Nashville to Nags Head

After a full day drive to Troutville we had time to catch the last tour of the day at Grand Cavern. Owned by the town, the caverns are surrounded by a parkland. This park hosts a labor day blue grass festival each summer. For twenty bucks plus admission to the music event, one can pitch a tent and stay in the park for the duration.

While in the park LKD enjoyed a dinosaur ride as we waited for the cave tour to begin.

On day two of our road trip we rolled across the Cumberland plateau west to Nashville. On the way we stopped in Crossville. A small town nested among the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. After a stop to witness Foam Hendge  and a drive around the downtown area we were soon back on the highway.



We checked into our Nashville hotel and then spent the evening checking out the downtown sights.



The Hard Rock Café is one of only a couple of 'big box' establishments. On Second Avenue there are several independent venues that run the range of a few patrons to those with floor full of line dancing country kickers.







The next morning we returned to the 'District'. LKD enjoyed the Country Music Hall of Fame museum. This tour was followed by a stroll on Broadway and some lunch at Jack's BBQ on Broadway.

Jack's BBQ is the 'real deal' and the line stretched out the door and onto the street. One hundred percent worth the twenty minute wait. Once we had our plates there was plenty of tables, paper towels and a variety of BBQ sauces.

Jack's seems to have a line no matter the time of day. We happen to hit a day where a Shaklee convention was just getting underway at the convention center.

Sort of an interesting contrast to be eating piles of pig parts surrounded by Shaklee conventioneers with their service pins and award ribbons displayed like peacock feathers around their name badges.

 
 

Nashville is worth a visit. The Broadway street scene in more genuine, less commercial than Memphis on Beale street. Several notches lower on the "party in the street " meter than Bourbon Street.

The street attracts families in the afternoon and early evening hours as the honky-tonks emit ballads about pick up trucks, pontoon boats, beer, broken hearts and dusty trails.




From Nashville east towards Nags Head. Check back soon for an update from the land of sand and sun.