The Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville

If you are ever visiting Nashville, or if you live here and need a staycation, I highly recommend a stay at Opryland Hotel.  I had been there on several occasions to watch friends play at Jack Daniels, but I had never actually wandered through the hotel. ​

When Marriott bought it, I told my dad that he needed to stay in it at least once so that I could see if the rooms were cool.  I just had a feeling they were cool.  They’re actually not anything out of the ordinary.  I mean, they’re very nice rooms, but they are comparable to other nice hotel rooms.  What is nice is that the rooms (actually, I’m not sure if all rooms have this, but at least the ones my parents stayed in did) have a balcony that overlook the most marvelous view. 

What I did not previously know was that there is a whole different world deeper inside the hotel than I had realized.  I mean, it is majorly cool.  It’s like a massive outside-in plantation mansion.  And you feel like you’re walking through a jungle.  The balconies of the room overlook this magnificent view and there are walkways that cut across from the second or third story as well, so it’s super cool to roam around on a couple levels. 

It’s kind of surreal, but a brilliant idea, because in the summertime it’s hot and humid, and at night the mosquitos are everywhere.  However, inside the hotel, you get to feel like you’re outside without the heat, the humidity, and the bugs.  And in the wintertime, you get to avoid the cold and feel like you’re outside.  More spectacular is what I have yet to witness, is Opryland at Christmas time.  Apparently it is magically decorated and transformed into a winter wonderland.  I’m looking forward to seeing that!

There are also a number of restaurants that are quite nice.  I definitely recommend Old Hickory Steakhouse.  The seating there feels very much like the Blue Bayou restaurant inside Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland.  Try the lobster bisque there.  It is DIVINE.

So yes, though the hotel is a bit removed from the downtown area of Nashville, it’s worth the stay.  It’s close to the airport as well, and you can catch a show at the Opry while you’re at it.  And there are other Nashville treasures across the street, like the Palace, The Ernest Tubb Record Shop, and the Texas Troubadour Theater where they have cowboy church on Sundays.  Johnny Cash’ s sister sings there.

Ta-ta for now!

BIG LOVE & HUGS

Love,

Justine