America Road Trip - Part 4 Great Smoky Mountains

Leaving rainy Nashville behind next stop and another 213 miles to go the next stop was Gatlinburg in the Great Smoky Mountains.

I spent a great deal of time researching where would be the best place to stay in the smokies as we only had one night to stay. Gatlinburg offered everything I was looking for.

Driving to Gatlinburg you pass the town of Pigeon Forge, most famous as the home of Dollywood - A theme park owned by the one and only Dolly Parton. Driving through Pigeon Forge was one of the most bizarre driving experiences ever. It has an upside down hotel and a replica of King Kong and the Empire State Building. The word that springs to mind is tacky tourist town but thankfully that was not the final destination.

Pigeon Forge

Nestled in the heart of the Smokies the small town of Gatlinburg has picturesque scenery, a Moonshine Brewery and lots of personality.

Going at the beginning of August this place was very busy and full of tourists but that didn't distract you from any of the towns charm.

Quaint shops and restaurants line the side of the one road that goes right through the heart of Gatlinburg and pretty much everything is within walking distance.

A few recommendations if you are going to Gatlinburg are;

* To try all different 12 different types of Moonshine that they offer at the Brewery. I managed all 12!!

12 Varieties of Moonshine

* Look out for Racoons

This little guy was hanging out on a shop roof

* Take the sky lift to the top of the mountain for great views of the town. I went up just as the sun was going down so you had great views as the sky changed colour.

View from the top of the ski lift

If you have more time to spare in Gatlinburg there is also an Aquarium and an old fashioned trolley cart that takes you through the town.

Be sure to pay a visit to the Great Smoky Mountain Visitors Centre as they offer great advice on the best walks and drives to do with the time you have in the smokies. Due to limited time we opted for a drive up to Clingmans Dome observatory tower for a quick view from 7000 feet up, before setting off for a drive through the Blue Ridge Parkway. This beautiful drive is incredibly high and through endless winding roads but on the other side we entered the State of North Carolina and one step closer to the final destination.

Thanks for reading my little blog!!

American Road Trip - Part 3 Nashville

So after Memphis the real part of the road trip began.

Next stop Nashville.

211 miles and about 3.5 hours later the highway curved around to bring into view the iconic skyline that Nashville is known for. Most recognisable is the AT&T building also known as the Batman Building.

The view of Nashville from the Cumberland Bridge

The trusty voucher book (you can pick one up at any gas station) that had become a staple part of the road trip gave discount codes for a range of hotels in Nashville, but after a friend visited here a few years ago I knew I wanted to stay in the hotel with the guitar shaped pool. The Ramada Downton Nashville is cheap but not so cheerful however the pool was pretty great. It is also almost on the car park of the Tennessee Titans stadium and right by the Cumberland Bridge which helps you to cross the river straight into the heart of the city.

The first night out in Nashville (perhaps due to the long drive) resulted in a great deal of beer being drunk. Broadway Downtown is the place to be, where every night you can listen to live music, smell the leather from the cowboy boot shops and drink good old Tennessee whiskey in the saloon bars. The strip is alive with neon signs drawing you into the bars and so after working our way up Broadway we ended up in Tootsie's Orchid Lounge.

Now this place came recommended in my Lonely Planet book and was buzzing with atmosphere. The beer is cheap and the music is loud.

Perfect combination.

Broadway Baby

So on Day 2 armed with a hangover, the first stop was the Country Music Hall of Fame. Complete with Audio tour this place is a must visit even if you are not the biggest fan of Country Music. It takes about 3 hours to do the whole tour. The museum is great and you get to hear how Country Music got its roots and the costume section of the tour was my absolute favourite.

Dolly Parton's Outfit on show at the CMHOF

After the CMHOF I walked further up Broadway towards the Ryman Auditorium. This place is probably best known as the most famous former home of the Grand Ole Opry and definitely worth a visit. The building itself is one of a kind.

The next stop was to hop back in the car and head out of town to the famous listening rooms - The Bluebird Cafe. This small and intimate 90 seat venue has played host to Faith Hill, Garth Brooks and Taylor Swift, and is covered in fairy lights.

Now if you want to visit the Bluebird make sure you book in advance and don't do what I did and take your chances queuing up early for the 20 places they offer without booking. Despite getting there early we made it right to the front of the queue before we were told the venue was full. Gutted...... However they did let us stick our heads in to see inside and it was magical. Being a massive fan of the TV show Nashville this place was the one venue I really wanted to go and see some live music. I guess it just wasn't meant to be, but that didn't stop me from getting my picture taken underneath the iconic canopy.

My final recommendation in Nashville is the Hatch Show Print Shop on Broadway. If you follow music, art, and culture of the American South, sooner or later you will run into the iconic look, typography and imagery of Hatch Show Prints.

One of the oldest working letterpress print shops in America, Hatch Show Print posters have featured a hot of music performers, including Neil Young, BB King and Johnny Cash. The shop itself is also home to an adorable fat ginger cat that can be found snoring in a basket tucked behind some of the print boxes.

I just couldn't leave this place without buying a print for myself. A little something to remind me of the amazing time I had in Nashville. This print is now framed and hangs in my kitchen.

I would recommend Nashville to anyone and cant wait to go back for longer next time

+Lonely Planet 

Bucket List

I just love making lists and take great satisfaction crossing things off those lists. Therefore it seemed only natural that I should make a bucket list.

So here it is and I will use my blog to share stories of these adventures as I work my way through ticking them off.

1 - See the Seven Wonders of the World

• The Taj Mahal in India - Done
• The Great Wall of China
• Christ the Redeemer in Brazil
• Machu Pichu in Peru
• The Great Pyramids in Egypt
• Petra in Jordan
• Chitchen Itza in Mexico

2 - Do a sky-dive

3 - Take a road trip across America - Done - New Orleans, Memphis, Nashville, Great Smoky Mountains

4 - Climb a mountain

5 - Sleep in an Ice Hotel

6 - Learn to play the guitar

7 - Run at least a half marathon

8 - See the Northern Lights

9 - Ice Skate in Central Park - New York - Done

10 - Go to Glastonbury - Done

11 - Dive in the Great Barrier Reef in Australia

12 - Make a vegetable patch in my garden
13 - See Whales and Dolphins in their natural habitat
14 - Visit Bora Bora and stay in a water bungalow
15 - Carve my name in a tree
16 - See the Whitehouse in Washington - Done 
17 - Gamble in Las Vegas and visit the Grand Canyon
18 - Ride a horse down a beach
19 - Visit Yellowstone National Park
20 - Get lost in Rome
21 - Stand on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Fransisco
22 - Visit Cuba
23 - Go to Ibiza and dance all night until the sunrises
24 - Go back to India and do some Yoga
25 - See the Cherry Blossom Trees and Climb Mount Fuji in Japan
26 - Watch people dance the Tango in Argentina
27 - See the most famous Waterfalls - Iguazu in Brazil/Argentina, Victoria Falls in Zambia and Niagra Falls in North America.
28 - Take an African Safari
29 - Stand on Red Square and see St Basils Cathedral in Moscow
30 - Take a boat along the Amazon River
32 - Go the the Ballet
33 - Visit Disneyland Florida 

American Road Trip - Part 2 Memphis

So upon leaving New Orleans and a 7 hour Amtrak train ride later I arrived in Memphis, Tennessee.

Moving on from a city of Jazz this place is all about the Blues and good old fashioned Rock and Roll.

Memphis certainly has a different feel to that of New Orleans and whilst it is mostly known for its music and bbq's its a city very much affected by poverty. The area surrounding Beale Street can at times feel very surreal as you walk past closed down shops and ramshackle buildings. However the city is still full of plenty of charm and charisma.

Of course no trip to Memphis is complete with a trip to the mecca of Rock and Roll - Graceland. I really didnt know what to expect from Graceland but I have to say I was pleasantly suprised and found the audio tour around the house and grounds fascinating. It really is like taking a step back in a time machine.

From Graceland you can catch a free shuttle bus to take you to the World Famous Sun Studios. This place was my favourite tour in Memphis and the little shoebox sized studios was amazing.

Sun Studios was founded by Sam Philipps in the early 1950s and was the place that recorded the first tracks of Howling Wolf, Johnny Cash and some guy named Elvis. You may have heard of him. :)

In fact you can even stand on the spot where Elvis recorded some of his most famous tracks. There is also the most iconic photo of the 'Million Dollar Quarter' that was Elvis, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins hanging on the wall. If you love music this place is an absolute must.

A short walk from Sun is the Gibson Guitar factory. If you love guitars then this place is like Disneyland. On the tour you get a front row seat into how the factory creates these beautiful instruments right from the very first piece of wood.

Now any history lovers will know that Memphis is not just about the blues music but that this place was an integral part of the civil rights movement back in the 50's and 60's and The Lorraine Motel on Mulberry Street is the place where on April 4th 1968 Martin Luther King was shot dead. You can peer through the window of the motel room where he was staying and then take a tour around the civil rights museum just across the road. Now this place is very information heavy but its definitely a worthwhile trip to fully appreciate the scale of what happened on that day and the days of the investigation thereafter.

Finally no trip to Memphis would be complete without spending a good few boozy nights of your stay on Beale Street. This 24 hour carnival zone is lined with bar after bar all playing live Blues music throughout the day and night. You can easily lose many hours just sat in a bar with a good beer in hand listening to real life rhythm and blues. I also recommend the BBQ ribs in BB King Blues Club.

Silky O'Sullivans Irish Bar on Beale

If you're looking for somewhere to stay in Memphis I would recommend the Comfort Inn Downtown Memphis. The ritz this place certainly isn't but its clean, right by the banks of the Mississippi and has a rooftop pool with a view of the Pyramid.

Here are a few photos of my time in Memphis - Tennessee.

Elvis' TV Room

Inside Sun Studios

Elvis' Jungle Room with Lisa Maries Panda toy

Hope you enjoyed reading my little blog :)

American Road Trip - Part 1 New Orleans

So in July and August this year I headed to tick another thing off my Bucket List 

'Do an American Road Trip'.

After months of planning the route and all the things I wanted to see I can honestly say that it was a once in a lifetime trip.

After visiting New York and Washington in the past I knew there was so much more to experience in this vast and diverse country.

First stop was New Orleans

A city of history, architecture and Jazz Music.

My trusty Lonely Planet book revealed some real treats when it came to the best bars, restaurants and highlights that the city has to offer. Here are a few highlights below.

Hotel Monteleone has a carousel Bar in the middle so you can enjoy a cocktail (or Gin and Tonic if you are me) while the carousel slowly revolves.

Croissant D'or Patisserie was right opposite our hotel on Decatur Street and served up the most amazing pastries and coffee. Perfect fuel for a long day walking.

The Oak Alley plantation is an hour bus ride from the French Quarter in a town called Vacherie and the view is simply breathtaking. An old plantation where the main house is lined by 28 x 100 year old oak trees.

People that have been to New Orleans before have told me that it is a really special American City and it really is. I cant wait to go back one day. But for now I have my photos to remind me of an amazing adventure. Here are a few photos of my time in NOLA.

Beautiful buildings on every street in the French Quarter

A town full of colour

The famous Jackson Square did not disappoint

Mississippi Paddle Boat

The famous Spotted Cat Jazz bar

Swamp Tour in the Bayou was a must 

Croissant D'or

Carousel Bar at the Hotel Monteleone

Oak Alley Plantation

If you are thinking of going to America or doing a road trip I recommend the following sites;

http://www.discoveramerica.com/

http://www.planyourroadtrip.com/

Hope you enjoy reading my Little blog :)