Stars from Kid Rock to Kris Kristofferson have been known to have hung out at Tootsies Orchid Lounge, the number one honky-tonk in the world; aka, Tootsies World Famous Orchid Bar. You'll find this nightlife getaway tucked behind Nashville's famous Ryman Theater, the site of the Grand Ole Opry. Spend the night dancing around two stages that have hosted country music sensations in the ranks with Willie Nelson and Taylor Swift.
The musical talents of Jimi Hendrix, Elvis, The Mamas and the Papas, and the Beach Boys are on exhibit at the Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum in the heart of downtown Nashville. You'll see the exact instruments each musician used to record the very songs that made them iconic legends.
It gets a little batty at Duber Cave State Park, where its most prominent natural cave used to lend its big roomy mouth to local square dances, radio shows and big band instrumental concerts; the cave is now temporarily sold out due to a thriving bat community. Bats aside, there's plenty of outdoor recreation like fishing, hiking and picnicking to enjoy, making a trip to this bat cave well worth the drive.
Visit the house that coffee built. The Cheekwood is a hidden gem found on a 30,000-square-foot palatial estate, that was once home to the Cheek family, heirs to the Maxwell House coffee fortune. Today, the grand estate and attraction houses American and British works of art and its 55 acres are grounds to lavish gardens and a nature sanctuary.