We left Georgia and headed to Nashville to see the sights and visit with more of Jen’s cousins. We are lucky to have amazing family that are more then happy to have our wild crew invade their home for a few days. We pulled in and the kids immediately started showing each other their favorite things and running around in a world of imagination. This is how they spent the next three days. Whenever we were together, mostly the little kids and sometimes B, would run around playing imagination games and laughing. A trip like this would be very lonely without these stops to see familiar faces.
Before getting to the cousins we made a stop for lunch and learning at Stones River Battlefield. The kids worked on a ranger badge learning about the area and the battle. Then we walked through the cemetery paying our respects to those who gave their lives for the USA.
Nashville, although great for country music fans like us, is not a city built with a lot of large parking for RV’s. Since we did not have an extra car and our hosts van ended up in the shop, we changed our plans a bit.
Being as we were only a few miles from Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage we choose to get a Lyft and spend the day exploring the grounds and house. Jackson is not a president we knew a lot about, except for what we learned in New Orleans, therefore the introduction video at the beginning of the museum was very helpful. He was known as the people’s president because his policies were often made in the best interests of the everyday people. He also did something no other president has ever done since. He paid off the national debt! That is not something that should be amazing but unfortunately it is. He was a frugal man and although he had a 8,000 square ft home he did not have an indoor bathroom. The kids found this incredibly interesting. We learned about slavery on the plantation and discussed a lot about the times he lived in. He did great things for the country, but people and history are complicated and messy. Discussing these things is so important for our kids. Including not judging someone on one moment or your life, experiences, and standards.
It was a great place but it was hot! By mid afternoon we had walked the entire grounds and were ready to go. Jen tried a few wines at the on-site wine tasting, but our ride arrived before she could get any to bring home.
We found ants! 
Lunch outside the Hermitage 
This wagon wheel in the tree roots was a fun find.
On our second day we headed to the Parthenon. No not in Greece, the replica at Centennial Park in Nashville. The big kids were the most excited about this one since they enjoyed the Percy Jackson book series and this is one of the places they visit in it. We drove the beast there and parked in the loop in front of the building. Apparently the park is not set up for large vehicles and no one had any idea where to park us. We arrived as the computers went down and ended up being let in for free. We walked through the information on Centennial Park and how the buildings were made to stand for only 6 months which is why the Parthenon is the only one still there. We then walked through the art gallery in the bottom level as well as the hall on the Antikythera Mechanism. What our Greek history book loving kids were most interested in though was the statue of Athena on the upper floor. This replica statue is incredibly impressive at over 40ft tall! After viewing and reading all about the statue and the Parthenon we headed to the pond at the park.
We enjoyed our walk around the pond and got some great views of the Parthenon and some amazing cloud formations. The swings and conversation benches along the wall were fun stops as well. Before the storm finished rolling in we headed back to the RV and back toward our hosts. We made a quick stop at a cute grocery store called the Turnip Truck for dinner supplies.
The gods are not angry!
Although we would have liked to have walked music row or visit the Grand Ole Opry these things were not in the cards this time. Next time we visit the area though they will be.
Our 6S Full Life 