Ryman Auditorium Grand Ole Opry Self Guided Tour Nashville

Nashville is home to country music and the Grand Ole Opry and we finally got a chance to tour Ryman Auditorium. We went on the self guided tour which lets you walk through most of the historic building at your own pace. The introduction is a really cool video piece so don't miss out when you go - they really do a nice job of explaining how the Ryman Auditorium became home to the Opry and is now a landmark in Nashville. If you are in town for the Opry you might check to see what shows are happening at the Ryman the same weekend. They often have bluegrass nights and country artists at the Ryman.

The Ryman is just off Broadway so it is within walking distance to a lot of other attractions like the country music museum and hall of fame. Plus on Broadway you can grab something to eat at Jacks Bar-B-Que. Jacks can get crowded but there is lots of seating upstairs and if you get lucky you can sit up front where you have a view of Broadway. So the next time you are in Nashville make sure to visit the Ryman and learn all about the birthplace of the Opry just like Josh and Joe Travels!

Grand Ole Opry Nashville Tennessee

The best way we can describe the Opry is to tell you it is a chance to see country music's hall of fame come to life. We've gone out of our way to see some big popular acts at the Opry, but Joe probably remembers best seeing Loretta Lynn, and the truth is that every single show they do at the Opry is better than the last.

Lately Josh has really enjoyed the segments hosted by Vince Gill, who celebrated his 25th anniversary as an Opry member this year. When you see so many of the hall of fame legends cross the stage at the Opry you can't help but wonder who is around today that will keep things going, and with each passing show Vince Gill and the other regulars have shown their commitment to making sure the circle stays unbroken.

The Opry is a special place filled with history and we got to see how the Opry got started at the Ryman Auditorium. But we do love the Opry House and once you go we'll think you'll know why we keep going back. And if you can't be there in person you can always listen on the radio. So the next time you're on the road late on a Saturday night, find the Roadhouse on satellite and be sure to sing along just like Josh and Joe Travels!

Grand Ole Opry Backstage Tour Nashville

We love the Grand Ole Opry, so on our last trip to Nashville we signed up for the backstage tour and we are excited to share these pictures with you to give you a sneak peek at what you'll see when you go yourself.

The Opry is full of history and the weekly shows are filled with members of the country music hall of fame. Lately Josh has been trying to get down to his last bad habit with Vince Gill. Joe is still patrolling the weekly lineup for his next chance to see a coal miner's daughter. One of the reasons we love the Opry so much is because of the mix of great music. No matter who is on the lineup you always get a great show.

See Loretta Lynn's Ranch and Hurricane Mills

We also remember not long ago when severe flooding had the Opry under water, but the show still went on that week, and along the tour we saw how they memorialized the flood line. And it was pretty darn cool to be able to walk across the circle and the Opry stage where it is hard not to take a moment to think about all the musicians who stand in that same spot singing some of our favorite music. We don't get to the Opry as much as we'd like, but keep and eye out for us if you happen to go, because the two loudest people behind you looking for all the gold in California might just be Josh and Joe Travels!