How...dy...! (say it like Minnie Pearl) Hello Nashville! The three RV Parks in Nashville are walking distance from each other. They sit along Music Valley Drive with 10-12 large hotels nearby. Down the road about one mile and through the traffic light puts you in Gaylord's Grand Opry Hotel, Opryland, and the Grand Ole Opry. Unfortunately for us everything is closed this week as they decorate for the holidays. The large mall called Opry Mills remains shut for flood renovations. Apparently Grand Ole Opry radio station performances move downtown the Ryman Theater this time of year. The Rockettes are scheduled for performances at Gaylord's through the holidays and into the New Year.
Our Jellystone RV Park blocked off five rows and gave them to a local radio station for a light show. Proceeds go to the Ronald McDonald House, Second Harvest and others. Visitors pay $25 a car, $40 a van, and on up. As RV Park guest....we're free. Derrille and I took almost two hours going around the five rows. With the radio tuned into a local station, the Christmas music and the synchronized lights create a mesmerizing display. If no one occupies the space in front of us, we even have a good view of the pulsating lights from the RV.
The park also offered a play area for the kids, a Santa Store, a Santa visit with photos, and an outdoor fire where visitors could roast hot dogs or marshmallows. I bought a s'more kit for $1! The kit had two graham crackers, one marshmallow and a small Hershey bar. YUM!
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum took Derrille and I about 5 hours to view. Tammy Wynette's story fills one whole section. Her life story, her outfits, and her music create the starting point for visitors to the museum. I liked this photo of her 3 girls.
Next we followed the growth of country music from the early times up to modern times. The wall shows posters of people important to the industry.
Spiral sound booths highlight certain songs and history. Video screen show old time film clips. The museum design allows visitors to hear a variety of music just feet from another display. We were surprised by the number of song titles and early history we knew. Does that mean we are "old"? The gold Cadillac of Elvis Presley shows the luxury of his time. Walls of gold records include the pertinent facts for the singer and songs of the Golden Albums. We watch a film of how TV influenced the growth of country music. Another film told about the controversy four songs created in the general public. The songs were "The Pill" by Loretta Lynn, "The Angry American" by Toby Keith, "Stand by your Man" by Tammy Wynette, and "I'm an Okie from Muskogee" by Meryl Haggard. Displays told of the various kinds of country music that has developed over the years. A large section tells the story of Hank Williams and Hank Williams Jr. 
In the Hall of Fame bronze plaques hang on the circular walls of a tall atrium. A feeling of reverence pervades this room, unlike the Baseball Hall of Fame at Cooperstown. The first floor of the museum includes a theater, the ticket office, a cafe, offices and the museum store. We left feeling very satisfied with our visit.
Outside the Hall of Fame, workers were setting up the red carpet area for the CMA award show scheduled tomorrow. By our parking lot we saw the Artist Check-In entry by a parking lot.
The parking lot was full of the fancy big bus RV's. They must belong to performers. 
Nashville looks clean downtown. One of its most interesting skyscrapers is AT&T, affectionately called the Batman building by the locals. I found this apartment building across from the CM Hall of fame interesting too. The extended art is covered parking. A swimming pool is on top of the garage..
Some streets were tree lined in the downtown area. Honkey-Tonk row looked like an interesting area to explore, especially if one could drink. Some building were very old, others very new.We grabbed a great dinner at the Santa Fe Cattle Co. My catfish dinner was excellent. Then we hurried home to change clothes and get ready for a tour bus pick up at 5:30 pm. 
Pat, the bus driver and humorous guide, took us downtown to the Ryman Theater. The Grand Ole Opry called the Ryman Theater home for 31 years. The Ryman originally was built as a church to be used as a Gospel Mission. Later the Opry radio program moved to the new home. 
Derrille rated the performance as a "D", but even at that we enjoyed the experience.
This performer, little Jimmy Dickens is in the Hall of Fame and 90 years old! He still made us laugh. Others were young and people we may hear of in the near future.Franklin, Tennessee's Historical Down Town defines "quaint". Interesting shops line the streets that radiate out of a town circle. A monument stands in the center of the circle. A stop in Franklin should be a "must see" stop when visiting Nashville. Franklin is about 35 minutes south of Nashville. It was dusk when we rolled through, or I'd have photos for you.
North of the historical district a visitor can find any modern store and restaurant to their liking. I took a little bit of time and did some Christmas shopping. We came to Franklin to visit with Molly, her husband David and their boys. Molly's parents, the Thorens are neighbors in Bremerton. Molly fixed us a delicious dinner. We were thankful that Molly and her family shared their evening with us. We really enjoyed the visit.
Constructed as a full size replica of the Parthenon in Greece, the Parthenon in Nashville stands at the edge of Centennial Park in West Nashville. Inside is a 42 foot statue of Athena, the goddess of wisdom. Of course to see that statue requires an entrance fee to the art on display inside.
A beautiful pond sits across from the Parthenon.
We also stopped by the capitol building for a photo opt since this is one of the few capitol buildings with no dome.
We dined at a restaurant called The Cock of the Walk. The wait staff dressed as buccaneers. Everything had a bit of a bite, except my catfish which were yummy.
Next stop: Chattanooga, TN
No comments:
Post a Comment