Nashville
A roll-by overview of downtown Nashville attractions within easy reach of the JW Marriott Nashville — perfect for filling your itinerary between hotel stays.
Table of Contents
- Music City Center
- Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
- Honky Tonk Highway
- The Gulch
- Frist Art Museum
- Ryman Auditorium
Music City Center
Music City Center is Nashville’s massive downtown convention center, and it’s an easy roll from the JW Marriott. The 2.1-million-square-foot building takes up a full city block just south of Broadway, so if you’re in town for a conference, this is likely where you’ll spend your days. Wide corridors and multiple elevators make getting around the building straightforward, and the covered parking garage underneath is a convenient option if you’re driving in. It’s a functional rather than scenic stop, but its central location makes it a natural anchor point for exploring everything else downtown.
Music City Center — official website
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Just a short roll from the hotel, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is one of Nashville’s signature attractions, telling the story of country music through instruments, costumes, handwritten lyrics, and interactive exhibits. The building itself sprawls across a full city block, and the exhibit halls are spacious with plenty of room to move through at your own pace. Even if you’re not a die-hard country music fan, it’s a worthwhile stop for a sense of the city’s musical history.
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum — official website
Honky Tonk Highway
Honky Tonk Highway is the nickname for the stretch of lower Broadway lined with live music bars, each one blasting a different band out onto the sidewalk. It’s loud, bright, and about as “Nashville” as it gets. The sidewalks here can get crowded, especially in the evenings and on weekends, so I’ve found it easier to roll through earlier in the day if I want a bit more breathing room. Most of the bars have street-level entrances, though the crowds inside can make navigating from bar to bar a bit more of a project.
Honky Tonk Highway — visitor guide
The Gulch
The Gulch is a trendy neighborhood just southwest of downtown, known for its boutiques, coffee shops, and restaurants housed in a mix of renovated warehouses and newer buildings. It has a noticeably different feel from the honky-tonk energy of Broadway — quieter, more polished, and a nice change of pace if you need a break from the crowds. The sidewalks and street crossings throughout the neighborhood are generally in good shape, making it a pleasant area to roll through for a meal or some shopping.
Frist Art Museum
Housed in a beautifully restored Art Deco former post office, the Frist Art Museum is one of downtown’s quieter cultural stops. It doesn’t have a permanent collection — instead, it rotates through visiting exhibitions covering everything from classic to contemporary art. The building’s grand original lobby is worth seeing on its own, and the galleries are spread out comfortably enough to roll through without feeling cramped. It’s a nice, calmer contrast to the energy of Broadway just a few blocks away.
Frist Art Museum — official website
Ryman Auditorium
Known as the “Mother Church of Country Music,” the Ryman Auditorium is a National Historic Landmark just off Broadway and a short roll from the JW Marriott. The building started as a tabernacle in the 1890s, which is part of why it still has that church-like feel — wooden pews and all — even though it now hosts concerts and the Grand Ole Opry’s winter season. Daytime self-guided tours let you roll through the main hall at your own pace, and the historic building has been updated over the years with accessible entrances and elevators to the upper levels. It’s a must for understanding the roots of Nashville’s music scene.