We flew to Tennessee for a weeks vacation covering the state from East to West! There are a ton of pictures in our photo albums, so be sure to go to the link as I will not even attempt to put them all into this narration! We had the pleasure to share this trip with Carrie, Ed & Ruby. Landing in Nashville, we stayed the night before heading East to Pigeon Forge in the fully loaded Nissan Quest Mini-Van that Ed had arranged to borrow for the week from Nissan. Ruby had books, toys, stickers and magnets to keep her occupied in the van. She even had a silver platter to use for her magnets!
We headed for Pigeon Forge where our cousins Kay and Dave came from Michigan to join us for the Pigeon Forge - Dollywood experience.
Larry, Kay, Mary Anne, Dave
We had found a rental cabin on-line to stay in for our two nights in the Smoky Mountains. Carrie, Ed and Ruby took the first floor bedroom while Mary Anne and Larry took the upstairs bedroom (which actually had a billiard table in it!). The cabin was wonderful --- be sure to open our photo albums link to see the interior of the "Mountain Lullaby"! We had a screened-in porch, bench swing, rockers and even a jacuzzi.
Our cabin ... the Mountain Lullaby
Kay and Dave joined us up the 5 mile or so mountain drive to the cabin where we settled in and shot the breeze for a awhile. We always have so much fun together that it's too bad we live 2800 miles or so apart!
Kay and Dave at the Mountain Lullaby 
Ruby wanting to explore too!
When ya'all get through travel'in and get caught up a little, it's time to get some vittles and fix'in's which Carrie had found for us at Huck Finn's. It was a fun place to eat and start that "fried food" Southern trip.
Larry had not seen frog legs on a menu for forty years or so, so just couldn't resist ordering a plateful for these fried goodies:
Carrie had never had fried catfish, so took the plunge which she really enjoyed:
Everyone enjoyed their meal be it fried clams, shrimp, and all the vittles and fix'in's to fill ya up!
Larry for many years had wanted to go to Dollywood. Last year when talking about it, Carrie asked if we could wait until 2012 and that She, Ed and Ruby would like to go with us ... Ruby being able to walk and not be an infant any longer. We thought that would be a great trip, thus our 2012 Tennessee vacation! Monday morning we all hit the Dollywood Park. It is beautifully landscaped, rolling hills, lots of Dolly memorabilia, gift shops, food, and theme park rides. There is plenty to do for all ages at Dollywood!
The happy family at Dollywood!
What would Dolly be like without butterflies and dolls, even if made of pots? 
Ruby just chilled out in her stroller with her glam sun glasses taking in all of the park.
Dolly's brother built a replica for the park of their small childhood home.
One section called Dolly's Closet just has as she puts it "a bunch of old junk collected over the years:
There is all kinds of great food throughout the park. The giant sandwich cookies smelled great enough for a 1000 calories or so without even taking a bite. If you want, they'll also double the icing for 75 cents more!
Dolly's tour bus is available to go through too. From bedroom to shower to make-up and wig room, to living room and kitchen, it's all here. See our album for all of the pictures. Couldn't resist a photo op inside the bus!
The display buildings have so much to see. One of our favorites was Dolly's "Coat of Many Colors" from her childhood. If you want a Buggy or Carriage, Dollywood artisans build them for sale. Thought of Barb in Montana who has been talking for years of getting a buggy for her team horses. All you have to do is order one from Dollywood!
Ruby even found a rocker her size:
Several of Dolly's nieces and nephews call her Aunt Granny as she had no children of her own and acted as a Granny to many. So when we came to "Aunt Granny's Restaurant" we had to have lunch there.
One of Dolly's great passions is the American Bald Eagle. Her newest ride in Dollywood is a roller coaster with spread wings of an eagle that you are suspended from so it feels like you are in nothing. There is an entire section devoted to the Eagles at Dollywood. Simply spectacular.
There is so much to see and do that at times the camera takes a back seat and you just enjoy ...
Thanks to Michelle Campbell's heads-up, we visited the Pigeon Forge Christmas Store. It is fabulous!So much and so pretty. Thanks Michelle! There are many more pictures in our photo album of the Christmas displays!
Sadly we had to say good-bye to Kay and Dave on Tuesday and head back to Nashville for our sites to see there and then to Memphis. In Nashville our must sees included the famed Grand Old Opry Ryman Auditorium, The Country Music Hall of Fame, the great walk of Broadway with the Honky-Tonks and shops, and other sites of Nashville. We saw some on our first night last Saturday, more on this layover, and then concluded our last day with going out to the Gaylord Resort and the Grand Old Opry Building and grounds there before our departure back o California. We had some great food as you will see thanks to our foodies Carrie and Ed. Our mouths still water when we reminisce for each place. Again, many, many other pictures in our photo album that you will not want to miss.
The Ryman Auditorium where we learned that the price tag on Minnie Pearl's hat was not for the hat but for the flowers she bought to decorate the hat. The price tag fell down when she was performing one night and she decided to leave it at all times to remind herself that mistakes happen but life goes on for the better even with those mistakes in our lives.
Nashville Broadway
Ruby ... yah-haw, ya'all!
Carrie and Ed in one of the Broadway stores as if on the Grand Old Opry
The Ernest Tubb Record Store is filled with all recordings and many memorabilia pictures!
Nashville is the home of the Country Music Hall of Fame. There are so many things to absorb in the Hall of Fame that it is hard to take it all in. Many pictures in our album and many not taken as too engrossed in looking, learning and reminiscing!
Our Patsy .. always a trendsetter!!
Hall of Fame wall of gold and platinum records
One of the hidden finds that we discovered from a local of Nashville is Monell's at the Manor, a simple Southern sophisticated elegant restaurant in the historic Germantown section of Nashville. It is really quite hidden if you don't know the area. The home where the restaurant resides is located on beautiful grounds and the manor is old and wonderful. Everyone is seated at a table and when another party arrives, if there is room, they are sat at your table. The table holds around 16 people. All of the food is served family style. Always plenty of biscuits, gravy, corn casserole, green beans, cole slaw, banana pudding (they even out this on the table with the starters so if you want something sweet to begin with, there's the banana pudding), roast beef, southern fried chicken (which I swear is the best I have had in at least 50 years) and more. Southern lemonade, ice tea and sweet ice tea are always on the table. Nothing ever runs out as they keep the table completely filled with all dishes at all times. If you are ever in Nashville, don't miss a dinner at Monell's!
The side garden at Monell's and Koi Pond which Ruby loved!
Outside of the Gaylord Resort Opryland Grand Old Opry
Ruby and Papaw "horsing around" at the Gaylord Resort
The next morning on our way out of town heading for Memphis, we had another "must do" restaurant thanks to Carrie's research of the area, the world famous Loveless Cafe of Nashville. The breakfast was true Southern no matter what choice you made on the menu. It had been many years since I remembered hearing of Red Eye Gravy and don't think I ever have seen it on a menu until at the Loveless. Ed found out it was made from coffee and tried it to his satisfaction. I just knew the cowboys supposedly used red eye gravy all the time.
Papaw rocks outside the Bar-B-Queing Smoke House of the Loveless Motel, Restaurant, Gift Shop just enjoying the smell of the southern Bar-B-Que and hickory smoke in the air.
With full stomachs and browsing around the Loveless grounds, we head for Memphis in the Nissan. On the way, we see signs that ahead in Hurricane Mills is the home of the Loretta Lynn Ranch. We took the exit and traveled the short distance to the Ranch. The grounds are beautiful, a river running through, a water wheel, gift store, performance center, gardens, restaurant / saloon, the mansion, and a replica of the Butcher Hollar Home. We really enjoyed looking around at everything. Ruby fell in love with a gift store's stick pony from olden days that makes "horsey" sounds ... Papaw and Grandma had to buy this as a souvenir for Rubes!
Onward to Memphis ... home of The King ... the one and only Elvis! Upon our arrival and getting checked into our hotel, we went to the Peabody Hotel to watch the march of the ducks at 5 PM. They play in the gorgeous Peabody Lobby fountain all day then they are escorted in their march to the roof where they send the night. This has been going on for 75 years. It's quite a story that can be read at the Peabody Hotel web site. Naturally Ruby loved the ducks. Duck chocolates, cookies, candies and all things duck (except duck on the dining menus) are available.
Memphis is all about Beale Street, home of the blues and rock n' roll! Lots of bars and interesting signs!
Another stop on our trip was a suggestion of the Central BBQ. Once again we were not disappointed!
And now we hit Graceland What a great place to visit. Well kept and lots of interesting things to hear and see. No velvet Elvis or other cheesy stuff!!! Lots of interior and other picks in our photo album for your enjoyment.
The highlight of eating pleasure for Larry was The Cozy Corner in Memphis. Their specialty is Bar-B-Que Cornish Hens ... and everyone know Larry loves Cornish hens. This is a definite Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives restaurant. We will be submitting to the Food Network. If you drove up to this place and didn't have recommendations, you probably wouldn't go in. But you'd miss the most terrific BBQ and food in Tennessee! We met the owner, "Ma" Robinson who we had a nice chat as she sat at a table next to us. Ruby even had her picture taken with "Ma". If ever in Memphis DO NOT PASS UP the Cozy Corner! Four generations of family are working at this place and they are the nicest people in the world.
In the evening we hit the Cooper-Young district of Memphis, a young, artsy, vibrant part of town. We found a Deli, which is really a bar but great atmosphere and food ... the best onion rings we have had possibly ever!
The next morning we found The Arcade Cafe Restaurant, the oldest restaurant in Memphis. It is a mecca of films now. This used to be the hustle-bustle section of town in the 50's & 60's. Elvis ate here often and even has his booth dedicated to him. This is old school nostalgia ... we all loved it! Let yourself go back to the 50's:
Around the corner about two blocks is the Lorraine Motel, the site of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. We walked over and got very nostalgic. This brought back many sad memories for Larry & Mary Anne. To be in this spot where that tragedy happened in 1968 was mind moving.
We logged 1100 miles in that Nissan Quest over about 25 hours in this week. We started from mid-state to the east border, back to mid-state, then to the west border, and back to mid-state Nashville to fly home. We even drove over the Memphis bridge into Arkansas so Ruby could say she has been in that state. The album is full of pictures that we think you will enjoy. Carrie & Ed's blog has a day-by-day play of our trip too at Those Kool Kims that you can see by their link from our page. It was a wonderful vacation filled with many memories. This picture of Ruby one evening in our hotel room about sums up the trip when it was over; enjoy all the pictures in our photo album and the Kims blog.
0 comments:
Post a Comment