We're in Nashville Yall

Friday morning Richard took Justin and I to the airport in Knoxville to pick up our rental car. We decided instead of flying back to Texas we would drive back and see some places that we have never been before.

We kissed the girls goodbye and off we went.

Our first stop was Nashville. We have never been. We have drove by the city but never stayed to experience all that Nashville offers. 

We got there late in the afternoon because it is a 3 1/2 drive from Knoxville. Once we got into the city we headed to Music Row to check into our hotel. 

We immediately got dressed and headed out for the night. We wanted to see what Nashville nightlife was all about.

We took a taxi over to Broadway. All their famous bars are located on Broadway not Music Row. Broadway is almost like 6th street in Austin except it's all country music. Every bar has a famous person story and every bar has a band playing and trying to make it big. 

The street was crowded. We ended up wearing blue jeans and dressing a little bit country because we didn't know what to expect. We pictured people in cowboy boots, Wranglers and jeans just like you would see here in Texas. WRONG! People were in flip flops and shorts because it was HOOOOT outside. Needless to say Justin and I were sweating our behinds off and were ready to go back to our room to change.

(Here is the famous Batman building)

Our first stop was here at Tootsie's. Everyone told us we had to go to Tootsie's

It is called Tootsie's Orchid Lounge. It is a three story building with a band on each floor. And let me tell ya it was sooo crowded in there. We were like sardine's. It was kinda hard to enjoy it and take it all in. 

We sat at the bar and both ordered a Vodka and Cranberry.......$18!! I was like whaaaat $18 for 2 drinks. That's ridiculous! So needless to say we sucked those down in about 2 minutes and then left the bar, lol

We went into one other bar and the drinks weren't any better. $16 for those. We ended up walking down the street and going into a few gift shops and then waving down a taxi to go back to our hotel room so we could change into shorts.

(Justin standing by a guitar signed by Johnny Cash)

Once we got back to the hotel room I got us some FREE cranberry juice from the hotel bar and we made our own drinks in our room with the $10 bottle of Vodka we had with us that we bought in Texas

Next we walked down the street the a restaurant called The Row. Supposedly this is where the rights to the song "Friends in Low Places" was traded for a bar tab.

Like I said, every building in Nashville has a story.

Their food though was really good!

After dinner we walked a couple blocks to another famous bar called "Winners and Losers". Justin and I had a great time just people watching.

We ended up having a fun night! 

Nashville did not disappoint.....well besides the prices of their drinks, lol.

Fore!

One of Justin's goals for our Tennessee trip was to play a round of golf in the Mountains. So Thursday morning we got up and headed to the Newport country club. Since I have never played before I decided to just drive the cart and keep score for him.

We started out around 11am. The weather was hot but it was manageable. By the afternoon we were dripping in sweat. You would think being in the mountains it would be cool. WRONG! The humidity was awful! 

He played all 18 holes. It took 4 loooong hours. It wasn't too bad because I had fun driving the cart and making fun of his score, lololol. He admits he's not that great at golf but he enjoys playing it every now and then. I'm sure I wouldn't be any better if I tried to play. 

The scenery was awesome though!

We really did have a fun time. After we got back to the cabin we took showers and naps and then enjoyed the rest of our evening at the cabin.

Mountain Coasting

Wednesday the girls got up, dressed and ready to go see Joe at the nursing home with Grandpa Tim and Poppa Richard.

Arn't these girls stylin!

While they were gone Justin and I rode the 4-wheeler up to the Apple Orchard

We always have fun on the 4-wheeler

Beautiful!

We had breakfast at the Restaurant

Yuuuuuuuuum! They have THE best apple fritters and apple cider

Apples getting ready to be picked

Then we headed up to the Newport golf course to check it out 

That evening the girls went with Poppa and DoDo to Pigeon Forge while Justin and I headed to Gatlinburg.

We rode the tram up the mountain

Here we are at the top

It doesn't seem like a long ways up but trust me it is. At the top of the mountain they have a skating rink, you can feed the bears, shop or ride the ski lift to the very top

But we came for one reason.....to ride the mountain coaster!

It was alot of fun. The ride takes you even further up the mountain and then you have these handles that you can control how fast you ride down the mountain. We had a blast!

Once we got off the coaster we were starving so we rode the tram back down the mountain 

We went to a super good restaurant called Blaine's Bar & Grill. We shopped a little, walked the main drag in Gatlinburg and then got ice cream before heading back to the cabin for the night

Grandma said the girls had a really great time. They went to the old 50's diner for dinner and then rode some rides

Relaxing at Grandma's House

Tuesday we spent almost the entire day just relaxing. Mostly outside on the porch, in the swing, soaking in that mountain air. It was nice to just lay around, swing and take as many cat naps as you wanted.

The girls swam for a good part of the day 

Then me, grandma and the girls ran up to the dollar store and got a few things for the girls to work on. Jaina got a jewelry making kit and a sand art kit.

Jolee got a baby doll and a pony to play with. Jaina shared her sand kit and let Jolee make one

Then it was time to relax with Poppa

And get dressed to go to the Apple Orchard

Jaina and I took the truck and rode up there together. We soaked in the views too!

First we headed into the candy store

Then look around at all their produce

And bought some homemade jelly and syrup

And of course we had to share a scoop of ice cream :)

We ended the night eating BBQ outside on porch.

Yum!

Second time to Dollywood

The second day we were in Tennessee we all went as a family to Dollywood.

The girls were so excited!

The first ride we hit up was the "Used Cars"

This was Jaina's favorite ride last year and the first one they wanted to ride when we got there

Then we headed over to the Country Fair and spent a good part of the morning over there.

It's the "kiddie" section of the park. Rides that are just their size.

We headed over to the Farris Wheel first

Justin and I tagged along on this ride and rode along with the girls

Then Poppa Richard took Jaina on a few rides

While Jolee ate some cotton candy with grandma

Having fun at Dollywood

While Jaina was off with Richard I took Jolee over to the little rides that were for her size.

She was enjoying her rides :)

She rode all three, the ducks, the bee's and the pigs

Then we all rode the Carousel

And let me tell ya, it was H-O-T! You would think being in the mountains it would be cool.....nope!

So we headed to Dolly's bus and museum to cool off

Jaina, Grandpa Tim and me all toured her bus

Then we headed into the museum

This was Jolee's first time seeing the Coat of Many Colors

We had fun looking around

Then we waited to ride the train

The old steam engine takes you up in the mountain and blows her whistle

Jolee, poor thing was SO tired that she fell asleep on grandma while the train was blowing her whistle

After our train ride we all split up. Richard went with Jaina to go ride some rides, Tim, Dorothy and Jolee went to go watch a show to cool off and Justin and I went and rode some roller coasters. 

So Justin fears roller coasters but I somehow convinced him into riding the tallest one in the park! It was so much fun! Then we went on another one and he said that was enough! He wasn't going on anymore!

I was proud of him though :)

We all met back up in the evening and headed out

We of course had to stop by the gift shop for t-shirts and sunglasses

We were all so tired by the time we got home but we had an awesome time