Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Opryland

My official vacation started Thursday after work at the Cheesecake Factory. My dear bloggy friend Lola was kind enough to post about National Cheesecake Day so I was able to convince my husband that we must take advantage of the 1/2 price cheesecake! I got the new red velvet cheesecake that was making it's debut...and it literally could not have been better. Delicious!


Matt opted for a Dulce De Leche...also...quite tasty!



And so started my days of eating myself into a food coma...


Moving on...



Matt and I flew out early Friday morning and arrived in Nashville around 8:30 a.m.


Early morning pictures in the rental car...lovely!


We took some advice from American Express travel and headed to Loveless Cafe for breakfast. They had the most amazing biscuits! Apparently the chef had even gotten her Throwdown on with Bobby Flay!




My initials used to be JAM...so I tend to spot it anywhere out of habit

Then we decided to hit up Opry Mills. It was a huge mall by Opryland...which most importantly held a Bass Pro Shop! We don't have one very close to us and my husband has quite the fascination with them...so we made the trip.

I've gotta tell you, completely impressed Bass Pro Shops. The store was decked out from floor to ceiling in wilderness. And...they had fish!



This catfish may've tried to eat me on several occasions...



Of course....I found some cupcakes in the mall that were a must have!




Next we checked out the Gaylord Opryland hotel. It has a huge atrium inside where there is a maze of jungles, shops, and restaurants. Maybe someday we can afford to stay there?? Ha!

source


After settling into the hotel and taking a wee little nap, we got some dinner and headed to the Grand Ole Opry!


We had fantastic 2nd row seats and the whole night was so much fun! Here are just a few of the acts from the show.

John Conlee


Jonathan Singleton & The Grove


Buddy Jewell


Chris Young


Riders In The Sky


Jamie O'Neal



1st day in Nashville=success!


15 comments:

Lucy Marie said...

I love all the photos. I would love to go to Nashville someday. I used to think Bass Pro Shops were so cool too ... and then I started having to go there ALL THE TIME with my husband. Not so cool anymore.

LawGirl said...

I LOVE red velvet cake! I can't wait to get to Cheesecake Factory to try the red velvet cheesecake.

Adventures in Newlywed said...

TOO much fun! My hubby loves Bass Pro as well - I think it's an inherent man trait... and that red velvet cheesecake looks so good!

Heather @ Simple Wives said...

OMW, that Red Velvet Cheesecake looks TO DIE FOR...ahhhh!

Heather (Live.Love.Laugh.) said...

The red velvet cheesecake is Awesome!!! YUM

Lindsey said...

What a blast! I enjoyed the pics!!

Summer Athena said...

Red velvet cheesecake? I love how you spot JAM everywhere. I do that with Summer, of course. hah!
Loved the photos.

Unknown said...

So much fun! That cheesecake looks delicious. I love red velvet anything.

Children of the 90s said...

Looks like fun, though your post did give me quite a craving for sweets--yum! Those all look amazing :)

Cristina said...

ohhh...we have Vaughan Mills mall like 10 minutes from our house with a Bass Pro, I love that store and could spend hours in there! Oh, and that cheesecake - I think I am in love! lol...

littlesack said...

Thanks for your thoughts and prayers last week- I really appreciate them.

your trip looks like fun, especially that cupcake! i love anything with that much icing!

Ashley @ {Let Go, Laughing} said...

Sounds like the first day was super exciting! I have always wanted to go to the Grand Ole Opry and it looks like fun from your pictures!

A New England Girl said...

Nashville is definitely on my list of places I want to visit. It looks like you guys had a great first day!!

I visited my first Bass Pro Shop in Myrtle Beach, SC. LOVED IT!!! I am so not a fisherwoman [I caught one itty bitty pumpkin seed fish once - so unimpressive], but I had a great time cruising around the store and checking out everything they had to offer. They're so much fun!

And your cheesecake and cupcake choices are making me drool [and crave] over here. Yummmm!

Jessica said...

Looks like a great time! My husband and I also love Bass Pro Shop. We bought matching shirts from there last summer when we visited one on our honeymoon. Yes, we are nerds ;-)

Anonymous said...

LOVE the photos! So much fun! And that red velvet cheesecake sounds amazing!!