Downtown Walking Tour in Nashville booking from $38.99

Downtown Walking Tour

Overview

Owner Joe Nashville, Nashville Experience Tours, is native Tennessean and has roots that go back to the first settlement in Nashville - Ft. Nashborough. His insight into the historic and modern day Nashville is entertaining and creates a very unique tour experience from a local. Joe caps his tour groups to about half of the normal walking tour to create a more interactive and focused experience. He also despises loudspeakers. Joe speaks plenty loud for all to hear. Joe's knowledge of happenings and stories of interesting people of Nashville truly elevates this tour experience and showcases the real Nashville. **** Joe also has a City Experience Van Tour here if you prefer a van tour instead of walking.****

City: Nashville

Sun 25 May

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Starting at $38.99

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Sun 25 May

Starting at $38.99

Make a reservation

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What's Included

Smaller Group Tour - No Loudspekers - Joe's Own Voice

Guided Tour - Discussions outside of landmarks.

Additional Info

Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

What To Expect

Nashville War Memorial Auditorium

Historic state legislative office building and music venue.

Tennessee State Capitol

Historic Capital and tomb of two architects. Discussion outside.

Printer's Alley

Historic stories of Nashville's past of skullduggery. Outside.

Ryman Auditorium

"The Mother Church of Country Music." Outside

Show 1 more stops

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews (20)

wanderwoman93

Sep 2022

I took this tour because I wanted to learn more about Nashville while I was visiting to orient myself to the culture and history of the city. I appreciated that the tour guide/owner Joe was friendly and open, and I did see some places that I wouldn't have otherwise saw. However, the tour itself was pretty light on actual content if you are someone who is really interested in history and facts. It felt like we were just wandering through the streets and pointing out a few interesting things, rather than an intentional tour about how Nashville came to be what it was today. Case in point: At one point, Joe went on a tangent about his lineage and how TN people were "mutts." Or on a tangent about how Nashville government feels non-partisan (which, LOL, because no). Also, I get why in Tennessee in 2022 Joe is trying to straddle a line and be "not political." However, I had a really hard time with the tour basically sugar coating the Trail of Tears, slavery, and segregation. Like Joe would try to say things like "you have to look at it from that time" or "compared to X city, Y people would rather live in Nashville!" But it's not political or controversial to be clear an unequivocal that those things were wrong abhorrent and unacceptable, even to many at the times, and devastated those communities. The CLOSEST Joe got to anything was saying that the rise of private schools was dated when schools were integrated - which, come on, Joe! Just SAY that cities like Nashville have rampant race and economic segregation TO THIS DAY - the rise of private schools and the incorporation of many wealthy suburbs around Nashville (e.g., Brentwood) directly came from white flight and to maintain segregation. It seems like there was so much If you want to really go in depth and understand Nashville, I'd recommend looking elsewhere.

Response from Host

Jan 2023

After a crazy amount of tours and interacting with the good people visiting Nashville from all over the world, I’ve never encountered anything remotely close to the tone, tenure, and content of this guest review. However, it can happen from time to time. The guest comments were so out there and ridiculous, my inclination was to not write anything. After careful thought and consultation with some respected folks in Nashville and the profession, I’ve decided to comment. I normally show a lot of deference to comments and look at it as a tool to improve/adjust. However, the comment appears to be a generous combination of disinformation/misinformation/mal information/mean spirited and not in good faith. In this case, deference would be bowing to unhinged comments. Unfortunately, the guest comments are not helpful and are extremely distorted, out of context, inaccurate, and read as propaganda or a hit piece. I will stand up for my tour, reputation, and integrity in this case. First, the guest arrived nearly 25 minutes late for the tour and came barging in the tour after it had started. They missed part of the tour and the important time I use before the tour to engage with guests, gauge their interests, likes, and dislikes. I like to get to know tour guests. I’ve never had a guest go on a diatribe such as this. I held the start of the tour for this guest keeping a group of over 12 folks waiting. That’s on me for making those folks that were there on time wait. In addition, I ask guests prior to the tour when registering electronically if they have any specific topics or interests that I should address. This guest did not provide any comments. This guest did not ask any questions. When I approached this guest to engage after the tour, the guest through up a hand and scurried away. The late arrival at the start and quick departure after the tour was quite suspicious in that it took the engagement off the table. That does not normally happen on our tours. Moreover, after the tour, I provide all guests with an emailed link with in - depth videos, interviews, articles, about the topics covered and additional information. I convey to my guests that the tour can’t cover all topics in a rigorous fashion in a 1.5 hour tour. However, I invite guests to review the content I send and to even contact me after the tour for more information. Re: content and facts. I triangulate my content and facts with multiple sources if possible, including archived newspapers, news reports, cited books, etc. If something is not reliable factual, I advise that to guests. There’s too much interesting content in Nashville to embellish. My tour is no place for irresponsible rants or false assertions that were reflected in the guests’ comments Re: the tour structure and sophomoric comments made by the guest: The tour does exactly what the tour description says. Check the listing in Trip Advisor. This is the first three sentences: “Owner Joe Nashville, Nashville Experience Tours, is native Tennessean and has roots that go back to the first settlement in Nashville - Ft. Nashborough. His insight into the historic and modern day Nashville is entertaining and creates a very unique tour experience from a local. Joe's knowledge of happenings and stories of interesting people of Nashville truly elevates this tour experience and showcases the real Nashville.” That describes what the tour is about. The guest advises that I “went on a tangent about” my lineage. No, that’s part of the tour. It’s the 1st sentence of the description. If you can read, then you know that’s not a “tangent.” It’s clear and disclosed expectations. The guest must have been confused with another tour???? I give history tours that cover more extensive content, but they are private tours and customized to the topic and have a much longer duration. This is not that tour and does not claim to be. Re: the “mutts” comment. I say that I am a Mutt. I have multiple races, ethnicities, geographic origins, and religions in my makeup and family tree. Most people laugh at the Mutt comment. And, most people do not twist the comment to imply I’m disparaging others in a mean spirited way. The “non-partisan” “tangent” comment. Again, wildly inaccurate, and incorrect. I explain the metro government structure and explain that the mayor and city council are non-partisan elections. They don’t run for office in elections associated with a political party or political primary. That’s a fact and has been since about 1963 and easily verifiable. It’s not subjective. It’s an objective fact. The most offensive part of the guests comments were related to me allegedly attempting to “straddle the line, ”sugar coating” slavery, Trail of Tears, and segregation. This is offensive for several reasons. Here are a couple. I have a very diverse family background, as mentioned, that, at times, suffered in the 1800s and 1900s to the various awful things of the time. It’s disgusting to suggest I’m sugar coating that. I have family buried in Oklahoma after the Trail of Tears forced some to march there. I have ancestors that died fighting for the Union in the Civil War as Union Soldiers. I present a frank picture of picture of segregation in Nashville, give numerous examples, and then move the focus to the heroics of the Nashville Student Movement. The VAST majority of after-tour content that I send to guests happens to cover racial issues in Nashville, civil rights, African American Music in Nashville, and Women’s Suffrage. I mention several times during the tour. The guest omits very important parts of the tour content and works to manipulate it with extreme assertions and inuendo. I did not appreciate the guest using a dog whistle veiled comment that I described things as “trying to say” “ look at it from that time” and comparing “city x to city y.” That attempts to put words in my mouth and paint me with the ole dog whistle trick, stereotypes, and offensive tropes. That’s irresponsible and rude. The end of the comments is particularly interesting. The guest insinuates that I was motivated to minimize certain social tragedies of the past. Again, that’s disgusting. The irony of this is the guest was provided the links with the information. Some of the entries go into quite detailed descriptions of segregation, the struggle, photos capturing some folks carrying disgusting signs and doing awful things. In addition, the links provide specific detail down to specific tables that list the racial make up of Nashville schools over the years since integration that demonstrates the rise of private schools and flight to suburban areas. The guest seems to take issue that I didn’t say, “cities like Nashville have rampant race and economic segregation to this day.” Really????? Really???? So you want me to say “cities like Nashville?” Compared to what? The guest accused me of minimizing certain topics by “comparing cities” and then the guest says “cities like Nashville.” The guest categorizes Nashville with “cities like Nashville.” What does that mean? Dog whistle again. The curious thing is that this guest asserts they “were visiting Nashville” and wanted to “orient myself to the culture and history of the city” at the beginning. That then morphs into the last sentence of looking for a tour that “goes in depth” to understanding the culture of Nashville. In addition, at the end they write as they know so much about Nashville, they are compelled to instruct me what I should be saying about Nashville in the tour. That’s incredibly inconsistent. My tour is designed to be fun, entertain, and provide historical/cultural context of Nashville. I spend a lot of time ensuring that my presentations are authentic, accurate, and always looking to improve. No tour is perfect for everyone and I certainly do not claim that this tour is perfect for all. The guest comments presented are not helpful to anyone. They are not appropriate for this forum. The guests’ comments are better suited as some type of chant or as trolling comments in a crazy hyperbole chat room. If you’re looking for a tour that you feel like this guest would like based on their comments, be my guest and search for one. I can assure you that this tour is not the one for you. Actually, I’m not sure if you’ll be able to find one. If you’re looking to do the ole passive aggressive world wide web toxic electronic flex in attacking someone’s livelihood and business, this tour is not for you. Plus that’s an awful thing to do. That’s not the Nashville way. I’d rather have guests that engage, ask questions, have fun, and share their expectations and interests. If that’s you, this tour is probably for you! You can contact me prior to the tour and I encourage this to personalize the tour as much as possible. I love to share the content and find out interests. Please engage during the tour and I encourage you to engage after the tour as well. Many guests do! That’s how it works. Look forward to showing you Nashville and sharing a fun time!

Richard L

Jul 2022

Fantastic Detailed tour with history of Nashville and its political and music scenes Knew the town backwards offered suggestions and answers questions Suggested 12:30 club for lunch and live music Spot on A must do in Nashville

Response from Host

Sep 2022

Thanks for the kind words in your review! I appreciate you! Glad you enjoyed the tour and Nashville! Always feel free to contact me if you 're headed this way again. Thanks! Joe

MSousaJ17

Apr 2022

Larry was very accommodating and flexible with scheduling errors that were outside of his control. We are very happy with his willingness to correct the error and thank him for the private tour. Very knowledgeable about his city. We really appreciated his unique stops along the tour and local hidden gems that we wouldn’t have seen otherwise.

Response from Host

Apr 2022

Thanks! Enjoyed the tour with you guys and your patience with the booking issues. Hope to see you again in Nashville. I'm always working to improve the tours and stories/information for visitors to our city. Joe Nashville (Larry)

Downtown Walking Tour

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