Taking in the Trail and Stories of the Natchez Trace Parkway and National Scenic • Nashville’S Trace Is Built Around the 102-Mile Tennessee Byway
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nashville area self-guided driving tour Welcome to Nashville’s Trace. See THe DRIVING TOUR MAP oN PAGe 14. Read the story behind the trail on page 26. This is Nashville’s Trace: a road trip through charming Tennessee towns linked together by the unspoiled beauty TaKING IN THE TRAIL and stories of the Natchez Trace Parkway and National Scenic • Nashville’s Trace is built around the 102-mile Tennessee Byway. Experience the Trace as its own scenic destination, or portion of the Natchez Trace Parkway. We’ve outlined six take any or all of the six off-Trace loops provided in this guide. driving loops running from north to south — you choose which loops you’d like to take to make the Trace your own. The trail starts in Nashville with the backstage tales of • The Natchez Trace observes a 50-mph speed limit. Please Music City and the honky tonks that brought the music of watch for animals, especially around dusk. Middle Tennessee from the front porch to center stage. Along • This is a drive that promises an off-the-beaten-path Tennessee the trail, you’ll connect with Tennessee’s musical heritage experience. What we can’t promise is steady cell phone when you visit the hometown of Grand Ole Opry comedienne service. Don’t be surprised if you don’t always have a signal. Minnie Pearl, take in a live radio broadcast, and see the • The Trace is motorcoach accessible, unless noted. A permit is birthplace of Southern gospel music. required for commercial vehicles; contact the Parkway Visitor Center in Tupelo, Mississippi, at 800-305-7417. You’ll soon find yourself deep in AMERICAN HISTORY. • The 268 miles of off-Trace loops are full of historic sites, See where David Crockett began his career of service, walk in preserved homes and museums that bring the stories of the footsteps of U.S. Presidents Andrew Jackson and James K. Nashville’s Trace to life. Many of them require advance Polk, and investigate the mysterious death of explorer reservations, admission, or both to experience our history. Meriwether Lewis. See what life was like for plantation owners • Many historic buildings open their doors to visitors. Many properties remain as they have for over a century: private and slaves in the 1800s, and stand on sites where the Civil War residences. Please be respectful of the private land and left bullet holes and battle scars you can still see today. homeowners on our tour. If your heart is in the GreAT outdoorS, the Trace offers • Nashville’s Trace features beautiful stretches of scenic driving. hiking trails for all skill levels, as well as biking, horseback Make sure you fill your tank and use the restroom in the towns along the way. There will always be a “next town” on riding and camping. The rivers in this area are some of the the route, but it may not be within the next few miles. most biologically diverse in the world. You’ll encounter several • Summer through early fall is a great time to stock up on local WINERIES. The soil and climate here are great for vineyards. produce at farm stands along the trail. Many stands are cash- However you choose to explore, you can’t help but soak up only, so visit the ATM before you hit the road. our music, our heritage, and our SOUTHERN rural spirit • Download the Nashville’s Trace free iPhone in every town square and country store along Nashville’s Trace. app to customize your trail experience. • Don’t forget to visit your favorite online review sites (like TripAdvisor.com or Yelp. com) and help us blaze a trail to these Symbol Key: GEATR M OTORCYCLE wonderful hidden gems. OUTDOORS Route African- Nashville’s Trace has been created with the AMERICAN LND A TRUST N ATIONAL Register heritage FOR TENNESSEE OF HISTORIC PLACES invaluable help of county tourism partners and historians in these communities. L IVE MUSIC P ICTURE Spot CLRIVI WA VENUE F ESTIVALS L ODGING state -OWNED Pictured on cover: Double Arch Bridge, Birdsong Hollow; Robert’s Western World, HISTORIC site Nashville; Meriwether Lewis Monument, Hohenwald. Pictured above: Ryman (R) R IGHT Auditorium, Nashville; Lawnchair Theatre, Leiper’s Fork; Old Trace near milepost For complete visitor information Paper contains F OOD & WINE M OTORCOACH- TENNESSEE MAIN on Tennessee, call 1-800-GO2-TENN 10% recycled FRIENDLY STREET PROGRAM (L) LTEF 426.3; Rattle and Snap Plantation, Mount Pleasant; Loveless Café, Pasquo. content. tntrailsandbyways.com • 1-800-go2-tenn or visit tnvacation.com. Find more information at NashvillesTrace.com. 1 coming performers like Willie Nelson and Continue W on Broadway Frist Center for the Visual Arts – This DOWNTOWN NASHVILLE Patsy Cline, making the “37 steps” in the alley to 9th & 10th Aves. world-class, non-profit between Tootsie’s and the Ryman famous. Frist Center exhibition center is natchez trace parkway: This mid-sized city draws people from all over the world, More favorites include Robert’s Western 919 Broadway Nashville dedicated to bringing AND eager to stroll the sidewalks of Broadway, duck into the famous World, The Stage, Legends Corner; the 615-244-3340 major American and N ational Park honky tonks, and walk in the footsteps of country music’s greats. honky tonks in Printers Alley, just a few international exhibits National scenic byway This thriving district has something for everyone, from pool halls and blocks away; and Station Inn in The Gulch. to Nashville, as well pub fare to great meals and family fun; shopping and souvenirs to The Natchez Trace Parkway stretches 444 miles from Hatch Show Print Hatch Show Print – Nestled along Broadway as the finest visual art world-class sporting events. This has always been the heart of the Nashville to Natchez, Mississippi. It follows and connects a series 316 Broadway is one of the oldest working letterpress print from local, state and city, and right on the banks of the Cumberland River sits Nashville’s of ancient trails used by animals and people as they traveled Nashville shops in America. For regional artists. Gift beginning — the site of the original Fort Nashborough. Led here by 615-256-2805 through this area to find food, to hunt, to travel from place to 125 years, Hatch has shop and café on site. James Robertson, this is where the place, to settle in a new territory, to march to printed concert posters city’s first settlers lived. Looking Return to car. 5. The Parthenon – (R) The centerpiece of battle and to create communities. Today, the for musicians ranging out over the river and behind the Drive W on Centennial Park, the landmark and its many short hiking trails are some of the best from country’s original Broadway, at Y, fort at the bustling downtown is an massive Athena statue inside are full-scale examples of what it must have been like to legends to popular stay R. Road interesting reminder of the changes replicas of the Greek originals. Built for travel on the Old Trace. contemporary artists. becomes West End Nashville has seen — from humble Ave. Turn R Nashville’s 1897 Centennial Exposition, it The phrase “the journey is the fort to modern skyscrapers, pioneers At Broadway & 4. Nashville’s “Music Mile” – Walk part of this onto 26th Ave N. now serves as an art destination” certainly applies to today’s to performers — since the late 1700s. 4th Ave., go L/S one-mile stretch that connects downtown to pt. 5. museum, photo opp Parkway. Protected and preserved by the onto 4th Ave. S. to Music Row and enjoy these highlights: 2600 West End Ave. and meeting space. The National Park Service, the landscape along the to McGavock St. Nashville public park is open Schermerhorn Symphony Center – Visit the 615-862-8431 Trace is unspoiled by modern development. DIRECTIONS Park near the visitor center and walk to to pt. 4. daily and hosts events home of Nashville’s Grammy Award-winning You won’t find any billboards, travel plazas visit points 1-4. Schermerhorn year-round. Parthenon Symphony Center symphony, opened in 2006. A state-of-the- or businesses as you drive along the Trace itself — just natural open Tues.-Sat. 501 Broadway 1. Nashville 1 Symphony Pl. art concert hall, it beauty, fresh air, and a few friendly and historical markers along Nashville Nashville the way. The only homes you’ll find along the Trace belong to 615-259-4747 Visitor Center 615-687-6400 occupies a full city Exit R onto West End 6. Belle Meade Plantation – (L) Connect with block and includes Ave. It becomes Nashville’s history wildlife, and the 50-mph speed limit allows plenty of time to Inside the glass tower Arpeggio Café: Abbreviation Key: a public garden, Harding Pk./ take in the stunning scenery along your journey. of Bridgestone Arena, 615-687-6613 at this 30-acre R R IGHT Arpeggio Café and US-70S. Go 4.3 historic site. Tour Though the Trace is beautiful year-round, autumn is visitors can talk with miles to pt. 6. L LTEF education center. the 1853 Greek a spectacular time to experience the brilliant foliage of the N N ORTH Music City experts 5025 Harding Pk. hickory, maple and oak hardwood forests. Regardless of your Country Music Nashville Revival mansion, South for “inside” tips; pick Country Music Hall interests, there are plenty of opportunities to experience the S Hall of Fame & Museum 615-356-0501 beautifully E E AST up brochures, maps and coupons; shop for of Fame & Museum history and beauty of the Parkway.