Nashville, Tennessee

Famous for being the home of country music, Nashville was another pit-stop on our drive north. Our first stop was at the Grand Ole Opry, the grandest stage in country music and a mecca for country music fans. My knowledge of country music is severely limited however the tour of the Opry was amazing and one of my favourite stops on this road trip. The tour was one of the best run tours I’ve ever been on and we really got a sense of the significance of the Opry.

Opry painting in the Green Room

The interior of the Green Room

Singing on the famed wooden circle

The tour takes you through the history of the Opry, a tour of the dressing rooms, green room and a visit on stage to stand, or sing, on the famed wooden circle at the centre of the stage. The only downside was the guide would keep asking trivia questions with the preface that “y’all will know the answer to this one” but unlike everyone else, I never did.

After the Opry we headed into the centre of Nashville and starting walking around town, working our way towards Jacks BBQ for lunch. We seemed to arrive before the crowds as the line was out the door by the time we had ordered. We shared a sample platter with assorted meats and sides and although I prefer the coleslaw at Jack’s, overall Chattanooga was my favourite.

Jack's BBQ Exterior

Sample plate: coleslaw, mac & cheese, smoked sausage, pulled pork and ribs

The growing line at the lunchtime rush hour

We continued walking around town in an attempt to walk off our lunch and after my father bought an obligatory Stetson we squeezed in a visit to the Country Music Hall of Fame before calling it a day.