Nashville Sightseeing: Haunted Ghost Tours

Nashville calls itself the home of country music and the Grand Ole Opry, but even the historic Ryman Auditorium shares its legendary status with some of the city's ghostly tales and spirits. After a day of fine dining and sightseeing, Nashville serves up some spine-tingling fun after dark for those adventurous souls chasing things that go bump in the night.

Haunted Walking Tours

• Stroll through downtown Nashville with a historically-garbed guide from Nashville Ghost Tours, stopping at haunted sites such as the Ryman, the Tennessee State Capitol and Printers' Alley. This half-mile, 90-minute tour runs every night of the week from March to November, and holds the distinction of being Nashville's original ghost-tour company. Rain or shine, the ghost hunting is on. If you still crave a little ghostly adventure, Nashville Ghosts also runs a walking tour of historic downtown haunts starting in the evening March through October.

Deadly Transportation

• For something a little different, or if your feet ache too much after a day of walking around the Music City, consider cruising through downtown Nashville in style in a customized hearse. Nashville Ghost Tours offers this alternative to the walking tour, including tales of the infamous "Murder on Music Row," as well as visits to Nashville's oldest cemetery and Union Station.
• Brews, Booze and Boos

• If you prefer to enjoy some adult time, the Haunted Tavern Tours mix ghostly spirits and liquid spirits for double the fun. Enjoy a cocktail or brew at haunted taverns such as Mulligan's Pub while hearing ghostly tales, but pay attention for the trivia quiz and prizes at the end. For the $15 admission as of publication, those over 21 years old enjoy two hours of booze and boos.

Bell Witch

• For those who don't mind a little driving and really want a good scare, approximately 45 minutes north of downtown Nashville in Adams lies the notorious Bell Witch farm and cave, inspiring many stories and a movie based on historical events involving the haunting of the Bell family. Legend has it the witch was a neighbor of John Bell who cursed the family and tormented their daughter for years with her evil spells. Take a candlelight tour through the caves and the replica of the family cabin, if you dare. As of publication, tours cost $25 to $50 depending on options, including an optional visit to the American Indian burial grounds at night.

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Greek Festival in Nashville, Tennessee

The Greek Festival is an early fall festival tradition in Nashville, Tennessee. With the intention of exposing people of all backgrounds to the Greek cultural experience, the festival offers activities for adults, families and kids and is sure to please the palates of Greek food lovers, as well. Whatever your heritage and wherever you're from, you're sure to leave this southern city's Greek festival enriched, enlightened and well-fed.

Adult Activities

• During the festival, the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church opens its doors so festival-goers can see the church's wall-painted iconography and learn about the Greek Orthodox faith, which dates to the time of the apostles. The festival also offers shopping options through its agora, or marketplace. There, vendors sell artisan creations like ceramics, Russian nesting dolls and religious icons, as well as clothing, cookbooks, scarves, handbags and accessories.

Family Fun

• Live entertainment is provided all day during the festival weekend. Greek music and dance is performed throughout the afternoon and evening, and there's plenty of open space for dancing by all ages, regardless of skill level. For active kids, the church hosts a petting zoo, opens its playground, offers pony rides and sets up a climbing wall and bouncy house. In the agora, children can also have their faces painted or choose glittered tattoos to apply.

Food

• What would a Greek festival be without Greek food? For visitors hungry for dinner, the festival cooks up Greek specialties like gyros topped with tzatziki -- a mint and yogurt sauce; spanakopita -- spinach and cheese baked in phyllo dough; and moussaka -- a layered beef, cheese and eggplant baked dish. Other festival-goers stock up on the pastries. You can buy your fill of diples -- rolled and fried dough covered with honey and walnuts; koulorakia -- Greek butter cookies; or baklava.

Details

• Running from from morning until evening on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the Greek Festival is held each year on an early September weekend. Admission is nominal for adults, free for kids under 12 and free for anyone who gets tickets early enough on the festival's website. Even if you don't need to pay admission for the entertainment, you'll want to bring some cash for dinner and to-go pastries.

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Attractions in Nashville, Indiana

Home to a few small town type attractions, Nashville, Indiana is a place for travelers and retirees. Featuring musical theater acts, tours of winery’s and art galleries, the town of Nashville is a place to relax and enjoy the scenery. It’s a laid-back town and offers guest a few enjoyable relaxing recreational activities.

Coach Light Musical Theater

• The Coach Light Musical Theater features live musical comedy and offers families group rates and dinner and room rates. The shows that the theater puts on are all directed and written by a former Walt Disney creative executive. The theater features shows, such as Cabaret Live, Cowboy Sweethearts, Platinum Girls, Brown County Bandstand and various productions. The theater also offers workshops and dance classes.

  Coach Light Musical Theater
  227 S. Van Buren St.
  Nashville, IN 47448
  812-988-2101
  coachlightmusicals.com

Brown County Winery

• Guest visiting Nashville, Indiana may enjoy stopping by the Brown County Winery. Guests may schedule group tours in which the guests would take a tour of the winery, learn how the wine is made and have the opportunity to taste samples of all of the wine. Guests are then allowed to take home a logo wine glass. Tours must be scheduled in advanced and group tours must consist of at least 15 people.

  Brown County Winery
  4520 State Rd. 46 East
  Nashville, IN 47448
  812-988-6144
  browncountywinery.com

Fig Tree Gallery & Coffee Shop

• The Fig Tree Gallery features Kenyan paintings and features artists, such as Patrick Mulwale and Stephen D. Cale. The purpose of the Fig Tree Gallery & Coffee shop is to allow customers to enjoy premium drinks from different places around the world while being able to view fine artwork. The coffee shop serves delectable menu items, such as energy smoothies, Danish pastries, breakfast casseroles and specialty drinks. The gallery and coffee shop features guest entertainers that perform all types of music, such as contemporary, acoustic, bluegrass, rock/blues music, old time mountain music and indigenous folk music. The Fig Tree Gallery & Coffee shop is open from Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m.

  Fig tree Gallery & Coffee Shop
  4865 Helmsburg Rd.
  Nashville, IN 47448
  812-988-1375
  figtreegallery.com/events.asp

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Bellevue Baptist Fall Festival in Nashville, Tennessee

With the intention of opening up its Tennessee ministry to new congregants, the Bellevue Baptist Fall Festival is held each year in late October around Halloween. Offering potential churchgoers opportunities to meet and greet current church members and giving those members a chance to volunteer, the Festival is held for young children earlier in the afternoon and teens in the evening. Whether you're interested in checking out a new church, letting the kids get some Halloween candy or participating in a chili cook-off, the Bellevue Baptist Fall Festival will interest the whole family.

About the Church

• Nashville's Bellevue Baptist Church was first established in 1967 with a congregation of 38 parishioners. Since its move to its current sanctuary in 2000, the congregation has grown; in 2012, the church began building more space to accommodate growing Sunday School attendance. A part of Bellevue Baptist's outreach ministry, the Bellevue Baptist Fall Festival was created to bring new members to the church and designed to help children and their families enjoy the season.

Kids Activities

• Before the festival begins, Sunday school classes at the church compete to see which group can collect the greatest amount of candy. In recent years, a winning class collected 87 pounds. During the festival, which lasts for about three hours, from late afternoon until mid-evening, kids can play games, jump on inflatables, win prizes, collect candy and interact with animals in a petting zoo. At time of publication, more than 200 children had attended a recent festival with their families.

Other Activities

• The festival also hosts activities for older kids and their families. Adults can compete in a chili cook-off and distribute their offerings to festival-goers. After the chili has all been sampled, the church crowns a cook-off winner. Once the children's portion of the festival is over, the church hosts a Movie Night for teens. At dusk, seventh graders through college-aged students can watch a movie at the church while eating free pizza, popcorn and dessert.

Details

• Located in Nashville's Bellevue community, the Bellevue Baptist Church, an affiliate of the Southern Baptist Convention, is situated at the intersection of Highway 70 South and Cross Timbers Drive, approximately a mile and a half from exit 196 off Interstate 40.

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State Parks With Restaurants Near Nashville, Tennessee

Nashville, Tennessee, is centrally located to a number of state parks in the surrounding area where you can explore the natural landscape by foot or boat. While many parks offer picnic pavilions, you don’t need to pack a picnic to enjoy a meal in the parks. After a full day of hiking and boating, head to one of the restaurants located inside the parks to dine on the local cuisine.

Montgomery Bell State Park

• About 35 miles east of Nashville in the green hills of Dickson County, Montgomery Bell State Park’s restaurant is part of the park's inn and conference center. A steak buffet is offered on Saturday nights, while an all-you-can-eat catfish option and regular buffet are available on Friday nights. Sip on a glass of Stonehaus Seyval Blanc, which commemorates Tennessee State Parks 75th anniversary, or many other libations from the beer and wine menu. The restaurant is open from 7 to 10 a.m. for breakfast, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for lunch and 5 to 8 p.m. for dinner.

Henry Horton State Park

• In the town of Chapel Hill, roughly 48 miles south of Nashville, Henry Horton State Park features the family-friendly Henry Horton Restaurant. Dine on classic southern cuisine and barbecue buffets, or feast on crab legs at the Friday night seafood buffet. A breakfast buffet is available on weekends. The restaurant is open every day from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for lunch, Wednesday through Saturday from 4 to 8 p.m. for dinner and 7 to 10 a.m. on weekends for breakfast.

Edgar Evins State Park

• Edgar Evins State Park in Silver Point is located about 63 miles west of Nashville and includes the Galley Restaurant in the Edgar Evins Marina. Dine on the deck while enjoying the scenic views of Center Hill Lake and passing boats or enjoy a cold one at the bar. Kick back and relax while listening to the live music and enjoy a variety of events hosted throughout the year. Reservations are recommended for dinner and the restaurant is open seasonally on the weekends from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.

David Crockett State Park

• Located 85 miles southeast of Nashville, in Lawrenceburg, the restaurant at David Crockett State Park overlooks the 40-acre Lindsey Lake. The menu offers a variety of home-style meals, and buffets are offered on the weekends. The restaurant is open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for lunch, Saturday and Sunday from 7:30 to 10 a.m. for breakfast, and 4:30 to 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday for dinner.

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