Music City – September 5 – 6, 2018

We bid farewell to Missouri/Illinois and headed to Nashville; one of our favorite cities but we needed to make a stop along the way.  In 2012, we were in Memphis when they started the construction of their newest and biggest Pro Bass Store in a facility that is in the shape of a pyramid and the previous arena for their sports team.  We thought it would be interesting to see the final product.

We were really surprised when we realized it was not only a retail store but a destination lodge complete with various restaurants, shooting gallery, fish tanks, ponds and anything else you could think of.  The luggage racks when you check in are made to look like they are made of logs adding to the rustic charm of the place.  The rooms, from a picture we were shown, have that log cabin look but are supposedly well appointed complete with jacuzzi tubs.  And well they should be at $350.00 per night!  Yikes!

Lobby of lodge and store

Entrance into the store area

Ponds inside the store large enough to hold boats

Elevator to top of pyramid where a restaurant is located

Shooting range

There is a complete bowling alley made to look like it sits underwater and the ball return machines look like gators with the ball coming out of its mouths.

We made the mistake of eating there (Uncle Bucks Bar and Grill) and I hope to save you from this terrible experience with my advice of “Don’t”.

Back on the road and on to our hotel outside of Nashville.  The next morning we took a “Redneck Comedy Bus Tour” and I have to say it was the most fun I have ever had on a city tour.  Our guide must be an entertainer by profession because he kept us laughing for two solid hours and still managed to show us the high points in Nashville.

Bathroom break at Country Music Hall of Fame – downtown Nashville

Downtown Nashville from Country Music Hall of Fame

Union Station in Nashville

After the bus tour, we went over to the Gaylord Opryland Hotel to have lunch and spend the rest of the afternoon walking around to stay out of the rain.  This is one of the most beautiful hotels I have ever seen.  The interior reminds you of what you think Hawaii should look like complete with water falls and tropical plants all around you, EVERYWHERE.

You can take a guided boat tour in the man made river within the hotel.  All the gardens, waterways and paths are all enclosed.  

Don’t ever go to Nashville and miss seeing the interior of the Gaylord Opryland.