My Travels

Christmas in

Nashville and Gatlinburg, Tennessee

November 19 - November 25, 1997

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On Wednesday, November 19, 1997 the Ashland Order of Eastern Star left on another great trip; this time to Nashville and Gatlinburg,Tennessee.

We left Ashland, Pa. at seven in the morning and traveled south with lunch and rest stops en route. Later that evening we checked into the Ramada Inn at Wytheville, Virginia where we had dinner at the Ramada Inn and spent the night.

The following morning we had breakfast at the Ramada Inn and then checked out and departed for Gatlinburg arriving there around one in the afternoon. We spent some time in downtown Gatlinburg before checking in at the Days Inn Glenstone Lodge where we had dinner after which we departed for the Music Mansion Theater for a Christmas Revue Show.

On Friday morning we had breakfast at the Days Inn after which we met our guide for a tour of the Smoky Mountains.

Later that same afternoon we visited Dollywood where we enjoyed a Smoky Mountain Christmas complete with dinner in the park and another Christmas Show at the Country Tonite Theater later that evening. Though the rain dampened our day while visiting Dollywood it didn't dampen our spirits.

On Saturday morning we checked out and had a delicious breakfast at the Pancake House in Gatlinburg before departing for Nashville. We arrived in Nashville around one that afternoon and were taken on a tour of the city where we saw some of the homes of various well known country and western singers. We also saw the world famous Ryman's Auditorium and Music Row where country singer "wanna-be's" came to record their music. After the tour we checked into the Opryland Hotel where dinner was on our own and at six-thirty that evening we attended the Grand Ole Opry featuring Porter Waggoner and Little Jimmy Dickens.

On Sunday morning we had breakfast at the Opryland Hotel's restaurant, after which we had free time on our own where we had an opportunity to walk through the Opryland Hotel to see some of the fabulous Christmas displays on each and every floor.

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At five that evening we enjoyed a Country Christmas Dinner and Musical Revue there in the hotel and later, around seven, spent the evening in Opryland USA enjoying the lights and activities of Christmas in the Park.

Early Monday morning we departed for the Opryland Docks where we enjoyed a breakfast cruise aboard the General Jackson Riverboat and a breakfast show featuring Steve Hall with Shotgun Red and the Shotgun Red Band. To me, this show was one of the highlights of the entire trip to Nashville.

After the riverboat cruise we went back to the Opryland Hotel where we checked out and departed for Wytheville, Virginia where we checked in at the Ramada Inn and had dinner. The following morning we arose early, had breakfast there at the Inn and checked out around nine that morning and headed homeward arriving back in Ashland, Pa. around seven that evening; the end of another fine trip with the Ashland Order of the Eastern Star.

Silver Bells