Saturday, September 17, 2016

Fall Creek Falls

Bailey and I treked out to Fall Creek Falls today with the notion in our heads that maybe we would hit up more than one state park in a day...nope!

The park was kind of confusing, but it had much more signage than the last State Park we went to!

There were many paths and we weren't quite certain where any of them went.  There was a couple different overlooks that looked into two different gorges and a suspension bridge that, despite not being very high or overly long, was still terrifying to walk across!  Our intention was to hike down to the bottom of Fall Creek Falls, but it took us quite some time to even find the path that got us there. After walking back and forth across one side of the park we finally found the trail that brought us down.  I am not sure how so many families get down there!  It wasn't nearly as treacherous of a hike as Cummins Falls was but it was very rocky.

Anyway, here are some pics!



 


Labor Day Weekend in Tennessee(ish)

The post is a little delayed...the app for the blogger web page is terrible and doesn't post my posts...anywho, Labor Day Weekend!!

Grand Old Mini Golf

First stop Saturday morning was at Grand Old Mini Golf and Go-Karts.  I'll be honest, it was a little janky looking.  The black light arcade was little more than a handful of games in a dark room with a few neon lights.  The mini golf courses were fairly decent, nothing special but it was still a good time.  There were three courses: a nine hole course, and two eighteen hole courses.  We did the challenge 18 hole course first, and followed it up with the second 18 hole course.  Since we arrived almost right as they opened, it didn't get busy until we were finishing up.



Mas Tacos

Lunch was at one of my favorite Nashville staples- Mas Tacos Por Favor!  Unfortunately they were out of pollo so I got one beef and one pork instead.  Not as great as the chicken but still delicious!  If you're ever in Nashville this is a MUST!!  I've tried a handful of taco places in the area and Mas Tacos trumps them all hands down.



Gaylord Opryland Resort

Another of my favorite places to visit in Nashville- the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center.  Parking stinks because you have to be a guest there to park in the lot but you can park over at Opry Mills mall and walk over which was what we did.  I've been here half a dozen times but it is still just as beautiful every time, especially because I think this time I finally figured out how to get around without getting lost!! We wandered through the three different atrium to admire the view.  There were people dressed up as jungle animals to advertise for The Jungle Book.  Toddlers in Tiaras clad in more make up than I've warn in my entire life wandered about, as well as dozens of other "interesting" folk.  (The people watching is just as intriguing as the scenery!!)  My favorite part was watching the catfish and carp swim along in the indoor river.




Blue Collar Nationals- Clarksville Speedway

On Saturday night we stumbled across the dirt race track in Clarksville just in time for the Tennessee Blue Collar Nationals.  Time trials started around 6:30 and by the time we left a little before 11 they were just barely halfway through the actual races.  I had not been to the races in ages so I was pretty exciting.  Unfortunately I was also pretty chilly in my tank top as sitting outside all night was not a planned activity.  Totally worth it though!! The only downfall to the speedway was that since the grandstands were so close to the track, you got sprayed with all the dirt every time the cars came around.  That being said, sitting that close to the track was pretty sweet.




U.S. Space and Rocket Center- Huntsville, AL

Bright and early Sunday morning we drove down to Alabama for the day for a couple things.  We got to the space center as soon as it opened which was a smart decision because it was packed with screaming children by the time we left.  It took us about 2.5 hours to wander through all the exhibits.  I love space so this was pretty sweet.  They had a whole outdoor "park" of different military and space vehicles.  We got to try a couple simulators too- one where you played a video game in a hummer and shot people, the other where Carl "flew" a helicopter an we shot people.  (I wasn't very good at either...)  There was a lot of interactive exhibits which was neat and made it more child friendly (hence all the screaming children...)  Overall it was really cool, I'm glad we decided to make the trek down there.




Music City Hot Air Balloon Festival

Our weekend ended Sunday night at the Music City Hot Air Balloon Festival in Nashville at Percy Warner Park.  It was hot and we were exhausted by the time we got there in the late afternoon.  I got a snow cone and we laid a blanket in the grass to sit and relax.  Slowly the balloons were laid out and blown up.  I was mesmerized, Carl was a good sport about sitting out there with me.  I've never seen an air balloon up close before- it was so cool!! (I know it doesn't take much to amuse me, but seriously, it was sweet!!)  The pictures don't do justice to how awesome all the balloons looked lit up in the sky!