Tag: Nashville
Nashville by Air 2014
This year our trip to Nashville was not as joyous as ones in the past had been. Mom had to fly out to Nashville under difficult circumstances – Grandpa Landis had passed away.
Mom took these pictures on the flight down where she met Uncle Bill to help with the funeral arrangements. James, Grandma, and Dad drove down one day later in what could best be described as an incredibly wet drive with nothing but rain from Cincy to Nashville.
The funeral service was very nice with military honors and the weather remained calm long enough as well. On the drive home the rain began again, but it was nothing compared to what we went through the night before.
Nashville Phillips Toy Mart 2013
A visit to Nashville would not be complete without a visit to their largest toy store known fondly as “Phillips”. James simply loves this place and you can go in and see toys you have never seen before. A great option to the mainstream toy stores and they try to focus on toys that our educational or help in devlopment (They are not known for Nintendo or Playstation).
The store has been a fixture in Nashville since 1946 and if you get a chance be sure to stop in. Even if you don’t need toys or don’t want to spend money on toys, you will enjoy the traditional layout and the opportunity to watch their train display running.
Grandpa’s Birthday Roadtrip in Nashville 2013
When we went to Nashville we rented a special van that had a wheel chair lift so that Grandpa could get out (Grandpa picked up the bill on this). He requested a couple stops including the graveyard where his parents and son were buried. We had a nurse come with us as well just in case and while we did not have any medical issues, Grandpa did slip out of the chair as Grandpa was secured in the van and the chair was secured in the van, but Grandpa was not secured in the wheel chair and he slowly slid downward.
We try to get Grandpa out each time we visit. He is very fun to be with and tells us stories of the places we take him. Since he has lived in Nashville his entire life, as did his family as far back as we can trace, he knows more than most about the city we are visiting.
Anyhow the road trip was our gift for Grandpa, we sure hope he enjoyed it.
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Loveless Cafe Nashville 2013
Perhaps you have already seen or heard about the Loveless Cafe. Stories about the Loveless Cafe continue to be told around the world.
USA Today named us the “Top Down-Home Dining Spot” and one of the “10 Great Places to get a Southern-style Biscuit.”
Southern Living named the Cafe one of the “Five Must-See Sights in Nashville,” in addition to “Favorite Southern Dives” and the “South’s Best Breakfast Spots.”
Taste of the South magazine included us as one of the “35 Iconic Southern Restaurants,” saying we serve the “South’s Best Pies.”
The Atlanta Journal Constitution included the Cafe as one of the “8 Restaurants to Try if you Want a Taste of Nashville.”
The Tennessean called the Cafe’s pulled pork sandwich one of the top 5 in Nashville, a city full of legendary barbecue joints.
Thrillest online said the Loveless Cafe is one of “Nashville’s Best BBQ Joints.”
The TV cameras just love the Loveless Cafe too, from The Today Show to CBS News to Ellen DeGeneres to the Martha Stewart Show. When we ate there it was so good that we got up early the next day and brought a breakfast to Grandpa.
Grandpa’s Birthday 2013
Our annual visit to Nashville was one for the books as far as weather was concerned. As nice as it was last year in January, it was equally lousy this year with lots of rain and wet weather for early March. But we made it in time for Grandpa’s birthday (March 1) which we celebrated with a small cupcake party in his room the first day in Nashville.
Saturday was a road trip for Grandpa as a wheelchair van gave him a ride out to the cemetery. Again, the weather made things difficult and Grandpa actually slid out of his wheel chair in the van, but he did get to visit his parents graves which was the goal.
Other highlights of the trip include breakfast at Loveless Cafe, dinner with Uncle Bill at Bar B Cutie, Friday night pizza at the hotel, and a trip to Nashville’s most famous toy store.
Sunday morning we met Uncle Bill at Grandpa’s room and said our good byes. Hopefully we won’t be away for a year this time.
Nashville Phillips Toy Mart 2012
It is so nice to escape the cold weather of Michigan in January and head to the more “calmer” temperature of Nashville. It was so nice out that we stopped at Phillips Toy Mart to pick up some outdoor game that James could play while we were visiting Grandpa and enjoying this moderate temperature (we have to figure that it may be months before James will be able to play outside in Michigan with the possible exception of building snowmen or snow forts).
James got to climb up and be the conductor for the train while visiting the store. We found several things for him to play with outside (there is a wide open field outside of where Grandpa is staying that is ideal for this) and ended up with a light up frisbee like saucer that we ended up tossing to each other. Grandpa was able to go outside but whether or not he could see the light up frisbee flying through the air I can’t say for sure.
Thanks for having the right toy at the right time Phillips
Nashville Visit To Grandpa 2012
We never officially planned this trip, but it was in the back of our minds for the last month. Due to James school having a longer than usual Christmas break we decided that if we got halfway decent weather we would make a quick break down to Tennessee to visit Mary’s dad. Problem is, the weather would have to be halfway decent for four states and three days. Luck must have been with us because all three days were perfect and Friday it hit the mid sixties in Nashville. The schedule was drive ten hours the first day, then visit Mary’s dad in the evening, spend the second day with Mary’s dad, then return the third day after visiting in the morning. The trip went exactly as planned and a great time was had by all including James.
In addition we stopped in to visit our cousin Lynn who is actually in the same facility on the same floor. Quite a coincidence having a member from each side of the family in the same facility that is 10 hours away from Michigan. Lynn agreed to let me take her picture so Peg could see what she looks like (she hasn’t seen Lynn since they were kids).
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.
Visiting Grandpa in Nashville 2010
With time running out on summer it was now or never if we were going to make it to Nashville to visit Grandpa and Uncle Bill. Fortunately we made it thanks to the Michigan law which stops school from starting earlier than Labor day. James got a chance to see his Grandpa and also Uncle Bill and his family. Uncle Bill is rebuilding his home after the flood and it is coming along beautifully. As we visited various places in Nashville you could find buildings and businesses still closed from the devastating flood. In fact the hotel we stayed at near Opryland was discounted because the Opryland mall, one of the major attractions in Nashville, was still closed and not due to open till November.
One good thing that came out of the flood was that Uncle Bill found an archive of old family pictures when going through the flood damage. Mom hopes to scan those pictures in and upload to this site in the near future.
Grandma came down on the trip as well and had a chance to visit friends from her previous home for the first time since moving to Michigan back in November 09.
