Month: September 2006
Nashville City 2006
A very beautiful and fun city, although we never did figure out how to pay the parking there. Lots of attractions, street performers, museums, and restaurants.
Once we knew for sure we were going on the Nashville trip, Mary made me promise to take her to “The Spaghetti Factory” restaurant in downtown Nashville (and also Bar B Cutie which is a take out place). As you can see from the photos, I kept my promise. Its a very cool restaurant with a trolley car right down the center.
Truly a remarkable town and well worth a visit.
On our way home we stopped at a couple of Mary’s old stomping grounds like her first apartment and such.
A very enlightening trip and everyone had fun this day.
Nashville Country Music Hall of Fame 2006
We took James to the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville. Many classic items there but flash photography was not allowed so some of the pics may look dim. They say the flashes can actually damage some of the stored items, who would have thought that.
My family has long been Hank Williams fans, both Sr. and Jr., and Johnny Cash well I think everyone likes Johnny Cash. Lots of interesting things to see but what impressed me most was all the gold albums that lined the walls. A pretty awesome display although you would have a hard time ever finding your favorite song because there are so many.
The car display was cool as well and there was alot of computer/video interactive devices. You could easily spend a whole day at the Country Music Hall of Fame.
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Belle Meade Plantation 2006
So many of the great race horses were bred at the Belle Meade Plantation. We had stopped here only for lunch and found ourselves buying tickets and going on the tour. Well, I should say Mary went on the tour, James and I had plenty to explore on the outside of the mansion including the stables and a creepy old mausoleum out in the back.
I remember Mary telling us that one of the people in the Bell Meade history got in trouble with the Tennessee government so they sent him to what they thought was the worse place on earth, that place was Mackinaw Island where we vacation each year.
Landis Family Reunion 2006
This was the first time James met a lot of his Nashville relatives and he really responded well to the wonderful hospitality we were shown while in Tennessee. Mary got to meet up with a new niece as well. We spent a lot of time with Mary’s mom who lives in a huge apartment complex that can be seen from downtown Nashville. We also spent a lot of time with Mary’s dad who is in a Nursing home but is sharp as a tack.
We thought it was wonderful that James got to meet his Grandma and Grandpa along with a Uncles and a bunch of cousins. Thanks to everyone for making this such an enjoyable visit for our family.
Grand Ole Opry & Opryland Hotel 2006
We visited the Grand Ole Opry and shopped at the mall across the street (the same one that has the aquarium restaurant).
The hotel is a huge complex which reminded me of the Walt Disney World hotels but grander. We took an indoor boat ride similar to the one we took in Vegas at the Venetian, except there was no singing on this one. Lots of shops but what really was amazing was the plant life. The ceiling is made of glass which makes for a greenhouse effect. Each level was different and meticulously maintained. We saw Dolly Parton’s room when she stays there which looks out over a huge garden.
It kind of made me feel bad we were staying at a Holiday Inn when there was something like this available. However this whole area is on the other side of town from where we are staying and it would have been much further to get to James Grandpa if we stayed here (besides it probably cost a fortune to stay here).
Nashville Aquarium Restaurant 2006
The Nashville Aquarium Restaurant is one of the largest aquariums in the world, you should see it at feeding time. It truly is an underwater dining adventure.
We took Mary’s mom here for lunch and James enjoyed seeing all the fish in one of the largest aquariums in the world. The water is constantly filtered and is sparkling clean, kind of makes me feel guilty because the water in our little home aquarium is not that clean. The aquarium is in the center of the restaurant and is circular so you can walk all around it and end up back where you started. The food was good as well, but you have to remember you are paying for the aquarium and that atmosphere of the place.
This restaurant is located directly across from the Grand Ole Opry, just on the other side of the parking lot.
Nashville Zoo 2006
Mary lived just across the street from here as a child, although it wasnt a zoo then. The property was owned by a family who donated it to the city of Nashville to be used as a zoo. This is a very new zoo so a lot of the exhibits are fresh and fun, it is set up like a safari adventure and you can easily miss things if you don’t have a map. A carousel is right in the center for the kids, and you can visit the family’s original farm as well.
James had a blast here, and despite all the cool animals that he enjoyed, I think he liked the carousel ride the best. I guess its one thing to look at an animal but another to ride one on a merry go round.
If the weather is nice out, and most of the time the weather in Nashville is pretty decent, I cannot think of a better outdoor place to visit.
Nashville Flea Market 2006
This is Marys favorite flea market in the whole world, we scheduled our trip to Nashville so that we would arrive in time for the Nashville Flea Market. My understanding is one of the driving forces behind the flea market was an ancestor of Mary’s. The Flea Market is huge and you have to walk up a big hill to get to it so if you decide you want to go, be sure to bring your hiking shoes.
Even though it was September it was still very hot. Some of the buildings are air conditioned while others are not but at least you could take a break from the heat if you wanted to. The only charge for the flea market was for parking so it was well worth the trip.
Dinosaur World Kentucky 2006
A couple great tourist stops in Kentucky, the Kentucky Cave and the Dinosaur Park are among about a dozen tourist traps in this area. Theres also a haunted house and quilt outlet so you know we had to stop. James is a big dinosaur fan (he pronounces it “dino-hore” which leads to humorous situations with clerks, asking for their dino-hore location).
We really enjoyed the Dinosaur Park, it had everything you could imagine as far as dinosaurs. We took a stroll through the park and their had to be at least a 100 (probably more) dinosaurs lurking there and some of them were huge. There was also a dinosaur theatre and a fossil dig along with a dinosaur play area which James took advantage of. About 2 hours north of Nashville, it makes a nice first rest stop for the trip home to Michigan.
James Birthday 2006
James 3rd birthday began with a trip to Applebee’s for the Applebee Birthday Treatment, then we surprised him by having his gifts in his parents room where he never dreamed of looking for them (however after this was over he decided to sleep in our room to make sure we weren’t up to anything).
Once again we would like to thank everyone who helped make this such a wonderful day for James. He had so many balloons, presents and gifts to open plus cake and ice cream. James was in his glory this day. Big thanks to Peg who really goes out of her way to make sure James has everything he needs at his party, including a whole bunch of helium balloons.
Happy Birthday Peg! Happy Birthday James
