Of all my motorcycle trips over the years, my favorite may have been a tour of Tennessee that my wife and I took on a Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Ultra Classic. We flew in to Knoxville, picked up the bike and rode a counter-clockwise circle (really more of an ellipse) through the state of Tennessee before taking a brief detour into North Carolina to ride the Tail of the Dragon. We had great weather, rode great roads, ate amazing food, and saw beautiful sights. It was the trip of a lifetime.
The city that has called us back from that trip is Nashville.
Nashville is the capital of Tennessee, and it’s largest city, with a population of approximately 660,000 in a metro area that is home to nearly 2 million people. The city was founded in 1779, named for American Revolutionary War hero Francis Nash. In 1796, Tennessee became the 16thstate admitted to the United States, and Nashville has been the permanent capital of the state since 1843.
Tennessee was one of the Confederate States during the Civil War, and many battles were fought in the state, including Shiloh, Murfreesboro and the Tullahoma Campaign. Tennessee has often figured in national politics, sending three men to the White House: Andrew Jackson, (Seventh President, 1829 – 1837); James K. Polk (Eleventh President, 1845 – 1849) and Andrew Johnson (Seventeenth President, 1965 – 1869), the Vice President who succeeded Abraham Lincoln. Bill Clinton’s Vice President, Al Gore, made a valiant run for President in 2000, but lost to George W. Bush.
The Tennessee State Capitol on Capitol Hill stands as a living landmark to the state’s government. It was completed in 1859 from a design by architect William Strickland and is a great example of Greek Revival. The view from its stairs is magnificent.
Politics aside, more than anything in the 20thand 21stcenturies, Nashville has become known as Music City. Music Row runs through downtown Nashville and has several must-see attractions: The Grand Ole Opry; Ryman Auditorium; and the Country Music Hall of Fame. Add to that Gruhn’s Guitars, Ernest Tubb Record Shop and dozens of music and gift shops up and down Broadway, and you’ve got a great place to visit. Live music venues are scattered all across the city, from big concert venues to tiny bars and coffee shops. Singer-songwriters are king in Nashville, and you’re likely to make some great discoveries in unlikely venues.
A motorcycle trip runs on food, as you well know. It’s hard to go wrong in Nashville, especially if you like barbecue. Start with Jack’s Bar-B-Que on Broadway and 1stAvenue and work your way outward from there. If you’re brave, seek out Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack at 123 Ewing Drive. Legend has it that Prince’s is the originator of the hot chicken craze and is definitely worth a visit.
Nashville, like most of Tennessee, is extremely rider-friendly. Many businesses have motorcycle-only parking, and casual dress is acceptable at the vast majority of restaurants and attractions. The weather is mild year-round, and great roads are abundant in every direction.
One of my favorite routes begins south of Nashville: The Natchez Trace Parkway. It is a 444-mile long parkway maintained by the National Park Service from Nashville all the way to Natchez, Mississippi. With limited cross traffic, no businesses or billboards and beautiful scenery from end-to-end, the Natchez Trace Parkway is a trip backward in time, and a great motorcycle cruising road.
Best Western Hotels & Resorts has a dozen properties within 50 miles of Nashville. My favorite headquarters for a Nashville visit is Best Western Plus Music Row, right in the middle of the action.
Spring is a great time to visit Nashville by motorcycle. Why not plan a ride?