Nashville

Best known as Music City for its deep and long roots as a hub of country music, Nashville has evolved into a multi-faceted Southern city that retains the charm and friendliness of the small-town South. Sweet tea-iced, of course-and smiles are aplenty here. You'll find Nashville residents eager to help with directions or provide other tips for enjoying their city. As Tennessee's capital and the second-largest city in the state by population, Nashville's metropolitan area claims the state's top population with more than one million residents. Because of its diverse business climate, Nashville has weathered the recent recession well. In addition to music production, major industries include heath care management, printing and publishing, finance, insurance, automobile production and tourism. Nashville is also home to numerous colleges and universities, including Vanderbilt University and Fisk University, prompting another of the city's old nicknames: Athens of the South. You'll even find the world's only full-scale replica of the Parthenon and its 42-foot statue of Athena in Centennial Park, Nashville's premier urban park. Nashville is within 600 miles, or a day's drive, of 50 percent of the U.S. population, making the city easily accessible by air or road. Weather in Nashville is typically mild and pleasant according to the season, resulting in only rare snowfall in winter and allowing for outdoor activities to be enjoyed through much of the year. Top attractions in the city's diverse music scene include the historic Ryman Auditorium, the Grand Ole Opry, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Bluebird Cafe, Music Row and the Schermerhorn Symphony Center. With a city full of established and up-and-coming songwriters and musicians, excellent live music venues abound.