11 Things You Can Only Brag About If You’re From Nashville

Here's the thing: Nashville is a pretty fantastic city. Full of great people and good food, the southern town has recently exploded into a semi-metropolis that fosters millennial careers and brings transplants in by the dozen. We found eleven things that are all too true about Nashville - and completely brag-worthy. Curious?

11. You can visit the Bluebird Cafe - any day you want.

The nation got Bluebird Cafe fever when it was featured in the hit tv show, "Nashville," but it has been making stars for years. As a matter of fact, it's known locally as a necessary stepping stone for the virtually unknown to country music star.

10. We're home to the longest running radio show in the United States.

The Grand Ole Opry has been running as a weekly radio show since its inception on November 28, 1925 by George D. Hay. It began as a barn dance on WSM and exploded into a complete and total legend.

9. Nashville is known for leading the south in the healthcare industry.

Vanderbilt has long been known as a mecca of medical discovery, and their children's hospital is renowned and sought out by people across the country.

8. Andrew Jackson and James K. Polk made their homes here.

Controversial as his administration and personal life may have been, it's still neat to visit President Jackson's plantation home in Hermitage. Polk's only standing home is in Columbia, about an hour outside of Nashville. Both offer paid tours of the grounds.

7. Ryman Auditorium: the Mother Church of Country Music.

The Ryman was the original home of the Grand Ole Opry and has hosted musical greats from Johnny and June to Ingrid Michaelson. Known for having the best acoustics in the United States - second only to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir - you NEED to put a show at the Ryman on your lifetime bucket list. It's magic.

6. It's not to difficult to find a free show - they're on every corner!

But really though. Folks like Taylor Swift and Phil Vassar have been known to get up on stage in a dive bar, next to our hordes of hopefuls to sing a song or two to our crowds. Plus, if you grab a beer and head down Broadway you'll find a ton of guitars slung over shoulders, just waiting for a crowd.

5. Nashville is the home to a full-scale Parthenon replica.

Built as a part of the Tennessee Centennial Exposition in 1897, the Parthenon is a stunning nod to the original structure in Athens. Inside is a statue of Athena, and she is actually the tallest indoor statue in the western hemisphere. Bring that one to trivia night! (PS: You can visit at 2500 West End Avenue)

4. We're home to the first combination candy bar.

GooGoo Clusters paved the way for Reeses peanut butter cups and Kit-Kat bars - you're welcome, world.

3. Tech + Nashville = True Love.

There has been a large infusion of techie companies and millennial businesses flooding the streets of Nashville as of late. Lyft has a customer service office in the city, Asurion is based downtown and Google Fiber will be making an entrance as an internet option in the near future.

2. Nashville is commonly known as, "The Athens of the South."

The south gets a bad rap when it comes to education, especially with the ridiculous, "barefoot and pregnant" mantra uttered from elitist cities and ignorant folks on the daily. No worries, though - we're home to the largest number of colleges per capita in the south, which means Nashville is building up a strong future generation with a good bout of education.

1. We have the best (HOT) fried chicken in the United States - naturally.

It's no joke - hot chicken has taken the country by storm. Even KFC has adopted a nationwide hot chicken campaign, boasting cayenne covered Nashville flavor from Los Angeles to Pensacola. That's a pretty solid reach, wouldn't you think?

What a place, wouldn't you say? If you're in the mood to travel the south, though, check out these 17 towns around Nashville that will blow your mind!