Nestled in rolling hills in the part of the state known as Middle Tennessee, Nashville is often called the "garden spot of the world." The lush natural vegetation, changing seasons, and mild climate of the area make a pretty picture that is the setting for miles of green neighborhoods, shaded shopping districts, thick forests, and wide-open pastures, all inside the city limits. It is a city large enough to be headquarters for scores of international corporations, yet small enough for the neighborhood banker to call his customers by name. Local people can hear the Nashville Symphony perform Pagliacci one night and see The Grand Ole Opry in all its glory the next. They can live in steel and glass high-rise condominiums near the center of the city or in secluded frame farmhouses on rural routes.
Nashville is not only a choice city, but it also is a city of choices. The traditional values of the rural people who settled the area have blended with influences brought in by international business, film crews, gourmet restaurants, university scholars, couture clothiers, and conventioneers to create an unusual blend of lifestyles. The combination of country charm and city savvy makes Nashville attractive to residents and visitors alike.