The Natchez Trace Parkway provides a scenic and historic drive for visitors to the Middle Tennessee area. Stretching over 400 miles (643.73 kilometers) between an area just southwest of Nashville to Natchez, Mississippi, the Natchez Trace Parkway winds through such cities as Jackson and Tupelo, Mississippi and Cherokee, Alabama. Significant stops along the parkway include a variety of Native American mounds in the Middle Tennessee and northern Mississippi areas, a number of historic Confederate grave sites, and a variety of natural vistas. Visitors to the Natchez Trace Parkway may wish to camp along the way or cycle through parts of the parkway and surrounding areas.
Nashville's first movie house opened in 1925, was briefly home to the Grand Ole Opry, and evolved into a premier venue for live entertainment and film. Today Belcourt Theatre has emerged as the place for cutting-edge productions, including independent flicks, Mockingbird Theater, and the Nashville Shakespeare Festival. Events happen monthly and movies are shown every day.
Located in downtown Nashville, the Tennessee Performing Arts Center is sprawled across an entire city block between 5th and 6th Avenues of Union Street. The main performance venue of the center is the Andrew Jackson Hall. This hall can seat up to 2,400 spectators and hosts a variety of Broadway shows and entertainment events. The center is the home of the Nashville Opera Association and the Nashville Ballet. It also houses the Tennessee State Museum, the James K. Polk Theater, the War Memorial Auditorium, and an education program for children.
The Tennessee Performing Arts Center is home to several Broadways shows, theatrical performances and the well-known Nashville Symphony Orchestra. The James K. Polk Theatre, one of its three grand venues, hosts live performances. The venue is well-equipped with fantastic audio and lighting systems and an intimate setting that can hold more than 1000 guests at a time. It is also fitted with hearing devices to assist those who require it and wheelchair accessibility.
Housed inside Cheekwood, the Cheekwood's Museum of Art is a 30,000-square foot (2,787-square meter) room, which is dedicated to American and British contemporary art. The building is built in a Gregorian-styled mansion with a large collection of paintings by American and British artists. The collections also include silver and one of the most noteworthy collections of Worcester porcelain in America. Cheekwood's Museum of Art has also been selected to house the Matilda Geddings Gray Foundation Collections. A number of exhibitions take place here on a regular basis.
The Nashville Public Square spreads over 5 acres and is possibly the most visited spot in the city. With a great central location, this square has a colossal underground parking lot which serves both impressed visitors and court house employees. Large lawns and fountains add to the beauty and provide a beautiful backdrop, especially on concert days.