5 Hidden Gems Nashville

Why it made the list: A cavernous 1900s automobile factory reborn as a warren of makers, boutiques, a distillery (Nelson's Green Brier) and Antique Archaeology (the American Pickers shop). Atmospheric brick-and-timber halls full of Nashville-made goods, whiskey tastings and history, and far off the tourist trail.

Why it made the list: A tiny, unassuming café in a suburban strip mall, and one of the most famous rooms in American songwriting. Its 'in the round' songwriter nights (where hits are born and where the show 'Nashville' filmed) are hushed, intimate and unforgettable. The definition of a hidden gem.

Why it made the list: A wonderfully odd museum devoted to unusual European and prototype vehicles, microcars, amphibious cars, one-offs and machines you've never seen. It's a genuine surprise, beloved by anyone with a curious streak, and completely off most visitors' radar.

Why it made the list: A narrow, gas-lamp-lit alley downtown that was the city's printing hub and then its Prohibition-era nightlife heart, still lined with historic bars and clubs, plus a hidden speakeasy or two. It's a moody, atmospheric slice of old Nashville a block off the Broadway chaos.

Why it made the list: A neighborhood park hiding a giant, gorgeous mosaic sea-dragon sculpture that kids climb and everyone photographs, a locally beloved piece of public art covered in tiles made by community members. Free, whimsical and completely under the tourist radar.