This summer, our friends had a terrific time sailing around the Mediterranean. We know this not because they told us, but because their social media pages bombarded us with photos of Aperol spritzes and ancient monuments.

Naturally, scrolling past so many beautiful photos convinced us that we, too, deserved to see Athens. Then, reality tapped us on the shoulder, whispered “nonprofit salary,” and slapped the proverbial pita out of our hands. Thus, we started looking closer to home.

Enter: Nashville, Tennessee.

DON’T CLICK AWAY! Hear us out – Nashville may not have Aristophanes or Plato, but its renowned recording industry and other creative destinations have contributed to an integral part of our American identity.

Most importantly for our vacation plans, Nashville is known as the Athens of the South, complete with a life-size replica of The Parthenon housing a 42-foot-tall painted and gilded statue of the goddess Athena.

We’ve compiled a list of some of the people and places that have made Nashville so amazing – so, save those airline miles, and pack your bags for Music City!

Belle Meade (est. 1807), Historic Estate and Winery

Once a horse farm and now a museum and winery, Belle Meade is an excellent place to learn more about Nashville before and after the U.S. Civil War. The Mansion Tour follows the fortunes of the estate’s owners, from John Harding’s purchase of 250 acres in 1807, to the horse farm’s rise to international fame in the 1880s and 1890s, and finally, to the property’s sale by heirs in 1906. The Journey to Jubilee Tour illustrates the lives of the estate’s Black workers, from Harding’s three slaves, to the 136 slaves on the 1860 Census, and finally, to workers who continued under contracts after Emancipation. Take both tours for a thorough review of 19th-century history!

While at Belle Meade, you’ll also learn about the art and entertainment of the time. The property has structures in the Federal style preferred before 1830, the Greek Revival style characteristic of the 1850s, and the Gothic Revival style popular in the 1880s. Additionally, the horse farm played key roles in the sport of racing; for instance, over two-thirds of horses that have won the Kentucky Derby are descended from Bonnie Scotland, brought to Belle Meade in 1871. But don’t worry – if you start wondering whether YOU will leave such a mark on history, you can drown your sorrows in a wine flight, or distract yourself by taking lessons on the proper way to sip a Nashville bourbon.

Ryman Auditorium (est. 1892)

On May 10, 1885, Reverend Sam Jones gave a life-changing sermon at an evangelical revival in downtown Nashville. Perhaps the most unlikely person to attend was Thomas Ryman, owner of numerous riverboats, casinos, saloons, and other dubious establishments. When the preacher exhorted the crowd to “quit your meanness,” Ryman took it to heart. By 1892, he had raised $100,000 – well over $3 million in today’s money – to open the Union Gospel Tabernacle.

It was posthumously renamed after Ryman, its most significant donor, but the building owes its reputation as an iconic performance venue to one of its early managers, Lula Naff. In the early 20th century, the enterprising secretary began booking shows at the Ryman; they proved so successful that Naff was hired as the official manager in 1920. Thanks to her efforts, The Grand Ole Opry came to the Ryman in 1943. Although the Opry moved to its own building in 1974, the Ryman stage continued to host the biggest names in country music. Recent performers have included LeeAnn Rimes and Jon Batiste.

Music Row (est. 1950s)

The first recording studio on Music Row was the legendary Quonset Hut, which opened in 1954. Other studios soon followed, creating a new country music recording district. The district was clearly flourishing as a cultural hub by 1967, when the Country Music Hall of Fame opened on Music Row. Although the Country Music Hall of Fame moved downtown in 2001, you should still go to Music Row to learn about the studios that launched the careers of Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, and more!

You can enjoy Music Row either by tour bus or on foot, because there is a lot to see. That includes not only historic studios like RCA and Monument Records but also the Owen Bradley Park, named for the pianist and music producer, and a bronze sculpture called Musica. It’s by Alan LeQuire, the same artist who made Nashville’s Athena Parthenos statue. The Parthenon replica is a 10-minute drive from Music Row, on the other side of Vanderbilt University, so you can easily see both in a single day.

Nashville Film Festival (est. 1969)

You know a film festival is a big deal when it is headlined by Nicole Kidman. She attended the Nashville Film Festival, or NashFilm, this year to discuss her career and answer questions following a screening of the U.S. Civil War drama Cold Mountain. NashFilm certainly has come a long way since it began beside Sinking Creek, a stream on founder Mary Jane Coleman’s farm in eastern Tennessee!

As you might expect, NashFilm’s organizers make a point of curating a selection of music videos and films about music. The program also has a special section for Tennessee Features. An intriguing example from the 56th edition in September 2025 was Kate Chevigny’s The Easy Kind. Country musician Elizabeth Cook stars as EC, an emerging artist striving to express her true self, putting her at odds with the recording industry. Count on NashFilm for moving and thought-provoking stories about themes like these, as well as for a guest list full of celebrities!

Frist Art Museum (est. 2001)

You can tell that the Frist Art Museum was once a post office, and by that, we mean no disrespect! Dating to the 1930s, the beautiful granite building exemplifies both the Art Deco movement and the Depression era’s austere version of Classical architectural style. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984, but Nashville needed a new main post office closer to the airport. Wonderfully, the high-ceilinged rooms previously used to sort Nashville’s mail now serve as art galleries, introducing visitors to masterpieces from around the world.

Although the museum does not have a permanent collection, it is especially beloved for the Martin ArtQuest® Gallery, where people of all ages make art inspired by the traveling exhibitions on display. Since the Frist just hosted an exhibit called Venice and the Ottoman Empire, we thought we might try the suggested experiment of painting ourselves as a Venetian doge. But jeans and a jacket look MUCH better on us than Doge Francesco Morosini’s plate armor, not to mention that horrible hat!

Parnassus Books (est. 2011)

In 2011, Ann Patchett and Karen Hayes founded “an independent bookstore for independent people.” Yes, that Ann Patchett – author of the grief memoir Truth & Beauty, the PEN/Faulkner Award winner Bel Canto, and most recently, the pandemic novel Tom Lake. Patchett has been the sole owner of Parnassus Books since Hayes retired in 2022. And, despite all the success and fame, Patchett still signs each one of her books sold at the store!

Parnassus, like many independent bookstores, is a hub of literary culture for its community. Besides keeping a full calendar of events, the store runs a blog called Musing, which publishes “Ann-ecdotes” from Patchett, book recommendations, author interviews, and most adorably, diary entries by the shop dogs. If you know anything about CreativeFuture, then you know we always judge a bookstore by its pets! But Parnassus would also be a perfect place to pick up a copy of Nashville: Scenes from the New American South, a collaborative volume by Patchett, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Jon Meacham, and photographer Heidi Ross.

OZ Arts Nashville (est. 2013), Contemporary Art & Performance Center

This center for avant-garde art is named after businessman and philanthropist Tim Ozgener, the Nashville-born son of Armenian immigrants from Turkey. Ozgener made his fortune from the family business, CAO Cigars, which became an internationally recognized brand. After selling the company in 2007, the Ozgeners gave over one of their warehouses to create a space for celebrating the arts. The venue particularly supports artists who reach their audience through innovative styles and new technologies.

The theme of the 2025-2026 season is “A Cultural Revelation.” Of course, we were excited to learn about the upcoming cabaret performance by Meow Meow, a “deliciously deranged postmodern diva,” in the words of Time Out NY. But cinema lovers should also check out multimedia events like Rosa by TeatroCinema, which combines animation with live action onstage. And May 2026 will mark the fifth edition of the Brave New Works Lab, featuring some of Nashville’s boldest local artists.

Nateland (est. 2023)

Okay, this one isn’t a person or place … But we make the arts roundup rules, so we get to break them from time to time. Especially for a cultural phenomenon we really like! This Nashville-based production company is also a podcast, YouTube channel, live comedy series, and network of friends, united by a commitment to good, clean fun. The company was created in 2023, but its unifying idea grew out of the stand-up comedy of Nate Bargatze (b. 1979).

The self-described “Tennessee Kid” with “Big Dumb Eyes” grew up in a suburb of Nashville, but he recently became the top-selling comedian in the WORLD. We’re not exaggerating – you can read about it in Billboard and Pollstar! While visiting Nashville, you might spot Bargatze at Zanies, just south of downtown, for the Nateland Live comedy series. A local newspaper recommends stopping by on a Monday, because there’s a chance you’ll get to hear Bargatze testing new material!

That’s our roundup! We hope it piqued your interest in Nashville.

We’ll be back soon with another – unless we’re cutting our debut album. Then, we’ll be wearing rhinestones and crooning into a microphone inside a historic recording studio.

Want a sneak peek at our track list? It tells a story of love, heartbreak, and redemption, inspired by Nashville’s culture and history.

1. Gonna Drink My Bourbon Right Tonight (and Wrong Tomorrow Morning)
2. You’re a Bookshop Dog? Well, I’m a Literary Cowgirl!
3. Those Big Dumb Eyes Look Alright to Me (After Several Big Dumb Drinks)
4. Send Me Your Heart by the Pony Express
5. Tears in My Eyes by Sinking Creek
6. You Couldn’t Quit Your Meanness if You Tried (and God Knows You’ve Never Tried)
7. Light Your Own Cigar, and Don’t Call Me Baby
8. Wearing Nancy’s Boots on Music Row

We’ll see you at the top of the charts!

Until next time, find some creativity wherever you can! #StandCreative