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YouTubeI'm taking a short vacation later this month. I've never been very far West, and this needs to be rectified - with a baby step. I've set a modest goal of making it to the Mississippi River this time around, and have been thinking of stopping in Nashville and Memphis on the way. I'd like to see some touristy music-related stuffs like the Grand Ole Opry, Graceland, Beale St and Stax Records... what else should I see in this neck of the country? New Orleans unfortunately is not in the cards this trip.
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A Mississippi River Vacation
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brothermarcus
West Siiiide
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Posted 1 year ago # -
somertimeoh
Harrison West
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How much time do you have to explore? That will really shape what all you can hit. If you want to stay in the touristy pocket - Gatlinburg is great. The Smokies are BEAUTFIFUL!! And hello, there's Dollywood close-by!!! Dixie Stampede is the southern version of Medieval Times. It's pretty fun if you're in to cheese.
I will say that the drive from Memphis to Nashville is excruciating so if you can stop in between that would make it better. There's only so long you can be entertained by trees. And be careful because Tenn HyPo are fierce! It's the only state I watch my speed when I'm driving to Texas.
Posted 1 year ago # -
dru
IV
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If you are in to cars and Americana, a stop in Bowling Green, Kentucky on the way down to Nashville will take you to the National Corvette Museum (the assembly plant is also in BG).
If you want a couple of days to just get away, I recommend looking into the Land Between the Lakes, a great recreational area formed from the TVA project. It's just northwest of Nashville.
Posted 1 year ago # -
KSquared
Literally Hell
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Eat some barbecue! The best I've had was in Memphis, but I can't tell you where because it was a little white shack with no name :) Other than that, Neely's Interstate is very good (long before the Neelys were a household name) and Rendezvous is pretty good, if a little inconsistent. Both are in Memphis. It's been a while since I've been there, so I am sure there are others I might be missing.
Posted 1 year ago # -
misskitty
Columbus
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If you feel like being risky I have been here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennessee_State_Prison
It's pretty sweet I was there about two years ago. Some of the buildings were in use but the main prison was not and not hard to get into. Just don't get noticed. Also you will need a mask so you don't inhale any bad shitPosted 1 year ago # -
Twixlen
Westgate, Columbus
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brothermarcus wrote >>
I'm taking a short vacation later this month. I've never been very far West, and this needs to be rectified - with a baby step. I've set a modest goal of making it to the Mississippi River this time around, and have been thinking of stopping in Nashville and Memphis on the way. I'd like to see some touristy music-related stuffs like the Grand Ole Opry, Graceland, Beale St and Stax Records... what else should I see in this neck of the country? New Orleans unfortunately is not in the cards this trip.Hey there! Nashville has a great downtown - they've been doing a lot to make it more visitor-friendly, and there are a TON of places to hear live music and get great food. We used to always go to Cock on the Walk on Briley Parkway (near where Opryland used to be - *sigh*) - they have great food, although the last time I was there, it had gotten a little more touristy. For free gawking, the Opryland Hotel is very near there, and that's a great rainy-day walk around - it's a HUGE hotel with two very large indoor tropical gardens - it was the kind of place we took folks visiting town for the first time.
I really wish Opryland was still there --- all that's left is a friggin' outlet mall, and the current location of the Opry.
OH - if you are a history buff, Andrew Jackson's homestead, The Hermitage is in Nashville. Centennial Park, also right downtown, is a great stop - they have a traditional Japanese garden, a scaled version of the Parthenon and picnicking there was a huge treat when I was a kid.
There's also Belle Meade Plantation, Fort Nashborough, the Capitol (Bicentennial Park Mall), historic mansion and plantation tours, Printer's Alley, Music Row - I could go on. There is A LOT to see an do, much of it pretty cheap or free.
If you are into the creepy, Adam's TN is known for The Bell Witch (caves) (lore that I grew up on), and that story is widely accepted to be the basis for the movie The Blair Witch.
The drive between Nashville and Memphis is mind numbing - if you are looking to break it up, 40 cuts right thru Natchez Trace State Park. I was only there once, but it was a great spot - plus they do have overnight accommodations (villas, cabins, etc).
Great trip idea!
Posted 1 year ago # -
Twixlen
Westgate, Columbus
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OH - BBQ.... Springfield, TN has great BBQ - little joint called BALDWIN's (edited - wrong name) BBQ (stop at the Piggly Wiggly and ask where it is) - my PaPaw is prolly havin' lunch there, so say HI.
Damn, I need to get back down there.
Posted 1 year ago # -
KSquared
Literally Hell
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Twixlen wrote >>
OH - BBQ.... Springfield, TN has great BBQ - little joint called Whites BBQ (stop at the Piggly Wiggly and ask where it is) - my PaPaw is prolly havin' lunch there, so say HI.
Damn, I need to get back down there.Those are always the best places. No website, no marketing, ask at the local grocery.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Twixlen
Westgate, Columbus
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KSquared wrote >>
Twixlen wrote >>
OH - BBQ.... Springfield, TN has great BBQ - little joint called Whites BBQ (stop at the Piggly Wiggly and ask where it is) - my PaPaw is prolly havin' lunch there, so say HI.
Damn, I need to get back down there.Those are always the best places. No website, no marketing, ask at the local grocery.
OH!!! And it's not White's (I'm thinking of Bowling Green) - it's Baldwin's. Baldwin's BBQ. Last time I was there, they were still using the old school horizontal coke cooler. Also - picnic tables indoors.
Posted 1 year ago # -
HeySquare
German Village
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In Memphsis.
Rev. Al Green's Church
http://www.algreenmusic.com/fullgospeltabernacle.htmlPosted 1 year ago # -
KSquared
Literally Hell
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HeySquare wrote >>
In Memphsis.
Rev. Al Green's Church
http://www.algreenmusic.com/fullgospeltabernacle.html
http://www.arcaderestaurant.com/about.html
http://www.peabodymemphis.com/peabody_ducks/I love the Peabody ducks!
Posted 1 year ago # -
brothermarcus
West Siiiide
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I'll be on vacation for 9 days total, but with some responsibilities I need to take care of here in Ohio I'm just looking at getting away for 3-5 days. Thanks for all the suggestions so far, I have a feeling I'll be able to eat 3 square BBQ meals a day! Thanks for the Land Between the Lakes tip Dru, never even heard of that place and it's on the list for sure now!
Posted 1 year ago # -
LBOWACC
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Ok, for BBQ you only want rendevouz and Corky's. rendevouz for the ribs and corky's for a bbq sandwich. owensboro also has a great bbq scene, probably the only style of bbq that can compete wit memphis is that western ky owensboro. That nc style, texas style, kc style, forget it, its all about memphis.
Posted 1 year ago # -
osulew
My house...in the middle of my street
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YO YO YO MARC!
I emailed my friend Jeff who's a Nashville native. I asked what he'd recommend for someone visiting Nashville so that you don't just hit tourist traps...hang on...here's what he wrote. He moved last fall, that's why some of this is past tense...here ya go! :)"Okay, so first off he absolutely needs to catch some of the stupid touristy places. Just not many of them. You can walk in just about anywhere along Lower Broadway, from say 5th AVE to the river and hear everything from pop country to classic bluegrass. My favorite place by far down there is Layla's Bluegrass Inn. Its the closest thing to a real honky-tonk left down there. In my opinion anyway. Rippey's on the corner of 5th and Broad has some decent food and if the upstairs balcony is open its a great place to watch people coming and going. The Ryman Auditorium, past long-time home to the Grand Ole Opry is just west of there on 5th too. Its worth a look around if he's got any interest in old time country. There are loads of shops along there as well, but I haven't really been to any of them. If he's a guitar player of any sort then Gruhn's at 4th and Broadway is a necessary stop. Its purely a stare and drool type of thing but they have some awesome guitars. Again, if country music is of interest, then the Hall of Fame and Museum would be worth the ticket. I think the Hank Williams family exhibit is still running and its pretty cool.
From there you can cross the river to East Nashville. Stay East of Gallatain Parkway! Very much a regentrified part of town and still a good bit of crime floating around. But very little to worry about particularly in the daytime. Head to 5 Points at the intersection of Woodland and 11th for a bunch of cool bars, restaurants, shops, etc. 3 Crow Bar and the Red Door East are the ones I went to quite a bit and are neat spots. There's quite a bit around there, way more than I can tell you about. Really friendly part of town though so I'm sure he can get some local direction.
Another cool neighborhood is Hillsboro Village. That's where I lived (I left Nashville in October btw) and again, loads to do. Bosco's is one of the brewpubs in town. Kick-ass beer and pretty good food too. A bit expensive but not too bad. That's right on 21st. Next to that is Sam's which was one of my favorites, though its really nothing more than a dirty, dark sports bar. Decent food though. Coming up 21st back towards downtown you'll hit the Broadway Brewhouse which has one of the best beer selections in town. Another seedy little place, so I obviously loved it. Though if its warm, they open it up and its much classier. I guess. Right around there is The Great Escape, an awesome used/new music store (one of at least 3 in town). Like East Nashville, Hillsboro Village has a ton of other spots to eat, drink, and shop. Be warned, Vanderbilt is right there, so this part of town is home to many 18-22 year olds with a chip on their shoulder and too much of daddy's money. Generally not that bad though.
Beyond that, there are some neat spots along 8th Ave. Between 8th and 12th on the south-east side of downtown is called the Gulch now. Some cool things to see, though way too trendy for myself. Its slightly worrying as my favorite music venues are down there... One of the best, City Hall (at least for its size), is now an Urban Outfitters. Not cool. But, if he's after that sort of thing it would be the place. There's still some cool stuff though. This is where the Mercy Lounge and Cannery Ballroom are. Also, the Station Inn is a great place to see some bluegrass. Again, loads of shopping around here that I know nothing about.
Travel far enough 8th Ave and you'll come to Grimey's, possibly the greatest record store in the world (though I don't get out much :) Well worth the trip out there. Another good one is Phonolux out Franklin Road. There's one in East Nashville too, but I don't recall the name. Its right in 5 Points, though.
Oh, and if beer is of interest there are 3 local breweries: Bosco's which I mentioned above, Blackstone on West End, and Yazoo at 12th and Clinton. Blackstone is another brewpub. Between it and Bosco's I'll take Bosco's every time. Its not that Blackstone is in anyway bad.... Bosco's is just that awesome. Yazoo is an actual distributing brewery. They have a taproom at their location which is only open odd hours unfortunately. Should be able to find them online. Most bars in town have a couple of thier beers on tap though so its easy to try at least.
Yeah, so there you go! Should be able to find all this crap on Google, and let me know if you need anything more specific. Its a really friendly town so no trouble getting directions, advice, etc. I'm sure he'll have a great time!"
Posted 1 year ago # -
NotaryOne
Columbus
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The Civil Rights Museum in Memphis is a must-see. It's built around the Lorraine Motel where Dr. King was assassinated, and you can go up to the same balcony and look into his room, which has been left undisturbed from that night. There are a number of other highlights, all of which give one pause to reflect upon a tumultuous period in American History. Particularly moving is an exhibit with an actual bus; upon boarding, there is a recording ordering you, in no uncertain terms, to the back of the bus. Very demeaning, and effectively provides the visitor the sense of humiliation and disrespect that so many endured for so long.
Just an excellent place to visit; you'll walk out shaking your head that things could have ever been that way.
Posted 1 year ago # -
JacksonCbus
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Headed to Nashville early next month for a little get away. So glad I found this thread with some really cool ideas!
Any more recommendations on places to visit/see/eat?
Posted 7 months ago #
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