Paul Davies
Dolly Parton sung at the Opry
As I whooshed loudly at breakneck speed down one of Sound Waves’ waterpark’s many mammoth-sized water slides, just behind my speedy 16-year-old son Gabriel, the phrase “scream if you want to go faster” came to mind.
And this perfectly sums up the new water thrills and spills attraction at Nashville’s Gaylord Opryland Resort.
Making a big splash into the large pool below, with adrenaline pumping, we let out a loud whoop of joy, shouting: “Let’s do it again.”
It’s a phrase we could have repeated many times over during our trip to the friendly and hospitable state capital of Tennessee.
Nashville stretches out along the Cumberland River, which makes its way to the Music City from its source in the Appalachian Mountains.
Back at base, the Gaylord Opryland Resort Hotel, with its nine-acre glassroofed communal space, there is lots to see and do – from walking in the exotic planted garden to taking a relaxing boat ride on the “river”.
When it comes to dining, the restaurants serve Italian, Mexican and American-themed food, and a popular choice is Stax, where you
ATTRACTIONS Left, water slide, above, atrium, below, entrance build your own burger. However, the biggest hit is the Solario Cantina with its alluring cocktail menu and Mexican cuisine.
In Nashville, if you are a big fan of both traditional country and country rock, the famous Grand Ole Opry is a must. A shuttle bus will drop you off and collect you from the resort for a visit to this longstanding variety show where entertainers share the bill with first-timers and international stars.
Dolly Parton, Clint Black and Keith Urban are known to make surprise visits to tread the boards in this beautifully constructed theatre of dreams (opry.com, from $40).
Next we headed to the newly opened AC Marriott Hotel in downtown Nashville, opposite the Country Music Hall of Fame, from where we strolled down the main street, Broadway, for an authentic Nashville music experience.
Lower Broadway is where the real action is, with 24/7 live music pumping out from numerous Honky Tonk bars where budding and seasoned musicians/singer-songwriters play to full houses every day.
Under-21s are allowed into most of the bars until 6pm so MUSIC MAGIC Paul at the Gaylord Opryland Resort