Nashville, Tennessee 2020 16th State of America

September 21, 2020 • 3 Comments

HELLO.... 9-13-20

What a year - right??? None of us will ever forget 2020. Scott & I arrived back in North Carolina 2-26-20 & while walking to the mailbox, I had a collision with 2 dogs - wham - popped up with a fractured elbow. No time to rest - Scott & I drove up to Ft. Eustis, VA to move our son Keenan down to Southern Pines so he may start his next chapter at Ft. Bragg & getting hitched on 3-21-20 to beautiful Cassidy Hahn.

But wait - the illustrious Corona Virus lashed out across the world.. YUK - what to do?? Plunge forward - the Hahn's, Benner's & the Siff's decided to carry on with the wedding. We know - not what the kids dreamt of but we have to say; it was a most spectacular wedding.

(As always, hover over the pictures for some "extra" story)

Our Happy Couple

Back to Concord, NC to stay boarded up for the summer - our hearts breaking for so many people. As the country slowly opens - here we go (leaving sad dogs at home) driving the amazing roads of America & discovering the land of the FREE.

Koda & Diesel ~ Melissa's dogs... Gizmo & Misty ~ Melissa giving us our send off.....

First stop will be Hermitage,TN (just outside Nashville) for 5 nights; lets see what trouble we can get into.
Tennessee is a landlocked state in the U.S. South. Its capital, centrally located Nashville, is the heart of the country-music scene, with the long-running Grand Ole Opry, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and a legendary stretch of honky-tonks and dance halls. Memphis, in the far southwest, is the home of Elvis Presley’s Graceland, rock-and-roll pioneering Sun Studio and the blues clubs of Beale Street. Tennessee was admitted to the Union as the 16th state on June 1, 1796.

Nashville Shores, our home for the next 5 nights. The water park was actually closed due to heavy rains - we weren't complaining since this way we had the place almost to ourselves....

Up & at 'em... taking a ride to downtown Nashville. Neither of us had ever visited Nashville. Below is the at&t building - maybe the tallest structure downtown - so if you get turned around, just look for this building.

Awesome Architecture downtown & look, the streets were so quiet - Covid, I guess.

SMASHVILLEThe Predators - Ice hockey team.

Country Music Hall of Fame

Would love to have seen an event here but closed due to Covid. SCHERMERHORN SYMPHONY CENTERNamed in honor of the late Maestro Kenneth Schermerhorn, who led the GRAMMY Award-winning Nashville Symphony for 22 years, Schermerhorn Symphony Center is home of the Nashville Symphony. Located in downtown Nashville's SoBro neighborhood, across from the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, the building hosts a wide range of musical events, including classical, pops, jazz, and world music. One of Scott's favorite bands

Just Love how Nashville preserved so many old buildings - gave this town so much character..

Football Anyone??? Oh wait, you can't go in....

First Avenue & the Flood of 2010The torrential rains and catastrophic flooding of May 1-3, 2010, will be remembered for many years.A flood event that sets a new record crest is something rarely seen, especially when records date back 50 to 100 years. The Cumberland River at Nashville caused tremendous damage when it rose to almost 52 feet. While walking the streets, it was incredible to think how many buildings were filled with the Cumberland River!

What is a GooGoo???

GooGoo?????chocolate-covered clusters are filled with caramel, marshmallow and nuts : peanuts,pecans or peanut butter. Goo Goos are "mmm, mmm, good!" You just gotta try some today! (Of course, "GOO" could stand for "Grand Ole Opry!") Okay Dad - what did you know??? A glimpse of Broadway...And, look how quiet it was! Of course, it is about 11:00am on a Tuesday. Sheet MusicLaid in the streets - so cool Old surrounded by New Capital StepsYup, Scott running them all - Hi Hoe SilverNope, Hi Hoe Sam Patch.... Beautiful statue of Andrew Jackson - the USA's 7th President.

Beautiful Capital Building

Treasury Building

As most cities across America, they are filled with amazing art work - you just have to be adventurous to find them.

WoolworthI always find it funny that this sign is kept throughout this country.The first Woolworth store was opened by Frank Winfield Woolworth on February 22, 1879, as Woolworth's Great Five Cent Store" in Utica, New York. The RymanThe brainchild of a prominent Nashville businessman, Thomas G. Ryman, the Ryman Auditorium was originally constructed in 1892 as the Union Gospel Tabernacle to provide a place for evangelist Reverend Sam Jones. It was Ryman’s dream to build a venue for Jones to project his voice and message to everyone and this Victorian Gothic Revival structure went on to do just that. In 1904, after Thomas Ryman passed away, it became known as the Ryman Auditorium. Since the road in front of the Ryman was under construction, we couldn't get a wide shot of the building. Couldn't go in due to Covid - Thanks a lot....

See anyone you recognize???

First StopTootsies - we went straight to the roof top for a nice cold one and get off our feet!

Straight upstairs for a Cold one. First beer in a long time - due to carb watching.

ElvisEven though Elvis is from Memphis, you can find reminders of him all over Nashville. You can teach an old dog new tricksSo wild - all you have to do is take a picture of the QR codes with your phone and the menus will pop up. Our young waitress got a nice giggle out of us learning this. Moonshine Anyone....Must say, very tasty. Believe Scott's favorite is the Salted Carmel - after he finishes the Sweet Tea... LoL We only got to visit with Aaron & not the whole band.... Aaron WalkerWhat a voice....If there was a sound that captures the words Outlaw, Hey Y'all, and Yee Haw this side of the Nolichucky, there would be no other group that comes to mind clearer than Aaron Walker and the band that backs him. Aaron Walker Band delivers a very energetic feel on stage with passion and a burning for what some may say is missing in certain realms of country music today. They are a group of guys all born and raised in the hills of East Tennessee and have been bringing their own style and sound to the country music scene. I mean ....... COME ON Military BOGOSo needless to say we stayed for a few.. This by far was our favorite bar.

Great Bar....

Chris VitaAwesome musician & Singer From Anderson, SC Cody AtkinsAn awesome Singer & musician From Blacksburg, VA way Cody Atkins & Chris VitaTogether, these 2 were so much fun.... Jazz you sayIt's not all country music in Nashville.. This young man in the picture was the drummer & dang he was good....

George Jones' name was lit up on the street.

Whoa Wait - - - Keep Going, We Haven't Left Nashville - YET

We did not step inside but if we go back to Nashville, we most certainly will. The ParthenonDid you know???? The Parthenon in Centennial Park, in Nashville, Tennessee, is a full-scale replica of the original Parthenon in Athens. It was designed by Confederate veteran William Crawford Smith and built in 1897 as part of the Tennessee Centennial Exposition. The re-creation of the 42-foot statue Athena is the focus of the Parthenon just as it was in ancient Greece.

ANDREW JACKSON'S HERMITAGE

Experience the historic mansion and tranquil beauty

Hermitage GroundsAbsolutely Gorgeous The HermitageAndrew Jackson's Mansion (back yard)

Alfred Jackson's CabinAlfred, known as Uncle Alfred, was Andrew Jackson's faithful servant. Alfred : Personal Man Servant Alfred, was born at the Hermitage and he lived on the plantation longer than anyone on record. He was responsible for maintaining the wagons and farm equipment, and he tended the horses. Alfred also served as Andrew Jackson’s personal man servant. First HomeThis is where Andrew Jackson first lived when he bought the Hermitage with his wife Rachel. First Mansion of the Hermitage This home use to have 2 levels Back Door of the Mansion Welcome in......Oh wait, you need a ticket.... LoL Hermitage GardenA beautiful garden Andrew Jackson created for his beloved wife Rachel Jackson. Look who we foundCould this be a Peter Rabbit descendant ?? So cute So Curious A. Jackson's TombJackson died on June 8, 1845 and was laid to rest two days later in the tomb. The inscription on his reads simply, “General Andrew Jackson, March 15, 1767 – June 8, 1845.” The Jackson family cemetary where the last to be buried here was in 1971 at the age of 100! Uncle Alfred is also laid to rest next to Andrew and Rachel's tomb. Part General, Part EverymanJackson astounded the country with his sharp strategy in battle and go-getter attitude since he was a “common man” with no formal military training. This, along with winning New Orleans, put Jackson on the map politically for his road to the White House. One Smart ManThis grave site is Alfred Jackson's - Andrew Jackson's man servant. He was so smart that he traded his worldly possessions to the Hermitage with one request and the request was that he be buried near President Jackson and his wife, Rachel. Here is Alfred’s grave in the garden, just to the side of the Jackson shrine. Alfred died at the age of 99.