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Delta Riverboat Company at Gaylord Opryland Resort

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Delta Riverboat Company at Gaylord Opryland Resort - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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7 Things You Can Only Do at Gaylord Opryland Resort

Gaylord opryland isn’t just a place to stay when you come to the grand ole opry. the resort is a destination all its own..

Night at the Opry Package Combining two outstanding experiences for an exceptional visit to Nashville — enjoy your stay at Gaylord Opryland while taking in the sights and sounds of the Grand Ole Opry. Our convenient package includes room accommodations, show tickets, and more.

1. Wander the jaw-dropping gardens

You can’t miss Gaylord Opryland’s lush gardens — literally. Tropical vegetation covers more than nine indoor acres. The resort’s cascading waterfalls, the tallest of which is 44-feet high, make you feel as if you’re on a faraway island. Lose yourself in wonder as you discover giant palms, stunning orchids, and even banana trees. You won’t find those growing natively in Tennessee, but thanks to the atrium’s glass ceiling and horticulturists’ meticulous control of the building’s humidity, these plants thrive as if they were in the jungle.

2. Hop aboard the Delta Riverboat ...

Sailing all the world’s rivers would take years, but you can conquer many in a single ride aboard the Delta Riverboat. The resort’s quarter-mile-long indoor Delta River contains the water of more than 1,700 rivers from around the globe. Hop aboard a fun-filled cruise and learn about the interesting origins of the hotel, one of the largest in the world. Be on the lookout for resort’s finned guests. Catfish, carp, and koi can all be found in the Delta River.

3. ... or take a cruise on the General Jackson Showboat

If you want an even grander adventure on the water, look no further than to the  General Jackson Showboat , which is docked just a short distance away from the resort. This stately steamboat harks to its 19th-century predecessors that sailed along the Cumberland River, putting Nashville on the map as a trading center.

On the popular midday Taste of Tennessee cruise, get a sampling of the many styles of music that made this state famous — from bluegrass to country to rhythm and blues — all while enjoying a three-course meal and views of iconic Nashville landmarks along the way.

4. Splash around at SoundWaves

In true Nashville fashion, music and water blend harmoniously at  SoundWaves,  the city’s only resort water experience. If you’re a thrill-seeker, jump in a mega raft and enjoy the ride on Rapid Remix, a waterslide that pumps out the jams as you take on vortex loops. Looking for a mellower experience? The Down Tempo Lazy River has got you covered with relaxing music that you can float along to. When you’ve worked up an appetite, head to Decibels where you can enjoy live music every weekend through September on the restaurant’s patio.

5. Come see us at the Grand Ole Opry

When you stay at the resort, you’re also staying next door to where country music lives. The Grand Ole Opry is “the show that made country music famous,” featuring your favorite legends, today’s superstars, and tomorrow’s hit-makers. Eight to 12 artists take the stage at each show, and luckily for resort guests, Nashville’s best entertainment is just a short complimentary shuttle ride or leisurely stroll away.

But don’t wait until showtime to experience the Opry magic. The brand-new immersive theater experience, now part of the  daytime tour,  is a moving tribute to the country music artists who’ve walked across  Opry’s iconic 6-foot circle of wood,  which sits centerstage. “I’ve always said that the circle still contains the dust from Hank Williams’ cowboy boots,” Opry member Brad Paisley has said. Now your boots can walk across it, too.

6. See WSM broadcast live at its fish-bowl studio

Have you ever wondered to yourself if your favorite radio personalities look the way they sound? You won’t have to anymore when you swing by the WSM fishbowl-style studio just off the Magnolia lobby. The radio station that gave birth to the Grand Ole Opry in 1925, 650 AM WSM, still broadcasts live from Nashville inside the Gaylord Opryland.

You’ll get an intimate peek of the radio show’s operations. Start your day with some early-morning banter courtesy of  country radio sentinel Bill Cody  and Charlie Mattos’ on  Coffee, Country, and Cody  — you never know when one of your favorite artists might be in studio — and close out your evening with some classic country tunes that Eddie Stubbs is spinning on  The Eddie Stubbs Show.

7. Pose next to your idols at Madame Tussauds

Madame Tussauds  has a number of locations around the world, but its Nashville wax attraction located inside Opry Mills Mall is the only one that’s completely themed around music, featuring more than 50 wax figures, 30 of which are unique to Music City. In the Opry Finale exhibit, you’ll get to make your debut alongside Opry members Carrie Underwood, Reba McEntire, Alan Jackson, Keith Urban and more. Don’t forget to take a selfie!

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Visiting the Gaylord Opryland Resort Gardens in Nashville

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Last Updated on February 18, 2024

Gaylord Opryland Resort Gardens in Nashville

Can you visit gaylord opryland without staying there.

Yes, you can!!

Come inside Opryland Resort Gardens in Nashville for a fun-filled afternoon of FREE touring activities .  You don’t need a room and you don’t need to spend the night, you can wander around the beautiful 9 acres of gardens, waterfalls, gazebos, and little waterways for hours without spending a cent. 

Follow along for all the Tips for Visiting the Gaylord Opryland in Nashville!

The Gaylord Opryland Resort Gardens are such a delight as you stroll through this nature-filled, temperature-controlled lush environment as a day visitor to the Opryland hotel.  It will definitely take you on a virtual vacation to the outdoors.  Take lots of pictures and make your friends jealous!

Can you go inside Gaylord Opryland without staying there?

Follow along and take note of all the cool instagram photos you can get inside opryland hotel .

While you are at Opryland Hotel, make sure to stop next door in order to take in a country music show at the Grand Ole Opry!

For Booking info for the Grand Ole Opry and other fun things to do in Nashville:

Booking at Gaylord Opryland Gardens

Want to get a room at Gaylord Opryland in order to spend more time at the GARDENS????

And now the important information for visiting the Opryland Hotel:

Where is the garden conservatory at Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville

GAYLORD OPRYLAND HOTEL MA P

2800 Opryland Dr, Nashville, TN 37214, 615-889-1000

Take advantage of DISCOUNTS for accommodations in Nashville! BOOK NOW!

Parking at Opryland Hotel when you don’t have a reservation

Opryland hotel parking is $35 for a visit.  That’s a hefty price to walk around the free gardens.  I recommend parking your car FOR FREE at Opry Mills Mall shopping center near the movie complex and walking a short distance to the hotel entrance. The lot was so empty when we visited!  We were able to easily park our large motorhome near the walkway to the Opryland hotel.

Side note:  After you are done taking photos at Opryland Resort Gardens, walk over to Opry Mills Mall and get some shopping done!  There are a lot of good stores that will satisfy the shopaholic.

After parking for free at Opry Mills Mall, walk between the white fence and follow the signs toward the Gaylord Opryland Events Center, continuing past the Center and under the green awning. Following this walkway will lead you to the Delta entrance to the Opryland Hotel Resort Gardens!

Now you can go inside to enjoy this unique Nashville garden hotel!

Other fun activities to do in Nashville

Gaylord Opryland Hotel Map

Can you walk around Opryland Hotel?

Yes, you can, but I recommend looking at a map . We got lost a couple of times.  …and since we also didn’t stay together we ended up wandering off in different directions.  After all, Gaylord Opryland is the largest non-gaming hotel in the continental US !! Use the handy map to plan your time at Gaylord Opryland Botanical Gardens. It’s bigger than you think! Think “Las Vegas resort” size!

Use this map for the Gaylord Opryland map to navigate around the different sections of the garden displays.

It is worth it to plan a route through this very large garden conservatory so that you don’t miss anything. 

They have maps posted at most of the entrances. Yes, you will need it!  I sometimes felt like I was walking around a jungle on the winding paths.

Need more ideas for Things to do in Nashville?

Areas to visit inside Opryland Hotel

Delta is the first and largest area that you will come to if you walk from the Opry Mills Mall parking lot.  The other areas are Cascades, Magnolia, and the Garden Conservatory.  Perhaps you should even visit the main lobby of this grand hotel!

Delta Area of Opryland Resort Gardens

If you follow my advice and walk from the Opry Mills Mall parking lot, you will end up in the Delta area first.  This is the largest of the indoor gardens and houses many different attractions like the Delta River, the Fountain with water shows, and the Riverboat for your cruising enjoyment.  Plan to spend most of your time in Delta, but don’t forget to see the other sections of the Opryland Resort Gardens because there is still half of the hotel yet to discover!

Main Island in the Delta Area

If you are hungry, there are plenty of counter service and snack shop places to eat.  If you are eager for souvenirs, there are plenty of little shops.  The main island is like a mini-city that you can walk around and admire. 

Want an even better idea?  When you are visiting Opryland Hotel, grab some sandwiches and have a picnic in this fabulous natural setting.  There are plenty of tables near the foliage to gather around and munch on your goodies.

Delta River in Opryland Resort Gardens

You will notice a scenic quarter–mile long winding river gently flowing through the Delta area.  Somehow this river was made from 1,700 water samples from rivers around the world, including every single river in the USA!

The list of donating rivers is quite long and there are many plaques lining the river bank to document the donors.

Delta Riverboat Cruise

As a highlight on the Delta River, believe-it-or-not, they actually have a Southern-style flatbed river boat taking guests on tours through the Delta area.  The tours are priced at $11 for adults and last about 15 minutes with the riverboat guides sharing their knowledge about the plants and animal life spread throughout the Delta riverbanks in the Opryland resort. 

If you are touring Opryland Resort Gardens as a happy couple, you can opt for the Romantic Cruise around the Delta Atrium.  This $65 option gives you two trips around the river for 2 people with music and romance.  Reservations are required for this special cruise.

Atrium Glass Ceiling

The Atrium roof is a beautiful architectural wonder that is displayed above your head, stretching across the wide expanse of the Delta area as glowing glass that allows the sun to spread its rays upon all its green recipients below.  According to guides, the glass also provides a safe haven during storms since it is incredibly durable and indestructible!

Opryland Fountains in Delta Area

The Opryland water fountains operate all day so you can sit and enjoy the water as it changes to different heights and angles while you sit among the garden scenery

However, the spectacle is at night when the music and light shows are displayed at the fountain. There is a show each hour that is a choreographed display of water and lights which is set to music. Can you imagine having one of those Opryland hotel rooms with a view of the fountain?

Where to stand for the Opryland Water Fountain Show 

First of all, watch out for the railing.  Don’t ruin your melodic water video by having that big railing in the middle of your picture.  Perhaps find a spot where you can stand slightly further back because the fountain sprays the water high into the air and you don’t want to have to keep panning up and down to get it all in your video frame.

Opryland Fountain Show Times

The Opryland Fountain Water Shows are every hour from 6 pm – 10 pm at the Delta Foundtain.  The shows alternate but there really isn’t an official list of Opryland Fountain Shows.  However, if you see the one at 7pm and you are still there at 8pm, you can see a new show that is just as entertaining.  There is also a special Christmas-themed show during the holidays.

Other fun happenings in the Delta Area at Opryland Resort Gardens

The Falls Bar has live music on weekend afternoons so that you can sit and relax with your mimosa while surrounded by beautiful gardens.

There are also Animal Encounters in the afternoon on Fridays and Saturdays.  Staff provide an educational opportunity to interact with and learn about the inhabitants of the garden conservatory

The Learning Log is another educational opportunity for the little ones to crawl in to see the exhibits.  My little ones that aren’t so little still enjoyed peeking into the log!

More fun activities in Nashville

Other areas to visit on a day trip to Opryland Resort Gardens in Nashville

After you have completely walked through the Delta Area—and that should take you an hour or two—there are still other areas in the Opryland Resort Gardens that you can check out.

Magnolia Area in Opryland Resort Gardens

The Magnolia Area is home to several restaurants as well as the Opryland Water Park, Soundwaves .  The big photo spot for Magnolia is the grand white staircase.

Another important note for the Magnolia area is the location of a good set of restrooms in the hallway at the top of the staircase.  Since we spent several hours walking through the gardens and looking at fountains, this was definitely a necessary stop.

Opryland Hotel Water Park

This mega hotel even has its own water park, Nashville’s only resort water experience!  There are exhilarating slides that pump out music as you hurl to the bottom, as well as a lazy river –for those that want a little more relaxation.

SoundWaves is reserved only for hotel guests.  Normally day passes are not available unless you are a guest at a party that was booked at Soundwaves.

The water park looks like a lot of fun with lots of water attractions.  The whole SoundWaves Experience package includes a hotel room, wristband for daily admission to SoundWaves, and baggage storage for early arrivals.

Garden Conservatory at Gaylord Opryland Resort Gardens

The Garden Conservatory Area is home to many more beautiful gardens as well as a flower-covered gazebo.  We were there when it wasn’t in full bloom, but it was still photo-worthy.  My titan hubby decided to strike a godly pose under the gazebo!

The paths wander and wind through more greenery and take you past several sit-down fancy restaurants that will serve you al fresco style and validate your parking if you didn’t opt for the Opry Mills lot.

The Cascade area is nearest to the lobby.  In this area, you can find more greenery, more water fountains, fish in ponds, and waterfalls.

After your walking tour of Opryland Resort Gardens

Do you have more time to spend in Music City ? Once you have walked through and enjoyed the beautiful gardens, there are many other free things to do in Nashville. Click through my other articles to find more Things to do in Nashville and build your itinerary into a great trip!

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Delta Riverboats

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2800 Opryland Dr

Nashville, TN 37214

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Gaylord Opryland has a manmade river running through it, so you gotta ride on the Delta Riverboat to get the full resort experience. The boat ride lasts about 15 minutes, goes slow enough but isn't too slow, and it's a good activity for all ages. We've been on this boat ride a few times. The first time was just a general ride, where we went around the river and the boat driver told us some trivia about the hotel. He pointed out things, such as a red line that indicated where the water level rose to in the hotel during a particularly bad storm many years ago. Throughout the year, they'll offer themed boat rides, like a Pirates & Princesses boat ride, with costumed actors you meet along the way. We also got some treasure at the end (a chocolate gold coin)! There are lots of fun things for individuals and families to do at Gaylord Opryland, and this is one of them.

We loved this boat ride, our tour guide was wonderful. When we bought tickets, the girl said you get a discount if you are staying at the resort. We were staying across the street and did pay a resort fee, so the guide said we should get the discount. The clerk really didn't want to give us $3 off our ride, but our friendly guide insisted. There are waterfalls and so many beautiful trees and plants in Opryland and this is a great way to see it. Great for adults and kids.

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Take the Virtual Delta Boat Tour at Gaylord Opryland Resort

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There are plenty of great resorts in the South, and Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center is an impressive one. Located in Nashville just a stone's throw from the Grand Ole Opry, the resort is made up of three atriums—and there's a river running through it.

The waterway constructed in the resort winds through the Delta Atrium, the largest conservatory in the resort. It's a leafy space with shops, restaurants, and a riverboat tour. Even if you can't visit in person, you can take a 360-degree tour of Gaylord Opryland Resort's indoor river via a video set atop one of the attraction's flatboats. Take a virtual ride on the Delta Boat Tour, which you can find available on the Gaylord Hotels YouTube page and also embedded below.

The short video is led by a tour guide, Gina, who acts as the captain of the boat as she points out notable features in the hotel. All the while, the boat floats through the scenic river that curves through the resort's 4.5-acre Delta Atrium and indoor garden, traveling under bridges, past waterfalls and balconies, and around trees, buildings, and other attractions. Because it's a 360-degree video, you can click and drag your cursor around the video to see all the angles from the camera's position atop the flatboat.

During the tour, you'll learn some facts about the resort and hear about some of the natural features of the atrium, including a bonsai willow, which is the tiniest tree in the resort, and the many fish that live in the river, including catfish, carp, bluegill, and two Japanese koi named Romeo and Juliet.

It's a small taste of the experience, but the short video will transport you for just a moment to the fun of Gaylord Opryland and the relaxing flatboat tour that's become a favorite attraction at the resort. You can find more information about the resort at marriott.com .

Have you ever visited Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville? Where's the first place you'll plan a trip to once it's safe to travel widely again?

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