Wandering America


Tennessee


December 2006 - Nashville

 Nashville is one of our favorite cities so while in the area we did some sightseeing and a couple of tours.  One tour was that of country music stars homes. The tour guide took us past many homes and would stop at several of the homes and give brief information about the stars and / or their home.  This tour was alright but lasted way too long.  It is not something that we would do again.  The pictures are not that good being that we took them from inside a moving tour bus but at least you can get some idea as to how the other half lives.  
Reba's Home   Alan Jackson's Home   Matina McBride's Home

The other tour that we took was that of the city of Nashville.  With this tour we visited the Pantheon, Music Row, the State Capitol, the Ryman Auditorium, and the Country Music Hall of Fame.  Also, included with this tour was a stop at Legends Bar on Broadway Street.  We had a soda here while we enjoyed the music of a "wanna be" musician.  He may have been a "wanna be" but he was very good, as good as any you hear on the radio today.  
Partheon                 Ryman Auditorium
Ryman Auditorium                 Country Music Hall of Fame

Legends Corner                 Legends

There were several other places that we drove by including the Bi-Centennial Capitol Mall State Park which is right downtown behind the Capitol building. There are several war memorials, the Court of Three Stars with ninety-five bell carillons, the River Wall with thirty-one fountains representing Tennessee rivers and waterways, the Tennessee History Wall, and the Volunteer Walkway.  The Bi-Centennial Park is something that we went back to visit and spend some time reading and seeing all of the history that is there.  We feel it is a "must see" and plan to go again when we are in Nashville.
One of the entries into the park                World War II Memorial

There are several entrances into the park which are just beautiful in themselves.  The World War II Memorial is only one of many.  All of the wars are represented up to the Vietnam War.  If you look closely you can see the globe of the world which turns as water cascades over it.  Very nicely done.
Tennessee History Wall                The timline is broken by the Civil War

The Tennessee History Wall has the history engraved in the wall on the right while the columns on the left indicate ten year increments.  The wall is broken during the Civil War Period and comes back together again in 1864.
The River Wall                Country of Three Stars (left side only)

The thirty-one fountains erupt randomly in front of the wall which provides information on the thirty-one rivers and waterways in Tennessee.  There are ninety-five bell towers (carillons) standing at the north end of the park.  The picture above is only the left side, there is a mirror image on the other side.  The bells are beautiful to listen to as a musician plays on the keyboard located in a small "house" that you can barely see just left of the tree.

Volunteer Walkway                Amphitheather with Capital Building in background

The Volunteer Walkway has bricks engraved with the names of Tennessee's many volunteers throughout history (the Volunteer State).  There is an Amphitheater in which performances are conducted.  You can see the Capital Building on the hill in the background.  This park is very nicely done and there are many more things to see.  If you are a history "buff" then put this on the top of your list for the next time you are in Nashville.

In December we attended the Nashville Nite Life Dinner Theater for a dinner buffet and show which is located on Music Valley Drive.  Our friends Ruth and Shelby Aucoin went with us and we all had a great time.  The food was very good, for a buffet, and the show was excellent with good music and funny comedy.  We would definitely visit Nashville Nite Dinner Life Theater again when we are in Nashville.