Top 10 Attractions at Nashville Gaylord Opryland Resort
Nashville is one of the hottest tourist cities in the United States. The massive Gaylord Opryland Resort is not only a great place to stay, but it is also a tourist attraction in its own right. This is our guide to the top 10 attractions at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville.
Jump Ahead To
Overview
The Opryland area is about a 15-minute drive from downtown Nashville on the Cumberland River. I have been coming to the Opryland area since the 1970s. At the time the Opryland Hotel was mainly for visitors to the Grand Ole Opry and Opryland Amusement Park.
I watched the Opryland Hotel expand into today’s Gaylord Opryland Resort. Unfortunately, I also watched them tear down the beloved Opryland Amusement Park to build the Opry Mills Mall. The closure of the amusement park in the late 1990s was probably a mistake as this article suggests.
Check Prices Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center
Thankfully, the Gaylord Opryland Resort, which officially opened in 2001, goes a long way to make this area as entertaining as ever. Our most recent visit was December 31, 2018 to check out the holiday displays.
We had been to the Gaylord at National Harbor near Washington, D.C. during the holidays and know they put on an impressive show. However, the Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville is much bigger and in a league of its own.
WEBSITE: https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/bnago-gaylord-opryland-resort-and-convention-center/
Getting There and Parking
The Gaylord Opryland Resort is in its own section of town. Whether you come from downtown or the airport, you will probably be driving.
The Opryland area is 8 miles from the airport and about 12 miles from downtown on the freeway. Either way it will be about a 20 minute drive.
Parking at the Gaylord Opryland Resort costs $25. However, right next door is free parking at the Opry Mills Mall. Even though it was pouring raining we went for the free parking. There is actually a fairly covered walkway leading from the mall parking lot to a side entrance.
Getting Oriented
The Gaylord Opryland Resort is huge. It somewhere around position thirty on lists of the largest hotels in the world with 2,888 rooms. According to this article on the resort’s history, it is the largest non-casino (ie Las Vegas) hotel in the continental United States (note some cites claim the non gambling Port Orleand and French Quarter Resort at Disney World is larger).
When you stay at Gaylord Opryland Resort you be staying in a specific themed district. These include
- Delta: The largest and most active area. This section has a New Orleans theme, complete with a Delta boat ride. There is a huge glass roof atrium, fountain water shows and shops and restaurants in the center Delta Island area.
- Cascades: This section features a large atrium with big waterfalls (you can walk behind the waterfall). This a calm area where the focus is on the water. There are some more upscale eating places here.
- Garden Conservatory: There are gardens throughout the Gaylord, but this area features 2 levels of lush gardens complete with waterfalls and a gazebo. Like the Cascades, this is a more quiet area with more upscale dining options
- Magnolia: Magnolia is the area for nightlife. There are plenty of restaurants, an Irish Pub and a Jack Daniel’s bar. This is where they were celebrating New Years on our visit. The Magnolia area leads to an outdoor pool and the large convention area.
Top 10 Attractions at Gaylord Opryland Resort
1. Waterpark
The Soundwaves waterpark opened in late 2018 right before our visit. This is a $90 million state-of-art park. The downside is it is only for hotel guests. The good news is that this limits crowds, a major downside of many waterparks.
2. Gardens
There are 9 acres of gardens at the Gaylord Opryland Resort. There are over 50,000 plants across three major areas, the Delta, the Cascades and the Garden Conservatory. The gardens are well-labeled so you know exactly what you are looking at.
3. Delta Boat Ride
The Delta section of the Gaylord has a simulated river complete with a ride in a Mississippi style Delta Flatboat. You can take a 15-minute ride for $14 ($12 for children) during Christmas and $10.50 the rest of the year.
4. Live Entertainment
There is also something going on at the Gaylord Opryland. This includes live performing artists and an hourly fountain show in the Delta section starting at 6 PM. If you tire of the entertainment at the resort you can go right next door to the Opryland Mills Mall which has all kinds of activities.
5. Restaurants
There are over 20 restaurants and dining spots with all styles of food. You can find a full list here. The more active restaurants are in the Delta and Magnolia area. The Cascades section features restaurants and coffee bars in a lush setting surrounded by waterfalls. The Garden Conservatory has a wine bar and Italian and Mexican restaurants in a quiet garden setting.
6. Party
There are all kinds of places to get your party on at the Gaylord Opryland Resort. There is Fuse Sports Bar, Findley’s Irish Pub, a Wine Bar, Library Lounge (an upscale speakeasy), American Craft Tavern specializing in whiskey and beer and even a Jack Daniel’s bar and restaurant.
7. Shopping
Not only are there plenty of shops at the Gaylord, but right next door is the Opry Mills Mall. Shops here include a Bass Pro and a Lego Shop. There is also all kinds of entertainment/dining at Opry Mills including a Rainforest Café, Dave and Buster’s and Aquarium Restaurant and a German Beer Hall we really liked.
8. Grand Ole Opry
Since 1974 this has been the location of the famed Grand Ole Opry. It moved here from its downtown location at the Ryman Auditorium. Not only are there regular shows, but you can get guided backstage tours. These tours have been beyond our budget (they start at $33) but they get excellent reviews.
9. Special Events
Throughout the year the Gaylord Opryland Resort holds special events. The most notable are the Summerfest and Christmas. Summerfest runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day and is focused on fun activities for the family. In 2019, the theme was the Smurfs. A Country Christmas runs from the second week in November to New Year’s. This includes Christmas shows and a mini-theme park ICE! ICE! Features ice sculptures and ice slides in a room kept at 9 degrees. The 2019 theme is the movie Christmas Story. There are also sleigh rides and indoor ice skating.
10. Christmas Lights
There are all kinds of Christmas activities, but our favorite attraction is the decorations. The Gaylord Opryland Resort is decked out for Christmas with over 3 million lights. Best of all there is no extra charge and no waiting in line!
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