2.) Nashville
Now on in to Nashville, where country music is king. The Belmont Mansion was first to see, then the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. From there on to the Ryman Auditorium and we got a couple of shots of the Sommet Center, the newest glass sports and entertainment center. Music row was alive with entertainment "joints", and bars. And we even got a couple of shots of Fort Nashborough, down near the river. We tried to get a shot of the State Capital building, but didn’t have much luck on that one.
On out to the new Opryland, which is about ten minutes east of downtown. This is a huge complex, convention center, resort and outlet mall. If you aren’t there for shopping or to see a show at the Grand Old Opry, then there really isn’t much to see. There wasn’t a performance today, so we got a quick pic or two and drove on, after we finally found our way back out.
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1.) The Hermitage
Our hotel today had a very nice hot breakfast, of eggs, sausages, waffles, french toast, muffins, juices, and coffee. All you wanted and all you could eat. About the best we have had on the trip.
Our first stop today was The Hermitage, Home of President Andrew Jackson. It’s just east of Nashville so I figured he must have built his home there in hopes of becoming a country recording star, and when that didn’t happen he ran for the Presidency. The price of admission was a little more than cost to fill my tank with gas, so I was apprehensive. And I guess I was naive to think I could take pictures, and when they told that no cameras were allowed inside the home I was quite disappointed. I did get a few shots outside and through a window when I shouldn’t have but there really wasn’t much to see as far as I was concerned.
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Your ticket to the museum and tour through the mansion will set you back $15 for adults, $13 for seniors, students $11, children $7. The tour includes slave quarter cabins, the tomb and cemetery, gardens, and you are welcomed to drive about a half mile to visit the Tulip Grove Mansion and Colonial Church which are not open for visitation and not mentioned in the ticket sales booth or brochures. There is another half-hour tour by wagon for an additional $7. I rated this expensive based on what you get for your admission.
Cameras or recording devices of any kind are not allowed inside the mansion, and no food or drink are permitted also. Backpacks are searched. Multiple docents are with each groups at all times inside the mansion and although each one only speaks about one room they are replaced by others who watch and move you from outside of each room to the door of the next room.
You are not allowed entrance to any rooms, only the hallways. The doorways to the rooms are covered with a glass or a clear plastic door so no entry is possible. Groups the day we were there were toured when the number reached fifteen. This meant that you will not get to see into the room the docent was telling you about for more than a few seconds.
We found this tour to be the worst tour of our entire trip and would not suggest it to anyone.
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