As published in The Florida Villager
To all my faithful followers, all I can say is, “My boots are packed and I’m moving to Nashville!” Well, not really, but let me share with you what has led to this yearning.
Having been a late bloomer to the love of country music, I had never considered walking down Honky Tonk Row as a vacation. My perception was that Nashville was pure country and although it is, there is so much more to Nashville than the Grand Ole Opry. Known as Music City, Nashville is a destination for families, girlfriends looking for a getaway, art lovers and music enthusiasts.
Don’t get me wrong, I have become a die-hard country music fan and from the time I disembarked the plane, Nashville was in full swing. As I walked past security, a country band was playing and people were actually milling around obviously in no hurry to claim their baggage. Passing by a heart defibrillator on the wall, I laughed as I read the plaque, “For your Achy Breaky Heart”.
My first stop was the Parthenon. Nicknamed the “Athens of the South”, it is the worlds only full size reproduction of the Parthenon and was built in 1897 for the Tennessee Centennial Exposition. It houses an art gallery and a 42-foot Athena gilded with 8 pounds of gold leaf, which was built by Alan Lequire, one of the nation’s premiere sculptors.
For foodies, there are several places you can indulge and my first night brought me to a table at Capital Grille located in The Hermitage Hotel. Walking through the doors of this 100-year-old hotel was stepping back to a time of ornate elegance and refinement. The restaurant was just as elegantly appointed but the food was what won high acclaims. The dishes are prepared from food bought at the National Farmer’s Market as well as their own farm.
I woke up the following morning with Billy Currington playing my wake up call and headed to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum; 40,000 square feet of everything country. Glancing into the archive room, I could see the ghosts of music past wandering the aisles of packed boxes and guitar cases; so much music history in one room. The displays were breathtaking with costumes, boots, and personal artifacts from the likes of Reba, George Strait, Mel Tillis, Kenny Rogers and the list goes on. FYI, eating their fried pickles cannot be missed.
Cruising down historic Music Row and stopping in front of Studio B brought chills, for here in this recording studio in the middle of the night, Elvis recorded Are You Lonesome Tonight. Next, I made my way over to the Johnny Cash Museum. For all you lovers of the ”man in black”, trust me, you will not want to miss this. The museum is made up of artifacts, interactive stations, extensive displays and a gift shop.
Okay, you’re probably wondering when I am going to stop talking country music and get to the parts of Nashville that aren’t. I suppose I can break away for a bit and fill you in on all the “other” amazing things to do.
The list is endless. There is the Nashville Zoo, Adventure Science Center, Belle Meade Plantation, Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art (my favorite), The Hermitage which is the home of Andrew Jackson, Jack Daniel’s Distillery (a short distance away), Arrington Vineyards, Frist Center for the Visual Arts, the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center. As my walk down memory lane draws to a close, I have saved the best for last. A visit to Nashville just wouldn’t be complete without visiting the Grand Ole Opry. Save a night (or two) to peruse the Honky Tonks and be careful, the lights and music of Honky Tonk Row are more intoxicating than the beer.
Spending time in Nashville was a check mark on my bucket list and coming home with a pair of boots was a bonus. Those are the same boots I plan on wearing when I return. See you at Tootsies.