(my version)
"I said Nashville
Ooh Nashville, no peace I find
Just an old sweet song
Keeps Nashville on my mind
Other arms reach out to me
Other eyes smile tenderly
Still in peaceful dreams I see
The road leads back to you
Nashville, Nashville,
No peace, no peace I find
Just this old, sweet song
Keeps Nashville on my mind
I said just an old sweet song,
Keeps Nashville on my mind"
My first trip to Nashville left quite an impression on me. As Ray felt about Georgia, so I felt about Nashville - the city truly resembled the sweetest of songs. Adorned with gently rolling hills, cowboy boots on every corner, laughter and live music spilling into the streets, and scents of southern cooking wafting in the breeze how was a girl to keep from falling for it?
From down home BBQ's with friends to posh rooftop escapes, we blanketed this small but mighty city during our 3 day stay. Some of the more notable pit stops were:
Downtown (Broadway St) - A notable tourist hub, this famous street still managed to harness the charm and country flavor that Nashville is most known for. The buy 1 pair of boots, get 2 free was especially reminiscent of southern hospitality. And a deal so alluring I had to stop and run the other way in order to not come home with 4 pairs (i brought 1 with me). With all these boots you need a place to do some kicking and stomping, and Broadway has just that. Two notable places, Roberts and Stage were deemed the hot spots. I enjoyed a great cover band, and shaking what my momma gave me at Stage. But Robert and I WILL meet next time I'm in town!
Hillsboro Village - We had the pleasure of staying in this eclectic gem of a neighborhood during our trip. And ended up spending much of our time in this area. From the cozy coffee shops like Fido to the uber cute boutiques and amazing outdoor patios at the restaurants (Jackson's), this place had it all. One of the locals coaxed me into getting up at the crack of dawn to beat the crowd to the most popular breakfast joint - Pancake Pantry. As much as I love sleeping in, I'm a sucker for breakfast, so I heeded her advice much to my delight. My sweet potato pancakes were simply decadent. Five soft, tender flapjacks filled my plate covered in powdered sugar and served with fresh whipped butter, pure maple syrup and a savory sweet cinnamon cream compote. I got a taste of the hash browns too - the best I've ever had!
Opryland - This majestic place has been heralded by many and seen by so few (Nashvillites that is). I was shocked when my companions told me they had never seen this Tennessee wonder and determined that we must go! The Opryland Hotel is one of the most gigantic establishments I've ever seen. Not in the skyscraper sense, but more the sprawl of it's many wings. To my delight, the hotel had it's very own riverwalk complete with a boat tour, a botanical garden, restaurants, bars, shopping and even a hip night club (not sure who goes to it though). This place most directly resembled a cruise ship on land complete with all your dining and entertainment needs. Amidst all it's beauty and majesty it screamed "retiree haven"! I think we were the only people there under 30. And I knew that my dear grandma would just love this place. After finding our way out of the maze of hotel, we briefly stopped by the world famous Grand Ole Opry House, but decided against the $20 tour. I'll go back some day and see a show and really get my money's worth!
Vanderbilt & Belmont University - Both nestled tightly in the heart of Nashville, we drove by these sunbathing beauties several times during the weekend. I must admit that I had no foreknowledge of Belmont, but this best kelp secret stole my heart with it's picturesque buildings and well-manicured facade.
The Gulch - This is Nashville's newest, hottest hood. We had friends living at the Icon and got to make use of their fabulous roofdeck amenities with breathtaking views of downtown Nash. There were also some brand new tasty restaurants such as Cantina Laredo that totally made my radar!
Centennial Park & The Parthenon - Out for an afternoon stroll, we stumbled upon this urban playground. Not having done adequate homework on Nash before making the trip, wandering upon the Parthenon was quite a treat! Hoping to get a better view we climbed the stairs to this magnificent building in awe of it's massive columns. As luck would have it there was a wedding reception taking place inside that kept us from the intimate tour, but we were still able to get a peak at the replica of the 42-foot statue Athena which is the centerpiece of the Parthenon just as it was in ancient Greece. Beyond a taste of Greece, Centennial Park had a host of other sweet and simple attractions. Spring was in the air and families of geese and ducks were all a flurry. Squirrels ran wild and flowers sang out in their brightest tones. The park offered many swings and park benches throughout the premise for taking in the scenery - which we obliged!
As you can see...everything from the sweet tea to the Grand Ole Opry...sure spoke to me. So I leave you with this:
"I said Nashville
Ooh Nashville, no peace I find
Just an old sweet song
Keeps Nashville on my mind"
1 comment:
that sounded like such a fun trip!! cute pics!
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