Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Spring Break Trips #3

The next spring break trip we took with Kody and Jacob was to Nashville, Tennessee.

Dirk had discovered the Parthenon on PBS', "This Old House", and really wanted to visit this place. Plus, Kody, our newly developing guitarist was interested in visiting the Gibson factory.

Those interests, combined with the anticipation of seeing some new territory, sent us off for a five day trip.

The first stop was at The Parthenon. This is an exact replica of the actual Parthenon in Athens. It was built for the 1897 Tennessee Exposition (which later became the World’s Fair). The building houses a 42-foot replica of the goddess Athena (outstanding!). This is also the location of the Nashville Art Museum. This was an amazing museum!

The Gibson Factory, (which is in Opry Mills Mall) is the location of Gibson’s handmade mandolins, guitars and banjos. I could have watched these craftsmen for hours. We spent quite a long time here, and Kody came home with a new Epiphone Masterbuilt acoustic electric guitar!

Another visit was to the Gruhn Guitar store, an old store near downtown, which is almost a museum itself. The walls were filled with every type, color and age of guitar. We walked downtown where live music filtered from each small restaurant and bar, and then trekked across the walking bridge spanning the Cumberland River. We drove around the Music City area recognizing the names of many recording studios.

We got another hotel with an indoor pool! Is this Nashville, or what?! A swimming pool shaped like a guitar!

It was a great trip with lots of good memories. The boys still talk of it often.

And yeah…make backup copies of your photo files! I couldn’t find the ones from this trip…(the pool pic was on Kody’s myspace…)
I think they’re on a laptop that crashed about a year ago! Ugh!!

Ever been to Nashville? What did you do and see?

8 comments:

  1. These trips look great! Funny, indoor pool is always a hit with my guys too!

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  2. Yes ma'am, been there. Went as a child with my family to Opryland and then went to visit the city again when I lived in Memphis.

    Great place!

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  3. I've never been, but will be going in June for a conference.

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  4. Love TN. I think that's where that huge hotel is ummm, can't remember the name, but it's awesome!

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  5. can't say that I've been before :( by the sounds of it, may need to put that on my list of places to visit :)

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  6. What you didn't go to Opryland?

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  7. I have always wanted to go to Nashville. Reading this makes me want to go more! It looks so fun.

    PS Thanks for your encouragement and kind words!!

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  8. LOVE it! Makes me want to GO!
    we only went to battlefields - ug! I would say things like, "isn't there a field like this at HOME...where we can easily find a/c and do something fun?!!" hmmm...might explain my grumpy vacations. :O)

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