Nashville：美國南方鄉村音樂之都
/(Scroll down for English translation.)
在美國的我們也來放春假，一家人到Bowling Green, KY和Nashville, TN玩。田納西州Nashville，又稱音樂之都（Music City），也是鄉村音樂的大本營。不知道Nashville在哪沒關係，但你肯定知道Taylor Swift！她就是在這被發掘！這是我們第一次來Nashville，鄉村音樂配上美國南方人的熱情，讓原本不熟悉鄉村音樂的我們都愛上這城市。我們對Nashville的另一個印象就是市中心乾淨又安全，我們在路上騎電動滑板車時都覺得很自在。
住宿
Holiday Inn at Bowling Green
165 Three Springs Rd, Bowling Green, KY 42104
這次我們在Bowling Green停一晚後就一路開到田納西州，總車時大約4小時。有附早餐，飯店旁邊還有我愛的Parlor Doughnuts。
W Nashville
300 12th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37203
位在The Gulch區，步行就能到Broadway（必去），而且附近有許多知名餐廳，好熱鬧！帶小孩也很方便，飯店裡有室外泳池能讓小孩玩得非常開心，還有附設餐廳The Restaurant的早餐很好吃（GH超愛！）
景點
Mammoth Cave National Park
https://www.nps.gov/maca/index.htm
和朋友們提起我們春節旅行時，許多人的問題都是Bowling Green有什麼特別的？為什麼要去那？這裡有全世界最長的地下洞穴（426英里），至今還沒看到開採完畢，專家也指出目前可能只開一半不到，實在好好奇這洞穴的出口在哪（科幻腦出現）。1798年，開始有這個洞穴的紀錄，這個洞穴和我們一般見到的鐘乳石洞不太一樣，裡面非常乾燥。順帶一提，大提琴家馬友友曾在這裡表演過。
National Corvette Museum
350 Corvette Dr, Bowling Green, KY 42101
https://www.corvettemuseum.org/
來到UN的夢想跑車博物館，一進去就是滿滿的Corvette等著主人來領車。博物館裡介紹歷史，還能看到古董跑車讓我直呼太美了。許多人可能對這個博物館有一些印象，在2014年時因自然現象，館裡發生天坑坍塌（sinkhole），造成8台跑車損毀。今年六月，會有特別展覽重新回顧當時情況。參觀完可以到Stingray Grill吃飯喔！後記：感謝館裡的工作人員對GH超好！
Broadway in Nashville
有著Honky Tonk名號，意思是放著鄉村音樂的酒吧。第一次到美國的deep south，見識到南方魅力。長長的四條街，每間酒吧都有現場表演，全唱的是鄉村音樂。好多人也帶著牛仔帽，真的是在東西岸很少見的畫面。我們選了一家酒吧聽音樂，太喜歡這氣氛了！非常推薦！
The Parthenon
2500 West End Ave, Nashville, TN 37203
https://www.nashvilleparthenon.com/
1897年建造，一比一仿造雅典的Parthenon。雖然我們無緣進去裡面參觀，但天氣好時來這裡走走非常舒服。
Vanderbilt University
2201 West End Ave, Nashville, TN 37235
https://www.vanderbilt.edu/
好美的學校！開車在校園裡繞，老式建築還是我的最愛。一直對著在車裡睡午覺的寶寶們說，你們以後要不要來這裡上學啊！
餐廳
Yuki Japanese
35 Mill Rd, McDonough, GA 30253
http://www.welcometoyuki.com/
每次在這種幾乎沒有亞洲人的地方吃到道地日本料理，都會特別開心。點了fried soft shell crab、nabe udon、gyudon和chirashi，我們全家都很喜歡。
Martin’s BBQ joint
410 4th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37201
https://www.martinsbbqjoint.com/menu
最近我們家買了燻肉烤爐，開始研究起BBQ，所以來到田納西州，我們一定要試一下這裡的烤肉。和其他州的BBQ不一樣的是，餐廳濃濃山胡桃木燻味，用乾粉抹在肉上（dry rub），燻了一天卻不乾，所以這裡靠的不是醬，而是製作過程。我們點了pulled pork shoulder, sliced beef brisket。小菜店員推薦mac and cheese, baked beans, hush puppies, cornbread hoecake。吃BBQ時一定要配ice tea！
Hattie B’s Hot Chicken
112 19th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37203
http://hattieb.com/
在Nashville最後一天，我們來Hattie B’s吃炸雞。店還沒開，已經有人在外面排隊了。在地常客告訴我們最辣等級非常辣時，隊伍的人竟然一致認同！為了不想在路上胃發熱，我們點了mild，別忘了拿come back sauce。不吃辣的人一定要謹慎點菜！
Mammoth Cave
National Corvette Museum
National Corvette Museum
National Corvette Museum
Martin’s BBQ
Hattie B’s Hot Chicken
Martin’s BBQ
Martin’s BBQ
Martin’s BBQ
Broadway
Broadway
We went to Bowling Green, KY and Nashville TN on our Spring Break. Nashville, also known as Music City, is the home of Country Music. It’s okay if you don’t know where Nashville is, but you must know who Taylor Swift is! She was discovered in Nashville! Our first time in Nashville, being strangers to country music, we couldn't help but fall in love with the country music scene and the southern hospitality. My first impression of Nashville is that its downtown is very clean and safe. We felt totally carefree riding electric scooters on the road.
Accommodations
Holiday Inn at Bowling Green
165 Three Springs Rd, Bowling Green, KY 42104
Holiday Inn is a safe choice for road tripping, they have free breakfast. Next to it is also my favorite donut shop!
W Nashville
300 12th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37203
Located in the Gulch, walking distance to Broadway, and has many popular restaurants nearby. The hotel has an outdoor pool, so great if you are visiting with kids also. Their Restaurant serves delicious breakfast, and our girls are huge fans of their foods!
Sightseeings
Mammoth Cave National Park
https://www.nps.gov/maca/index.htm
When we mentioned our Spring Break plan to our friends, many asked us what’s there to do in Bowling Green? Why were we going there? Bowling Green is home to the world’s longest underground cave (426 miles), and they haven’t even discovered the end of it. Experts believe the full length of the cave can be twice as long, and we still don’t know all of its exits. The first recorded history of this cave dates back to 1798. This cave differs from stalactite caves in that it is very dry inside. Fun fact! Yoyo Ma performed here before.
National Corvette Museum
350 Corvette Dr, Bowling Green, KY 42101
https://www.corvettemuseum.org/
We went to the UN's dream car museum. As you enter, there are rows of Corvettes waiting for their new owner to come pick up. The museum exhibits history of the making of Corvettes, and showcases many beautiful antique cars. Some may remember the Corvette Museum on the news back in 2014 for the ground breaking due to a natural sinkhole, destroying 8 Corvettes. This June they will have a special exhibit to commemorate the tragic incident. Stop by the Stingray Grill at the end of the tour!
Broadway in Nashville
Known for the Honky Tonk culture, Broadway is lined with Country Bars. This is our first time experiencing the charisma of America’s Deep South. Every bar has live country music and is packed with people wearing cowboy hats, a rare scene on East and West Coasts. We stayed at one bar for about an hour and really enjoyed this atmosphere. Highly recommend it!
The Parthenon
2500 West End Ave, Nashville, TN 37203
https://www.nashvilleparthenon.com/
This 1:1 replica of the Parthenon from Athen was built in 1897. We missed the visiting hours that day due to temporary closure. This place is nice for a leisurely stroll on a good weather day.
Vanderbilt University
2201 West End Ave, Nashville, TN 37235
https://www.vanderbilt.edu/
What a beautiful campus! We toured the campus by just driving around, and marveled at the many captivating old style architecture. We kept telling our napping babies that they should consider coming here for college in the future!
Restaurants
Yuki Japanese
35 Mill Rd, McDonough, GA 30253
http://www.welcometoyuki.com/
We get excited everytime we stumble upon an authentic Japanese restaurant in an area without many Asians. We ordered Soft Shell Crab, Nabe Udon, Gyudon and Chirashi. Our whole family loved their food!
Martin’s BBQ joint
410 4th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37201
https://www.martinsbbqjoint.com/menu
We recently purchased a smoker, and started studying BBQ. We know we must visit a BBQ joint when in Tennessee. The difference between this BBQ joint and others we’ve had in other states is that the place is permeated with the smell of hickory smoke. The meats are seasoned with dry rub and smoked for an entire day, and yet the meats are not dry. No need for BBQ sauce, the quality of the meats and the smoking method speak for themselves. We ordered pulled pork shoulder and sliced beef brisket. The recommended sides are mac and cheese, baked beans, hush puppies, and cornbread hoecake. Don’t forget to pair your BBQ with ice tea!
Hattie B’s Hot Chicken
112 19th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37203
http://hattieb.com/
On our last day in Nashville, we hit up Hattie B’s for some hot chicken. A line was out the door before the restaurant even opened. The regulars in line found out we were visiting and kindly warned us that their highest heat level is very spicy! For our stomach’s comfort for the long drive back, we ordered mild. Must try their Come Back Sauce. If you don’t eat spicy, take caution when ordering here!
