The sculpted peaks of the Great Smoky Mountains and the wild, twisting Cumberland River … honky-tonks and the Grand Ole Opry … Vanderbilt University … the Tennessee State Capitol … the Tennessee Titans … sure, Nashville is the Music City, but it is also a terrific location for outdoor adventurers. It is both a sports town and a college town. Its roots are firmly planted in the area’s history and in country music, yet it reaches for the future as a major metropolitan city with rich culture and a vibrant business climate. Think you know the Music City? You might be surprised! Read more about this dynamic Tennessee capital so you can find the perfect apartment in Nashville.

Things to Do in Nashville:

The very first thing you have to do after renting an apartment in Nashville is head to the historic Ryman Auditorium, the original home of the Grand Ole Opry! The Ryman auditorium was built in 1891 as a tabernacle. It hosted the Grand Ole Opry from 1943 until 1974 and many of country music’s biggest names stood on its stage, including Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, the Oak Ridge Boys, Dolly Parton, Tammy Wynette, Hank Williams, and Patsy Cline. And while the Grand Ole Opry House, the newer auditorium built in 1974, is now home to the Grand Ole Opry, some shows are still performed at the Ryman. The Ryman also hosts musicians from other genres as well as special performances and live theater.

After you’ve caught a show (or several) at the Ryman Auditorium and the Grand Ole Opry House, you may be inspired to learn more about Nashville’s history. Knowing that Nashville is often called the “Athens of the South,” you might want to start by visiting the Parthenon! Nashville’s Parthenon is located in Centennial Park. It is a full-scale replica of the ancient Greek Parthenon, complete with the 42-foot statue of Athena. While the replica isn’t quite as old as the one in Athens, which dates back to 438 BC, it is historic – Nashville’s Parthenon was built in 1897 for the Centennial Exposition and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. While it was only built to last through the exposition, residents liked the Parthenon – and it would have been expensive to tear down, so it was left alone. In the 1920s, the temporary plaster began to wear away, so a permanent replica made of concrete and steel was built.

Step a little further back in time and visit the nearby Belle Meade Plantation. Built in 1807, Belle Meade Plantation was a prosperous horse farm owned by John Harding, who once boarded horses for Andrew Jackson. Harding was world famous for breeding champion Thoroughbreds, and his plantation covered 5,400 acres. In 1864, a Civil War battle took place in front of the mansion, and bullets are still visible in the stone columns. Today, the mansion is a museum and winery. It also contains a carriage house, stable, the Harding cabin, reconstructed slave quarters, and a mausoleum.

The Hermitage was Andrew Jackson’s plantation home. Andrew Jackson was the nation’s seventh President. He lived at Hermitage from 1804 until he died in 1845. The original mansion, built in 1804, was seriously damaged by a fire in 1834 and the home had to be rebuilt. The mansion is a National Historic Landmark and is open to the public as a house museum. The Hermitage offers tours, exhibits, special events, and an old-fashioned Southern lunch café. Andrew Jackson, his wife Rachel (who died a month after he was elected President), and other family members are buried on the property.

After choosing your new apartment in Nashville, be sure to add the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum to your must-see itinerary. The Country Music Hall of Fame traces the history of country music through a variety of exhibits, including photographs, artifacts, and moving images. It is a gorgeous building, with the windows along the curved façade resembling piano keys.

Other great places to visit include RCA Studio B on Music Row, where Elvis recorded more than 200 songs; the Johnny Cash Museum; and Honky Tonk Highway’s amazing locations that include the Stage, Bluegrass Inn, and Second Fiddle. These small clubs are where many famous country musicians began their careers.

Walk along the 5th Avenue of the Arts and enjoy Nashville’s amazing collection of art galleries in this historic district. Be sure to stop at the Arts Company, a venue famous for promoting all types of art from emerging to legendary artists. It is located in a historic building and offers more than 6,000 square feet of art to explore. This district is also home to the First Saturday Art Crawl.

The Historic Arcade, built in 1902, is another great location for art lovers. From contemporary to modern and beyond, this art venue has it all. The art galleries located here include the Watkins Arcade Gallery, the coop, the O Gallery, and Blend Studio.

Did you know that the Music City is also a great place for foodies? Nashville has an emerging food scene that varies depending on the neighborhood. Be sure to visit Taylor Swift’s favorite coffeehouse, Fido, and then head to Germantown – a gorgeous and historic neighborhood that is a designated arboretum – to explore some amazing cuisine at Germantown Café. Or visit the year-round Nashville Farmers’ Market. This unique market contains three sections – the Farm Side, which is home to roughly 100 farmers and artisans; the Market House, which contains restaurants representing different countries around the world; and the Flea Market, where you can find all kinds of unique items.

When you’re in the mood to shop, Nashville offers amazing shopping districts, such as the fun and funky shops of East Nashville, the collectables and confections in Germantown, the antiques and handcrafted items in Marathon Village, vintage items in 8th Avenue, and the trendy and slightly bohemian items that fill the shops in Green Hills. You can also visit Tennessee’s largest outlet mall, Opry Mills, and the upscale boutiques and high-end stores at the Mall at Green Hills.

What to Consider When Moving to Nashville:

Nashville was founded in 1779 and named for Revolutionary War hero Francis Nash. Because of its location along the river, the town grew quickly. In 1806, Nashville became the county seat of Davidson County and in 1843 it was named the state capital.

The largest employer in Nashville is Vanderbilt University. Vanderbilt is a top-rated, private research university with roughly 12,000 students. The university is affiliated with Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Middle Tennessee’s only Level I trauma center. Vanderbilt is one of the most selective universities in the nation, accepting roughly 12 percent of applicants. Those accepted often (95.26 percent) rank in the top 10 percent of their graduating high school class.

When you start your search for apartments in Nashville, be familiar with the multitude of unique and often historic neighborhoods. If you want to live in the heart of Music City and surround yourself with music and art, then rent your apartment downtown. Here, you’ll find pedestrian-friendly streets lined with nightclubs, restaurants, the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, the Country Music Hall of Fame, Ryman Auditorium, and Frist Center for Visual Arts.

Foodies will adore living in Midtown! You’ll find one of Nashville’s favorite hangouts, the South Street Original Crab Shack and Authentic Dive Bar – a Cajun restaurant that’s as cozy as it is spicy. Or, head to Bound’ry – it is a restaurant unlike anything you’ve ever experienced. In Midtown, you’ll also find pizza joints, brewhouses, bars, and steakhouses.

Why Nashville Apartments Are Hot:

Nashville is the country’s second-largest producer of music, behind New York. It has a huge tourism industry, and it is a hub of higher education, with Vanderbilt University at the center. Nashville has great food, amazing music, a thriving arts scene, an action-packed downtown, amazing parks, and a booming economy. From cheering on the Tennessee Titans at LP Field to attending a variety of festivals and events, there’s no such thing as “bored” in Nashville! Be a part of Music City – find your apartment to rent in Nashville today!