A Jeanne in the Kitchen

We took a break from our sightseeing tour to experience Goin’ South – Part 7 – More Muscle Shoals, to dine at Three Sixty Grille 360, a rotating restaurant with magnificent views of Muscle Shoals. We saw the restaurant from across the river first before dining there.

360 Grille is a unique lunch and dinner restaurant overlooking the majestic Tennessee River in Alabama’s only revolving restaurant. What began as a fine-dining, dinner-only restaurant has evolved into a lunch-and-dinner destination with priceless views and extraordinary food. [The] Florence AL restaurant is located over 300 feet above the city. [They] provide a sophisticated atmosphere with genuinely warm hospitality, perfect for special celebrations, meals with clients, or simply catching up with friends. [Their] head chef has created a memorable culinary experience that pairs perfectly with the unique view [they] offer of the Shoals area.

There were more beautiful trees that had captured my attention all through pour southern travels. I finally got a chance to see them up close. Julia told me it is a mimosa tree.

We had to take the elevator to get to the restaurant. There were more musical tributes in the lobby. This time, it was The Rolling Stones who were featured.

Once inside the restaurant, these were the stunning views we saw. They were different views of the areas we had just seen, from a totally different perspective.

Three Sixty Grille 360 dry ages its own meats too.

We sat in the rotating part of the restaurant.

The only downside about going at the time we did is that it is the in between times for service, and during these times, restaurants reduce their staff to a bare minimum. Our server was very nice and helpful, but she was also the only server on duty at the time, and she was hustling. I know these times all too well from many years of personal experience with them.

When our food arrived, it was delicious, and worth the wait. Fresh homemade naan bread and salted butter were set out for us to enjoy while our meals were being prepared. They change the types of bread they offer daily.

Then our lunch arrived. We all ordered something different and got to experience many delicious menu offerings.

Bruce ordered the duck confit benedict.

Julia ordered a crab sandwich.

Larry ordered a steak sandwich on focaccia.

The corn and crab chowder and strawberry chicken salad both called out to me. Once again, my eyes were way bigger than my stomach and Larry ended up eating a good portion of mine too. As usual, I ate too much of the delicious bread first. 🙂

Everything was delicious. We thoroughly enjoyed our whole dining experience.

As everything was rotating, this big magnum of champagne came our way. I was tempted to open it up, but I resisted the temptation. I was good. 🙂

Then the kitchen rotated its way to us as well, giving me a peak behind the scenes.

Once again, we had very full, very satisfied tummies.

Three Sixty Grill 360 is located at 10 Hightower Place, Florence, AL, USA 35630. Reservations are not required for lunch, but are highly recommended for dinner. Their hours of operation are DINNER: DAILY, 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM 
LUNCH: WEDNESDAY – SUNDAY, 11:00 AM – 2:30 PM. You can reach them by phone at  (256) 246-3660 or online at  Discover.theShoals@renshoals.com.

After a fantastic lunch, with a gorgeous view, or views in this case, we were ready to resume our explorations once again. Our next stop was The Alabama Country Music Hall of Fame.

Stay tuned. There is plenty more coming your way once again. Have a great day and make everyday great. it’s always better with good friends, good food and good music too. ‘Til next time.

We met at Julia and Bruce’s Blackberry Homestead for a delicious breakfast made by Julia, featuring some berries grown in their garden. After breakfast, the four off us were off once again. Bruce and Julia were going to show us the sights of Muscle Shoals. As I mentioned earlier, Muscle Shoals is a very musical town Goin’ South – Part 6 – Muscle Shoals, Musical Magic. There are musical influences all around.

We passed this musical tribute on the way to Blackberry Homestead. We had no idea that this statue is one of three until Bruce and Julia started taking us all around.

We started our tour of Muscle Shoals by walking around the river and the dam, by the falls. It was so beautiful with so many birds to see.

There were loads of Cormorants, Pelicans and Blue Herons.

And quite a few cardinals too.

From the dam and falls, we went to the old railroad bridge. That was just as beautiful.

We saw more herons and a few osprey.

I caught this one in her nest.

Another osprey flying to another nest.

Walking back, I spotted a friendly little chipmunk who was posing for pictures.

And our tour of Muscle Shoals continued. We saw the other two musical statues. There was supposed to be a fourth one too, but there was a big scandal and the money disappeared before it was made.

Our next stops were the marina district and visitor’s center, right next to each other. Bruce and Julia graciously allowed me to indulge in my photo breaks too. They both know their plants and trees, and named them off for me. Julia told me the name of this beautiful flowering tree is a crepe myrtle.

The visitor’s center and park. The guide was a lovely lady who really knew her stuff. She told us about all kinds of things and was very helpful.

After learning a lot of new things from the visitor’s center, we strolled down around the marina, that was just across the street.

I love all the nautical flags. They remind me of my daddy.

We saw more Herons too.

It was now about 2:00 PM, and we all really wanted to dine at the revolving restaurant. We went in between lunch and dinner on purpose, for a couple of reasons, but mainly because we weren’t dressed or prepared for a more formal meal at dinner and thought a late lunch was best. I will continue our tour of Muscle Shoal after our lunch break, and will focus on Sphere 360* next.

Stay tuned. I have lots more to share. 🙂

Have a great day and make everyday great. And they are even better when shared with good friends. ‘Til next time.

BBQ is synonymous with the south. We were in the deep south and needed some authentic southern BBQ. Bruce knew just where to take us too. He took us to his and Julia’s favorite BBQ place, Mitchell’s Smoked Meats, in Muscle Shoals.

Mitchell’s Smoked Meats is a local gem known for flavorful options and friendly service. The owner and staff are very welcoming and make customers feel valued. The smoked brisket is flavorful and tender, and the chopped brisket is a must-try. The half chicken plate is excellent, accompanied by generous sides like turnip greens and white beans. The smoked turkey legs and pulled pork are very good, while the ribs fall off the bone. The brisket is extremely tender, and the peach cobbler tastes just like homemade. Customers praise the quality of the smoked meats and sides, and say the service is friendly, fast, and relaxed. The interior is clean, and every bite receives high praise. Many appreciate paying a little more for great service and quality, especially since they prefer supporting small businesses over larger establishments. This restaurant is a favorite for those seeking delicious barbecue and a welcoming atmosphere, making it one of the best in town.

This is Chamayne. She knows all about service with a smile and she took great care of us.

We all ordered our BBQed favorites and while we waited for it to arrive, Mitchell himself came out to greet us.

Then Mitchell took Larry around the back to show off his smoker, where all his meats are smoked to perfection.

Our food arrived shortly after. It was every bit as good as Bruce (and Mitchell) promised.

Once again, Julia and I ordered the same dish. We both went for the brisket.

And once again, the boys ordered something different. Bruce ordered the short ribs.

Larry ordered the pulled pork plate.

Everything was definitely “finger lickin’ good ” too. This is truly delicious southern hospitality. 🙂

Mitchell’s is located at 2800 S Wilson Dam Rd, Muscle Shoals. You can call and order ahead, place an order for smoked meats, (256) 814-1400, or you can just walk in. Either way, your taste buds will be in for treat. 🙂

I’ve said it many times, good food shared with good friends is what life is all about. It doesn’t get much better than that. Live life to the fullest, and share it with good friends. Have a great day and make everyday great. ‘Til next time.

After leaving The Hermitage Goin’ South – Part 5 – The Hermitage, we continued heading south, with our final destination being Muscle Shoals. We were heading to Blackberry Homestead, Bruce and Julia’s home, but first, we stopped to tour the FAME Recording Studios.

There is so much musical history housed within these “hallowed” walls. The stories these walls could tell if only they could talk. I was completely mesmerized! Anybody who is ANYONE in the music industry has recorded there, or at least in one or more of the other recording studios in Muscle Shoals, but the FAME Studios is where it all began. All musicians, producers, songwriters, and anyone else connected to music are welcomed, from novices to seasoned pros, representing all genres of music. And sometimes, people like Robert Plant just pop in for a look around and to say hi. Steven Tyler calls FAME home.

FAME Music was established in 1959 in Florence, Alabama, and has gone on to be the heartbeat of the Muscle Shoals Sound with entities including FAME Publishing, FAME Recording Studios, FAME Records and Muscle Shoals Records. FAME moved to Muscle Shoals in 1961. FAME has worked in the studio with some of the greatest artists in rock music history. Artists such as Aretha Franklin, Little Richard, Wilson Pickett, Etta James, Lou Rawls, Otis Redding, Candi Staton, Clarence Carter, the Osmonds, Jerry Reed, Alabama, Mac Davis, the Gatlin Brothers, Bobbie Gentry and many others.  More recently, FAME has recorded projects for The Gregg Allman Band, Alicia Keys, Demi Lovato, Ann Wilson, Third Day, The Turnpike Troubadours, Michael McDonald, Vince Gill, Alison Krauss, Aloe Blacc, Chord Overstreet, Keb Mo, John Paul White, St. Paul & the Broken Bones, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Matisyahu, Band of Horses, Drive by Truckers, Bettye Lavette, Cyril Neville, the Civil Wars, Anderson East and Jamey Johnson to name a few. In the last 60-plus years, FAME has been involved in recording or publishing records that have sold over 400 million copies worldwide.

Step inside the birthplace of the legendary Muscle Shoals Sound and experience over 65 years of music history. During this approximately one-hour guided tour, guests will explore FAME’s historic Studios A and B, hear the stories behind some of the world’s most iconic recordings, and learn how artists such as Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, Etta James, Otis Redding, Duane Allman, and many others helped shape American music right here in Muscle Shoals. As a working recording studio and a property listed on the National Register of Historic Places, FAME offers visitors a unique opportunity to stand where music history was made—and continues to be made today.

The VIP Backstage Tour includes the Standard Tour plus extra Backstage experiences. The Backstage Tour offers a behind-the-scenes look at selected areas of the studios not available on Standard tours. The Backstage Experience takes you behind the velvet rope, including FAME’s Publishing Office, Rick Hall’s personal office, exhibits showcasing FAME’s multiple awards, such as Gold Records and Song-of-the-Year awards, exhibits focused on instruments played in historic sessions, including the legendary Aretha Franklin sessions, and instruments from Rick Hall’s personal collection.

The four of us took the VIP tour of the studios and got the full scoop on all the musical magic that took, and still takes place at the studios. I have plenty to say, but the music and accolades speak volumes on their own.

The musical genius behind the magic was the legendary Rick Hall.

This barber’s chair alone could tell you stories that would knock your socks off.

Our guide Chase was a wealth of information and shared many fun stories too. He was great.

After the VIP treatment, the rest of the tour continued and more people joined in. Then we got to see the actual recording studios, where all the magic happened and still happens today. There are two recording studios, Studio A and Studio B. Each studio has its own vibe and personality. The artists who record there all have their own preferences on which studio to use, for their own reasons.

FAME’s legendary Studio A and Studio B offer cutting-edge facilities for hit-makers, chart-toppers, and emerging talent at almost any budget. Melding the best of vintage and twenty-first century recording equipment and techniques, our studios are the perfect spaces for producing the exact sound you’re looking to put out into the world.

The sound booth where music mixed with magic becomes reality.

We had a special treat at the end of the tour too. There just happened to be a band that was recording as we were there, AND the lady there with the band is Melody Trucks, the daughter of Allman Brother’s Band’s drummer. She is also a solo artist as well. It’s not a good picture, but sometimes, that’s all you get.

If you are a musician or even just a music lover, this is a MUST SEE place to add to your bucket list of things to do and places to go! I can’t speak for Julia, Bruce or Larry, but for me, this was an AWESOME experience. One thing you probably don’t know about me is that I LOVE music; music of ALL kinds too.

The FAME Studios are located at 603 East Avalon Avenue, Muscle Shoals, AL 35661. You can 256-381-0801 or you contact them online at info@famestudios.com.

Add music to all your days and have a great day. Live life to the fullest and enjoy the ride, and all the music along the way. ‘Til next time.

*** I just have an addendum to make. I just heard back from FAME co-owner and president Rodney Hall. I am SO honored, that not only did he like my post, but that he took the time to respond as well. Mr. Hall is who corrected my information about Melody Trucks. Thank you Mr. Hall. You totally made my day.

I am taking a slight detour from my postings of our fabulous Southern travels to take part in the Heritage challenge for the word of the day challenge, thrown out by Carol Anne at Therapy Bits at http://therapybits.com/. It’s about my heritage, and what makes me … ME. 🙂

As you know, my dad was from Melbourne, Australia. My mother was from Port Arthur, Texas. I grew up in Southern California, and now I call Colorado home. But who am I really? My heritage has roots from all over Northern and Western Europe. I, like many Americans, am a hodge-podge of many different backgrounds, cultures and countries.

My dad was from Australia, but his people came from Scotland and Wales. I mean his last name was Jones, the MOST popular surname in Wales, at least back then.

My mother was primarily of English, Scottish, Irish and French heritage. The English, Irish and Scottish were from my grandfather, and the French and English were from my grandmother.

But I am even more complicated and diverse than that. I was actually adopted by my parents as a tiny baby. We never really knew anything about my birth parents, and I never had any desire to learn about them either. My parents were my parents. PERIOD. However, that being said, they wanted to adopt a baby that would blend in with them and their heritages, so they did ask for my DNA and background. It turns out, I am from all of their backgrounds and so much more as well. I am, Dutch, German, French, Scandinavian, English, Irish, Scottish and Welsh, but I am AMERICAN through and through. I have the blood of poets, musicians, intellectuals, working people, sailors, warriors and Vikings running through my veins. No wonder I am such a jumbled mess. I am literally and figuratively all over the place. 🙂

Have a great day and make everyday great. Be proud of who you are, no matter what. Celebrate YOU everyday. ‘Til next time.

There is so much more to Nashville and Tennessee than the hustle and bustle and bright lights found on the downtown strip. There is a lot of history and natural beauty too.

Bruce, Julia, Larry and I all decided the bright lights and busy streets of the Broadway strip wasn’t really for us. We’ve been there done that. It was time to see and do something else. Julia suggested we go to The Hermitage. Visiting The Hermitage and learning the history of Andrew Jackson was much more our speed. All of us love history.

The Hermitage is the historic home of President Andrew Jackson, just out side of the Nashville city limits. Andrew Jackson was the 7th President of the United States, from 1829-1837. The Hermitage was a world apart from the busy streets of Downtown Nashville. Hermitage is a French word and roughly translates to mean “rural retreat”. It is 425 acres of rich, green, lush fields filled with a rich illustrious history as well.

Andrew Jackson made The Hermitage into a plantation with one goal in mind: To produce cotton as a money-making enterprise. Cotton plants occupied about 200 acres of the property. The rest of the plantation was filled with crops that included corn, oats, wheat, barley and other grains, as well as potatoes, sweet potatoes, peas and beans. There were also orchards with many different types of fruit trees, including diverse varieties of apples, pears, peaches, quince, cherries and other fruits. And there was also a wide variety of livestock found on the premises as well.

When we first arrived we were told there was going to be a duel starting soon, so seeing the duel was our first priority. We hurried past everything else to get to the location of the duel. Everything else could wait, and after the duel, we had no time limits, and could visit the rest of the grounds in a leisurely manner.

Before the duel took place, the actors gave a very good history lesson about the duels of the 19th century.

After the duel was over, we explored the mansion, the grounds and the museum. We were not allowed to take pictures inside the mansion, but we could, and did, take pictures everywhere else.

This was the “summer house” before the big house was constructed. It was situated above the running creek, which made it cooler.

These were typical slave shacks on the property.

These two shacks used to be one bigger, two-story house, where President Jackson and his wife lived for 17 years before building and moving into the big mansion. They removed the second story and converted it into more houses for the slaves.

These accommodations were reserved for the most revered and trusted slaves. Slavery was indeed a dark period in our history, but it was a dark period of history all over the world as well (and still is in some parts, even today). It is still part of history, and we cannot rewrite history just because we don’t like it or disagree with it. History is meant to teach us and to learn from. Fortunately, we have come a long way since these dark times.

Mrs. Jackson’s prized gardens. There were many types of flowers, but I am only highlighting a couple that really stood out to me.

Beautiful, fragrant magnolia trees decorated the grounds too.

There were many birds all around too. You know I love my birds. 🙂

Many wealthy people had their own family graveyards on site too. The Jacksons were no different. The mausoleum houses the gravesites of both Andrew and Rachel Jackson and the tombstones in the rest of the graveyard are for everyone else.

Horses definitely used to be a part of The Hermitage, but we didn’t see any this time. Maybe they are still there. Who knows? But I loved the sign. 🙂

After exploring the grounds we entered the Andrew Jackson museum before we left. Maybe I am more Jacksonian than I ever knew. I too must have been born for a storm, because the calm definitely doesn’t suit me either. I thrive on controlled chaos. 🙂

If you love history, I highly recommend going to The Hermitage when in Nashville. It is a history lesson surrounded by a lot of natural beauty. We all enjoyed our visit.

After visiting The Hermitage, we continued heading south, on to Muscle Shoals. Stay tuned. I have so much more to share. 🙂

Life is short. Make the most out of every minute while you can, and live life to the fullest. It’s much more fun to do that with good friends all along the way too. Have a great day and make everyday great. ‘Til next time.

One of Larry’s brothers used to go to Nashville a lot for work. He recommended we try Hattie B’s for dinner.

The place was rockin’ and was obviously the hot spot to go. It was hot in more ways than one too. Hattie B’s is known for it’s hot, spicy fried chicken. [Their] goal from day one has been to offer authentic Nashville hot chicken served with a little style and a lot of hospitality in a fun, high-energy environment. [They] know communities, families and friends thrive on love, hospitality and great food. That’s why [they’re] in this.

LONG BEFORE WE LIT HATTIE’S NAME UP IN NEON OVER A CHICKEN SHACK IN MIDTOWN NASHVILLE, WE WERE A FAMILY WITH DEEP ROOTS IN THE RESTAURANT BUSINESS.
‍
In 2006, after a decades-long career in food and hospitality, Nick Bishop Sr. tried to retire. It didn’t take. The next year he opened Bishop’s Meat & 3, an old-school, cafeteria-style restaurant in Franklin, Tenn. Folks started showing up. Around that same time, Nick Jr. wanted a break from the music business in Nashville and joined his Dad behind the counter.
‍
Soon after, father and son introduced hot chicken to the menu and began tinkering around with their own spice blend. More folks started showing up. By 2011, the Bishops were offering a variety of heat levels, and the idea for a hot chicken restaurant was born.
NOW ALL THEY NEEDED WAS A NAME…

A cool mascot is always a fun thing to add too. 🙂

The next summer on August 9, 2012, Hattie B’s Hot Chicken made its debut, just off Broadway.
‍More than a decade later, with a dozen restaurants and hundreds of employees across five states, [they] still feel like we’re at the beginning of [their] story.

Julia and I both ordered fried chicken salads. These salads were HUGE and filled with all kinds of southern goodness.

Bruce went for the fried chicken platter.

And Larry ordered chicken and waffles.

I think boys both finished theirs, but Julia and I barely made it half-way through our salads. It was definitely A LOT of food. But we enjoyed it and ate as much as we could; until our tummies couldn’t hold any more. Walking around after dinner was a a very good idea, plus we got to see other parts than just the strip. 🙂 Goin’ South – Part 4 – Nashville

There are Hattie B’s located in 5 different states other than Tennessee, including Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Nevada and Texas, and they are found all throughout Nashville and it’s surrounding areas too. We went to the one located right on the Broadway strip. Hattie B’s is a VERY popular place to eat, and is always crowded. It’s a first come, first serve type of restaurant, so be prepared to stand in line and wait.

Have a great day and make everyday great. Life is short. Live life to the fullest and enjoy the ride, and good eats along the way. ‘Til next time.

Continuing our southern travels, we made it into Nashville to meet up with Bruce and Julia. We were all staying in the same hotel and Bruce and Julia arrived before we did. We met them in the hotel, got settled in, and then off we went to explore Nashville. Nashville is the country music capitol of the world. It’s nicknamed “Music City”.

Guitars of all shapes, sizes and kinds are found all over Nashville. I just love this picture. It really speaks volumes to me.

Exploring Nashville with Bruce and Julia.

We walked all around and took in as many of the sights as we could. There are plenty of things to see and do in Nashville too. It can be a bit overwhelming if you let it. Just take it all in stride and take in as much as you can. There is always next time to see and do the things you missed.

We saw our first WAGU car, or driverless car.

Lots of street art.

Larry even found a hockey statue to pose with.

Beautiful flowers

The Country Music Hall of Fame. We didn’t have time to go inside, so we just saw it from the outside. One day I would love to pay it a visit though.

And of course, there was the famous Broadway Strip, where all the action takes place and the music comes to life. Anybody is who is anyone has a place on the strip.

We went into the Jon Bon Jovi Restaurant & Grill to have a look around. Who doesn’t love Jon Bon Jovi?! 🙂

This guitar montage really spoke to me as well.

Elvis is still alive in Nashville.

I love the Man in Black, so going to the Johnny Cash Museum was a priority for me. The museum did a good job and had a very nice presentation. Julia and I were having fun swooning over a young “strappin'” Johnny Cash too.

Johnny through the ages.

Johnny Cash was a very prolific music man.

I love just about everything Johnny Cash did, but his “Ragged Old Flag” is one of my favorites.

“Ragged Old Flag”

I walked through a county courthouse square
On a park bench, an old man was sittin’ there.
I said, “Your old court house is kinda run down,
He said, “Naw, it’ll do for our little town”.
I said, “Your old flag pole is leaned a little bit,
And that’s a ragged old flag you got hangin’ on it”.
He said, “Have a seat”, and I sat down,
“Is this the first time you’ve been to our little town”
I said, “I think it is”
He said “I don’t like to brag, but we’re kinda proud of
That Ragged Old Flag

“You see, we got a little hole in that flag there,
When Washington took it across the Delaware.
and It got powder burned the night Francis Scott Key sat watching it,
writing “Say Can You See”
It got a rip in New Orleans, with Packingham & Jackson
tugging at its seams.
and It almost fell at the Alamo
beside the Texas flag,
But she waved on though.
She got cut with a sword at Chancellorsville,
And she got cut again at Shiloh Hill.
There was Robert E. Lee and Beauregard and Bragg,
And the south wind blew hard on
That Ragged Old Flag

“On Flanders Field in World War I,
She got a big hole from a Bertha Gun,
She turned blood red in World War II
She hung limp, and low, a time or two, She was in Korea, Vietnam, She went where she was sent
by her Uncle Sam.
She waved from our ships upon the briny foam
and now they’ve about quit wavin’ back here at home
in her own good land here She’s been abused,
She’s been burned, dishonored, denied an’ refused,
And the government for which she stands
Has been scandalized throughout out the land.
And she’s getting thread bare, and she’s wearin’ thin,
But she’s in good shape, for the shape she’s in.
Cause she’s been through the fire before
and I believe she can take a whole lot more.

“So we raise her up every morning
And we bring her down slow every night,
We don’t let her touch the ground,
And we fold her up right.
On second thought
I do like to brag
Cause I’m mighty proud of
That Ragged Old Flag”.

After visiting The Johnny Cash Museum, we had all worked up an appetite and decided to find a place for dinner, but I will go more into that later. After dinner, we strolled along the river banks of Nashville, taking in even more of the town they call Music City. We even popped into a couple of the “Honky Tonks” to listen to a few tunes.

After a long day and a lot of walking around, we decided it was time to head back to the hotel. We had another very full day ahead again the next day. We all gathered in our hotel room and visited over a lot of laughs for the rest of the evening. 🙂

Have a great day and make everyday great. Everyday will always be better when spent with good friends. Life is short. Live life to the fullest and enjoy the ride. ‘Til next time.

Before we left Nancy and Denny, Nancy cooked us a good hearty breakfast to fuel our travels. Then we said our good-byes and we were on the road once again. Nancy and Denny’s dog Luna and I bonded and I had to say good-bye to her too.

We had another travel day, going from St. Louis to Nashville, where we were meeting up with Bruce and Julia. It is 308 miles and a 4 hour 40 minute drive, if we drove straight through, but of course we stopped in each state, even if only for pictures proving we were there and to stretch our legs. We traveled from St. Louis, MO through Illinois and Kentucky straight to Nashville, TN.

Our final stop in Illinois was Metropolis, home of Superman, or in this case, Super Woman.

Little did we know when we stopped in Metropolis that we were right by the Kentucky Border, but we stopped again, and we were glad we did, because it was our only stop in Kentucky. But we have the pictures to prove we were there, even if just passing through. 🙂

Once again, we crossed a bridge over the Ohio River to enter Kentucky. The Ohio River is a tributary of the Mississippi River that flows along the shared border of Illinois and Kentucky. Its length along the border is 133 miles, and its major tributaries include the Wabash and Saline rivers. The Ohio River is famously known as the historical “Gateway to the West,” serving as the primary transportation route that fueled American westward expansion. Today, it remains a vital commercial waterway, a source of drinking water for over five million people, and an important cultural and ecological boundary. 

This was such a pretty visitor’s center. The gardens were spectacular.

Crossing into Tennessee from Kentucky, there was yet another river to cross. This time we crossed the Cumberland River, which is is the major river flowing between and through both Kentucky and Tennessee. Rather than serving as a strict dividing border, the 688-mile river snakes back and forth across the state line, originating in eastern Kentucky, dipping deep into northern Tennessee (through Nashville), and re-entering western Kentucky. While the Cumberland is the primary river connecting the two states, a few other notable water bodies and boundary lines are closely tied to the region, such as the Big South Fork of the Cumberland River, which is a major tributary that cuts through the rugged Cumberland Plateau directly across the Kentucky-Tennessee border, The Mississippi River. This major river serves as the official western border dividing western Kentucky (and Tennessee) from Missouri and The Mississippi River State Line Marker, which is the border between Kentucky and Tennessee has a famous historical quirk at the Madrid Bend (or Kentucky Bend). The Mississippi River cuts a loop, leaving a small exclave of Kentucky (Fulton County) completely surrounded by Tennessee on land.

We had both been to Illinois before, but we had never seen so much of it before now. Kentucky and Illinois were two new states for each of us. We have now seen almost all 50 states of the Unites States of America. We are down to just single digits of new states to see. This is a new goal; to see them all, especially since we are so close.

We kept going until we reached Nashville, but I took so many pictures in Nashville that this is a good place to stop for now. Nashville will be it’s own post or posts. 🙂

Live life to the fullest and enjoy the ride. See and do as much as you can while you can. Have a great day and make everyday great. ‘Til next time.

I forgot to mention Nancy went out of her way to get us some special treats and goodies, only found in St. Louis. We enjoyed them as our dessert after our feast from Guido’s. Goin’ South – Part 2 – St. Louis Bound; Eating Our Way Through The South – Part 1 – Guido’s. She had some St. Louis gooey cake, Ted Drewes frozen custard, and some Fitz Root beer for us to enjoy.

St. Louis Gooey Cake – St. Louis Gooey Butter Cake is a regional delicacy born in the 1930s. Legend says it was created by an accidental recipe mix-up, where a baker mistakenly reversed the ratio of butter and flour in a coffee cake batter. Today, it remains a beloved, ultra-sweet staple.

Ted Drewes frozen Custard – The story of Ted Drewes begins with Ted Drewes Sr., a tennis champion who dominated the Muny Tennis Championships from 1925 to 1936. He also won the National Public Parks Singles title four times during the 1920s. A native of St. Louis, Ted Sr. spent winters in Florida with his family to continue playing tennis. In the fall of 1929, he opened his first frozen custard stand in St. Petersburg, Florida. The St. Petersburg custard stand was such a success that Ted Sr. decided to bring the business back home to St. Louis. In the spring of 1930, he opened a brick-and-mortar store on Natural Bridge Road. The following year, he opened a second location on South Grand, which remains the oldest location still in operation today. Finally, in 1941, Ted Sr. opened the now-famous Chippewa location on Historic Route 66. For nearly a century, Ted Drewes Frozen Custard has been the perfect way to cap off a day in St. Louis. Now in its fourth generation, the Drewes family continues to uphold their commitment to quality and customer service, ensuring that every visit feels special. 

Fitz Root Beer – Fitz’s Root Beer was first concocted in St. Louis in 1947 and sold at a popular local drive-in in Richmond Heights. Fitz’s Bottling Company is a regional soda brand in the St. Louis area. The flagship brand is its root beer popularized by its microbrewery and restaurant.

Nancy gave us the gooey cake to take and enjoy on our travels. And that we did too. Thank you Nancy. 🙂

Have a great day and make everyday great. Live life to the fullest and enjoy the ride. Enjoying fun snacks along the way always make the trips of life better too. ‘Til next time.