic, including more than 1,000 American hits, 40 million-selling singles, and over 200 Elvis Presley recordings (by far more than any other studio).
I also visited the Ryman Auditorium, which was the formerly the Grand Ole Opry House and the Union Tabernacle Choir.
And, no trip to Nashville is complete without taking in a performance at the Grand Ole Opry.
A tour of the backstage area puts you right in the middle of the action and some lucky guests even get the chance to sit on stage during the live performance.
While in this group-friendly destination, I had the chance to visit many of their world-class attractions, including the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere, home to over 400 animal species and over 2,500 animals.
My favorite habitat is the Kangaroo Kickabout where guests can view the 'roos from an outside area, or get a closer experience by walking a winding path through the middle of the habitat.
The Frist Center for Visual Arts is located in downtown Nashville in the city's historic U.
S.
Post Office Building.
The Hermitage is the former plantation home of Andrew Jackson, the seventh President of the United States.
One of the more unique attractions in Nashville is the Parthenon, a full scale replica of the original Parthenon in Greece.
Most recently, the Parthenon has been used in the film Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief.
Nashville is also home to the Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC) and the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, home of the Nashville Symphony.
As far as entertainment, I loved my cruise down the Cumberland River on the General Jackson Showboat.
They offer both lunch and dinner cruises throughout the year with delicious meals and amazing entertainment.
I also loved visiting the famous Wildhorse Saloon, Nashville's #1 Dining and Entertainment destination.
Not only did I get to experience a little country line dancing, but I also tasted my first fried pickles.
And, for those true Country Music fans, you can make arrangements for tours of the stars homes.
Or, wait long enough and you are likely to run into someone anywhere you go.
If you are a sports fan, which I am, you can take in a Tennessee Titans football game at LP Field, or take in a Nashville Predators Hockey game at Bridgestone Arena.
You could even visit the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame.
There are so many choices in Nashville and for groups it's a little more than just Country Music.
There is culture, history, adventure, shopping, fine dining and more.
Yet there is plenty of country music and a honky-tonk on every corner you find.
Many groups pass on this amazing destination because they think you have to like Country Music to appreciate it.
The fact is, if you visit Nashville, you are more likely to love Country Music by the time you are ready to leave.
Though I had driven through Nashville on I-65, I never took the time to get off of the interstate to explore this amazing destination.
My first of many trips to Nashville came just a few years ago.
I had the opportunity to visit Nashville during the CMA Music Festival so there was music everywhere I turned - in every honkytonk, restaurant, shopping mall, and even in the airport.
And, it was all great music! I was amazed how many talented musicians I heard.
The highlights of the music tour had to be the Country Music Hall of Fame, with a private tour of RCA Studio B.
Historic RCA Studio B is one of the world's most important and successful recording studios.
More than 35,000 songs were brought to life by the Studio B magic, including more than 1,000 American hits, 40 million-selling singles, and over 200 Elvis Presley recordings (by far more than any other studio).
I also visited the Ryman Auditorium, which was the formerly the Grand Ole Opry House and the Union Tabernacle Choir.
And, no trip to Nashville is complete without taking in a performance at the Grand Ole Opry.
A tour of the backstage area puts you right in the middle of the action and some lucky guests even get the chance to sit on stage during the live performance.
While in this group-friendly destination, I had the chance to visit many of their world-class attractions, including the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere, home to over 400 animal species and over 2,500 animals.
My favorite habitat is the Kangaroo Kickabout where guests can view the 'roos from an outside area, or get a closer experience by walking a winding path through the middle of the habitat.
The Frist Center for Visual Arts is located in downtown Nashville in the city's historic U.
S.
Post Office Building.
The Hermitage is the former plantation home of Andrew Jackson, the seventh President of the United States.
One of the more unique attractions in Nashville is the Parthenon, a full scale replica of the original Parthenon in Greece.
Most recently, the Parthenon has been used in the film Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief.
Nashville is also home to the Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC) and the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, home of the Nashville Symphony.
As far as entertainment, I loved my cruise down the Cumberland River on the General Jackson Showboat.
They offer both lunch and dinner cruises throughout the year with delicious meals and amazing entertainment.
I also loved visiting the famous Wildhorse Saloon, Nashville's #1 Dining and Entertainment destination.
Not only did I get to experience a little country line dancing, but I also tasted my first fried pickles.
And, for those true Country Music fans, you can make arrangements for tours of the stars homes.
Or, wait long enough and you are likely to run into someone anywhere you go.
If you are a sports fan, which I am, you can take in a Tennessee Titans football game at LP Field, or take in a Nashville Predators Hockey game at Bridgestone Arena.
You could even visit the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame.
There are so many choices in Nashville and for groups it's a little more than just Country Music.