#FlyWashington Magazine Spring 2019 | Page 48

to DO to STAY There is nothing more quintessentially Nashville than the Grand Ole Opry. What began as a one-hour radio “barn dance” in 1925 has evolved into the mecca of country music. Having hosted music legends such as Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, and Johnny Cash, the Opry now welcomes members like Dierks Bentley, Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, and Keith Urban. Inside its custom-built home in Opryland, there are live shows most nights, or visitors can go behind the scenes for a daytime or post-show tour. CLASSIC: Marriot’s Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center is a popular pick for families, as it is in the heart of Nashville and within easy walk of Madame Tussauds, the Grand Ole Opry, and General Jackson Steamboat. Kids might not want to leave the resort property, however, which is home to SoundWaves — an upscale water experience featuring four acres of combined indoor and outdoor water attractions surrounded by lush gardens and waterfalls. The Ryman Auditorium is considered by many to be hallowed ground, as it was where Johnny Cash met the future June Carter Cash before before the Opry changed venues. Following a period of neglect, the Ryman was renovated in the 1990s into one of the most coveted performance halls in the world. Ever dreamed of being a singer? The Ryman Recording Studio lets you record a classic song or an original compilation that you can then take home on a CD, thanks to the help of a professional sound engineer. For those wanting to learn more about “The Man in Black,” the Johnny Cash Museum goes behind his music with the largest collection of Cash artifacts and memorabilia in the world, including stage costumes, instruments, personal letters, artwork and handwritten lyrics. The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum allows aspiring young musicians to tap into their talent with interactive workshops such as fiddle lessons, Willie Nelson-style guitar workshops, and creative classes for costume design. The Taylor Swift Education Center creates an exciting learning environment for all ages with three classrooms, a video conference lab and an interactive gallery. Exhibits in the main museum rotate seasonally, with schedule highlights focusing on home- grown music legends. If you’re lucky enough to be in Nashville on a Monday night, be sure to catch the Time Jumpers in their weekly show at 3rd and Lindsley. The Grammy-nominated 10-member group made up of A-list session musicians epitomizes the Western swing genre and makes every Monday night feel like a Saturday night party on Music Row. The recently-renamed Frist Art Museum opened the renovated Martin ArtQuest Gallery last May, where families can explore art in a hands- on way. Housed in Nashville’s former main post office built in 1933, the new space features art-making stations allowing kids to explore moving images through a large zoetrope, a shadow theater, and stop-motion animation; transform into shapes and colors via full-body- animated digital painting; or contribute to a collaborative textile- weaving installation. Beyond its music and arts scene, Nashville is bursting with outdoor activities especially in spring time. The Nashville Zoo at Grassmere has long been a hit with families especially since the opening of the Animal Health Center and Andean Bear Exhibit, and expansion of the Sumatran tiger area. Guests can experience close-up animal encounters at the amphitheater shows, Kangaroo Kickabout, Wilderness Express Train and the exhilarating Soaring Eagle zipline. On the western edge of Nashville, the Cheekwood Botanical Gardens is a 55-acre estate surrounding a majestic Georgian mansion. It is home to 12 distinct gardens, world-class art exhibits and an outdoor sculpture trail. The TRAINS! exhibit is an enchanted woodland with fairies, bridges, tunnels and waterfalls for children to explore. Special events for junior guests include Tuesdays for Tots, summer camps and various community programs. FLYWASHINGTON.COM 46 SPRING 2019 MODERN: Offering a truly artistic experience, the 21c Museum Hotel downtown is located in the former home of the historic Gray & Dudley Company (which is now the name of the hotel’s restaurant). The rooms and suites at 21c also follow the museum theme featuring pieces of unique art and sculptures. Book the Terrace Suite and you’ll get a rooftop view of the city, or the Yung Jake Artistic Suite has custom digital wallpaper by the L.A.-based artist. Combining both old and new, hip boutique hotel Noelle is a reinvention of a former 1930s-era hotel between Printer’s Alley and Broadway. Noelle joined the rooftop bar scene with the March 2018 opening of Rare Bird cocktail lounge above the 12th floor, offering views of the Nashville skyline, or hunt down their inhouse speakeasy the Hidden Bar. The rooms are sleek and stylish, while fitness-minded guests will also appreciate the interactive Peloton bikes in the second floor gym. to EAT CLASSIC: It’s a crime to leave Nashville without experiencing authentic “hot chicken,” which is breaded, coated with spices (heavy on the cayenne), and served with white bread and pickles. A favorite spot among locals is Hattie B’s, which has three locations that all offer sandwiches, chicken plates, southern sides and spice levels ranging from “Southern” to insanely spicy “Damn Hot” and “Shut the Cluck Up.” MODERN: East Nashville is an eclectic neighborhood with a blossoming culinary scene that’s been compared to New York City’s East Village. Butcher & Bee began with the vision of making the perfect sandwich and now serves unique dishes made from locally-sourced ingredients (the whipped feta with fermented honey, cracked pepper and pita is a brunch must-have). Mop/Broom Mess Hall is a trendy addition to Germantown partly due to its “Tuesday Night Special” supper series featuring rotating guest chefs collaborating with their resident one, Tandy Wilson. The everyday menu features creative twists on pork chops, lemongrass stew, and Vietnamese sausage, with frosted banana bread for dessert. The craft cocktails selection is just as interesting, with the Nebraska Wedding and Tiny Tim topping the list. The sister duo behind popular East Nashville bar No. 308 opened the Flamingo Cocktail Club and Falcon Coffee Bar last summer in the up and coming WeHo neighborhood. Creating cool alcoholic concoctions such as The Gauntlet (mezcal, hot peppers, and lemon) by night, and lattes and empanadas by day — the FCC Group aims to bring together the community. getting THERE Getting to Nashville from IAD and DCA is a pretty easy trip. Fly nonstop from IAD to BNA on United Airlines or from DCA to BNA on American and Southwest Airlines. All airlines offer multiple daily nonstop flights. Upon landing, it is a 20 minute drive to downtown via taxi (~$25), Uber, Lyft, or rental car. The Nashville MTA bus service also goes from the airport into the city.