Category: Museum
Museums
Dinosaur World Kentucky 2012
Being from Michigan we have many tourist locations up North, but many close for the winter season so on our drive down to Nashville we thought that Dinosaur World (a place James loves to stop at) would be closed but possibly the souvenir store would be open. When we got there we found out that the whole thing was open including the outside tour. We knew that Friday was going to be a super day in January with the highs in the sixties so we told James that if he was good we would also stop on the way back and go on the outside tour. Needless to say James was pretty good on the trip (he usually is) and it gave us a little break on the way home to take advantage of a gorgeous January day in Kentucky. When we arrived we were the only ones in the entire park so James had the entire Dinosaur world to himself for the day.
Dinosaur World Museum Kentucky 2010
Exit 53 on the interstate, between Nashville and Louisville, is one of James Raymonds favorite places on earth.
On the way down to Nashville this year we stopped off at Dinosaur World but only went into the souvenir shop and picked up some dinosaur toys for James. We told him if he was good on the way home we would take him through the park. One of the nights at the hotel we even watched a dinosaur documentary which everyone enjoyed called “The End of the Dinosaurs” (or something similar in name) which detailed how and why the dinosaurs went extinct when a meteor hit the earth.
Well, for the most part James was very good on this trip, especially in the restaurants. Yes, he did pour his bubbles into the fountain at the nursing home and Yes, he did shoot a rocket off down the hall of the nursing home and Yes, Uncle Bills new Lazy Boy chair got a bit of a workout, but for the most part he was very well behaved and a good boy so on the way home James got rewarded by a walk through Dinosaur World.
Willie Nelson Museum 2010
Within walking distance of our hotel were several tourist sites including the Willie Nelson museum. The museum is divided into two halfs, the front part is a huge sourvenier store which claims itself to be the largest souvenier store in Nashville. We visited many other souvenier places and so far this one does appear to be the largest, although we are by no mean experts and have certainly not seen all the souvenier places.
The back part is the museum and there is a $8 fee to go there. Inside were many articles not only from Willie Nelson but also from Johnny Cash, Elvis, and even an Audie Murphy tribute. The museum was built with many of the items that Willie had to sell to pay his IRS bill, the museum purchased many of those items and returned them to Willie which was a cool thing to do.
One of the creepiest things we saw on any trip was the Patsy Cline exhibit which included a mangled watch which stopped when her airplane crashed (fatal). Many other very interesting exhibits were here to visit and well worth the $8 charge.
Cooters Dukes of Hazzard Museum 2010
What would a trip to Nashville be without a visit to Cooters Garage. Actually its a Dukes of Hazzard museum which is located right next to the Willie Nelson museum. Inside you will find tons of pictures and collectibles from the Dukes of Hazzard television series, but without a doubt was the opportunity to see 4 of the vehicles used in the series, the General Lee, Cooters tow truck, Daisy’s Jeep and of course a Hazzard county police car.
The museum was free, but there is a charge to take your picture inside the car (which is why Mary is outside of the General Lee). Fret not Hazard fans, we did purchase several souveniers to support this fun tourist site.
Greenfield Village 2009
Thomas the train came to Greenfield village for a day and boy did James have fun getting to ride on Thomas. Tickets for this event had to be purchased weeks in advance despite having a subscription to the Henry Ford. The train actually looked exactly like Thomas does.
For those who do not know Thomas, its a kids show based on trains at a train station and was narrated by the late George Carlin (yes, the same guy who gave us 7 words you cannot say on TV doing a kids show, and to be honest he was pretty good at it). Its not really a cartoon, more like stop motion animation.
While riding the train is never a disappointment and James loved his ride, you really can’t tell that you are on a Thomas train. You really need to be outside to see Thomas’ face and eyes move. James was happy and that is all that counts.
Weird Michigan Museum 2008
This is another of those little tourist traps that you love to stop at, this is located in St Ignace Michigan close to the deer ranch.
It is basically a wax museum but it is based on Michigan lore and stories that I had never heard of before. We tried to get as many pics of the descriptions as we could so that the pictures would make some sense. Werewolves, bearded baseball teams, people getting murdered with wooden legs, melon heads, etc… How could we resist.
James enjoyed the visit as well, running from scene to scene and trying to figure out what the purpose was.
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.
Continue reading “Nashville Country Music Hall of Fame 2006”
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.
Mothman Prophecies Adventure 2006
Our journey took us to Charleston WV, Pomeroy OH, Marietta OH, and of course, Point Pleasant WV, the site of the Mothman legend
In Charleston, Mary visited where she lived during her college days. In Pomeroy we had a chance to cross the old bridge across the Ohio river and see the new bridge being built. Marietta is well known on the Ohio river as an up and coming resort town.
The main attraction was Point Pleasant and the TNT area (Mothman was first seen near abandoned ammo igloo’s on the outside of town, hence the name TNT area came into being). Their story was made into a movie called “The Mothman Prophecies” starring Richard Gere a few years back.
Although the movie was set in present time, the actual events happened in a span of 13 months, from Nov 1966 till the collapse of the bridge on Dec 15, 1967.
The most amazing thing that we noticed was the friendliness and helpfulness of everyone that we met at Point Pleasant. So if you are looking for a little mystery and adventure in your next vacation, check out Point Pleasant West Virginia!
Greenfield Village 2006
There is really nothing better on a warm day than going to Greenfield Village and the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn. This year there was a special baseball exhibit in the museum that we wanted to see. They also play old time baseball at the village using old time equipment and old time uniforms. We split time between the two, plus made our usually visits to the band stand, the covered bridge and such.
It is sometimes hard to believe this village is located in Dearborn and not out in the wilderness somewhere. When you drive the train around the park you can see the Ford proving grounds and other Ford property located right next door. We could, if we really wanted to, walk to this place from our home as its only about a mile and a half walk from our home.
Great time was had by all.
