Sightseeing around Nashville

August 7, 2013. Nashville arrival.

Hello!  After sleeping just an hour and a half, I woke up at 4:30 am to eat something and get to Pearson International Airport.  Cynthia and I were lining up to get through the US customs when she noticed Karin Jenkner, a Canadian steno reporter, was also in line just ahead of us!   She was travelling with a reporter too and were going to the NCRA Convention too.  Wow!  What a coincidence.  So then, the 4 of us travelled together that first day in Nashville, Tennessee. 🙂

Seeing the lush green fields from above in the plane, vending machine for flowers!, the beautiful patterend carpet in the Nashville Airport

Valora rented a car and we visited quite a few places!  It was truly an adventure.  We made sharp turns on the interstate and heard a compelling and passionate tour guide speak about his own family’s history of Judge Overton in the 1800s.  He was the best tour guide I’ve ever had.  He explained everything so thoroughly that we all learned so much about the Travellers Rest plantation.

Much of our trip to and from tourist sites were like this…Interstate where?  It was quite the adventure

The map that we followed

We arrived at Travellers Rest!  It was a rainy day, but it was still really nice and enjoyable to tour through the house

Our wonderful and passionate tour guide

Beautiful trees all around the property

Gorgeous property

Front of the house

After the tour, we went back to our rental car (we smartly covered up our luggage that was clearly visible in the hatch with our coats) and drove out to find some lunch!

We also visited Franklin Square where we had a delicious and tipsy lunch at 55 South.  We all had a sol margarita which caused me to uncharacteristically get tipsy really intensely (perhaps because I drank on an empty stomach or because their tequila is stronger here).  I loved the shrimp and grits dish!  The cheddar grits and maple bacon and mushrooms were divine.  The fried pickles were also yum.  The Ice Cold Gulf oysters were good too.

Passing by the Court House in Downtown Franklin

Downtown Franklin — full of little unique shops

Lunch at 55 South

Mardi Gras themed inside

Amazing Southern food!  I was so lucky 🙂

Then we spent some time perusing the little unique shops on the street.  We finished off our ambitious plan by visiting the Cotton Gin Assault and Carnton plantation.  We walked through the McGovack cemetery which was a little uneasy for me, but we also saw a beautiful garden at the Carnton plantation.  There were so many varieties of flowers and greenery there.  We sat on rocking chairs on the front porch.  Beautiful weather as the sun set.  As we left, a scene of fireflies flashing on the lawn greeted us.  It was my first time seeing real fireflies.  I always thought they flew continuously and really high.  These ones were low to the ground and also wispped up.  Such a magical moment 🙂

PIctures on the top left are of the Carter House. Then we drove by the Cotton Gin Assault and stopped in to take pictures.  Interestingly, I had a butterfly land right on my hand while I was in the middle of a photoshoot 🙂

A really nice plantation that we mistook as something else.  It was actually a private residence, so we scurried away quickly after taking some shots

On our drive, we passed by sooo many large houses/plantations.  They had such a Southern feel to them. It reminded me of the Sweet Home Alabama movie

Finally, after seeking direction from a really friendly jogger, we arrived at the Carnton Plantation

Confederate Cemetery

The Carnton Plantation

The picturesque garden in the setting sun

Pretty 🙂  We ate grapes picked fresh from the vines

They had an amazing garden.  I found the vines to be interesting because they followed the shape of the metal that was there

This looks like a scene from a movie. 🙂  We sat on the rocking chairs and breathed in summer.  It was so nice

Here’s a video that I took of the beautiful fireflies:

We checked into the magnificent Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center close to 10pm.  This place is huge!  Really excited to see more of it 🙂

Skip ahead to read Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, and Day 5!