Nashville

The Weekenders strike again!! 

As two kids that have been working our butts off lately, when we got an opportunity for some fun time we decided to seize the weekend and head out of town!  When talking about what we should do with our weekend, we considered all our options and decided that Nashville would be our final destination.  I have always wanted to go there, and now that I've visited I can't wait to go back again! While there was so much that we packed in to an entire weekend, I feel like there is so much more that we need to see and do.  There just isn't time, money, or energy.  We learned the energy part the hard way-- we were exhausted when we got home and realized we REALLY aren't in our younger-twenties anymore.  I already have a list in my head of places we need to see, stay at, and listen to.  

Here are some highlights of the trip:

--Grand Ole Opry at the Ryman Auditorium--
Okay, this is something I have always been confused about.  "I've heard about the Grand Ole Opry but what is the Ryman Auditorium??" So, I think I have it figured out now! The Grand Ole Opry is the concert event that is held in the Ryman Auditorium. The day we visited Chris Daughtry was performing that evening, but I think he was just having  concert in the Ryman Auditorium, but he wasn't performing at the Grand Ole Opry as that is something you need to be a member of.  Make sense? I think that's how it goes... 
Anyway, it was AWESOME there! As someone who grew up listening to country music and still loves it today, I was giddy the whole time.  We went on a tour where we were able to go into the dressing rooms and see backstage.  It's just crazy to think about the history in this one building and to know that no matter what is going on in the the world this is a place where you can always have a good time.  Happiness...the whole building had a feeling of happiness.

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--The Listening Room Cafe--
If you ever get a chance to go to Nashville, I recommend finding a place that hosts a writer's night.  That is what we went to at The Listening Room Cafe, and it was everything I imagined and more.  It was a nice, chill, relaxing evening listening to original music that was never heard before.  After spending the day roaming around rowdy downtown listening to some very talented artists covering country hits, this was a nice change of pace.  We heard three artists sing songs that they wrote, and wow, were they talented.  As a HUGE fan of the show Nashville, I was thrilled when one of the male singers on stage said that he wrote the song that Juliette Barnes sang on the previous week's episode of Nashville.  Then, we were blown away by the talent of Payton Taylor.  Not only was her voice beautiful, but I loved the songs she wrote.  While watching her I was just in a bit of awe and then afterwards I was in ever more awe.  I thought, just judging by the way she presented herself, her maturity and her talent that she was in her mid to late twenties but come to find out later she is much younger than I thought-- 17.  Wow! Talk about a bright future for this girl, and I'm so excited that we got an exclusive peek at her talents.

--Downtown Nashville--
I see why Nashville is called "Nashvegas."  It's an all-day, every-day party! Everyday starting at 11:00 a.m. there is live music.  It was just so fun to hop in and out of all the bars downtown.  Some that we went to there Broadway Pub, Honky Tonk Central, Tootsies, and a whole bunch more.  During the day on Saturday we spotted a bridge and my first thought was "photo op!!" so I drug my love to the bridge so we could take some cool pictures of downtown.  While we were there we witnessed something I have never seen in real life before-- a marriage proposal.  It was SO sweet and I think we were happier than the newly engaged couple.  We talked with them for a few seconds and took a few pictures of them in their happy moment.  It was so cool to be there and talk to them-- it feels like they're our buddies now that we are genuinely happy and excited for.  I just love seeing love! 

In addition to all the highlights from our trip I think I can safely say that Nashville is one of the happiest places I've been to.  Maybe it was just my perception and the fact that we were just happy to be there, but people were so kind and friendly.  I've never had so many doors held open for me in one weekend.  

If y'all are looking for a fun escape out of town, I highly recommend visiting Nashville! So many fun memories were made there, and it now holds a piece of my heart.