In a recent trip to Nashville, we figured we had to check out the Grand Ole Opry. And what is next door? Gaylord Opryland Resort. Don’t miss it!
Gaylord Opryland is a family resort. And a convention center. And a tourist attraction. It is bizarre. And wonderful. And did I mention bizarre? It apparently has “the largest non-gaming, in-hotel exhibition space in the world with more than 700,000 square feet of flexible meeting space.”
We went for the 9 acres of indoor gardens. It was much nicer inside than the super hot heat outside (it was in the 90s while we were there). Inside we could see some of the 2,800 rooms. Apparently one of the 30 largest hotel in the world.
Inside, you can take a boat ride through the indoor river (fee applies). It felt a bit like Disneyland or DisneyWorld, especially going up to Delta Island which looks like the French Quarter.
There’s a longer history of this modern, clean-looking hotel. There used to be a theme park next-door – Opryland USA. The hotel has been expanded over the decades.
As for entertainment, the hotel has an 18-hole golf course, an outdoor pool, indoor seasonal activities, fountain shows in the atrium, scavenger hunts, animal encounters, and much more. We also saw a kids’ art activity near the river (fee applies). At Christmas they have a Polar Express, ice tubing, Santa, and other family activities and they have summer Soundwaves water activities.
If you’re hungry, you can go for one of the dozen restaurants on site, from pizza to a Mexican cantina meal, to the Jack Daniel’s restaurant, eat in a mansion replica, a steakhouse, sports bar, wine bar, pizzeria and others.
We ended up in the convention center while trying to make our way back to our car. There was a clogging dance competition going on, which made the hallways come alive.
There were some other room rentals which may have been related to the clogging competition – or not. We weren’t sure. but it certainly felt southern!
Check out other things to do in Nashville – without kids.