Taking the lady to Nashville

[Chocolate Lover]

There's some fried chicken place that hasn't changed the grease in 100 years I saw on the Food Network. You should go and report back.


Sorry, that's all I've got, never been there. 

[resolution]

My parents like to stay at the Gaylord Opryland Resort when they are passing through that area. I have never been there but one of these days I plan to go.

[emma1420]

It's nice, but some areas like broadway street where all the honky tonks are very touristy.  It's a neat place though.

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is cool, and of course the Grand Ole Opry is kind of a must see.  I think it's worth a trip. 

[Tennesseer]

Wave to the Batman building for me.  (You will understand the reference when you see it.)

[NancysSummerSip]

We spent two days there; DH loved it, though I was not a fan. Hot chicken is a thing in that area. The Loveless Cafe, just outside the city, is historic and the hot chicken is really good (and so are the biscuits). I found downtown too touristy for me, though the old buildings on the waterfront are of architectural interest. And the areas outside the city are lovely. I was just not a fan of the downtown.

[rob base]

We LOVE Nashville (and we are not even big country music fans)

I think the Grand Ole Opry is a must! Also, if you can, go to a show at the Ryman!

Even if you are not that into country music you can do quite a few hours in the Country Music Hall of Fame

[swamp]

Isn't that where the ducks waddle through the hotel?  The Peabody, I think. 

[rob base]

Aug 21, 2016 21:01:41 GMT -5 swamp said:

Isn't that where the ducks waddle through the hotel?  The Peabody, I think. 

I think u r thinking of Memphis

[zibazinski]

Aug 21, 2016 21:01:41 GMT -5 swamp said:

Isn't that where the ducks waddle through the hotel?  The Peabody, I think. 

Orlando, Florida

[swamp]

Aug 21, 2016 21:09:29 GMT -5 rob base said:

Aug 21, 2016 21:01:41 GMT -5 swamp said:

Isn't that where the ducks waddle through the hotel?  The Peabody, I think. 

I think u r thinking of Memphis

Yup. I am. My bad.

[HoneyBBQ]

Oh man.... I want to support travel and stuff but Tennessee is not a place I'd like to go visit until I'd visited 1000 other places first.

That said, I've never been to Nashville. I did stay at the Peabody in Memphis and saw the ducks. There is some good BBQ and blues but that was good for about 1 day before I wanted to leave, honestly.

In that time frame, I'd hit up Arizona, New Mexico, SFran, Chicago, etc. 

What made you guys think of Nashville?

[MJ2.0]

Aug 22, 2016 9:56:00 GMT -5 HoneyBBQ said:

Oh man.... I want to support travel and stuff but Tennessee is not a place I'd like to go visit until I'd visited 1000 other places first.

That said, I've never been to Nashville. I did stay at the Peabody in Memphis and saw the ducks. There is some good BBQ and blues but that was good for about 1 day before I wanted to leave, honestly.

In that time frame, I'd hit up Arizona, New Mexico, SFran, Chicago, etc. 

What made you guys think of Nashville?

Glad I'm not the only one who thought that!

[happyhoix]

Aug 22, 2016 9:56:00 GMT -5 HoneyBBQ said:

Oh man.... I want to support travel and stuff but Tennessee is not a place I'd like to go visit until I'd visited 1000 other places first.

That said, I've never been to Nashville. I did stay at the Peabody in Memphis and saw the ducks. There is some good BBQ and blues but that was good for about 1 day before I wanted to leave, honestly.

In that time frame, I'd hit up Arizona, New Mexico, SFran, Chicago, etc. 

What made you guys think of Nashville?

Why don't you like TN?

TN has three different chunks - west TN with Memphis is all cotton fields and blues and the giant Mississippi river. Flat as a pan. Middle TN, where Nashville is, is getting into more rolling country (still a lot of cotton) and Nashville is all about country music. Then there is the eastern end with hardly a cotton plant in site. In the north east, Knoxville is a college town right at the edge of the Smokies; Chattanooga has made itself into a mecca for outdoor sports (rafting, hang gliding, biking, rock climbing) and is in the Appalachians. So really, if you've only been to Memphis, you've only seen less than 1/3 of the state.

If you're a country music lover you'll find lots to do in Nashville. If you're a history geek, you can visit the Hermitage, Andrew Jackson's home. If you go a little South of Nashville to Franklin (where a lot of country music stars live) its where the Battle of Franklin took place. If you like to shop, the Opry Mills Mall is close to downtown and has a lot of outlet shops.

Downtown Nashville is touristy but fun, a lot of good restaurants. If you stop someplace for breakfast, though, do NOT call them 'breakfast sandwiches' (like the Yankee did in front of me in the buffet at an Atlanta Hotel one morning) - they are ham biscuits. Or you can order biscuits and gravy, but don't get put off if the gravy looks like runny paper mache - taste it and you'll find that it's delightful paper mache  

[Tennesseer]

Aug 22, 2016 9:56:00 GMT -5 HoneyBBQ said:

Oh man.... I want to support travel and stuff but Tennessee is not a place I'd like to go visit until I'd visited 1000 other places first.

That said, I've never been to Nashville. I did stay at the Peabody in Memphis and saw the ducks. There is some good BBQ and blues but that was good for about 1 day before I wanted to leave, honestly.

In that time frame, I'd hit up Arizona, New Mexico, SFran, Chicago, etc. 

What made you guys think of Nashville?

I wasn't born, raised, and lived most of my life here (that took place in Massachusetts and the northeast), but there is more to Tennessee than just Memphis (and I know you know that). From the start of the Mississippi river delta region (Memphis), to the Smokie mountains in the east, there is plenty of other attractions in between.

Now New Mexico-If you have never been there, I would encourage you to go. Beautiful state. If you ever have the opportunityto be in Taos, N.M. on Chridtmas eve, attend the Taos Pueblo Christmas Eve celebration with the processon of the Virgin Mary. Christmas Eve religious services in the old pueblo church are private and only open the the pueblo residents. But the outdoor celebration is open to the public.

I have family living Iin Taos, Santa Fe, and Las Cruces so I have visited the state a number of times.  Well worth the visit.  Below is a short picture video of the Taos Pueblo Christmas Eve celebration.




.

[HoneyBBQ]

No offense to Tennessee folk. I'm just surprised that was the destination chosen by the OP based on my (limited) knowledge of him. He didn't seem like a southern country boy, so I was just a bit confused. That's all.

My uncle once took me to Branson, Missouri.... he thought I would love it. Lots of hymns and country music and good ol' God fearin' folk. It really wasn't my cup of tea and I imagine Nashville being similar (but a little more Southern than midwest). Maybe I am wrong. It could happen. 

[HoneyBBQ]

AND PS, I'd like to do the ironman in Chattanooga some day, just to show I ain't hatin'.

[Tennesseer]

Aug 22, 2016 15:28:01 GMT -5 HoneyBBQ said:

No offense to Tennessee folk. I'm just surprised that was the destination chosen by the OP based on my (limited) knowledge of him. He didn't seem like a southern country boy, so I was just a bit confused. That's all.

My uncle once took me to Branson, Missouri.... he thought I would love it. Lots of hymns and country music and good ol' God fearin' folk. It really wasn't my cup of tea and I imagine Nashville being similar (but a little more Southern than midwest). Maybe I am wrong. It could happen. 

No offense taken. And we have Gus' s Fried Chicken here in town too (if you like fried chicken).

[happyhoix]

Aug 22, 2016 15:28:01 GMT -5 HoneyBBQ said:

No offense to Tennessee folk. I'm just surprised that was the destination chosen by the OP based on my (limited) knowledge of him. He didn't seem like a southern country boy, so I was just a bit confused. That's all.

My uncle once took me to Branson, Missouri.... he thought I would love it. Lots of hymns and country music and good ol' God fearin' folk. It really wasn't my cup of tea and I imagine Nashville being similar (but a little more Southern than midwest). Maybe I am wrong. It could happen. 

I'm not a country music fan either. I wouldn't pay a lot of money to see a music revue in Nashville - but there are a lot of bars/restaurants in the downtown area, you aren't obligated just to listen to country. Branson is kind of a theme park for country music - Nashville has a lot of other stuff (a sucky professional football team, hockey, Civil war history) other than just country music.  And Branson would be more of the old timey gospel type country music, the new country music sometimes sounds a lot like rock and features a lot of drinking and general heathenism.

[HoneyBBQ]

Aug 22, 2016 17:29:54 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Aug 22, 2016 15:28:01 GMT -5 HoneyBBQ said:

No offense to Tennessee folk. I'm just surprised that was the destination chosen by the OP based on my (limited) knowledge of him. He didn't seem like a southern country boy, so I was just a bit confused. That's all.

My uncle once took me to Branson, Missouri.... he thought I would love it. Lots of hymns and country music and good ol' God fearin' folk. It really wasn't my cup of tea and I imagine Nashville being similar (but a little more Southern than midwest). Maybe I am wrong. It could happen. 

No offense taken. And we have Gus' s Fried Chicken here in town too (if you like fried chicken).

Little known fact about me. 

I LOVE southern food. Grits, okra, collard greens, fried okra. You name it, I love it! (and some good fried chicken is NEVER scoffed at!)

[Tennesseer]

Aug 23, 2016 10:19:45 GMT -5 HoneyBBQ said:

Aug 22, 2016 17:29:54 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

No offense taken. And we have Gus' s Fried Chicken here in town too (if you like fried chicken).

Little known fact about me. 

I LOVE southern food. Grits, okra, collard greens, fried okra. You name it, I love it! (and some good fried chicken is NEVER scoffed at!)

I figured you liked chicken what with chicken wingettes as your avatar.  

[hsclassic]

Our 25th anniversary included Nashville for a couple of days. GREAT city.

We stayed just outside of downtown to take advantage of hotel points. (Wouldn't waste money on Gaylord.)  Spent 1 full day on downtown sights - Country Music Museum very interesting, as well as walking through the downtown area. Lots of good places for food and music (yes, even at lunch).  Only challenge is finding free (or low cost) parking (which you can just outside of the main downtown area). 

Take a tour of the Grand Ole Opry. Best $20/pp we spent. Tons of history and not just music history. Very, very well presented.   If the Opry is playing when you are there (whether at the Ryman of the GOO), you need to purchase tickets well in advance. It not only sells out, the good seats sell out very early.  Remember, the Opry is a live-broadcast radio show - much different than attending a typical concert.

There is also a riverboat cruise you can take adjacent to GOO. We ran out of time, but next time....

Also, just north on I-65 is the National Corvette Museum (Bowling Green, KY) and a bit further north is Mammoth Cave. If you have an interest in exploring, their (approximately) 2 hour cave walk is quite interesting.

Not sure of when you are going, but make sure you don't book yourself during a Vanderbilt home football game. My nephew is at Vandy and, while their team is not that great, the visiting team is known to bring lots of football fans. Ditto that for TN Titans home game.

[Tennesseer]

Aug 24, 2016 11:46:31 GMT -5 hsclassic said:

Our 25th anniversary included Nashville for a couple of days. GREAT city.

We stayed just outside of downtown to take advantage of hotel points. (Wouldn't waste money on Gaylord.)  Spent 1 full day on downtown sights - Country Music Museum very interesting, as well as walking through the downtown area. Lots of good places for food and music (yes, even at lunch).  Only challenge is finding free (or low cost) parking (which you can just outside of the main downtown area). 

Take a tour of the Grand Ole Opry. Best $20/pp we spent. Tons of history and not just music history. Very, very well presented.   If the Opry is playing when you are there (whether at the Ryman of the GOO), you need to purchase tickets well in advance. It not only sells out, the good seats sell out very early.  Remember, the Opry is a live-broadcast radio show - much different than attending a typical concert.

There is also a riverboat cruise you can take adjacent to GOO. We ran out of time, but next time....

Also, just north on I-65 is the National Corvette Museum (Bowling Green, KY) and a bit further north is Mammoth Cave. If you have an interest in exploring, their (approximately) 2 hour cave walk is quite interesting.

Not sure of when you are going, but make sure you don't book yourself during a Vanderbilt home football game. My nephew is at Vandy and, while their team is not that great, the visiting team is known to bring lots of football fans. Ditto that for TN Titans home game.

A few years back I drove up to Louisville, KY via Nashville for a wedding. On the way back, I stopped by Mammoth Caves for the tour you mention. Pretty impressive especially when they turn out all the lights in the cave. There is no seeing the hand in front of you at all.

[Chocolate Lover]

Aug 24, 2016 12:11:27 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Aug 24, 2016 11:46:31 GMT -5 hsclassic said:

Our 25th anniversary included Nashville for a couple of days. GREAT city.

We stayed just outside of downtown to take advantage of hotel points. (Wouldn't waste money on Gaylord.)  Spent 1 full day on downtown sights - Country Music Museum very interesting, as well as walking through the downtown area. Lots of good places for food and music (yes, even at lunch).  Only challenge is finding free (or low cost) parking (which you can just outside of the main downtown area). 

Take a tour of the Grand Ole Opry. Best $20/pp we spent. Tons of history and not just music history. Very, very well presented.   If the Opry is playing when you are there (whether at the Ryman of the GOO), you need to purchase tickets well in advance. It not only sells out, the good seats sell out very early.  Remember, the Opry is a live-broadcast radio show - much different than attending a typical concert.

There is also a riverboat cruise you can take adjacent to GOO. We ran out of time, but next time....

Also, just north on I-65 is the National Corvette Museum (Bowling Green, KY) and a bit further north is Mammoth Cave. If you have an interest in exploring, their (approximately) 2 hour cave walk is quite interesting.

Not sure of when you are going, but make sure you don't book yourself during a Vanderbilt home football game. My nephew is at Vandy and, while their team is not that great, the visiting team is known to bring lots of football fans. Ditto that for TN Titans home game.

A few years back I drove up to Louisville, KY via Nashville for a wedding. On the way back, I stopped by Mammoth Caves for the tour you mention. Pretty impressive especially when they turn out all the lights in the cave. There is no seeing the hand in front of you at all.

we went to Carlsbad Caverns when I was a kid, and were the last people to tour. They were turning lights out behind us, it was pretty creepy. 

[Tennesseer]

Aug 24, 2016 13:06:51 GMT -5 Chocolate Lover said:

Aug 24, 2016 12:11:27 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

A few years back I drove up to Louisville, KY via Nashville for a wedding. On the way back, I stopped by Mammoth Caves for the tour you mention. Pretty impressive especially when they turn out all the lights in the cave. There is no seeing the hand in front of you at all.

we went to Carlsbad Caverns when I was a kid, and were the last people to tour. They were turning lights out behind us, it was pretty creepy. 

One of my favorite movies as a kid (1950s) was movie producer David O. Selznick's The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, especially the part where Tom and Becky Thatcher are lost in a cave and Injun' Joe is trying to kill them. I thought it was real scary.

[hsclassic]

At Mammoth Caves, they do turn out the lights in each area after the tour group has left in order to preserve the cave's features. Not scary at all.


We were just at Lury (sp?) Caverns, a much smaller cavern with so many people that turning out the lights would not be feasible. (Much more touristy, but still interesting.) 

[rob base]