Take a Vacation

[Jeff Lebowski]

I'm going to Nashville, TN to go to the State Live. Any advice on things to do while there? It will be a short trip: Saturday - Tuesday.

I am a huge fan of Nashville hot chicken. I love Hattie B's, but there are several others that people swear by.

Nashville is a blast. Live music everywhere you go. You can google who will be in town that weekend, but you should just go to Broadway and wander around.

[old_gregg]

skip the country music hall of fame, which is very stupid

[PaloAltoCougar]

We had a good time in Nashville. Favorite activities included dinner at Sean Brock’s Audrey restaurant. a light dinner and concert at The Listening Room, visiting the Grand Ole Opry I'm not a country music fan but the experience was a blast (it helped having Keith Urban, Michael Ray, Gary Muledeer and other stars perform), and we enjoyed the Hermitage (Andrew Jackson home).

[MartyFunkhouser]

skip the country music hall of fame, which is very stupid

That goes without saying. Anything that has to do with country music is a hell no from me.

[BigFatMeanie]

I'm going to Nashville with the Mrs. for a full week in October. I too am interested in recommendations.

We're going to take a day and drive up to the Mammoth cave national park in Kentucky. We're also interested in visiting the Hermitage and the Grand Ole Opry (not a big country music fan but seeing a show at the Opry is probably worth doing once in this life). Other potential things include checking out the Parthenon, the Tennessee State Museum, some art museums. Also, it's a bit of a drive but the Great Smokey Mountains are potentially within reach of Nashville. Has anyone done that?

[BigFatMeanie]

Also going to Kansas City for the B12 tourney (I ordered sideline seats through the Cougar Club but only got corners ). Any must eats or other things to do there besides the hoops?

[Donuthole]

Also going to Kansas City for the B12 tourney (I ordered sideline seats through the Cougar Club but only got corners ). Any must eats or other things to do there besides the hoops?

Sounds like fodder for the "You Be Trippin'" thread (or is that only for football?

[Jeff Lebowski]

Also going to Kansas City for the B12 tourney (I ordered sideline seats through the Cougar Club but only got corners ). Any must eats or other things to do there besides the hoops?

Any must eats in Kansas City?

[BigFatMeanie]

Sounds like fodder for the "You Be Trippin'" thread (or is that only for football?

I'm sure you're right. I'm terrible at proper thread decorum.

[Northwestcoug]

skip the country music hall of fame, which is very stupid

This is wrong. I might have 10 country songs in my playlist. Not even close to being a fan. But that hall of fame is solid.

I'm going to Nashville with the Mrs. for a full week in October. I too am interested in recommendations.

We're going to take a day and drive up to the Mammoth cave national park in Kentucky. We're also interested in visiting the Hermitage and the Grand Ole Opry (not a big country music fan but seeing a show at the Opry is probably worth doing once in this life). Other potential things include checking out the Parthenon, the Tennessee State Museum, some art museums. Also, it's a bit of a drive but the Great Smokey Mountains are potentially within reach of Nashville. Has anyone done that?

Yes, go to the Smokey Mountains if you can. Very beautiful. We stayed in a cabin one night there and spent 2 days. It's worth it.

[Copelius]

I waited way to long to ask, but what provides the best assistance in having a comfortable 15 hour flight. Leaving Tuesday.

[Joe Public]

An upgrade to lie-flat business class.

[Bo Diddley]

Maybe getting an aisle seat so you can move about freely and frequently. Or a window seat if you plan to sleep. I have a difficult time sleeping on planes--even in first class. I do find that staying up all night and all the next day when I arrive helps me to adjust to the time in Europe. I also find noise canceling headphones a must.

[Copelius]

An upgrade to lie-flat business class.

Unfortunately, the flight is full and those who are more equal than others already have the 1st class seats. I was looking for a neck pillow recoommendation or something like it.

[BigFatMeanie]

My tips:

• Lie-flat seat

It makes all the difference in the world

Regardless of whether you do or don't have a lie-flat the following things are also very helpful:

• Window seat - I don't sleep on planes very well although I can get a couple hours of sleep if I'm in a lie-flat. But I prefer window seats for the following reasons:
  • Don't have to get up when other people have to get up. I generally have the ability to hold my bladder for ultra long periods so I don't have to get up frequently
  • You can sometimes lean your head up against the side of the plane and rest that way.
  • Drink cart and people coming down the aisle don't bang into you.
• Ear plugs - the foam insert kind for when you get tired of wearing noise-cancelling headphones or when you want to lean your head up against the side of the plane and the headphones make that impractical. I consider these essential. I won't fly without them - even on short flights.
• Noise-cancelling headphones. Also essential.
• No luggage or bags at your feet or under the chair in front of you. This is also essential. You have to be able to stretch out on such a long flight and having luggage or anything else sitting at your feet for that many hours is pure hell. The only exception to having nothing at your feet or under the chair in front is your shoes. See below
• Take off your shoes. I know this is considered "gross" by some but it makes a big difference. It's such a big difference that in business/first they expect you to do it and give you the little slippers you can wear if you want (I never do) and the seats usually have a cubby for your shoes. If I do need to get up, I put my shoes back on.
  • Slip on/off shoes. When I was fatter, trying to take my shoes on and off in coach with a big fat belly was a pain. Now that I've lost weight I can bend over more easily so it's not so hard but if you have some girth then you'll want your shoes to be slip-on and off as best as possible. This also helps when going through security (even if you have TSA pre because foreign countries don't give a crap if you have TSA pre and sometimes require you take off your shoes anyway).
• Warm socks- When you take off your shoes your feet will get cold so it helps to have warm socks. It really does.
• Sweater/jacket. Again, it gets cold during the long flight. If I'm flying to/from a warm weather destination I would rather take a sweater/jacket and be too warm in the terminal or on the ground waiting to take off after landing than not take a sweater/jacket and be cold during the flight. When I was fatter this was less of a problem but once I started losing weight and getting older I get colder more easily so this has become more important over the past few years.