Nashville

Jeff and I had the wonderful opportunity to visit Nashville, Tennessee! I had previously been there for a brief visit, and was excited to get back and explore the city even more. Since we did not have a car, it was a little challenging for us to get out of the tourist traps, but we seized the day and put on some smiles while listening to country music in the honky tonk bars on Broadway. These bands were all VERY talented, and we enjoyed ourselves despite the fact that we are not huge fans of country music.

I'm that person who flies across the country to take pictures of animals.

We stayed at the Omni Hotel, which is a brand spanking new hotel right across the street from the brand spanking new Music City Center. The employees there were super hospitable, and the rooftop pool (with a bar) was a HUGE bonus.

From the hotel, we were able to walk a few blocks and see some pretty incredible tourist attractions. My personal favorite was the Capitol Building. I would have taken pictures of the actual Capitol and the surrounding park, but my camera died...typical.

My favorite restaurant we visited was also within walking (a little over a mile) distance. A Facebook friend recommended Virgo for sushi, and I am glad she did. Not only was the food good, but the atmosphere was brilliant. In the words of Jeff, "This place is trying really hard to be cool...and it's working."

One evening, we decided to take a cab to explore a different area of town. We ended up at the Bluebird Cafe, which was recommended by a local who heard we were both musicians. You have to stand in line for a couple hours before you can enter. I was a little confused as to why there were so many tourists with fanny packs waiting, as the average American tourist does not typically go out of his/her way to stand around at a strip mall to hear 2 hours of music by no-name artists. I soon came to discover that the Bluebird is famous from the show Nashville. That definitely explained the square-peg-in-a-round-hole tourists: put something on TV and they will flock.

I would do a couple things different on my next trip. First, I would not use cabs to get around. We took a cab from downtown to the Bluebird and it cost us $25.00 (plus tip). However, we used the Lyft app to get back to the hotel, and the ride was only $10.00 (plus tip). This more affordable mode of transport could have given us the freedom to explore a bit more.

Here are some other local recommendations, which we did not get to visit but will definitely try the next time!

• The Patterson House for good drinks.
• Loveless Cafe for breakfast.
• Martins BBQ for eats, and apparently there are some good antique stores down the street.

Our trip was childless, and it was fun to discover that we still enjoy each other's company. Meanwhile, Everett didn't even know we were gone because he was having so much fun with Grandma and Grandpa.

And since we have been home, I have been hooked on the show Nashville. It is way better than I expected. I am tempted to subscribe to Hulu Plus just so I can watch more episodes, and I cannot wait for the new season to start!