And now, ladies & gents ... Nashville!

When I served as the Nashville editor for the 10Best Bets project, one of the first things the local contributors brought to my attention was that 10 lists may not be enough to really capture the character of their city. "After all," one of them remarked, "our town has a different personality every day of the week."

Not being a native, I missed the point. Now, looking back at how the 10Best Bets campaign shaped up in Nashville, it's easy to see what they were getting at.

Sure, this city has its tried and true mainstays. Gaylord's Opryland Resort, the Ryman, the CMA Festival and even the Titans – these are the local institutions that most everybody associates with Nashville, but that doesn't mean they should define or dictate our sense of the place. No, to really get to know Nashville, you need to dig deep and discover its true quality. Thanks to the hard work of the Best Bets crew, I think 10Best does just that.

Scanning the lists, you'll find more than a few unique suggestions, especially among the Mp3 Placelists selections. Here, our locals serve up 10 places that are perfect for letting music provide a "sound" backdrop as you people-watch, take in the sights or just while away the time with a good book or crossword.

For example, at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, home to the World War II Memorial and 31 fountains celebrating Tennessee's major waterways, you've got the perfect opportunity for a classical number or two. Similar introspective moments – just your tunes, you and the view – can be had nearby at the Cumberland River Pedestrian Bridge, which is stunning at night and offers terrific perspectives of the river as it cuts through town. Another great place to take in the view is Love Circle, which overlooks Vanderbilt University and the entire West End of the city. The quiet, romantic spot is a great place to view fireworks, too – pun intended.

Also in town are the peaceful, jazz-worthy courtyard of the Downtown Public Library and Centennial Park, home to Nashville's iconic 1897 replica of the Parthenon. Venture nine miles outside of downtown, and discover the natural serenity of Edwin and Warner Parks (collectively known as Warner Parks), which occupy some 2684 acres of forest and field. Tackle a jogging course or take in a leisurely nature stroll, and let that choice dictate your listening pleasure.

Of course, public spaces aren't the only places where your own personal soundtrack can take over. At Climb Nashville, we recommend putting on something inspirational (maybe even hard and heavy) to help you achieve the 40 vertical feet you'll need to get to the top of this indoor climbing wall.

Plan to tap into something on the mellow side at the coffee shops on our list. At Riverside Village's Sip Cafe, there's a nice, spacious deck that's perfect for a cup of Drew's Brew and a few tracks of the Nashville specialty, country music. Ditto at Portland Brew on Eastland, at least in terms of mixing coffee with local music. In this case, give a few East Nashvillians like Todd Snider or Last Train Home a listen. Last but not least is JJ's in Midtown, billed as one of the friendliest businesses in town. From European chocolates to imported cigars, you've got plenty of coffee-chasers to choose from, so making sure the "right" music's streaming through the headphones is the only variable ... What do you recommend?