2023 Aug 18, Day Trip to Jackson, Tennessee

Today we rode Jackson Tennessee by way of Highway 72 through Iuka, Burnsville, to Corinth, Mississippi. In Corinth, we took Highway 45 through several small towns to Jacksonville, Tennessee. 

We stopped at Murphy's in Jackson, Tennessee to fill up with gas cost $42.75 at 10:47 AM.

Our first stop was at the Carnegie Legends, "The Legends of Tennessee Music Museum".

This museum is located in the old Carnegie  Library where Carl Perkins played his first guitar when he was just a boy. 

This museum houses such artists as Carl Perkins, Tina Turner, Eddy Arnold, Sonny Boy Williamson, Maybelle, Isaac Tigrett, and Jonathan Singleton. 

Many items that were once in the Rock-A-Billy Museum are now housed in this museum. 

The gold statue of Elvis Presley, and the large poster pictures of Brenda Lee, Johnny Cash, Elvis, and many others are also located in this museum

GOLD ELVIS

The Rock A Billy Tribute Sculpture of a Guitar by Don Worth on November 29, 2006, was also placed on the lawn of this museum.

Next, we visited Rusty's TV and Movie Car Museum located at 323 Hollywood Dr in Jackson.

Owner Rusty Robinson has over 35 cars in his museum.

The Blues Brothers 

Some of the cars that you will see are:

Rust-E-Ze # 95 Race Car 

Jurassic Park Jeep #29

The A'Team GMC Van 

Pee-Wee's Big Adventure bicycle 

Barbie's pink Corvette

Tow Mater Towing and Salvage in the movie Cars 

Knight Riders Tran-am 

The Blues Brothers Pq1 Police Car 

The RV was used during the Christmas Vacation 

Starkey and Hutch Red and White Ford 

The van used by the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 

Ghost Busters Station wagon 

the car used in the movie Christine 

The Bat Mobile 

The Mystery Machine Van used by Scooby Doo and Friends 

and many more.

We stopped at the Madison County Courthouse to take pictures of markers. 

We ate lunch at Catfish Cabin around 2 PM, where we ate hushpuppies, shrimp, catfish, white beans, and coleslaw

On the wall were pictures of WC Handy, Carl Perkins, BB King, and Furry Lewis.

 

Golden fried shrimp with White Beans and cole Slaw! Yum!

Some of the towns we came through going home were Finger, Adamsville, Crump to Savannah, Tennessee.

 

2022 Jan 15, First Day Hike on Multi-Purpose Trail Wheeler Dam

Today a group of hikers meets at JWSP Cabin Office (24921 Alabama Hwy 101) for a little over the 2-mile hike. We followed in our cars to the hiking spot "The Multi-purpose Hiking Trail" with park rangers Sam and David. The trail is between Wheeler Dam and Fishmans Resort camping and lodge. It is a scenic loop that runs along the Tennessee River and Big Nance Creek.

Bathhouse 

We saw several historic ruins of the 1930s a bathhouse/restrooms. We saw a couple of overgrown Chimneys and Picnic Tables, once used by the people living here during the building of TVA's Wheeler Dam. We also saw a collapsed viewing area that overlooks the Tennessee River. The rangers said they hoped to get a grant to restore the viewing area. We stopped about midway for a group picture. (The ranger David took our picture with his cell phone and said he would email everyone a copy, I have not received mine yet)

This spot overlooking Big Nance Creek is where the group stopped for a picture. We saw several different kinds of hardwood trees, oak, and hickory. We saw a variety of wild mushrooms & berries that feed the animals that are in the park. We saw signs of deer in the soft mud and could hear the many different sounds of Alabama's songbirds.

Open Pit

We also saw a large open grill/pit used to cook outdoor meals for a large group, overgrown with a tree growing in the middle. It was a very overcast day with a chance of rain and snow. The hike began at noon and ended around 2:30 PM. It began to sprinkle as we were leaving. TVA is planning to build a powerhouse to feed the growing community. Hopefully, they will not destroy too much of the walking forest area.

Mushrooms on log 

Everyone received an "I hiked Alabama State Parks New Year's Day." The first-day hike scheduled for Jan 1, 2022, was canceled because of inclement weather. (High winds and threatening tornadoes) and rescheduled for Jan 15, 2022.

Group of hikers

A copy of the group was sent to everyone from Sam and David. We had three dogs, 10 people plus two park rangers. (One not showing took the picture)

Visiting Cemeteries

Antioch Cemetery Killen(Dec 9, 2003) June 9, 1997 

Anderson Cemetery Anderson (June 30, 2015) 

Arlington National Cemetery Arlington, VA (Nov 8, 2002) 

Ashberry Shiloh Cemetery Pigeon Forge TN (Nov 17, 2009

Atlas Cemetery Killen(Aug 27, 2003)

Athens Old town Cemetery Athens(April 17, 2016)

Athens Cemetery Athens(April 17, 2016)

Barbe Cemetery Lula, MS (Jan 17, 201) 

Barton Cemetery Barton, AL(July 30, 2009) 

Barnett Cemetery Lexington, AL(Mar 13, 2009)

Canerday Cemetery Florence, AL (Jan 23, 2003)

Cedar Grove (Nov 29, 2016) AUG 8 1998

Center Hill Cemetery (Feb 12, 2009)

Chattanooga National Cemetery (Mar 22,2015)

Clemmons Cemetery (Aug 28, 2003)

Coffee Cemetery Florence(Sept 8, 2010) (April 10,2015)

Colbert Memorial Cemetery Tuscumbia(Oct 18,1997)

Coon Dog Cemetery Cherokee(July 30, 2009)

Corinth National Cemetery Corinth, MS(Sept 1, 2016) 

Cox Tidwell Killen(Feb 25, 2004 89photo)

Crowell Family Cemetery Fort Mitchell, AL (July 12, 2011)  

Demorest Cemetery Michigan(Aug 7,1998)

East Dayton Cemetery Dayton, MI(Aug 8, 1998)

Florence Cemetery (May 16, 2013)(May 14,2013)(May 3,2010)(2009 June 19) (Mar 11, 2009)(Oct 20, 2009) (June 19, 2009) (July 18, 2009) (May 3, 2014)

Fort Mitchell Fort Mitchel, Al (July 12, 2011

Forks Cypress Jackson Cemetery Florence, AL(June 7, 2009)

Glencoe Cemetery Tuscumbia, AL (June 24, 2016)

Glendale Cemetery Leighton April 3, 2008, Oct 18, 1997

Greenhill Cemetery Greenhill, AL Oct 4, 2003)

Greenview Florence, AL 

Grounds Cemetery at Hermitage, TN (Sep 25, 2010)

Hale Cemetery Killen, AL (Dec 12, 2003)

Harden Cemetery Killen, AL (Dec 6, 2006)

Harrison Cemetery Killen, AL (July 31, 2010)

Harrison Little Berry Cemetery Killen, AL 

Henry Stutts Cemetery Killen(Feb 20, 2009)

Hickory Flats Cemetery Lexington(Feb 2, 2004)

Hill Cemetery Killen(Jan 25, 2004)

Hugh McVay Moore Cemetery Florence(Sept 8, 2010)

Hunts Hill Cemetery, MS 17, 2012 

Jackson Tennessee Cemetery Wayne Co TN(Mar 12, 2003)

Jacksonburg Cemetery Florence(Oct 5, 2005)

JOE Wheeler Cemetery Pond Springs, AL(April 17, 2013)

Killen Baptist Church Cemetery Killen April 11, 1999 

Killen Cemetery Killen(Jan 30, 2009)

LaGrange Cemetery LaGrange, AL (Nov 21, 2009)

Lone Cedar Cemetery Florence(Jan 12, 2009)

Loretta Cemetery Loretta, TN(Aug 21, 2003 7photo)

Maple Hill Cemetery Huntsville, AL (Oct 17, 2010) (May 4, 2010)(Oct 18, 2009) (2009 Aug 25) (Oct 13, 2013)

Maple Hill Cemetery Helena, AR (Jan 17,2012) 

Mimosa Cemetery Lawrenceburg, TN (Oct 22,2016)

Mt Hermon Savannah, Tn (June 22, 1997)

Mt Pleasant Tn 

Mt Zion Cemetery Florence, AL(Aug 13, 2003,) (Sept 6, 1997)

North Carolina Cemetery Killen Sept 21, 2003, May 31, 1997, July 11, 1998

Oak Grove Paducah, KY (Sept 14, 2011)

Oakwood Cemetery Montgomery, AL (Oct 11, 2013) 

Oakwood Annex Montgomery, AL (Oct 11, 2013)

Oakwood Sheffield Cemetery, AL (Sept 6, 2010)(July 27, 2009)(Mar 12,2003)

Oakwood Tuscumbia Cemetery(May 14, 2013)(Oct 21, 2009)(July 27, 2009),(April 25, 2015)(Oct 18, 1997)

Peck Cemetery Killen(Dec 12, 2003)

Pettus Cemetery Lexington, AL 

Piney Grove Cemetery Hardin County, TN June 22, 1997

Rogers Chapel Zip City, AL 

Rogers Williams Cemetery Providence, RI (July 20, 2014) 

Sadler Cemetery Russellville, Al (Oct 1, 2013)

Saint Margaret’s Cemetery Montgomery, Al (Oct 11, 2013)

Shaw Cemetery Leighton, AL(Oct 18, 1997)

Shiloh National Cemetery Shiloh, TN (Sept 1, 2009)

Tabernacle Cemetery Greenhill, Al(Aug 24, 2003) (Aug 2003)

Union Springs, Ga Cemetery (April 22, 2007)

Wade Cemetery (Mar 21, 2003) (Sept 24, 2009), (June 22, 1997)

Wesley Cemetery Central, Al(Feb 26, 2004) (June 9, 1997)

Winston Cemetery Tuscumbia, AL(July 27, 2009) 

Wilson Cemetery St Florian, Al (Oct 21, 2009)

Food & Drink Factory /MUSEUM Tours South

1. Golden Flake Tour  #1 Golden Flake Drive  Birmingham, Alabama 35205
Company Store Hours M-T 8-4:30PM Friday 7-2PM Closed Holidays
Phone 1-800-239-2447
Must follow Rules 1-14
Must request and fill out a form for tour date and time
9:30, 11, or 12:30PM
Tour last about 45 minutes FREE
https://goldenflake.com/tours/

2. Bush's Beans Best 3901 US -411 Dandridge, TN 37725
The Museum Bush's Story
865-509-3077 -FREE
https://www.bushbeans.com/en_US/visitors-center

3. OLIVE and Sinclair Chocolate Company
1628 Fatherland St Nashville, TN 37206
tours are offered Saturdays only from 10-5PM and last 30-40 minutes.
Tickets are $5 per person and include samples, as well as a complimentary hairnet.
Tickets sold on-line no cash.
https://www.oliveandsinclair.com/factory-tours/

4.Jack Daniel's Distillery Tours 133 Lynchburg Highway  Lynchburg, TN
Tours daily 9AM-4:30PM
A. Dry County Tour 1 hour 10 minutes cost $15.00
b. The Flight of Jack Daniel's Tour 1 hour 30 minutes where you'll sip a flight of five Jack products $20
c.The Angel's Share tour 1 hr 30 min cost $25 Tour and Barrelhouse 1-14 and taste whiskey drawn from individual barrels.d. The Taste of Lynch burg two-course experience includes the standard tour and distillery and whiskey tasting and down-home meal at Miss Mary Bobo's. Length 3 hours cost $100 person
https://www.jackdaniels.com/en-us/visit-distillery

5. George A Dickel Distillery 1950 Cascade Hollow Rd  Normandy, TN 37360
Tours Tuesday-Saturday 9-4PM the last tour starts at 3:30PM
931-857-3124
Learn how George Dickel Tennessee Whisky is Handmade the hard way on this one hour tour through a fully operational distillery and barrelhouse. Cost $12
https://www.georgedickel.com/distillery-tour-information


6.Mayfield Dairy Farms 4 Mayfield Lane, Athens, TN 37303
1-423-649-2653  
Tour hours:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday - 9am to 5pm. The first tour at 10 is, the last tour at 4pm. With tours every hour.
Saturday - 9am to 2pm. The first tour at 10 is, the last tour at 1pm. With tours every hour.
Wednesday* - 9am to 5pm (*Ice cream and gift shop only – no tours)
Sunday – Closed
http://www.mayfielddairy.com/about-us/take-a-tour#visit-us-in-athens-tn

7.Bud's Best Little Cookie 2070 Parkway Office circle Birmingham, Al 205-987-4840
Pardon our Progress….we are working on some exciting projects in our plant so that we can produce more yummy cookies than ever. Please check back with us in the spring to see when we will start booking tours.
http://www.budsbestcookies.com/tours.html

8. Belle Chevre's Creamery 18849 Upper Fort Hampton Rd Elkmont, Al 35620
Tasting Samples at a tasting bar, 9-minute Documentary film
cost $12 person
Tour times: Friday 10 and 1PM
Saturday 11m 1 & 3PM
No tours Sunday-Thursday but visit their Cheese Shop and Tasting Room
256-732-4801
http://www.bellechevre.com/creamery-tours-events/tours/

Wheeler Wildlife Refuge Complex

Boating 
There are six improved and several unimproved boats launching facilities located on the
Refuge. Improved facilities are those with pad-ed parking and concrete launch ramps. Unimproved facilities are those with dirt or graveled small parking areas and dirt or gravel launch ramps. 

Improved Ramps 
Arrowhead Landing: Located in Limestone County on the west central portion of Limestone Bay. 

Triana: Located south of the town of Triana in Madison County where Indian Creek flows into the Tennessee River. This is the easternmost boat ramp. 

Hickory Hills: Located in Morgan County on the northern portion of Flint Creek. 
Bluff City: Located in Morgan County on the southern bank of the Tennessee River approximately nine miles upstream from the U. S. Highway 31 bridges. 

Sharp’s Ford/Cotaco Creek: Located in Morgan County on the western bank of Cotaco Creek at Sharp’s Ford Road. 

Tallulah/Sunnyside Landing: Located in Morgan County on the southern bank of the Tennessee River approximately twelve miles upstream from the U. S. Highway 31 bridges. 


Unimproved Ramps
Arrowhead Landing:# 1 & #2 
Located in Limestone County on the west central portion of Limestone Bay.

Rockhouse: Located in Limestone County on the north bank of the Tennessee River approximately six miles upstream from the U. S. Highway 31 bridges. 

Flint Creek: Located in Morgan County on Flint Creek near Alabama Highway 67. 
Duncan Hill: 
Located in Morgan County at the Flint Creek/Garth Slough confluence. 

Susie Hole: Located in Morgan County on the south side of Garth Slough. 
Cave Springs Mussel Camp: Located in Morgan County on the south bank of the Tennessee River approximately five miles upstream from the U. S. Highway 31 bridges. 

Madden Branch: Located in Morgan County at the Madden Branch/Cataco Creek confluences S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Hunting 
Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge is one of over 500 national wildlife refugees. The primary objective of a national wildlife refuge is to provide a habitat for the conservation and protection of all species of wildlife.
Carefully managed hunts are one tool used to manage wildlife 
populations.

Small and large game hunting with bows and flintlocks provides high-quality recreation for many people. Wheeler NWR offers public hunting on approximately 18,000 acres and hunting regulations are published each year
in the WNWR hunting permit brochure. Hunters are allowed to hunt white-tailed deer, feral hogs, squirrels, rabbits, raccoons, opossums, and quail. 
Waterfowl hunting is not permitted on the refuge.

500+ acres between HGH Road and the Tennessee River are designated as a special access hunting area for disabled hunters. 
Special access permits are available at Refuge Headquarters.

Fishing is a very popular activity at Wheeler NWR, with an estimated 274,000 anglers trying their luck each year in the 18,000 acres of refuge waters.
Many creeks and sloughs adjoin the main channel of the Tennessee River throughout the refuge. Old river channels, open blackwater embayments, and
miles of tree-lined creeks and streams provide excellent fishing opportunities for largemouth, smallmouth, spotted, stripped, and hybrid bass, bluegill and redear sunfish, crappie, sauger, several species of catfish, and a few yellow perch. 

A universally accessible fishing pier is available on Flint Creek across Highway 67 from the Visitor Center. 

A three-acre catfish pond is available for organized events. 
Each year, groups ranging from special needs children and adults to summer
day campers and cub scouts, enjoy fishing at the pond.U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Water Level Management
Wheeler NWR staff manages impoundment water levels on the refuge to provide habitat for wintering waterfowl. Impoundments are enclosed bodies of water such as a reservoir. The management of these areas creates moist soil and flooded cropland conditions that produce natural desirable vegetation and high-calorie food for waterfowl. Impoundments last benefit colonial water birds, marsh birds, and shorebirds. 

To grow moist-soil plants, water levels in the impoundments must be lowered in the spring for the germination of wetland plants. The areas are then flooded in the fall just before waterfowl begin to arrive. A lack of water management limits food and plant options for the birds. This management objective is difficult to accomplish when TVA raises and lowers Wheeler Reservoir with a schedule that is opposite to what is needed for sustaining waterfowl. 

Farming 
3.500 - 4,000 acres are cooperatively farmed on the refuge. Cooperative farming is a mutually beneficial arrangement where the farmer is allowed to farm refuge land under certain guidelines and restrictions, including that a certain share of the crop (18-20%) be left for waterfowl and wildlife. It provides food, browses, cover, and nesting areas for waterfowl and other wildlife species. 

Crops grown include soybeans, corn, winter wheat, milo, and millet. Various waterfowl, such as Canada geese, Snow Geese, Sandhill Cranes, and Mallards, feed in the fields during fall and winter. Deer enjoy feeding on corn, soybeans, and winter wheat while raccoons and squirrels drag ears of corn into the woods and feed on it there. Various species of songbirds feed on these crops also.

2017 July 22, Events of the W. C. Handy Festival Saturday

I went to Visitor Center to listen to Tom McDonald talk about three of the books that he wrote and had for sale. 

1. Promises to Keep

2. Dirt Road Memories 

3. When Memories Come Calling

I should have bought one. 

I stopped to talk to Tom for a few minutes about growing up in East Florence. 

Tom said that he grew up on Sweetwater Avenue.

I live in East Florence but our paths never crossed. 

Tom went to Brandon School from the first to the sixth grades.

When we moved to Florence I was already passed the sixth grade.

Tom's family moved to the Central area around the time we moved to East Florence. 

We talked about Sweet Water Creek and walking along the old railroad tracks down by the canal on the bank of the Tennessee River. 

When we lived in East Florence my sisters and I would walk to McFarland Park to swim in the Tennessee River.

We also swam in the canal which was not far from our home. 

Tom, said once that he had tried floating down the Sweet Water Creek in a washtub and that he had hoped to make it to the Tennessee River in that tub, but it turns over and he never made it. 

What sweet childhood memories we both could recall.

Then I went to Florence Library to Watermelon Wine the Poetry of American Music. 

Where I listened to Anne E, DeChant sing and play on her guitar some of her storytelling songs (she was very good)

 I left the library and rode to Jack's for lunch. There I ordered a kids' Chicken Finger Meal which consisted of two Chicken fingers, green beans, Rice Kirby and Diet Coke. I also ordered an Apple Pie. 
I still had time to kill before returning to the Visitor Center so I went back to the Library.
There was a car show that was about to end so I stopped to take a few pictures. It was going to be long with walking so I just took several long-distance pictures. I walked back thru the Library and saw Anne DeChant and Frye Gilard standing at the counter in the Library so I walked up to them.
I told Anne DeChant that I loved her singing and playing, that her music reminded me of the storyteller and singer Tom T. Hall. 
She thanked me and said she appreciated the compliment. 
They were getting directions to Legends, where they were going to eat lunch. I said they have good food. 

 Then back to the visitors center for Swampfest Songwriter showcase series #2 to listen to Buzz Cason and Russell Medford sing and play. 
The audience sang along with Buzz in a couple of his songs. "Hank Williams Christian songs. One way I saw the light. Russell talked about meeting a couple of songwriters at Killen Diner (which has since burnt down) to write a song. 
The fun show ended around 3:30PM.

I rode to Taco Bell to get supper there was a line of cars all the way to the stop sign. 
When I got up to the window I said, you have been busy today. The girl at the window said we have been like this since 11AM today because we had four people to call in. What a bummer!!

After my busy day, all I wanted to do was eat my Taco Salad,  prop my feet up, and watch TV.

2017 January 16, Monday, Birding Trail Sites #7, #11, #16

Hubby and I traveled to Waterloo in hopes of seeing a Bald Eagle. We meet a couple from Hartsell at birding site number 11, they had binoculars and a camera with a large telephoto lens.
We sighted at least two Bald Eagles, soaring high in the sky, not close enough to get a good picture.

Bald Eagle

We did see a lot of small black ducks and a few cranes.

We traveled back to Florence stopping at Dairy Queen (for the $5 deal) for hamburgers, fries, coke, and ice cream.
I substituted a side salad for the fries and I ordered a banana ice cream with real slices of bananas.
When we finished we rode to the Rock-pile Recreation Area birding site number 7 on the northeast loop which is located at the base of Wilson Dam.

Waterfall

At the Rockpile I walked to the nearby waterfall. Several families and couples were visiting the waterfall.
Near Wilson Dam and along the locks I saw thousands of small white birds.
We saw several families with their children on the nearby playground.

We rode through Muscle Shoals turning left onto the old hwy 20, which took us through Leighton.

William Leigh founder of Leighton 

William Leigh founder of Leighton 

We stopped at the historic marker of William Leigh the founder of Leighton and his gravesite.
The founder of Leighton was named in honor of the Reverend William Leigh, son, and grandson of Revolutionary War veterans. He was born in Amelia County Virginia, Oct 4, 1790, and moved to Alabama in about 1823.
Leigh settled nearby at Jeffers Cross Roads and became a large landowner, pioneer merchant, postmaster, and La Grange College trustee. He was a charter member of Leighton Masonic Lodge No. 43 and served as Grand Master of the Alabama Masons (1833-1835). Leigh was a Missionary Baptist preacher for 63 years and served as pastor and leader in the Muscle Shoals Baptist Association. In 1836, he donated land and helped build a brick meeting house in Leighton for joint use by the Masons. Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, Cumberland Presbyterians, and others.
William Leigh was the first postmaster of Leighton (1824-1847) and with William Gregg, operated a storehouse at the crossroad under the firm name of William Leigh & Company. He ran unsuccessfully for the state legislature on the Whig ticket in 1840. In 1847 Leigh sold his store, 1800-acre plantation, livestock, and 30 slaves and moved to Kentucky. He soon returned to Alabama, living in Moulton for a few years before moving to Florence where his wife served as a matron at the Florence Synodical College. Leigh died there in Florence, on July 31, 1873, and was buried here in the Leigh family graveyard. The Masons erected a monument at his unmarked grave in 1931. The old brick church that he helped built a century earlier was razed in 1948. 

We rode through several small towns on our way to the Wildlife Refuge in Decatur. Bird Site #16.
We walked down to the view area from the visitor center, where we saw thousands of Sandhill Cranes, and thousands of ducks but only one White Whopping Crane.

Thousands Sandhill Cranes

I was hoping there was an open area to view the cranes but the viewing area was enclosed so all the pictures I took of the cranes and ducks were behind glass.
We walked to the swamp area where we crossed over on a wooden bridge.
We walked to an open field where we watch several Sandhill Cranes fly away into the distance and I took several pictures.

Sandhill Cranes

The sun was setting as we walked back to the visitor center. Inside we stopped to ask questions and to view the animals inside. (nonliving)
The sun was beginning to fade when we left the visitor center and was dark before we arrived home.

We spent the day traveling from Florence to Waterloo, back to Florence, to Muscle Shoals, to Leighton, Town Creek, Decatur, Athens, and back home. We visited three birding trails where we saw a variety of birds. It was a very enjoyable day, perfect weather and we did not rush.

Neither of us wanted to stop for a meal, so we came home and I put on a pot of oatmeal.

🎄🎄🎄🎄2010 December 28,Tuesday, Christmas decorations at Opryland Hotel in Nashville

Trip to Opryland Hotel Nashville, Tn

Tuesday, December 28, 2010 

Hubby Sierra and I rode to Nashville, Tennessee.

We stopped at store number 134 Cracker Barrel in Franklin Tennessee for lunch. Hubby ordered a  Rib Eye Steak, a baked potato, a salad, cost @12.99 Ice tea $1.89.

Sierra ordered a kid's fried chicken tender meal with Mac and cheese, and a doctor pepper to drink it cost $4.49.

I ordered a Kids grilled chicken tender meal, with green beans, onion, chow, chow, cornbread and ice tea with lemon to drink cost was $4.49.

For dessert we all shared, and the Apple Dumpling cost was $3.79.

I bought two 22 oz Wood Wick Candles, one was Candied Berry and the other was Pumpkin Butter.

To park for one day at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel is Eighteen dollars. 

Hubbyparked as close as he could get to the walkway.

We went inside the hotel where we saw many Christmas lights and displays that was in the gardens. Some of the displays had already been removed. The trees of Christmas and the Nativity Scene were no longer there.

There was a cheerleading competition going on. There were girls there with their parents signing in at the Tennessee Ballroom.

Sierra and I rode the Delta Queen River Boats it cost nine dollars plus tax. Our Ticket numbers were 5228935, 5228936.

Hubby did not want to ride so he waited for us. 

Fruit Tree

 Christmas tree made with poinsettias

Jack Daniels

Standing on the grand staircase

Sitting in the gardens

Along the waterway were several plaques telling about the blending of the waters. On July 28, 1996, water from more than 1,700 sites around the world was blended into the Delta River, commemorating the opening of Phase IV, the Delta at Opryland Hotel Convention Center. 

There were also several plaques describing the fish that were in the Delta River. 

They were a Blue Catfish, Blue Gill, Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Common Carp, and American EEL.

There was another sign that said,” Delta River Fish” You cannot get any nearer the country music than inside the walls of the nearby Ole Opry, and if you traveled all fifty US states you couldn’t step inside one that had a greater diversity of freshwater fish, over 300 species than Tennessee

We walked around I took pictures of everything. 

We saw poinsettia everywhere displayed in several different sizes, shapes, and colors. There was a musical fountain and several waterfalls. 

We saw decorations hanging from the ceiling, hot air balloons, characters, and lights. We saw a sign that read,” Jack Daniels Tapping the Barrel in February 2011.” 

There were several fruit trees in the gardens.  

We saw a Coconut Tree, a Bosnia Tree, and others. 

There were several restaurants throughout the hotel, along with many different stores and display windows.

One window display was the Tennessee Titans and the North Carolina Football teams.

Some of the stores we saw were Opry Shop, Sunny G a Children’s Boutique, Stax, Delta Island Mezzanine, Solario, Ravello, The Falls, Conservatory Bar, Cocoa Bean, and Findley’s Irish Pub.

There was a  forty foot Christmas tree, (Delta Atrium) and two Christmas trees made with poinsettias. (One in the Magnolia Lobby) 

Outside was a very large Christmas tree that was made of stringed lights with Poinsettia all around it? 

Outside were a Nativity Scene and the reading of the birth of Christ.

The Manger Scene

Reading of the Birth of Christ

Christmas Tree outside

We enjoyed several hours at the Opryland Hotel.

We went to the  Bass Pros Shop it was not as big as the one in Kodak TN. 

We stopped in Columbia Tennessee and we ate supper at Taco Bell. 

ï Magnolia – The original lobby and retail area of the hotel. Currently features “The District” and Grand Staircase, modeled after the Tara from Gone With the Wind.

ï Garden Conservatory – The first atrium constructed, considered by many to be the heart of the hotel. Several weddings take place in the Garden Conservatory’s romantic setting each year, near the Lion head Fountain and Crystal Gazebo.

ï Cascades – The second atrium constructed. Features the rotating Cascades Terrace Lounge as well as Wasabi (a Japanese sushi restaurant) and the hotel’s largest waterfalls. Connects to the main lobby, which is where the main, and only, the registration desk is located.

ï Delta – The third and largest atrium constructed. Currently the center of activity at Gaylord Opryland Home to the Delta River, several retail stores, a few eateries, and Gaylord Opryland’s finest restaurant, the Old Hickory Steakhouse. This area of the hotel also features a connection to Opry Mills Shopping Mall. The Delta Project was the main inspiration for the company’s expansion into other markets.

ï Convention Center – The largest convention area in Tennessee with three main exhibit areas and five ballrooms