Nashville has been getting a lot of buzz these days, and for good reason. The sleepy river town has managed to transform its once-quiet, tired nature into a buzzing metropolis with deep southern roots. It beckons to young folk with its vibrant arts and business culture, and keeps the families for the values you'll find scattered down the streets. It's a music hub, a foodie paradise and a great place to live - while also being the friendliest city in the great old U S of A. Curious why?
Travel + Leisure readers ranked 38 US cities across the country for their openness to visitors, the kindness of locals at restaurants, available amenities like luxury shopping and hotels as well as how likely someone would be to offer you directions. Pretty interesting, right? And Nashville came out on top!
The readers reported that the food and music that keeps Nashville jumpin' really set it apart, and that Tennessee locals were absolutely in love with their state and eager to share it with new friends.
The southern charm of the city and architectural change that has been occurring all across downtown in the last couple of years has attracted new businesses and quite a few transplants. Many of them young, their buzzing minds have upended restaurant and coffee culture for the better.
Nashville is no schlump when it comes to the arts, you know. The Schermerhorn Symphony is home to the stunning local orchestra, whereas you can visit the Ryman Auditorium or the Grand Ole Opry to step back in time. Honkytonk Highway may not be the "arts", per say, but you just may walk by the latest and greatest new country artist performing, if you listen closely enough.
Some say it is the mix of the city and call of the country that keeps them coming to Nashville, with waterfall hikes just a few hours away and Radnor Lake serving as a local hideaway.
Nashville is a city with beautiful, strong roots and a heart of gold. Visit our dive bars or luxury hotels, fall in love with the Cumberland River and walk the Pedestrian Bridge. Because, you know - we'll be nice to ya.
Today we want to take you on a journey through history with these seven things invented in Tennessee, and they all started from our capital city. Nashville is known for country music, but this sweet southern city has fostered QUITE a few things that snag us a spot in the history books. Whether you have a penchant for sweet things or hot chicken, these seven things wouldn't exist without Nashville, Tennessee. We were first, we can forever say - we were most definitely first. And the whole world should know. So let's dive into these seven Nashville inventions and innovations.
The Cotton Candy Machine was invented by a man from Nashville. The crazy thing? This man was a dentist. It was invented in 1897 but didn't really catch on until the World's Fair rolled through St. Louis in 1904, where it was sold as "Fairy Floss." Fun fact: in Australia, they still call it fairy floss. Check out the story about the man who invented cotton candy by reading our article covering this sweet treat.
6. Combination candy bars became a thing here in Nashville.
Invented by the Standard Candy Company in 1912, the Goo Goo Cluster was the world's first combination candy bar. At the time, candy was made from chocolate, caramel, or taffy, but not a combination of any of them. So, you can pretty much thank Nashville for inventing the idea that is responsible for 90 percent of the candy bars at the checkout counter today. The story behind the first candy bar of its kind is a fascinating tale, but better yet, you can visit the original location. The GooGoo Shop
in Nashville is filled with this chocolatey treat and you can even make your own.
Hot Chicken has been a staple in Nashville for decades, but it has recently caught on across the country. You can now find it from New York to Los Angeles, and even Melbourne, Australia has Nashville-style hot chicken restaurants. Funny enough, hot chicken was created as a form of revenge and later became a massive hit with the locals. The original recipe and creator of this sweat-inducing dish can be found at Prince's Hot Chicken in multiple locations around the city.
The first Cracker Barrel opened more than 45 years ago in the Nashville suburb of Lebanon by a man who wanted to create a down-home experience for any traveler anywhere in America. Today, there are nearly 650 Cracker Barrels across America, all because of one Nashville man's dream. When you think about it, this restaurant showcases a lot of values we hold to right here in Tennessee. A good covered porch to sit on and quality Southern comfort food.
The Maxwell House Hotel in Nashville is an iconic and historic hotel. Seven different presidents have stayed at the hotel, including Teddy Roosevelt who tasted the hotel's unique coffee blend and reportedly said that it was "Good 'til the last drop." The rest is history, as Maxwell House Coffee can be found in any grocery store coffee aisle in America, each can still displaying that famous phrase. So when you brew that early morning coffee to fuel your adventures for the day, you can thank Tennessee.
Man's best friend has always been a fearless companion but with a little training our furry friends have proven to offer all kinds of services. Some of these services have been literally a lifesaver. A Nashville Native and Vanderbilt graduate, Morris Frank is responsible for introducing seeing eye dogs to America. He started training his dogs in Nashville in 1929 but had to relocate to New Jersey shortly thereafter. Out of all the things invented in Nashville, this one might have had the most impact for good.
Did you know Oprah's TV career began in Tennessee? It's true! She was a regular news anchor on News Channel 5 in the early 1970s, being not only the youngest anchor in the station's history but also the first black female anchor in its history. Since then, of course, Oprah has gone on to bigger and better things, but it all started right here in Nashville.
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At the end of the day, we have a lot we can be thankful for, from sweet treats to inventions that have made our lives better. The entrepreneurial prowess coming from Music City is palpable, for sure. These Nashville inventions and innovations have forever changed the world around us and have given us just another reason to love our capital city. Out of all of the things from Tennessee, which one is your favorite? When it comes to things invented in Tennessee, we are pretty partial to hot chicken. But if you are proud like us to call the Volunteer State home, show your state pride with Wear Your Roots.
Learn more about Iconic Tennessee classics by watching this OnlyInYourState video:
Nashville has so much claim to fame. It's the home of country music, and it's also the home of countless celebrities and noteworthy historical figures. Moreover, Nashville just so happens to have an extensive history of movie fame. Sure, there are plenty of movies about Nashville, but did you know about the following list of movies that were filmed in Nashville? Take a look -- you might just be surprised!
You have to look closely for Nashville in this one - in the first couple of minutes, there's a fight scene on the rooftops in a darkened city. That skyline? Our little ol' Nashville.
Sissy Spacek sings her heart out in this classic outlining the life of Loretta Lynn. Bits and pieces were filmed at the Ryman, giving it a right to our list of movies that take place in Nashville.
Country Strong was filmed in and around Nashville, dramatizing the life of a fading country music star. Plus, Nashville local and country star himself, Tim McGraw, co-starred. When it comes to famous movies set in Nashville, this one may just top the list.
How many of these famous movies filmed in Nashville -- or movies about Nashville -- did you know about? Be sure to share your thoughts with us in the comments below -- we'd love to hear from you! For related content, you might be curious to check out this list of famous people from Nashville.
