Downtown is full of photo ops. Broadway street has lots on both sides, lots of honky tonks and tourist shops. 2nd street beginning at Broadway also has lots of interesting shops. Johnny Cash has a museum on 3rd street that just opened.
The famous Ryman Auditorium is behind Legends Bar at 5th and Broadway...its a big brick building you can't miss it. Bridgestone Arena looks like a flying saucer landed on top of it. Also has a big WSM like tower next to it. The Country Music Hall of Fame is on 5th and Demonbreun Street. Next to it is the Music City Center, its a convention hall, one of the largest in the nation. There is a park between the downtown Hilton and Country Music Hall of Fame. It is called the Music City Walk of Fame. Like the stars in Hollywood, Nashville has designated this area to place it's stars. Across from the Hilton is the Schermerhorn (pronounced Shimmer Horn) Symphony Center.
Its has Greek style archetecture, a very pretty building. On past the Schemerhorn is the approach to Shelby Street Bridge. It's a pedestrian only bridge that crosses the Cumberland River. You'll get great shots of the Nashville Skyline from this bridge. Also from this bridge you can get good shots of LP Field...home of the Tennessee Titans NFL football team. Tennessee State Capital Building is located on the north end of downtown. Also many Federal and State government buildings are scatted around the north end. TPAC (Tennessee Preforming Arts Center) is at 6th and Deaderick Streets, they have a free museum in the basement. Right now, they are featuring Civil War artifacts. The original 13th Amendment abolishing Slavery is on display there as well. The most famous building of all downtown is the AT & T southeast headquarters. Its affectionatly called "The Batman Building" for its twin spires...giving it the look of a building that Batman would have his hideout. It dominates the skyline...you can't miss it. There are lots of very old churches scattered around the downtown area as well. A bit further down Broadway is Grand Central Station. Built in the late 1800's it is Nashville's original Train Station. Lots further west in an area called "Music Row" where all the recording studio's are located. Every major label is here. You might check to see if there is a trolley service that will take you there. The Parthenon is located west of downtown also. Again you would need to ride the trolley to see it if you don't have transportation. There are also horse and carriage rides downtown. As you can see...there is much to look at and see in the downtown Nashville area. And let me be the first to welcome you to our wonderful southern city. Now as in any big city, there are weird people roaming around...some homeless. So be on guard. If you look like a tourist, some may hit you up for money. Just ignore them, smile and keep going. The Grand Ole Opry House is about 14 miles east of downtown. Check with someone, they may offer a tourist package to see it and Opryland Hotel...I'm just not sure on that one.

Now, one day I took a walk downtown while my wife attended a meeting...didn't get to all the places I mentioned, but I got to quite a few. Below is a link to my Flick Slideshow of my walking adventure. Click on the "view fullscreen" icon at the lower right (arrows point out) for the best viewing experience.

Have fun now...hope you have a wonderful time and I hope my post has helped in some small way.... ya' all come back soon...enjoy the show
James

http://www.flickr.com//photos/james-frazier/sets/72157631814885335/show/

Thank you Kindly sir...sadly a lot of the old school country is fading away. I guess that happens to all generations. But I miss a lot of the old singers. Johnny Cash was perhaps my favorite.
Anyway...I've got another album you may enjoy sometime when your bored. This one contains more musicians taken during my visits to the Grand Ole Opry, a few a Graceland (just the outside walls) and Miscellanous Nashville related stuff.
Remember to click on the "view full screen button"
Hope you enjoy them...and thanks for your kind comments.
James

http://www.flickr.com//photos/james-frazier/sets/72157628487254565/show/