We have been to Nashville several times over the years and developed a ‘favorites’ list which includes Belle Meade Plantation for lunch and walk the property.
This plantation was started in the late 1700s and by the 1850’s it was one of the most beautiful Victorian-era southern estates in Tennessee with 5,400 acres. John Harding started breeding race horses here and today every race horse in the U.S. can trace its lineage back to this plantation.
Beside they have really good food in their restaurant.
After lunch, we visited a new place; the Belmont Mansion.
This home was originally a summer home for a slave trader from Louisiana and his young bride. There was a 28 year difference in their ages and he died when his wife was only 24 years old making her the wealthiest woman in the U.S. Her husband had taken great pains to be sure she inherited his business and money regardless of the laws of that day. She continued to run the business until she remarried and her new husband and he then ran the business until his death. Back in the mid 1800’s she was worth over $14 million.
Entry way of house
There were additions to the house and she ultimately lived here full time and sold the property in Louisiana. Over the course of her two marriages she had 7 children and only two lived to adulthood confirming that money is not the answer to all our problems. The house was ultimately bequeathed to a girls school and now sits in the middle of their campus, which is kind of strange.
View from front door which now looks out into the campus
We left Saturday morning, stopping in Knoxville to have lunch with Bill and Carol Evans and their exchange student Sky Jin, a lovely teenage girl from China. We had a great visit and we were immediately taken in by her sweet smile and charming personality. It appears this is a match made in heaven.
We will be spending the last four days in Maggie Valley, NC just relaxing and taking in the scenery. We hear there is a hurricane coming so we are leaving before it gets here and expect to be home late Wednesday night.
Waynesville, NC right next door to Maggie Valley
goneagainblog.com 
What a place. You are right about the money. The hurricane, I think is heading north. We had Some rain this past week. Sue is coming home from Oklahoma today. She sold the house. My sister and her are driving back. Enjoy yourselves in N.C. Just set back and relax.
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