What a difference a year can make! Last May, we were scheduled for a week in Nashville in the middle of the month, and then, on May 2, a terrible flash flood occurred here, killing people and destroying many homes and businesses. The Cumberland River had not done anything even remotely like that in 75 years, and so no one had any reason to suspect that something like this would happen. But it did, and Nashville has still not completely recovered from this humbling experience. But the spirit and perseverance of the people here is undaunted, and they have come a long way back toward still being the fun, funky, music-loving town that Nashville has always been.
We arrived at Wyndham Nashville on a Monday evening, only 4 days late due to some obligations on the home front. Thus, we missed the Sunday night Welcome Party, which is always a good time. And we missed Cowboy Church on Sunday, which is like a show in itself, and yet very spiritual at the same time. But being home for our lst grade granddaughter’s Grandparents Day was much more important to us, and we’ve done all those other things before, so we were okay with that.
The units here are typical Wyndham—very nice, with full kitchens, laundry, balcony and all the usual amenities. If you have a one-bedroom suite (studio) you will not have a balcony or a Jacuzzi, but pretty much everything else. The sound-proofing between floors could be much better—if someone gets out of a chair above you and walks, you can hear it. The sound-proofing between units seems to be better.
The resort is one of the best as far as activities, mainly due to John Beardsley and Debbie, who lead the department. On Tuesday, there is a Veteran’s Breakfast and tribute. There are ice cream socials, line dancing classes, bingo, water aerobics, etc. But some of the real highlights include the performances by such greats as Joanne Cash Yates, sister of superstar Johnny Cash, and Donna Chapel, stepdaughter of Tammy Wynette. Joanne’s husband, Harry, is the minister of the Cowboy Church, and she also sings there every Sunday. This close-knit group of talented people supports the “family feel” of this Wyndham Resort.
John Beardsley’s “other job,” is his portrayal of Elvis in his “Tribute to the King” show. On two nights of the week, he does an excellent job of depicting Elvis from the early years and onto his rise to superstardom. He does NOT impersonate, but he does bear a strong physical resemblance. It is actually his voice and mannerisms that transport you into Elvis’s world. The respect and humor that he puts into his performance creates fans of people who never even cared for Elvis. If you visit Nashville, this is a must-see.
There are so many other things to do here! Downtown Nashville is home to Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, the Wildhorse Saloon, and several other honky-tonks, if you like nightlife. Any day of the week you can listen to songwriters and wanna-be stars at numerous cafes, like the Bluebird. Tours are available at the Ryman Auditorium and the Grand Ole Opry House, and, of course, there’s the Grand Ole Opry show that runs 3 or more nights a week. Unfortunately, the outlet mall, Opry Mills, has not yet re-opened after the flood. It is scheduled to do so around May, 2012.
You can take a cruise on the General Jackson and enjoy a show and a meal. Visit the Country Music Hall of Fame, and take a tour of Studio B, where so many stars got their start. A trip to Nashville would not be complete without a visit to the famous Gaylord Opryland Hotel. You can easily spend a day here, strolling amongst beautiful flowers and foliage, waterfalls and fountains. A charming indoor boat ride will transport you throughout the main areas of the hotel grounds. Be sure to watch the singing fountain show! The hotel also has excellent shopping and restaurants.
Don’t care for country music? Well, there’s still plenty in Nashville to keep you busy. Visit the Upper Room, home of Methodist church publications. Experience The Hermitage, home of Andrew Jackson. Take a tour of some of the beautiful old mansions and plantations like Belle Meade and the Belmont. Drive about 40 minutes south to Franklin, where civil war history abounds in the battlefields and Carnton Plantation.
If you are a history buff, you’ll also want to check out Fort Nashborough in the downtown area. There are several historic buildings and hotels here, as well as a “haunted” monument of James Polk, native son. (Take a ghost tour —you learn lots of interesting stuff!) Nashville is the capital of Tennessee, and there are some interesting “ghost stories” involving the capital building.
Nearby is the Parthenon, which has a 42-foot statue of Athena. Originally built for Tennessee’s 1897 Centennial Exposition, it is a replica of the original Parthenon in Athens. Both the statue and the building are built to full scale dimensions.
Nashville is located right in the middle of Tennessee—an ideal stopping point when traveling to Florida and back (for us) or even East to West. But it is so much more than that, and if you’ve never been there, try to stay at least a week— you’ll have plenty to do, and you won’t be sorry!
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