By Blake Guthrie
Nashville isn't all honky-tonks, cowboy hats and Grand Ole Opry shows. Away from Opryland and the frenzied pace of Lower Broadway downtown are some pastoral sites worth visiting, one with a mansion of jaw-dropping opulence, the other a home rich with history.
Fontanel Mansion & Farm
Set on 136 acres in the wooded hills and rolling pastures north of downtown, this 27,000-square-foot mansion is made out of logs and was once the home of country superstar Barbara Mandrell. Built in 1987, Fontanel was home to Mandrell and her family from 1988 to 2002. Named after the soft spot on a baby's head, Fontanel was purchased by music industry veterans who used the property for TV productions and video shoots before opening it as a multifaceted tourist attraction in June of 2010. Visitors can tour the mansion, hike or bike over two miles of trails (no charge, leashed dogs welcome), dine on locally sourced meals at a farm-to-fork restaurant and take in a concert at the 4,500 seat outdoor amphitheater, or a dinner theater show inside a state-of-the-art production facility.
The main attraction is the mansion. The tour begins on a shuttle that carries you up a long, winding driveway through the woods to the enormous log home. Inside, a guide leads small groups on a room-by-room tour that includes the Great Room -- a living room bigger than many houses -- and ends at the indoor shooting range and a swimming pool covered by a glass atrium. The walls of the home are filled with memorabilia from Mandrell and other big acts such as Alabama, Kenny Chesney, Big & Rich, Gretchen Wilson, Buck Owens and the Eagles. The house is made up to look much like it did when Mandrell still lived there, containing many personal items such as family photos with the President at the White House. You almost get the feeling you're an intruder in private quarters and the family might show up at any moment. In fact, Jaime Dudney, Mandrell's daughter who grew up in the home, is the hospitality director at Fontanel and often greets visitors at the door and helps conduct tours.
If you don't care to tour the mansion, Fontanel is worth a visit for a hike on the trails and a meal at the Farmhouse Restaurant (try the house-made chicken salad and pimento cheese for starters). The Woods Amphitheater is nestled against a hillside next to a pasture at the edge of the woods and site of a summertime concert series. Upcoming acts are Styx and Yes (July 16), Steely Dan (Aug. 19) and Big & Rich with Gretchen Wilson (Sept. 2). A nice perk for those staying in downtown Nashville is the free round-trip shuttle bus that runs between Bridgestone Arena and Fontanel Tuesdays through Sundays in summer.
Fontanel Mansion & Farm. 4225 Whites Creek Pike, Nashville. 615-724-1600, www.fontanelmansion.com.
The Hermitage
This historical plantation was the home of Andrew Jackson from 1804 until his death on the grounds in 1845. During the time that Jackson became a war hero and was elected the seventh President of the United States. The Greek Revival mansion was built in the mid-1830s after Jackson's previous home on the plantation was heavily damaged in a fire. Situated on 1,120 acres, The Hermitage is one of the largest open spaces in Nashville and is so iconic in the area that it has become a namesake for many businesses and other sites; you'll see the name Hermitage attached to shopping centers, streets, train stations, hotels and subdivisions. When "Old Hickory" lived at The Hermitage it was in a rural setting; now the property is surrounded by suburbs but protected as a National Historic Landmark. The mansion has been restored to look as it did in 1837 and a tour of the interior takes about 20 minutes. The rest of your time will be spent on a self-guided tour of the grounds containing gardens, Jackson's tomb, slave quarters, a farm, archaeological sites and a large visitor center with museum exhibits. A living history series called "Sunday's Live!" takes place on select Sunday afternoons through October, featuring costumed interpreters portraying and discussing events related to Jackson, The Hermitage and Tennessee history.
The Hermitage. 4580 Rachel’s Lane, Nashville. 615-889-2941, www.thehermitage.com.
If you go
Nashville is approximately a four-hour drive from Atlanta via I-75 and I-24.
Stay
The Hermitage Hotel. Named after The Hermitage, this luxurious downtown hotel opened in 1910 and is a Forbes Five Star and a AAA Five Diamond property. Rates start at $259. 231 Sixth Ave. North, Nashville. 615-244-3121, www.thehermitagehotel.com.
Hilton Nashville Downtown. This all-suite Hilton property is a good option for those who want to visit Fontanel but don't want to get back in the car; the free shuttle departs from Bridgestone Arena directly across the street. Rates start at $199. 121 Fourth Ave. South, Nashville. 615-620-1000, www.nashvillehilton.com.
Eat
Burger Up. Upscale burgers served in a casual, earthy atmosphere in the newly revitalized 12th South neighborhood. The beef comes from a local farm; hand-made veggie burgers also available. Burgers (served with fries) $9-$13. 2901 12th Ave. South, Nashville. 615-279-3767, www.burger-up.com.
Puckett's Grocery. This downtown location of Puckett's isn't a real grocery store, but they serve the same down-home Southern cuisine that made the cafe section of the original store in Leiper's Fork a go-to destination for foodies in-the-know. Dinner entrees (with two sides) start at $11. 500 Church St., Nashville. 615-770-2772, www.puckettsgrocery.com.
Visitor info
Nashville CVB Visitor Information Center. Fifth Ave. South & Broadway (glass tower of the Bridgestone Arena). 615-259-4747, www.visitmusiccity.com.
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