Sadly, I was part of Keith's Discover Nashville tour last Friday. Waiting out a long delay in the Gray Line parking lot in the rain was the high point, since there was still hope, however fleeting, for a good day. Hope faded as throngs of tourists meandered from bus to bus, trying to find the right tour with no guidance from Gray Line staff. We finally found the bus (the one with the rancid smell) and left the parking lot. Things went from bad to worse.
Keith's "tour" consisted of reading signs to us as he drove up Broadway. "There's Hooters." "That's Krispy Kreme." "There's a Vanderbuilt building." I expected the tour guide to add commentary and insight about the city and its history, as well as recommendations for additional sightseeing. Instead, I paid for a slow and expensive bus ride to the Ryman and the Country Music Hall of Fame. Keith did give us the opportunity to see Nashville's answer to the Parthenon in Centennial Park--from half a mile away and for less than thirty seconds. It was no more than a u-turn.
The lack of organization we saw in the morning continued unabated. There was no clear departure time from the Ryman. We got back to the bus at 10am, per Keith's instructions, and sat waiting for others for almost a half hour. I can't speak to anything after the Hall of Fame. We came to our senses and peeled off from the tour. We did notice that Keith left the bus parked on 5th Avenue with the door open after telling his group that their belongings would be secure inside while they toured the museum.
Do yourself a favor: go see the Ryman and the Hall of Fame on your own. Enjoy the short walk from one to the other, and stop for some hot chicken and live music in between. There! I just gave you more of a Nashville tour than Keith gave me.