I'm a Little Bit Country, Music City USA

We had a great time going to Tootsie's Orchid Lounge where the entertainer Craig Curtis was performing. He is being signed by Mercury Records.

Tootsie's Most Complete Tour is also fun and informative. It takes you by the recording studios, many of the stars homes and even points out when the stars are driving by. You see the Titan's Coliseum and most everything.

The Grand Ole Opry, the Opryland Hotel, the Gen. Jackson Steamboat, the Country Music Hall of Fame are all worth the time.

The Greek Parthenon stands in a lovely park and the Hermitage, Andrew Jackson's home, was interesting and had a wonderful art exhibit.

The Belle Meade plantation was beautiful and showed that Iroqouis's bloodline (the race horse there) was in every horse in this year's Kentucky Derby.

Another highlight was the Cowboy Church on Sunday morning held at Ernest Tubb's Texas Troubadour Theater. The pastor is Johnny Cash's brother-in-law and the service is recorded live.

We had a great time and needed more time to see it all. By the end of the week, I felt like buying boots and a cowboy hat.

Quick Tips:

Take one of the tours to find your way around and know what you're seeing. We found all the major sights on our own, but then when we took the tour we found out all the interesting things, facts and figures on each of the stars, historical sights, etc.

Some of the places like Tootsie's Orchid Lounge (where Willie Nelson wrote "Crazy" on a napkin, Terri Clark was discovered singing after two years and the video "Prop Me Up Against The Juke Box When I Die" was recorded) don't allow anyone under 21 after 7:30pm. It's a great place to listen to music and see artist get together to jam, but if you're under 21, go in the daytime.

Best Way To Get Around:

Driving is recommended. Many of the resorts have transportation to and from many of the areas.

Best Things Nearby:
We were across the street from the Grand Ole Opry, the Opryland Hotel, the Gen. Jackson Steamboat, and Opry Mills. All the shopping and entertainment you could hope for. The resort offered a shuttle to and from the Opry, etc.

Best Things About the Resort:
Everything from the staff, the grounds and the facilities, are well kept and luxurious. The Master Suite was large and spacious with an elegant Whirlpool and separate bathroom with shower equipped with romantic lighting for just the two of you. The exercise room even had its own tanning bed in a private room. The activities and the concierge were great. This timeshare is first rate.

Resort Experience:
The check in was quick and easy. Cookies and drinks were always available in the lobby and the staff gave us a packet containing cereal, breakfast bars, tylenol, etc. The concierge made all our travel, tour, and ticket arrangements. You were given info about the area, the resort, and all activities. The activity staff left you a message on the phone ea. day about the days activities. The exercise room was not large but sufficient and was equipped with a tanning bed. Two outside pools, one indoor pool and whirlpool, and sauna were on-site. The game room offered video games and pinball. Live entertainment was offered.

The kitchen was large with a laundry and laundry detergent provdided. The second bedroom held two double beds and a TV and opened onto the large second bath which had area for sink/mirror apart from bathing area.

A large living room with a couch opening to a bed completed the room with TV/VCR and sliding glass door opening to your private balcony overlooking the pool. The grounds had a basketball court, grills, picnic areas, swings, and playground. Staff had cookouts, sundaes, and ice cream floats for a small charge. I didn't want to leave and would love to go back.

• Unit Type: 2 Bedroom
• Activities: Excellent
• Amenities: Excellent
• Unit Satisfaction: Excellent
• Family Friendliness: Excellent
• Service: Excellent

The booths are very large, as is the restaurant. It is filled with country music singers memorabilia. Music videos are continuously playing. You are free to roam around and enjoy the photos, etc. of your favorite singers.

The food selections were mostly Southern and there was chicken, ribs, etc., as well as a veggie plate. All the meat entrees were excellent, but the veggies were not seasoned very well. I ordered turnip greens, but they tasted more like sauerkraut, but maybe that's the way Southern turnip greens are supposed to taste? How would I know? There was sweet tea in abundance and the service was great. It was fun.

This restaurant has a lot of early bird specials and entertainment advertised. It is famed as the place Randy Travis washed dishes before getting his big break and that many other country artists stop in from time to time. Entertainment starts around 8pm and Tuesday is talent night where everyone shows up with a guitar.

The ribs were delicious. The chicken was dry in every dish ordered and the beef had a strange taste. The service was slow and it was the most expensive meal we had. Several people from other tables went to the kitchen themselves to find their meal. The walls as usual were filled with photos of the stars who stop by.

We were just finishing up our meal when the entertainment started. It was the worst band that we heard in all the places around Nashville. Then the waitress came by and said the manager wanted her to report that if we didn't leave we would have to pay a $5 per person cover charge to listen to them. It was a no brainer, we left.

We had excellent service from our server and other staff. Among our entrees were steak and ribs, soft tacos, and enchiladas. All were excellent. The salads and side dishes were great and the bread was soft, warm, and delicious. The menu and decor was Tex-Mex. The bathrooms even had the old tin doors for a western look.
Most of the local hotels had coupons for this restaurant.

This restaurant was excellent. They have recipes from many parts of the country and even some from overseas. The portions are generous and the prices are great.

I had an appetizer of Spinach Dip and Tortilla Chips, which was great. We ordered many different types of pasta, some with crab and shrimp and one with a chili sauce. All the pasta, seafood, etc was delicious. The soup selections were fantastic and all was served with a never ending supply of melt in your mouth hot rolls. The ice tea was unsweetened and they brought you a container of a sugary syrup to sweeten it.

The atmosphere and service were wonderful. I would love to go back to try other selections. We probably would have eaten here again if we had found it earlier on our vacation.

You walk in and are surrounded by photos from the past. A Minnie Pearl look-alike greets you and does some stage instructions and comedy. You find your seat and understand why they said, everyseat is a good seat. It's live and that is part of the fun. The first hour was radio, the second TV, the third, back to radio with live commercials and a different host for each segment.

We were lucky enough to have Martina McBride on. They say no flash photography, but everyone went right up to the stage and the performers would pose for your pictures. Porter Wagner was in purple and lavender and glitter gold boots. The square dancers are amazing. Whether you like old country, new country or no country at all, the Opry is fun. You can't help but enjoy the Beverly Hillbilly's theme song being played on the banjo by Earl Scruggs and clapping along to the Osborne Brothers playing Rocky Top. Even the kids who haven't even heard of a lot of these artists were clapping and yelling. It's a must when in Nashville.

You board a boat inside of the Opryland Hotel and the guide tells you about the water fowl and plantlife living and growing inside of the hotel. Information is given concerning prices and different areas of the hotel and what can be found along the way. You pass the dancing fountains and the food court and many fine dining opportunities. Before boarding you have your photo taken, which can be purchased after disembarking.

This church is in the Texas Troubadour Theatre beside Ernest Tubb's Record Store in Music Valley Village. It is broadcast on WSM 650 AM, Sunday at 5am CST.

Johnny Cash's brother-in-law is the pastor. The band is great and the worship music is original and country.

The ushers take off their hat and pass it down the rows to collect the offering.

It was a different and very enjoyable church service. In Nashville, I can't think of any other way to worship.

Tickets for children 6-17 are only $8. You start on the top floor and work your way down among clips, posters, songs, clothes, and other country music memorabilia. There are computer screens where you can view comedy clips and hear old songs. For instance, I had forgotten George Jones had recorded first as Corky Jones. It's a trip down memory lane and a lot of fun. The actual hall of fame has plaques with the inductees names and dates and a brief history of each artist.

There is a large gift shop where you can purchase many old tapes and CDs of past and present country artists. Allow at least one to two hours to see this.

After taking your photo, which you can purchase at the end of the cruise, you board the steamboat and enjoy fine dining at the midday buffet. Your salad, drinks, and dessert are served. In the evening, I believe you are served everything.

The entertainment was Tim Watson, the Fiddle Man, and he was excellent. The comedy was great and the music was too. It was fun for the whole family. The show ends about the time you reach downtown Nashville so you can go up to catch the view.

There is a history of the Cumberland River and a tour of the boat given at this time, but it is optional.

On the top deck, the Hurricane Deck, more music is offered as well as a bar for alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. You are entertained with music, comedy, good food, and fun the entire time.

We went in the daytime as we had our kids with us, so there was no cover charge and soft drinks were only $2.

The atmosphere and history of this place is enough to recommend it, but the music is great too. One day, we heard musicians jamming. Each of them play with a different artist. The next day, Craig Curtis, who is being signed on by Mercury Records, was there singing and signing autographs. This is where many of the country music videos have been made and Willie Nelson wrote "Crazy" on a napkin. Terri Clark was also discovered here after two years. It's fun and the music is great.

There are four tours available. We chose #1 Most Complete Tour and our children were free. We were picked up at the lobby of our resort and taken to the Ryman Auditorium and past the Country Music Hall of Fame. Downtown, we were taken to Tootsie's Orchid Lounge to enjoy music and drinks. We saw Ft. Nasboro, State Capitol, Bicentennial Mall, Music Row, and the Tennessee Titans Coliseum. We passed the homes of Alan Jackson, Martina McBride, Brooks & Dunn, Tammy Wynette, and others. The guide had all the facts and information you needed and pointed out many stars as they passed by in cars. He was fun and willing to answer questions. It's a great way to see Nashville for the first time.

He also said at Christmas the stars hire decorators to do their Christmas lights and they have a tour to see that too.

Tootsie's Tours also provided free hot dogs and drinks over the weekend at the Fairfield Nashville to thank everyone for their business. This is sightseeing at its best.

They offer special arrangements for groups. Charter service is available. Limo and bus tours, step on guides, and customized tours are offered. The buses were comfortable, clean, and air-conditioned. The #2 tour is Country Legends, #3 is Historic Mansions, and #4 is A Tribute to The King Tour. It was worth it.

Belle Meade is called the Queen of Tennessee Plantations. When you walk in instead of family portraits in the entrance hall, you see all the family race horses. It is a 19th-century thoroughbred nursery and stud that was the home of Iroquois, until 1954. Iroquois was the only American-bred winner of the English Derby. Iroquois' bloodline is in every horse at this year's Kentucky Derby according to our guide.

This is a Victorian-era home and has a carriage house and stable displaying antique carriages and a 1790 log cabin and a 1832 slave cabin. The tour guides are in period costume. There is a rare square grand piano in the house and a window with the lady of the house's signature on the window pane. She was testing her diamond ring to see if it was real.

It was interesting and in a beautiful old money area of town and near where Al and Tipper Gore have returned since leaving the vice-presidency.

The Hermitage is the home of Andrew Jackson, the 7th president of the US. He fought in the war of 1812 in New Orleans and spent 8 yrs. in Washington. He was nicknamed "Old Hickory".

He purchased it in 1804 and had 1000 acres at the time of his death. Inside the mansion, scenes of Greece are on the wallpaper. Almost all the furnishings are original. Tour guides are dressed in period costumes.

Jackson and his wife are buried here in the gardens. There are many outbuildings to see. There is a church he built for his wife and attended regularly. Tulip Grove is also on the property belonging to Jackson's wife's nephew and Jackson's secretary.

The Hermitage was built around 1820 in simple brick Federal sytle but was remodeled in 1831. Fire damaged it in 1834 and the new Hermitage was built in 1836 in the Greek Revival style.

The museum offers a wonderful art display and you can vote on your favorite portrait of a president or first lady.

There is a reasonably priced cafe on-site and a nice gift shop featuring many of the president's White House China.