When you want the skinny on where the best place to eat in a city you are visiting is who do you ask? Some of us use Google and let TripAdvisor help out which is our usual way. This time we decided to go a different route. Zoom Zoom asked our Uber driver, Saturday after the Opry, where we should go and what we should do while in town. At the top of his list was to go eat “hot chicken” at Hattie B’s. I was thinking there are two ways to eat chicken: hot or cold. I had to have him clarify. He explained that this chicken is fried with a “kick.” He liked his hot.
When we arrived, it was about 4:45 and the line was already out the door! We waited our turn. Both of us ordered the one breast and wing-MILD! Yes, we are wimps! I had mine with crinkle fries and slaw and Zoom Zoom had his with baked beans (I know you feel my pain) and slaw. He also ordered banana pudding.
When our food came, we knew then we should have shared! These chickens must have had some kind of playground – they were huge! Maybe they belonged to Crossfit or Planet Fitness! I don’t know, but they were delicious. Mild was still too spicy for me. I had to peel off all the skin and give it to Zoom Zoom. He was a true Happy Camper! I only ate about 1/2 my food! Zoom Zoom ate all his and most of the dessert. Their portions were just too large. I was able to have a few bites of the dessert since it seemed as if the bananas played in the same playground as the chickens and Zoom Zoom was stuffed!
So, while in Nashville, do as they do! Go to Hattie B’s. Just go early!
History– The zoo is actually located on a property that was once a 300 acre farm owned by Michael and Elizabeth Dunn. The farm was run (farmed) and built on slave labor. The Dunn’s home built in 1810 is still located on the zoo’s property. Two great-great granddaughters of Michael Dunn, the original owner, were the last of the family to live in the property before the home and the land was donated.
In 1964, the home and the land was deeded to the Children’s Museum of Nashville. There was an agreement that the house and the land would remain as “a nature study center.” The last sister passed in 1985 and the work began on the nature center calling it Grassmere Nature Park.
Unfortunately, in December of 1994 the park closed. This gets a little confusing…the Nashville Zoo actually had another location in a different town. Thoughts were either to turn Grassmere into a wildlife park or the zoo. It was then decided that in 1996 the current location be a wildlife park. The public was confused so the other site (the original zoo) was closed and in 1998 the zoo was relocated to where it is today. As far as zoos go, it’s a baby zoo!
The first thing you come to, of course, is the parking lot. It’s marked with animal sections for you to remember instead of letters or numbers. If you know us, you know what section we parked in!
Once we entered the zoo, it had a “Disney” feel. If you have ever been to Animal Kingdom the architecture, plantings, staff friendliness, and a few surprises in the restrooms lent to the “Disney”feel. Each time we would enter a different section the entryways were structurally relevant to their area. They played piped in music from the regions we were in and took great care to be sure the exhibits/habitats were as realistic as possible. The new tiger exhibit alone must have cost an easy half million to just put together- so impressive! When we we in Andean Bear exhibit, I stopped to talk with one of the upper zoo employees just to confirm my thoughts on the “Disney” feel! He was so pleased I said that. I made his day. He said they had several meetings about the “feel” they were going for. The people they hired to do the design and architecture are on board for the long term. They have, like most big companies, long term goals. They have opened a new exhibit every year for the last four years.
I’ll tell you, to watch the bear play in the waterfall shortly became the highlight of the day. He actually looked like he was laughing (or at least smiling.) The other bear was perched right up front close and personal taking his afternoon nap. He didn’t look super comfortable – but he thought he was!
We did go the the giraffes first! DUH! I let Jeff take the photos. His new camera takes the most amazing photos. They are National Geographic quality! The exhibit here had 2 kinds of Giraffes on exhibit. SOOOOOOOO CUTE!
I think another on of our favorite spots was the Veterinary Center. As we walked up, we noticed in the first window there were some baby Clouded Leopards. I know most of us would want one as a cub. Full grown, not so much! The next window over the vet techs had several babies they were “doing” things to. One Clouded Leopard was being rubbed to make tinkle, one was being fed baby food and there was an animal I can’t remember what it was called was sucking a bottle dry. Baby Lorikeets and Amazon Milk Frogs were found in the next window.
Let’s discuss food, drinks, and souvenirs…AHHH! Just like any other place they get you in your wallet. I got a bottle of water and Zoom Zoom got a Diet Coke -$9.00. At lunch, Zoom Zoo got a chicken sandwich and I got a yogurt parfait – $16.00. Just before we left we stopped at the last gift shop – one magnet and one soda – $13.00. Just plan ahead if you have things you ALWAYS get!
I love the logo!
The use of this logo is ALL over the park! it’s kind of like looking for Mickey Mouse at the Disney Parks.
The Dunn’s Homestead
Incredible art!
Art work throughout the zoo!
Art on the carousel!
The back of the benches in the cafeteria.
The backs of the cafeteria chairs!
In the new tiger exhibit – just breath-taking!
These tiles were in the ladies restroom! I loved them!
This was a structure in the new tiger exhibit.
I knew I took a picture of a hippo!
Veterinary Center-White Cloud Leopards
Meow!
Lorikeets
Last of the Babies! Amazon Milk Frogs
Sorry Everyone – he’s taken!
Meerkats
He was being elusive at first!
When it came time “to go” he came right on over!
News you can use…their THANG points backwards to PEE!
When he finished he walked away…
They are playing Leap Frog.
Same mom, different dads!
He was about 4 inches from my face! He begged for a kiss. I told him I was taken!
Just look closely and think…Hmm… why did Honey take this picture?
Spider Monkeys
This display is located in the ladies restroom next to the Andean Bear exhibit!
Meet Carol the Southern Pudu!
This is Carol’s best friend Leo! They share a habitat!
We finished off the afternoon with a visit to Centennial Park. The park is 132 acres just west of downtown Nashville and near Vanderbilt University. The Replica Parthenon is the centerpiece of the park and was originally constructed in plaster for the Tennessee Centennial and International Exposition on 1897. It was so popular it outlasted its temporary status as designed and was rebuilt in concrete and steel during the 1920s.
The park also has a beautiful lake, walking trail and band
shell. The park plays host to many
community events.
We enjoyed hanging out at the edge of the lake
watching the Momma Duck and her Ducklings
We also stumbled into a live music commercial shoot for an upcoming show on CMT obviously sponsored by Cracker Barrel. We even had to sign video releases.
AKA – American Pickers. We made a quick trip over to the retail outlet for the Nashville store of Antique Archaeology. Fans of the show will have seen this store on TV and it was full of items that have been “picked” on the show. Many of which were labeled as Not For Sale or Mike Wolfe personal collection. They still had a lot of interesting things for sale along with the usual fan merch like T-Shirts, Caps, Decals, Etc. Unfortunately, no Mike and Frank sightings this trip but I overheard someone saying they drop in 5 or 6 times a month.
If you are on a computer and want to see a larger version of the pictures in the gallery, right click and open in a new tab or new window.
On the afternoon of Sunday, June 2nd, we visited the eclectic collection at the Lane Motor Museum https://www.lanemotormuseum.org/. I have seen several of their vehicles on different broadcast television shows as well as a couple of the more popular YouTube automobile enthusiast channels. They had approximately 150 vehicles on display but they have over 500 vehicles in the total collection. As is always the case I don’t try to photograph every vehicle, it gets overwhelming very quickly. Instead, I like to share images of some of the vehicles I find interesting for whatever reason.
Of course we had to do our typical collection of images taking advantage of every photo-op and available cut-out.
The Lane Collection includes two of my personal favorite Japanese Kei Cars (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kei_car), the Mazda Autozam AZ-1 and the Honda Beat.
Love the Autozam AZ-1 and its gullwing doors. They are fairly rare with just over 4,o00 produced.The Honda Beat is less rare with just over 33,000 produced. It is a true convertible and probably a little more practical, if that is a thing with a Kei car. Honey favors the Honda Beat while I stay true to my Mazda Zoom Zoom and favor the Autozam AZ-1.
The micro car collection at the Lane Motor Museum is very complete.
This 1956 Peel Trident was featured on American Top Gear and was driven by Rutledge Wood around his home town.Either that’s a huge iPhone or the really small tire on the Peel Trident.
How about the only 1961 Chevrolet Corphibian ever produced. An actual amphibian version of the Corvair Loadside Pickup.
This is a 1919 Leyat Helico. Amazing what people dreamed up before being distracted by television and smart phones.
It is a tandem seating for two and looking at the ergonomics, people must have been a lot smaller in 1919.
One of the more prolific makes in the collection is the Tatra. This 1947 Tatra T-87 Saloon was a particularly nice example. Tatra vehicles are manufactured in Czech Republic to this day.
The Lane Motor Museum is a non-profit and is housed in the former Sunbeam bakery. It was an interesting collection and we recommend you visit when in the Nashville area.
We were fortunate to attend the Grand Ole Opry Saturday night. As of today, you can tune in at home on a live mobile app, 650 AM WSM, and on opry.com wsmonline.com. On Friday and Saturday nights it can be found on SiriusXM Satellite Radio.
We arrived about an hour early not knowing what to expect. First off, we were starving! There were two choices of food trucks there. Kind of reminded me of our house choices – take it or leave it! No, not really! One was a traditional BBQ Truck and the other had Burgers/Fried Fish/Grilled Cheese and Hot Dogs. We chose to try the BBQ. It was fantastic! I’m so glad I waited all day to eat!
The show was beyond! (I think that’s what the youth are saying today.) Some of the singers seemed as if they really just belonged in church choirs, they were the ones inducted to the Opry 50 some years ago! One octogenarian looked as if he had a hard time keeping his poor teeth in, he would do this teeth licking thing! On a jumbotron it just doesn’t look sexy at all! Overall, if you ever have a chance to go, you should. Just tick it off your list! There is a new group that is up and coming called King Calaway – they were amazing! They will be winning all the awards in the near future. They did a song with Ricky Skaggs – best song of the evening next to all of the ones Mark Wills sang – (swoon)
Mark Wills
Ricky Skaggs
King Calaway
Lastly, if you are lucky enough to go to the Opry, there are NO bad seats!
Hernando de Soto Bridge with Bass Pro Shops World Headquarters in the background. This bridge crosses over the Mississippi River- or as I learned it: M-I- crooked letter, crooked letter, I, crooked letter, crooked letter I, hump back hump back, I.😄Mississippi RiverFirst of all I thought, Wow, the Luxor is here in Tennessee! And I didn’t know you can gamble in Tennessee! Then I was thinking, I wouldn’t want to be the window washer for this building unless you could get it super soapy and slide down the building! Weeeeee! Donald Trump would be at the bottom ready to tell me, ” You’re fired!” *Bass Pro Shops World Headquarters
I know this is a burning question for all of you. Does Honey EVER drive? Does Zoom Zoom do EVERYTHING? The short answer is – YESish. Honey does drive the rig and Zoom Zoom does do just about EVERYTHING! He spoils me. Last night when it was my turn to drive, he took my turn! I stayed awake, I just didn’t want to drive.
Back in the day (1981-1984), Zoom Zoom and I drove school busses as one of our jobs. I drove bus 44 and Zoom Zoom drove the bus that picked the kids up in the rural areas. We also took every opportunity to do the out of town trips with the high school bands because we got paid time and a half. When you are poor college kids every penny helped. So driving Wally and Jethro is really not much different.
The first day was just a long day. We made it to where we had planned on originally, just a tad later. We left our home at 12:30pm and arrived at 3:00 am!
The nice thing about this particular Walmart is they actually cater to RV’s and 18 wheelers. They have several parking spots marked just for big rigs! I’m so happy that Wally got to spend the night at his namesake.😁
Walmart, Lonoke, AR.Some of our friends at Walmart!Second day- second bag for Jeff! This is the “real” reason we park at Walmart!🤣
