Yee Haw! Visiting the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, Tennessee
By Meg Brunson
I've been a country music fan for as long as I can remember, and Nashville has been on my "bucket list" for YEARS. I was so excited to visit, that I rerouted a recent road trip just to allow me one day to visit Nashville - and of all the things we could have done on that day, the Country Music Hall of Fame topped my list!
After browsing an exhibit focused on Nashville’s first full-time professional songwriters, Boudleaux and Felice Bryant, we excitedly checked out the Taylor Swift Education Center. The kids loved designing their own country dresses and then browsing art work created by local Nashville artists!
The main exhibit led us through the history of country music and included original recordings, videos, photographs, and memoribelia. We loved seeing video clips of Elvis, compilation videos of country music videos, the car driven in Smokey and the Bandit and so many beautiful dresses worn by Kacey Musgraves.
My kids love electronic exhibits and there was a great interactive media area where they were able to design their own fashionable country singers, watch pop culture references of country music, mix your own song and more. They loved being able to crawl into a ginormous guitar and play a game that encouraged them to create their own country song on a huge record player.
Our favorite thing was the life-sized Taylor Swift tour bus. Inside the bus were 2 recording studios where up to 4 people could go in, put on headphones, choose a song and record it karaoke-style! We recorded one take of "We Will Rock You" by Queen, and one of "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" by Taylor Swift! Then, we designed our own Hall of Fame plaques, album covers, or create your on-stage look.
Of course, we loved checking out the Gold Record Wall and the Hall of Fame Rotunda. It was fun to walk around and look for all our favorites. The Gold Record wall was impressive in that it spanned 2 stories and we loved the view from the spiral staircase leading from the 3rd floor down to the 2nd!
The museum provided a fantastic overview of country music, from it's folk-roots to modern day. I consider myself a pretty big country music person, and I learned a lot during our visit. I also loved how many opportunities there were to truly feel immersed in the history and sounds of country music!
Helpful Hints for a Terrific Trip
- Fun and Games - The self-guided tour begins on the 3rd floor - make sure that you stop into the Taylor Swift Education Center and check out the museum scavenger hunts and exhibit activity guides to make the trip extra fun for the whole family! You may also want to check the calendar to see what family-friendly events will be happening during your visit!
- Timing - We visited on a Monday afternoon and some areas were very crowded... next time we visit, we'll try to arrive earlier in the day to beat the crowds!
- Parking - The museum is located in the heart of Nashville and there are several paid lots located around the Museum. The Country Music Hall of Fame suggests parking at the Music City Center (6th Avenue S. and Demonbreun) or the Hilton Hotel. Both are across the street from the Museum and offer paid parking. We parked near Music City Center and loved that we were able to self-pay with our credit card - and the walk was definitely reasonable!
- Food/Drink - Only water is allowed inside the museum, however there are 3 dining options within the museum if you get hungry while you're there!
Music lovers of all ages will enjoy the variety of exhibits highlighting classical to contemporary country music.
Read about some of the other adventures we're having on our Year-Long Road Trip!
© 2019 Meg Brunson
Thanks to the Country Music Hall of Fame for sponsoring this review. All opinions expressed are my own. See more on Instagram!
Meg is a mommy blogger, Facebook marketer, and much more. She is a mom to four kids who live full-time in an RV exploring the US! As a former Facebook employee, Meg remains a Facebook addict and handles KidsOutAndAbout.com's Social Media Marketing in addition to providing freelance services for other small businesses on how to best leverage Facebook as a part of their marketing strategy. Meg also hosts the FamilyPreneur Podcast, a podcast for parent entrepreneurs raising entrepreneurial children. Learn more about Meg at MegBrunson.com!