Car Rental Nashville - Exploring Nashville

After you've had your fill of Nashville's country music scene, it may be time for a change of scenery and a taste of the real country. Heading out in any direction from Nashville, you'll hit the Tennessee Hills. These are the hills famous for their walking horses and sour-mash whiskey. They also hold historic towns and Civil War battlefields that are well worth visiting.

Music Valley, located 16kms north of town, is the home of the Grand Ole Opry House, which has been broadcasting country music for more than 70 years. You can see superstars, legends and up-and-coming stars on this stage every Friday and Saturday night. Opposite, the Grand Ole Opry Museum is full of wax figures of famous musicians and artefacts; while nearby, the Minnie Pearl and Roy Acuff museums have country and western memorabilia on display.

The Hermitage, home of the seventh president, Andrew Jackson, is located to the northeast of the city and features a pretty 19th century mansion, gardens and a visitor centre. This house/museum is the most historic in the area. Additionally, there are a number of lakes around the area worth a visit, including the J Percy Priest Reservoir, which has facilities for camping, swimming and fishing.

The Tennessee Antebellum Trail, which has more than 54 historic sites, plantations and Civil War battlefields, is a 144-kilometre loop tour that begins in Nashville and continues through historic Maury and Williamson counties. Nine sites are open to the public daily.

The town of Franklin, south of Nashville, rivals Natchez, Mississippi, in charm and Civil War history. A self-guided walking tour begins at the town square and covers several antebellum homes plus the meticulously restored downtown business district, which has more than 50 shops, including several antique shops and art galleries.

The Carnton Plantation, where some of the Civil War's bloodiest battles were fought, and Confederate Cemetery are nearby. Also in the area is the entrance to the Natchez Trace Parkway, which winds its way through gorgeous scenery in three states.

Lynchburg, 120kms southeast of Nashville, has been depicted worldwide in ads for its best-known product, whiskey. The quaint town is home to the Jack Daniel's Distillery, the oldest registered distillery in the country, where you can observe every step of the art of making sour-mash whiskey.