Nashville: Downtown walking tour with puppet guide & stories

Summary

Walk Nashville’s downtown with a puppet guide who makes history sing

You’ll walk through downtown Nashville with Cornbread the puppet and a local guide, hearing stories that mix music history and humor. See landmarks like the Hermitage Hotel and Ryman Auditorium, laugh with your group, and end with photos and questions for the puppeteer—a playful twist on classic sightseeing you’ll remember long after heading home.

What’s the experience like?

“Y’all ever seen a puppet wear cowboy boots?” That’s how Cornbread greeted us, right there on the sidewalk near the Hermitage Hotel. I didn’t know what to expect from a Nashville sightseeing tour led by a puppet, but honestly, it was impossible not to smile. Our guide—well, technically two guides if you count the puppeteer—had this way of slipping in stories about old Nashville while Cornbread cracked jokes about hot chicken and country stars. The city felt different through their eyes (and felt hands?).

The air smelled like fried food and summer pavement as we wandered past the Downtown Presbyterian Church. Kids in our group kept giggling every time Cornbread tried to sing like Johnny Cash—he’d go all deep and wobbly, then break character just to wink at someone’s grandma. I caught myself humming along when we stopped outside the Ryman Auditorium, which I guess is what happens on a day trip in Nashville when your “guide” is made of felt but somehow knows more about music than I do.

I liked that it wasn’t just facts and dates—our local guide told little side stories about musicians sneaking out back doors or how the church used to host secret concerts. At one point, Cornbread asked if anyone wanted to try saying “Nashville” with a Southern twang; Li from our group gave it a shot and everyone burst out laughing (her accent was… unique). The whole thing was relaxed, just an hour or so wandering downtown, but I still think about that moment outside the Ryman when everything went quiet for a second before another song started up somewhere down Broadway.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Nashville Downtown Puppet Tour

• Meet special guide
• Visit historical landmarks in Downtown District
• Conclude at Ryman Auditorium with Q&A and photos

Top questions

Is this Nashville walking tour suitable for young children?

Yes, it’s family-friendly and children 5 and under join for free.

How long does the puppet-led sightseeing tour last?

The tour lasts about one hour as you walk through downtown Nashville.

Which landmarks are included on this Nashville day trip?

You’ll visit places like the Hermitage Hotel, Downtown Presbyterian Church, and finish at Ryman Auditorium.

Is the tour accessible for strollers or wheelchairs?

Yes, it’s wheelchair accessible and infants can ride in prams or strollers.

Do we get to interact with Cornbread or take photos?

Yes! At the end by Ryman Auditorium you can ask questions and take pictures with Cornbread.

What’s included

Your experience includes a one-hour live walking tour of downtown Nashville guided by an expert storyteller and puppeteer (with Cornbread), all entry fees and taxes covered—and plenty of chances for laughs, questions, and photos at each stop before wrapping up at Ryman Auditorium.