As the home of the Grand Ole Opry, the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Johnny Cash Museum, and more, Nashville has no shortage of major tourist attractions. But what if you’ve already seen all the highlights and you want to find a fun attraction off the beaten path? Nashville has plenty of those, too, and whether you want to avoid the crowds and Nashville traffic or see something unusual, you should go visit the following Nashville attractions
Cooter’s Place
Image via Flickr by CJ Sorg
Head up to where McGavock Pike meets the Cumberland River and you’ll come across Cooter’s Place, a museum and gift shop dedicated to the Dukes of Hazzard TV show. Admission is free, and you’ll see all kinds of memorabilia and merchandise related to the show. Up front is Cooter’s tow truck and the General Lee herself. The actor who played Cooter, Ben Jones, also stops by on occasion. And if you haven’t had enough nostalgia yet, the Willie Nelson and Friends Museum is right next door.
The Olive and Sinclair Chocolate Company
Olive and Sinclair chocolate is easy enough to find throughout the South, and you can buy their candy online, but there’s only one place to find their headquarters and that’s on Fatherland Street in Nashville, Tennessee. If you’ve ever wondered how cacao beans turn into chocolate, the factory offers tours on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are just $5 per person and include samples. Just remember to book your tour online because spots are limited.
Madame Tussauds Nashville
The famous Madame Tussauds Wax Museum has been expanding its locations, and recently they’ve opened a new location in Opry Mills, the massive shopping mall just across the street from the Grand Ole Opry building. In keeping with Music City, the Nashville Toussauds is all about music and musicians, with wax sculptures of country stars and other artists who have made an appearance on the Grand Ole Opry show. The journey through the museum is both visual and musical since the museum plays many of the hits the musicians played back in their prime.
Lane Motor Museum
Image via Flickr by Glenn Brown
On Murfreesboro Pike, near where I-24 and I-40 meet, you’ll come across the Lane Motor Museum. This museum specializes in old European cars and motorcycles, a rare sight in America, and a $12 ticket will get you in to see a collection of well over 500 vehicles. They even have a few restored and rebuilt European planes, seaplanes, and amphibious cars, plus their collection includes a few unusual bicycles of various designs. Since it’s close to the interstate, Lane Motor Museum is also a convenient spot to visit from the many nearby hotels.
Even in Music City, not every attraction revolves around musicians. You can find all kinds of interesting attractions to visit. If you want the full Nashville experience, you owe it to yourself to look for an unusual spot like the ones on this list and enjoy what they have to offer.
