Stay at the Hilton Nashville to Explore Music City

During my recent visit to Nashville, I came to the conclusion that you would be hard pressed to find a better home base than the Hilton Nashville Downtown, from which to launch your explorations of Music City USA. Just across the street is none other than the Country Music Hall of Fame, a beautifully designed building that has been architecturally structured to look like a piano keyboard with an adjoining tower that resembles a stack of records or CD's.

You could spend your whole trip going through the memorabilia; archival recordings and displays in this highly regarded museum, which also offers bus tours to the historic Studio B where Elvis and other country stars once recorded hit records.

Adjacent to the hotel is Gaylord Entertainment Center, a state-of-the art concert venue where I saw Martina McBride and Alan Jackson woo a crowd of screaming fans. How nice to be able to just walk across the street and be home for the night. The Hilton is also a short walk to the Honky-Tonk Row and two shakes from the Convention and Visitors Bureau.

When I walked into the hotel, I immediately noticed its openness. The beautiful atrium lobby was decorated with greenery and designed with Greek style pillars, an allusion to Nashville's former nickname: "The Athens of the South". The elevators are glass encased, which is great for when you're waiting for someone to come down or coming down yourself to the lobby-you can always check out if you're on time or not. All of the hotel's corridors are open to the rest of the hotel and I immediately realized that this made me feel much safer as woman traveling on her own. I could see what was happening on each floor and I knew that if I needed help of any kind, I was visible and within earshot of the entire hotel.

Another plus, is the full breakfast included with some packages, which saves time for those in a hurry to get to a meeting or start touring the town. Although it is served buffet style with standards such as scrambled eggs, bacon and sausage, hash browns and biscuits and gravy, the staff was more than willing to accommodate some individual requests, like toast and English muffins.

The hotel has three eateries, offering very different atmospheres. The Palm Restaurant is known for its fine dining and specializes in steak and lobster. Also, very popular is the Eddie George Sports Grille, which is named after its famed owner, a star football player for the Tennessee Titans. Finally, right in the lobby is the Park View Café, which opens at 5 pm and serves high-end martinis and tapas with live entertainment. These were three excellent and convenient choices right within the hotel.

The amenities of the hotel cater to both the business and leisure traveler. The hotel offers plenty of meeting space and a business center with free computer access. And for those who want to make good use of their down time and stay fit while on the road, the large heated pool, hot tub and well equipped fitness room are at their disposal.

The Hilton Nashville Downtown is a full service four-diamond hotel and it is all suites. The standard suite consists of a small living room with a desk, sofa, chair and ottoman, a wall unit housing a small fridge, a microwave and a large television. The separate bedroom had another phone, a second television and plenty of closet space. The bathroom adjoined the two spaces.

The hotel has 24-hour security patrol ensuring the safety of every guest. It is fabulously maintained with excellent service and efficiency. For those traveling without a car, many of Nashville's classic sites are at your fingertips. My recommendations are the historic Ryman Auditorium, where the Grand Ol' Oprey was originally held and the excellent Frist Center for the Visual Arts, located in a wonderfully historic building, formerly the Nashville post office. During my visit to The Frist, one of the best docents that I have ever met gave us a fascinating orientation to Pre-Raphaelite art. It was just like being in an art history class.

So, there you have it: upscale amenities, open atmosphere, and an unbeatable location. Staying at the Nashville Hilton Downtown is one step towards ensuring that your visit to Music City USA will be an unforgettable experience.

Prices range from $130-$219 per night, depending on the package and season.

Contacts:

Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau
1-800-657-6910
www.nashvillecvb.com

Hilton Nashville Downtown
121 Fourth Avenue
Nashville, TN 37201
615-620-1000
www.hilton.com

Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
222 Fifth Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37203
1-800-852-6437
www.countrymusichalloffame.com

Frist Center for the Visual Arts
919 Broadway
Nashville, TN 37203-3822
615-244-3340
www.fristcenter.org