Jordan had the WHOLE WEEK off, which never happened at BYU so we decided to take full advantage. One of the perks of living on the other side of the country is getting to go all sorts of new places. We have a laundry list of things we want to do and see on this side of the Mississippi in the next four years. We had Thanksgiving dinner with friends all planned out so we were looking for just a little three-day trip to explore the countryside, especially with all the beautiful fall colors out in full force. Since Lexington, Kentucky, is only a seven-hour drive from here and Nashville is right in between, we were able to plan the perfect trip!!
First up was Lexington. Casey is obsessed with horses and we had promised her we would try to do something fun for her while she was here, so Lexington definitely qualified! I had actually already been there with the BYU basketball team for the 2007 NCAA Tournament so I knew it was a great town with beautiful countryside all around. We arrived Monday evening and had a couple horse farm tours set up for Tuesday. Unfortunately, it was pouring rain on Tuesday so we headed to the local visitor's bureau and got some other great ideas. We still ended up touring one of the horse farms, which was actually a sort of retirement home for older race horses. It stopped raining long enough for us to enjoy the horses, although we still battled gale force winds at times! Casey really enjoyed it. She got to feed several of the horses and even met one of the horses that played Sea Biscuit in the movie. Since their racing and stud careers are already over, these horses are free to just roam around and get cozy with visitors so it was fun to see them in that atmosphere. I toured a working horse farm on my earlier trip and really hope to NEVER see a breeding barn ever again!
Then, on the advice of the nice lady at the visitor's bureau, we embarked on a driving tour around Lexington, a route mapped out by the city to take you to all the most picturesque and famous places the area has to offer. We didn't get out and take very many pictures because of the rain, but we all enjoyed it, even Madison (who got to sit front-facing for the first time so she could enjoy the view - shame on us!). We saw a beautiful horse farm owned by a U.S. Ambassador that the Queen of England visited a few years ago, another farm that was the inspiration for Tara in Gone With the Wind, a small cemetery that was the final resting place for several Revolutionary War soldiers, and more beautiful scenery than I can even describe! We loved the area and the town, even though it is John Calipari territory :)
Tuesday evening we drove three hours back to Nashville for the next leg of our adventure and spent all of Wednesday hanging out there. Neither Jordan nor I are very into country music, which is what most people go to Nashville for, so we tailored our visit there to something we're both a little more passionate about - history! We started the day touring a Civil War battle site in Franklin, Tenn., just south of Nashville. It's so cool to live in an area where you can actually visit all the sites we've studied about in history books our whole lives! The battle actually took place in and directly around someone's home so we got to spend time inside the house in addition to walking the grounds. It was so neat to see how people really lived in that era. Unfortunately, Madison took an instant liking to a pair of 150-year-old dolls so she and I spent more time outside than inside. But don't worry - she became equally fascinated by the steps outside the slave cabin and still had fun!
When that tour was over, we headed over to the Hermitage, which is the home of President Andrew Jackson. We weren't allowed to take pictures inside, but the place was amazing! Every detail was still in place, preserved almost 200 years. While the modern luxuries of today were obviously missing, the home was still as impressive and comfortable as any mansion built in our time. The grounds also included the tombs of Pres. Jackson and his wife along with various family members. Both Jordan and I agree that Pres. Jackson isn't our favorite president by a long shot, but you can't ignore the historical significance of something like this. Well worth the price of admission :)
While we weren't really interested in paying to see any of the more common Nashville attractions, we made sure we drove by places like the Grand Ole Opry and the Country Music Hall of Fame just so we could say we did! Then we drove the final 3+ hours home to get ready for an equally fantastic Thanksgiving! So stay tuned ...
Being in this cemetery gave me the chills, in a good way. It was a very reverent experience to see the graves of these soldiers
At the horse farm - if you look at Madison, you can get an idea of the wind out there!
This guy slobbered all over us while eating his carrots. Just imagine all that in his mouth being blown directly into our faces. Casey thought it was funny, but I was totally grossed out!
Feeding the star of Sea Biscuit
We've decided we're going to build our house right across the creek from this waterfall outside of Lexington. Sorry families!
Exploring the battle site outside the Carter House (Casey and Jordan were inside enjoying the tour at this point)
She was content with the slave cabin
And the steps outside it
Everyone needs a family photo with a cannon, right?!
The Hermitage
They had an audio tour as you walked the grounds, so of course Maddie had to share with Daddy!
The path to the gardens and cemetery. I have no idea why she insisted on kneeling!
The tombs of Andrew and Rachel Jackson
Pres. Jackson's grave
This one's for you, Mom - she read out loud from this sign for several minutes. Maybe there's hope for ranger talks after all!
The Grand Ole Opry - it exists ... that's about all we know :)
