Nashville and Knoxville

 An impromptu long weekend trip to witness America's country music roots and explore what has been one of the nation's fastest growth cities.

We drove out from Charlotte for a six plus hour road trip after what had been some epic rain.  Result - the crowds were thin and the route through the Asheville area and the western flank of the Blue Ridge mountains was bursting with major impromptu waterfalls.

En route we also decided to explore Knoxville - a major urban center on the eastern edge of TN. The city for 1982 world expo (a fair that showcases global industrial might and held once in five years at different locations around the globe) built a 260 foot metal tower with golden glass windows to form a sphere on the top.  This serves as a viewing gallery for customers that take an elevator to the top.

Rooftop dining offers visitors a view

Colorful arches dominate the world's fair complex in downtown

Other than that the city has some nice parks and trails and also offered a wonderful Indian roadside dhaba (food stall) lunch.

Tucked behind a CBD dispensary on an off ramp of the interstate this truck is as non descript as it gets.

Post lunch we arrived in Nashville.  Checked in and went out to see the famous Broadway or Honky Tonk district where bars and restaurants play loud local artists with speakers pointed out to the sidewalk.

This way what you hear walking down the road is competing clashing of drums and strings and singing. The vibe is high energy with all manner of demographic represented.

If loud music is not your groove you can enjoy some old world and new age architecture in buildings like the State Capitol (designed by a Philly based architect) to the Symphony to some more modern looking Music hall of fame.

A good dose of local artists taking to mural painting adds charm to street corners.

Another fun side activity which coincided with college graduations this weekend was visiting Vanderbilt Uni campus in town.

Fortunately the Vandi complex was not marred by war demonstrators

Adjacent to it is Centennial park that houses a 100 plus year old exact replica of the Greek Parthenon.

Inside is a 50 foot Athena the goddess statue replete with gold paint to mimic the one in ancient Greece.

 

Other attractions in the area include a trip to see an old Indian trail that runs from Mississippi to Nashville and a portion close to the south end of the city includes a dramatic arch bridge.

This trail is called the Natchez Trace.