Opryland Hotel, Resort, Convention Center, Spa, Shopping Mall, and all that...

No, Nashville's famously huge Opryland Hotel Resort (2800 Opryland Dr., 615-889-1000) isn't exactly a gay mecca - this enormous hot house of American values appeals largely to conservative families and other red-state types. But the management is perfectly gay-friendly, and you'll see plenty of LGBT sorts working here, if not necessarily staying here. Moreover, it's a beautiful place, surprisingly tasteful given its Vegas-esque grandeur. The hotel underwent a massive $270 million renovation and makeover, completed in November 2010, after it suffered damage during the city's massive summer floods.

It's good fun walking around the massive enclosure of lushly landscaped conservatories that connect the different hotel buildings - they're rife with restaurants and shops. If you're looking for a tasty meal, head to Cascades American Cafe, with high-quality food and plenty of healthful options. Ravello is one of the best of the high-end dining options, and the Grand Ole Opry is an obvious draw, as is the well-regarded Relache Spa and the Gaylord Springs Golf Course. There's also enough shopping at neighboring Opry Mills to die-hard retail fans busy for days...maybe weeks (as of this writing, Opry Mills was still closed from flood damage but was slated to reopen late in 2011). In short, no trip to Nashville is complete without at least ducking into Opryland and observing the mix of people - if you start to feel antsy and overwhelmed by social conservatives, you're just a 10-minute drive from funky East Nashville's hip and funky vibe and gay-popular bars and restaurants.