Opryland Hotel

One of the most popular places in Nashville to visit during the holiday season is Opry Land Hotel.  Decorated to the nines, folks come in droves.  This is not really a “tradition” with us, but we find ourselves there almost every year just to gaze at the decorations.  Of course, the best time to go is after dark to get the full effect of the lighting.  However, we have been in those crowds too many times in previous years.  A more quiet time is in the morning.

All of the plants are real, of course

Many years ago, it was free and there still isn’t a charge to enter the hotel, but now the  parking is expensive.  Last I heard it was $10.  For those in the area, we have figured out a way to avoid the parking charge.  Opry Mills Mall is just next door and there is a sidewalk leading right to the Delta entrance of the hotel.  Park at the theater end of the mall as close to the employee parking area as possible and toward the hotel.  The sidewalk in front of a fake boulder (left over from the old Opryland theme park days) leads away from the mall and right to the hotel.  Easy! and Free!

Being parked at the mall made it easy to make a brief shopping stop.  We didn’t stay long.  By the time we got there, crowds had begun to gather.  One store really caught my eye--the Crocs store.   You know--Crocs--the latest craze in footwear.  I had no idea they had a high-heel model.  There was nothing in this store but Crocs and they were in every color, size, and style.  Who would have thought.

Crocs started out as a “beach” shoe.  It was lightweight, water didn’t hurt it (I’m not going to say “waterproof” since they are riddled with holes), and it slips on and off easily.  It had all the attributes the hiking community was looking for in a camp shoe.  When backpacking, hikers want a pair of lightweight shoes to slip into after a long day in boots.  Naturally, we each have a pair.  I haven’t done an official study, but I’d say 90% of backpackers have a pair of Crocs lashed to the back of their packs.

Well, that was our morning.  Now I have a dessert baking in the oven to take to our good friends, Doug and Diana, who have invited us to share homemade pizza with them tonight.  Ahh, ‘tis the season to party.  Ain’t it great?