What are the best summer camps in Nashville for 2023. Where can kids explore arts, sports, and other activities near Nashville this summer. How to choose the right camp for your child’s interests and needs.
Top Arts and Creative Summer Camps in Nashville
Nashville offers a diverse array of arts-focused summer camps for children to explore their creativity and develop new skills. Here are some of the top options:
On the Set Summer Film Camp
Aspiring young filmmakers can immerse themselves in the world of cinema at On the Set Summer Film Camp. This unique program offers kids aged 10-18 the opportunity to learn all aspects of filmmaking and even star in a movie alongside a real Hollywood actor. The camp is held at Presbyterian Academy and provides an authentic film production experience.
Sarratt Youth Art Institute
For children interested in visual arts, the Sarratt Youth Art Institute at Vanderbilt University offers a comprehensive program. Participants explore various mediums including clay, painting, sculpture, drawing, printmaking, and textile arts. The camp focuses on fostering creativity while helping kids make new friends and learn about the world of art.
Nashville Children’s Theatre Summer Camps
Young thespians can hone their acting skills at Nashville Children’s Theatre Summer Camps. These programs provide a supportive environment for kids to explore different aspects of theater, from acting and improvisation to stagecraft and production.
Frist Center for Visual Arts Summer Camps
The Frist Center for Visual Arts offers summer camps that introduce children to various art forms and techniques. These camps provide hands-on experiences and encourage creative expression in a museum setting.
Sports and Athletic Summer Camps in Nashville
For kids who love to stay active and improve their athletic skills, Nashville has plenty of sports-focused summer camps to choose from:
Trevecca Trojans Kids Camps
Baseball enthusiasts can participate in the Trevecca Trojans Kids Camps. These camps offer a fun and positive atmosphere for learning baseball fundamentals. Activities include slip n’ slide, water games, and instruction from college coaches and players. The camps are held in June and July.
Lipscomb University Soccer Camp
Soccer players of all skill levels can improve their game at Lipscomb University Soccer Camp. The program offers a variety of camps for boys and girls aged 4-18, catering to both beginners and advanced players. Camps are available in June and July.
GET UP! Summer Camp
For a more general athletic experience, GET UP! Summer Camp at Brentwood High School provides a range of sports activities. This camp focuses on keeping kids active and engaged throughout the summer.
Specialized Summer Camps in Nashville
Nashville also offers specialized camps that cater to specific interests and skills:
Gray Studios Nashville Acting Camp
Aspiring actors can refine their craft at Gray Studios Nashville Acting Camp. This program provides professional instruction in various acting techniques and performance skills.
MET Choral Camp
For musically inclined children, the MET Choral Camp offers an opportunity to develop vocal skills and participate in ensemble performances. This camp is ideal for kids who love to sing and want to improve their choral abilities.
Master’s School of Gymnastics Summer Camp
Gymnasts can perfect their routines and learn new skills at the Master’s School of Gymnastics Summer Camp. This program caters to various skill levels and provides expert instruction in a safe environment.
Multi-Discipline Summer Camps in Nashville
Some camps in Nashville offer a more diverse range of activities, allowing children to explore multiple interests:
Center For The Arts Summer Camp
Located in nearby Murfreesboro, the Center For The Arts Summer Camp provides a well-rounded arts experience. Participants can explore various forms of creative expression, from visual arts to performing arts.
Watkins Multi-Arts Camps
Watkins Multi-Arts Camps offer a comprehensive arts education experience. These camps allow children to explore different artistic disciplines and discover new passions.
Choosing the Right Summer Camp in Nashville
With so many options available, selecting the right summer camp for your child can be challenging. Here are some factors to consider:
- Your child’s interests and passions
- Age-appropriateness of the camp
- Camp duration and schedule
- Location and transportation options
- Cost and potential financial aid
- Qualifications of camp staff
- Camp facilities and safety measures
Take time to research each camp thoroughly and involve your child in the decision-making process to ensure the best fit.
Benefits of Attending Summer Camps in Nashville
Participating in summer camps can provide numerous benefits for children:
- Skill development in specific areas of interest
- Opportunity to make new friends
- Increased independence and self-confidence
- Exposure to new experiences and challenges
- Physical activity and outdoor time
- Reduction of summer learning loss
- Development of social skills and teamwork
Summer camps offer a unique blend of learning and fun that can have lasting positive impacts on a child’s development.
Preparing Your Child for Summer Camp in Nashville
To ensure a smooth and enjoyable camp experience, it’s important to properly prepare your child. Here are some tips:
Discuss Expectations
Talk to your child about what to expect at camp, including daily routines, activities, and potential challenges. Address any concerns they may have and emphasize the exciting opportunities ahead.
Pack Appropriately
Review the camp’s packing list and ensure your child has all necessary items. Label belongings and consider packing a few comfort items from home.
Health and Safety Preparations
Complete all required health forms and inform camp staff of any medical conditions or allergies. Teach your child about sun safety, hydration, and proper hygiene practices.
Encourage Independence
Help your child develop self-care skills they may need at camp, such as applying sunscreen or organizing their belongings.
Making the Most of the Nashville Summer Camp Experience
To help your child get the most out of their summer camp experience, consider the following advice:
Encourage Participation
Motivate your child to fully engage in camp activities and try new things. Emphasize the importance of a positive attitude and openness to new experiences.
Foster New Friendships
Encourage your child to make new friends and interact with different people. Discuss strategies for introducing themselves and joining group activities.
Reflect on the Experience
After camp, talk with your child about their experiences, what they learned, and their favorite moments. This reflection can help reinforce the positive impacts of the camp experience.
Consider Multiple Camps
If possible, consider enrolling your child in different types of camps throughout the summer to provide a variety of experiences and skill-building opportunities.
Nashville’s summer camps offer a wealth of opportunities for children to learn, grow, and have fun during their break from school. Whether your child is interested in arts, sports, or specialized activities, there’s a camp that can cater to their needs and help them create lasting memories. By carefully selecting the right camp and preparing your child for the experience, you can ensure a summer filled with adventure, learning, and personal growth.
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Kids Camps in Nashville | Nashville Guru
February 14, 2023 | Advertising Disclosure | Our Partners may be mentioned in this article.
Most summer camp registrations open in January, so it’s important to start your summer planning at the beginning of each year. Camps in Nashville take place in May, June, and July offering a variety of fun activities, including sports, drama, music, crafts, and more. Here is Nashville Guru’s guide to the best kids camps in Nashville, including dates, age requirements, general hours, and more.
Cheekwood Estate & Gardens
Cheekwood Estate & Garden’s summer camp offers fun options for kids ages 5-14. These camps include garden exploration, arts, and crafts.
- Dates: May 30, 2023 – July 28, 2023
- Ages: 5-14
- General Hours: 9:00am – 4:00pm
- Registration: Opens on January 20, 2023
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Camp Widjiwagan
Camp Widjiwagan is a part of the YMCA of Middle Tennessee. This organization offers day camps, overnight camps, and ranch camps. The day camps include activities such as swimming, nature hikes, and crafts.
- Dates: May 29, 2023 – August 5, 2023
- Ages: 4-16
- General Hours: 7:30am – 4:30pm
- Registration: Opens on January 20, 2023
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Adventure Science Center
Adventure Science Center is offering nine weeks of summer camp featuring different weekly themes such as Wonders of The Galaxy, Wizarding World of Science, and Dinosaurs Exhibition. Before-care and after-care are offered during most weeks of camp.
- Dates: May 29, 2023 – August 4, 2023
- Ages: 5-12
- General Hours: 8:30am – 4:00pm
- Registration: Opens on January 20, 2023
GET MORE DETAILs
Nashville Ballet
The Nashville Ballet’s half-day camps provide children with creative development through movement and dance. The schedule includes dancing, craft time, storytime, yoga, and snack time.
- Dates: May 30, 2023 – July 28, 2023
- Ages: 4-8
- General Hours: 9:00am – noon
- Registration: Opens on January 20, 2023
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White Brick Art Studio
There will be four different summer camps at White Brick Art Studio throughout June and July. These artistic and creative camps will be led by two certified art educators and are limited to 12 students per camp.
- Dates: June 12, 2023 – July 21, 2023
- Ages: 5-14
- General Hours: 9:00am – noon and 1:00pm – 4:00pm
- Registration: Opens on January 20, 2023
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Ensworth
Ensworth is offering 10 weeks of summer camps for grades K-12. These camps focus on music, art, sports, cooking, and nature. Campers of all ages are provided with the options of before-care and after-care.
- Dates: May 30, 2023 – July 28, 2023
- Ages: 5-18
- General Hours: 9:00am – 3:00pm (varies on camp)
- Registration: Opens on January 20, 2023
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University School of Nashville
Campers at University School of Nashville (USN) can expect a variety of interactive activities throughout the summer including all-day camps, morning session camps, and afternoon sessions. Each camp is for different grades and age groups.
- Dates: June 5, 2023 – August 4, 2023
- Ages: 5-18
- General Hours: 8:00am – 4:00pm (varies on camp)
- Registration: Opens on January 9, 2023
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Franklin Road Academy
Every summer, Franklin Road Academy (FRA) offers six weeks of camps, and over 600 students come out to participate. There are sports camps, and enrichment camps, as well as Jr. Panther camps for grades PreK-4 through kindergarten.
- Dates: June 5, 2023 – July 28, 2023
- Ages: 4-14
- General Hours: 8:00am – 3:00pm
- Registration: Opens on January 11, 2023
Get More Details
Nashville Children’s Theatre
The Nashville Children’s Theatre is offering ten weeks of summer camp for children ages 4-5. There will be a mini theatre voyages camp and a paw patrol mini camp!
- Dates: May 30, 2023 – August 4, 2023
- Ages: 4-5
- General Hours: 9:00am – 3:00pm
- Registration: Opens on March 1, 2023
Get More Details
Montgomery Bell Academy
Montgomery Bell Academy (MBA) is offering seven weeks of summer camp including sports camps, coed academic prep camps, and enrichment camps. These camps are sectioned off into full-day camps, morning camps, and afternoon camps.
- Dates: May 30, 2023 – July 28, 2023
- Ages: 4-18
- General Hours: 7:00am – 5:00pm (varies on camp)
- Registration: Opens on January 11, 2023
Get More Details
More summer camps will be added as they are announced. Is your favorite camp missing? Let us know in the comments!
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Known for its vitality and brilliance, Nashville is one of the most recognizable music destinations in the world. Because of its importance in the music industry, it has been dubbed “Music City”. Its streets abound with pubs, clubs, concert venues and recording studios. However, there is more to Nashville.
As it is located on the banks of a river, it boasts beautiful natural scenery with forests and ravines. Nashville has been home to many notable people. Therefore, its monuments mainly contain historical information.
If you’re looking for things to do in Nashville, TN, here are some ideas!
Grand Ole Opry
Credit: Culture Trip
Get out your stetson and put on your spurs. We visit the Grand Ole Opry. Dubbed “the program that made country music famous”, the Grand Ole Opry has been running for over a century. It features some of the best country, folk, gospel and bluegrass music in the country and is by far the best thing to do in Nashville.
It’s best to watch a play in the south! Before embarking on the evening’s performance, Grand Ole Opry attendees can enjoy a tour of the stage and dressing rooms. In addition to incendiary music, they broadcast parodies, comic numbers and other live entertainment.
After the show, grab a bite to eat at the Opry Back Porch BBQ or take a nap at the Opryland Hotel. If you’re looking for Nashville’s greatest attractions, check out the famous red barn scene!
Broadway
Credit: Forbes.
The beating heart of downtown Nashville is Broadway. As far as the eye can see, this is a neon-lit area filled with bars, clubs, restaurants, shops, saloons and bars. By day, Broadway is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Nashville.
Visitors can enjoy shopping, dining and sightseeing while exploring the streets on old-fashioned trams and trolleybuses. At night, Broadway turns into something completely different. Live music plays in hundreds of restaurants and taverns. The rooftop bars are adorned with everything from lights to pools.
You can dine, drink, dance, sing karaoke, ride a mechanical bull or wear a jumpsuit encrusted with rhinestones. Since Broadway is at the center of the action, this is by far one of the top things to do in downtown Nashville.
Parthenon
Credit: Pinterest
Nashville used to be recognized as a high school before it became known for country music. It was known as the “Athens of the South” because it had the most colleges and institutes in Tennessee. In 1897, builders decided to cash in by erecting a full-scale replica of the Parthenon in the heart of Nashville.
Currently, the Parthenon is an art museum and cultural center. It has a collection of classical paintings, manuscripts, statues and sculptures. This is a great attraction in Nashville, especially for art lovers. On the porch you can often see theater troupes playing Greek plays. It’s such a one-of-a-kind attraction that it’s worth a visit, even if you’re not the type to put on a toga and philosophize about the stars.
Cumberland Park
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The Cumberland River, a 700-mile stream through Tennessee and Kentucky, is visible from Nashville. This is one of the most beautiful places to visit. Officially known as the “Riverside Play Area”, Cumberland Park is essentially a playground for families looking to have fun both in the water and on land.
The park’s main attraction is a massive splash pad for cool summer days, bike paths, climbing platforms and butterfly gardens. There is even an amphitheater for open-air concerts. You can also look at the Cumberland River on a romantic date. The park is close to the river bank and you can even walk along the famous footbridge across the water. This is an amazing place to stay in Tennessee, whether you’re on your honeymoon or just looking for something to keep the kids busy.
Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center
Credit: TripAdvisor
The renowned Gaylord Opryland Resort & Conference Center is located in Nashville, Tennessee. It is unlike any other hotel you have ever seen. Not only does it offer luxurious accommodations in the heart of downtown Nashville, but it also offers activities and amenities that make it a vacation spot in its own right. The resort has pools, plants, gardens, fountains and waterfalls in a glass atrium.
If you want to swim around the lake and see the entire nine-acre indoor rainforest, boat trips are available. There is also a spa, gym, golf course and various ballrooms for banquets and other special occasions. If you want to keep your stomach happy, you can visit over a dozen pubs and eateries along the corridors. In short, the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center is not your typical Nashville, Tennessee hotel. In terms of accommodation, this is the best of the best!
Music Row
Credit: Pinterest
Music Row is a street in New York. This is the most famous street in Nashville. It provides a comprehensive view of the city’s vibrant musical culture, including record labels, radio stations, recording studios, and music production organizations.
Depending on your choice, there are several options for visitors! Tours of the recording booths and radio masts are offered, and you can see various local attractions, including a statue of a famous producer in front of a piano. A game of “find the star” with street names can also be fun: several roads are named after country songs.
If you want to get out of the area, Music Row is centrally located to many shops and eateries within walking distance. Music Row is one of the most famous places to visit in Nashville, Tennessee, so be sure to check it out if you’re in town.
Dyer Observatory at Vanderbilt University
Credit: Vanderbilt University.
The huge white dome of the Vanderbilt Dyer Observatory is easy to find. This is one of the largest astronomical institutions in Tennessee, located on top of a high hill, offering a beautiful view of the night sky. If you want to explore multiple constellations while in Nashville, there are tours and telescopes available to you.
The observatory also hosts special events such as summer camps and eclipse viewing parties. They also set up outdoor performance venues, bring sandwiches and a blanket to relax on the grass and listen to music. When the artists are done, the observatory staff will bring out the telescopes and let you end the evening with a look at the moon.
One of the most enjoyable things to do in Nashville, Tennessee is to visit the Vanderbilt Dyer Observatory. The dome may draw you in, or the music may draw you in. Either way, you will have a fantastic day out under the stars.
Nashville Zoo
Credit: Viator
The Nashville Zoo is one of Tennessee’s most unusual attractions. The zoo we know today was once a typical farmhouse in the 1800s on land donated to the city by the Croft family. It is located about 6 miles south of downtown Nashville. The ordinary house that cleared the way for the country’s ninth largest zoo still stands and is open to tourists.
There are about 3,000 creatures in total, representing about 350 different species. Some animals can even be fed and photographed! If you’re looking for something fun for your kids on the weekends, zoo-sponsored camps and programs are also available.
For example, Night Owls is a nighttime activity, and Zoo Toddlers includes activities and lessons for little zookeepers. This is one of the best places to visit in Nashville and has everything from rich history to a fascinating menagerie of animals.
Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame and Museum
Credit: Blog
The famous Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame and Museum is located in Nashville, Tennessee. Tennessee has produced award-winning athletes including Darren Bates, Reggie Grimes and Jalen Reeves-Mabin. All are Hall of Famers and the Tennessee Museum is conveniently located in downtown Nashville.
Explore artifacts and exhibits that tell the history of the state’s top athletes. Let your kids dress up in t-shirts, helmets and photo capes. There are even a few rides to keep your kids busy as you learn about all the Olympic champions from the active volunteer staff. That museum is small but important.
Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge
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Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge is impossible to miss. He has a bright purple building in downtown Nashville, and at night a line runs through the block. Everyone wants a drink at Tennessee’s oldest honky-tonk bar!
Tootsie has a long and colorful history in the country music industry. Among his most famous clients were Patsy Cline and Waylon Jennings. Willie Nelson got his first engagement after performing on a live stage. The Tootsie Orchid Lounge: The Music Began was also included in the documentary.
Tootsie’s Orchid Hall is still open. It’s a great place for up-and-coming artists, and there’s usually a noisy crowd ready to buy another round. Who knows, maybe in a few years you will see the next big thing in country music!
Warner Parks
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Nashville is such a bustling metropolis that it’s easy to miss its green spaces. Fortunately, however, Warner Parks will remind you of the beauty and grandeur of Nashville’s natural landscapes. Warner Parks is Edwin Warner Park and Percy Warner Park covering thousands of acres in the Nashville wilderness. Their luscious hills are lush and scenic, with everything from nature walks to picnic spots.
You can walk, tour, hike, ride or even ride horses among the places. Or you can visit playgrounds, golf courses, tennis courts and mountain biking trails if you like working hard. If you prefer something more discreet, walk to the top of the lookout and watch falling leaves and sunsets for miles. But of course, you can also indulge in amazing outdoor activities!
Print Hatch Show
Credit: Blog
Hatch Show Print is another unique place in Nashville. While similar businesses may exist elsewhere, this one has firmly established itself in the colors, charm and kitsch of Music City.
What is Hatch Show Print?
Hatch Show Print made letterpress posters for local groups. Some of his early work became famous for advertising young stars who became legendary characters; these posters are now valuable collectibles. Visitors to the Hatch Show Print can take a tour of the facility and see old-fashioned printing equipment in action. They are still running and for a fee you can have your personalized posters printed to take home. Everything happens in the signature style of Hatch Show Print.
Tennessee State Penitentiary
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Even if you have never been to a Tennessee state prison, you must visit it. Its pointed towers and chambered windows are reminiscent of a medieval castle and have appeared in several films such as The Green Mile, Against the Wall and Ernest Goes to Jail. Tennessee State Penitentiary inmates were forced to perform heavy physical labor and long periods of solitary confinement at the height of their careers. They were even forced to wear striped uniforms like in the movies.
Tennessee State Penitentiary no longer exists. You will not receive permission to enter, but you can drive up to the gate and take a photo. Or you can sign up for marathons and ghost tours that have been granted indoor permission. It is a very creepy place at night.
Visit a medieval castle-prison – a favorite of Hollywood directors! Visit the Tennessee State Penitentiary for an immersive experience!
Hermitage
Credit: Nashville Scene
When it comes to the history and traditions of the American South, the Hermitage is one of the most important places in the United States. It is a magnificent example of extravagant plantation-style architecture and has been carefully preserved as a testament to how wealthy Nashville residents used to live.
This is also a disturbing look at how the slave trade was normalized in the 1800s in the South. Andrew Jackson had dozens of enslaved people who lived in log cabins behind the estate. The dual nature of the Hermitage is one of the reasons why it is considered one of Nashville’s top tourist attractions.
It is magnificent and culturally significant, but it does not let you forget about its sad history. In the best history lessons, you will learn all sides of history.
Lake Radnor
Credit: TripAdvisor
Lake Radnor is another great place that can only be seen in Tennessee. It is a Class II natural area due to its stunning rocky terrain, sheltered from commercial development, with sparkling seas lapping sandy shorelines and jagged cliffs.
Much of Radnor Lake’s activity is sightseeing. Wildlife abounds, so if you enjoy watching creatures in their natural environment, you’re in for a treat. Turtles squirm in the sand, red-tailed hawks fly across the sky, and deer constantly run through the forest.
Swimming in the lake is prohibited due to its protected status. However, special supervised canoe trips can be organized in the spring. You will need prior authorization, so the first step should be to call the information center if you are wondering how to arrange a trip to Lake Radnor. Grab your binoculars and head to Radnor Lake for one of Nashville’s most beautiful sights. The landscapes alone are worth it!
Nashville Adventure Center
Credit: Adventure Science Center.
If you’re visiting Nashville with kids, you shouldn’t miss the Adventure Science Center. This is an interactive hands-on museum where learning takes place without tests or textbooks. Instead, art lessons, station building, and digging allow kids to let their imagination run wild! The museum covers a wide range of topics and offers a variety of activities for children of all ages and interests.
Do they like animals?
Perhaps they can learn how to extract honey from a real hive.
Are they addicted to technological gadgets?
Let them watch a laser show or use a virtual reality headset. Adults can also have a good time at the Adventure Center. On weekends, the planetarium organizes “yoga courses under the sky”, as well as master classes in the science of beer and the development of iconic movie monsters. If you’re looking for a fun place to spend your weekend in Nashville, consider the Adventure Science Center. The whole family can have fun, and if you play your cards well, your kids might even learn something new.
Owl Hill Nature Reserve
Credit: Lifestyle Publications
Owl Hill Nature Reserve, despite its name, is home to more than just owls. It is a haven for numerous Tennessee animal species, including birds, reptiles, amphibians, and small mammals. Journeys through the crisp leaves of its nature trails exist that you want to explore.
If you prefer more planned activities, you can book a basket weaving session or a grass picnic. If you’re looking for exceptional events in Nashville, stop by during the seed sale or the movie in the meadow feature.
The Sanctuary is a well-known non-profit organization whose mission is to rehabilitate animals, repopulate flora and revive public interest in the environment and everything that lives in it. If you love animals but hate seeing them in overcrowded, underfunded places, Nashville’s Owl Hill Nature Preserve will put your mind at ease. Not only does it provide some of the most beautiful views of Tennessee flora and animals you’ll ever see, but buying your ticket will benefit a worthy cause.
Country Music Hall of Fame
Credit: Blog
The famous Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is located in Nashville, Tennessee. If you are a dedicated country music lover, this is the place for you! It has one of the world’s largest music collections, making it not only a world wonder, but also a hallmark of Nashville, Tennessee.
There are many interesting things in the museum. You can bring photographs, plaques, musical instruments and souvenirs. You can view old videos of famous concerts and interviews. You can watch a biographical video or visit interactive displays and exhibitions about country music. The museum also has several notable attractions such as the famous RCA Studio B.
Everyone from Dolly Parton to Elvis Presley has recorded there and you can tour like you’re next in line. It provides such a delightful and captivating experience that it deserves to be at the top of the list!
Bootleggers Inn
Credit: Pinterest
Bootleggers Inn, tucked away among many other buildings in downtown Nashville, is a quiet, dimly lit tavern that may not immediately grab your attention. It’s not purple or flashing neon lights, and you may have to go around the block many times before you find it. However, inside the Bootleggers Inn there is an unusually atmospheric atmosphere, in keeping with Nashville’s underground music culture.
Wooden tables are bathed in the subdued light of old chandeliers. The audience here is laid-back, and live music consists of guitarists and indie singers. Another perk of the Bootleggers Inn is that it’s one of the few places in Nashville that sells moonshine. So if you want to drink the real thing from the southern bar, this is the place for you.
There’s no shortage of bars and clubs in Nashville, but if you’re looking for one of the top ten most fun and boozy places in town, check out the Bootleggers Inn. This is a must-do if you are visiting downtown Nashville.
Honeysuckle Hill Farm
Credit: Facebook
A few miles north of Nashville, Honeysuckle Hill Farm is one of the best places to visit if you’re looking for pure family fun. This is a great fun place for people of all ages! Toddlers can scream with delight when they roll in the hay or feed the animals at the petting zoo.
Running around the fun room, getting lost in the corn maze and collecting pumpkins for arts and crafts are all activities kids will love. Adults will love sweet yet healthy treats like candied fruit and cider. Honeysuckle Hill Farm is one of our favorite family vacation destinations, especially in the fall. There is nothing better than catching apples to recharge your autumn mood!
Nashville Beaches
Credit: Nashville Parent
When you visit Nashville Shores, you can laugh in the face of danger. It has a water park and a treetop adventure track, so you can float for hours above ground or dive deep into underground pools. Over a million gallons of water are used on the slides, rivers, wave pools and splash pads of the water park.
The treetop adventure course includes ziplines, rope ladders and cargo nets stretching between the canopies. It’s worth noting that Nashville Shores is not open all year round. If you’re planning a trip to Tennessee tourist sites during the off-season, be sure to get your tickets for this weekend! However, Nashville Shores is a fantastic family vacation destination where all is said and done. This is one of the best places to visit in Nashville, whether you like water slides or zip lines.
Johnny Cash Cafe and Museum
Credit: TripAdvisor
You can’t discuss country music without mentioning Johnny Cash. He’s an industry legend, and if you don’t believe it before you walk into the Johnny Cash Museum and Cafe, you will after. Its story is told through photographs, records and artifacts.
On radio stations you can hear samples of his most famous tracks and demos. Priceless guitars are stored in glass cases under a wall of posters. When you’re done with the exhibits, live music will play Johnny Cash songs at the café next to the museum. The gift shop sells souvenirs, including the opportunity to “take a photo with Johnny”.
You don’t have to be a fan to appreciate what the Man in Black has done for the music industry. Even if you’re just looking for things to do in Nashville, be sure to check out the Johnny Cash Museum and Cafe.
Printer Row
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Print Alley, the former residence of newspaper kiosks and publishing businesses, has grown into a bustling center of Nashville nightlife. No one knows how this happened, though it may have something to do with the dark, gritty atmosphere of the alley, or how many local eateries snuck into whiskey during the Prohibition era. On the other hand, Printers Alley is now home to various taverns, clubs and burlesque venues.
Their lights shine in the dark, beckoning people to come and see them. Since cars cannot enter the alley, there is usually a crowd there. Printer Alley is not for everyone. You might want to leave the kids at the hotel before heading into the thick clouds of smoke that hang over the red brickwork and flashing signs.
Printer Alley is at the top of the list of Nashville attractions if you’re looking for jazz spots!
Schermerhorn Symphony Hall
Credit: TripAdvisor
Nashville celebrates all kinds of music. It’s not just for country and bluegrass. That is why classical music lovers visit the Schermerhorn Symphony Center.
The Schermerhorn Symphony Center, which towers over downtown Nashville with white columns and elegant skylights, is the cornerstone of the community. It is popular for its violin concertos and string orchestras, although it also hosts other musicians. Jazz numbers, ventriloquists, drumming, mariachi bands and Disney musicals all dominate the theatre.
The famous Schermerhorn Symphony Center is Nashville’s premier venue due to its size and variety. Whether you’re looking for an operatic black tie event or a laid-back party with the kids, it doesn’t matter. The Schermerhorn Symphony Center is capable of all this.
Long Hunter State Park
Credit: Blog
Tennessee has many parks and conservation areas, but few pay homage to the Native Americans who farmed the land before the arrival of Europeans. One of them is Long Hunter State Park. The park hosts an annual NAIA educational powwow and is famous for its original mounds and Native American antiquities. The pow wow draws thousands of people every year to honor this fact.
When you arrive you will find many lectures, seminars, demonstrations and souvenirs. Another perk of Long Hunter State Park is that it has a full schedule of activities even when no special events are taking place. You can walk, swim, boat, bike or camp in natural areas. This is a good fishing spot in Nashville!
If you’re looking for a place to “get away from it all” in the Nashville area, Long Hunter State Park is an amazing place to unwind and rejuvenate. You can even experience real Native American culture if you go at the right time!
Belle Meade Plantation
Credit: LinkedIn
If you’re a fan of revivalist architecture, Belle Mead Plantation is worth a visit. It spans over 30 acres and is full of 18th and 19th century relics such as huts, stables, carriage houses, mausoleums, and slave quarters. You can visit the grounds at your leisure or visit the visitor center for a more detailed tour.
If you want to explore the area while enjoying a glass of red wine, there is a vineyard nearby. Some of the plantation’s attractions are entertaining, such as the carriage house, which housed anything from simple picnic carriages to elegant Victorian carriages suitable for showing off in the city.
Other areas of interest, such as educational exhibits about the enslaved people who built the plantation from scratch, are inconvenient but important. Belle Meade Plantation is a few miles south of Nashville in the town of Belle Meade, so you’ll have to take a short drive to get there. However, if you want to discover the sights outside of Nashville and not just inside of it, the plantation is a fantastic place to visit!
Timothy Demonbroin House
credit If you’re craving grits and gravy, Timothy Demonbreun House is one of Nashville’s best breakfast spots. He has warm, comfortable rooms in a vintage-style house, and the restaurant serves all the Southern food you can try!
Romantics take note: Timothy Demonbroin’s home is well known in Nashville as a wedding and honeymoon venue.
The neoclassical white mansion is a popular engagement photo spot, nestled on magnificent, breathtaking acres of bright green grass. Another interesting feature of the Timothy Demonbroin House is that the name comes from the name of Timothy Demonbroin, the so-called “first inhabitant” of Tennessee. This anecdote amused his great-great-great-grandson, who named the company after his most famous grandfather. Don’t worry as a guest; You won’t have to sleep in any caves!
If you’re looking for great places to visit in Nashville, book a stay at Timothy Demonbroin’s home. But do it soon! The suites fill up quickly because it’s a popular place, especially when love is in the air!
Greenway Shelby Bottoms
Credit: Wikipedia.
Shelby Bottoms Greenway is one of the best places in Nashville, Tennessee for nature lovers. There are forests, swamps, streams, fields and wetlands, so there is something to see at any time of the year. It also has over five miles of paved paths where you can enjoy the views on foot, bike or skateboard.
Do you like a good challenge?
The Shelby Bottoms Greenway is home to a golden pheasant that scurries through the swamps at certain times of the year. It’s kind of like a hobby of Nashville naturalists to try and spot it before it disappears.
Do you want to relax and just enjoy nature?
Spread a picnic blanket along the river. Nothing will disturb your peace, as cars are not allowed into the park.
Tennessee offers some of the most beautiful scenery in the south, so don’t miss the Shelby Bottoms Greenway while you’re in town. It’s not the only place to stop and smell the roses, but it’s definitely one of the best. It’s worth the day trip to see everything.
Puckett’s Grocery & Restaurant
Credit: Pinterest
Housed in a block building straight out of the 1950s, Puckett’s Grocery & Restaurant is one of the weirdest Nashville landmarks you’ll ever see. On the one hand, this is a grocery store where you can buy everything you need. On the other hand, this is a diner where you can order a la carte meals and ice-cold jugs of beer. This is a music venue where you can see live performances of local rock and country bands. Despite its individuality, Puckett’s Grocery and Restaurant is a popular Nashville attraction.
People travel long distances to enjoy barbecues and music events. This is a good option if you are looking for something to do on a Friday night in Nashville. Make a stop at Puckett’s Grocery and Restaurant if you’re looking for the best and most memorable things to do in Nashville. No one will believe that you ate dinner and watched a play at the grocery store. You will need to take photos to verify this!
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In America 30 years ago. Alexander Goryanin remembers
Alexander Goryanin: The idea of this trip was born by accident. In the autumn of 1991 in Pakhra, visiting Yuri Nagibin, Irina and I met Dick Porter, a professor of Russian studies from the city of Nashville in the US state of Tennessee. At first I thought it was Jimmy Carter, the former President of the United States. Why not? The man left his post ten years ago, now he rides around the wide world for his own pleasure, visited the famous Russian writer. Fortunately, I was mistaken: I would have to speak English with Carter, and even observe etiquette unknown to me. And Dick Porter was, as I have already mentioned, a Russianist, he spoke Russian easily. He taught at Vanderbilt University.
In his “under 60s” he looked “under 50s” and, as it turned out, brought the manuscript of his first novel to Moscow. Now he was discussing with a fellow writer the possibility of publishing the book immediately in Russian translation, bypassing the original stage for the time being.
Book publishing experienced an unprecedented boom in the sunset of the USSR: astronomical circulation, no censors, but also a minimum of stylistic editing. The ideal novel novel of the early 90s is a screaming title, a furious announcement, a nude cover. It’s even strange how many wonderful books came out in those years, against all odds! And on the other hand, the torments of beginning authors in America: Stephen King got his debut novel back by 30 publishers, Jack Kerouac’s book was rejected by everyone for seven long years, there are many such stories. The Russian edition will help Dick find an American publisher.
Illustrated reference book “Your Dog”, highly valued by speculators, has been published
It was about the translation. Among Nagibin’s neighbors in the writer’s house near the Aeroport metro station there were several stars of this art, but he did not offer them (he explained later: “Complicated people!”). I was on friendly terms with Margarita Kovaleva, the daughter of the famous (and by that time deceased) inhabitant of the same house, Rita Wright-Kovaleva. Margarita, also a translator, was a biologist by education, and this determined her tastes. She translated novels by Joy Adamson, Karen Blixen (all with tigers and lions), and an illustrated guide “Your Dog” highly valued by speculators. Leafing through the manuscript, Margarita said: “It’s not mine, but I’ll help.” She introduced me to Vladimir Sergeevich Ivanov, who in about three months did an excellent job of making Dick’s novel read as if it had originally been written in Russian. “That’s great,” said Nagibin. “The book will come out in the spring.”
Yuri Markovich took his promises seriously, and when it seemed to him that the book was “hanging up” at the “Knizhnoye obozreniye” publishing house, he became alarmed. I said that I had another option in mind. “Try your luck,” he agreed at once. I took another copy of the translation, crossed out the title “Strange Scout” (unfortunate, in my opinion), wrote instead “A Devoted Heart” (betrayed in two senses!), Deleted the Nagibin preface and went to my good friend Valentina Filippova, the owner of a small publishing house ” Aster”. There were only two hundred of them in Moscow at that time. “The author does not need a fee,” I immediately said, and this also helped the cause.
Dick Porter. Strange Scout
True, when Dick arrived again in the summer of 1992 (this time with his wife Brigitte), the book was not yet available in either version. Together we visited Marshal Sokolovsky Street, where “Astra” huddled, Dick approved the layout of the publication, read the proofs, corrected some American realities misunderstood by the translator. Shortly after his departure, an unfamiliar American handed over to Irina and me guest invitations from Mr. Richard Noel Porter, allowing us to obtain six-month visas to the United States. I received them immediately and immediately bought tickets. Hoping to bring Dick his book (or books), I left a month and a half before my departure.
Looking ahead, I will say that it did not work out to bring them with me. Book Review released Strange Scout at the end of the year, beating Astra by three months. But if “Strange Scout” came out with a 55,000th circulation, then “A Betrayed Heart” Valentina squeezed as many as 100,000. And the books quickly sold out – about the fabulous times!
Dick Porter. devoted heart
According to the dates of the tickets, it turned out that we would be in America for almost six weeks. Let’s stay with Dick for a few days and move on. Strongly attracted New York, but in the hotels of this city there were unpleasant prices. We were invited to visit by former Muscovites who settled in Florida, which did not attract me; we waited in California, which attracted us, but we couldn’t handle two crossings of the continent. The rest of the time, at least everything, could be spent in Jordanville in upstate New York with Volodya Rusak, an old friend, he called with all his heart: do not get bored – and Niagara Falls are not far away, and the Adirondack mountains, there are magnificent forests, and much more. We left this as an insurance option.
But thanks to a chain of unselfish acquaintances, everything worked out much better than one could have hoped. The chain was quite long, its links were almost ephemeral, but it did not break, it happens. Our stay in America was built even before the flight to this country.
On Sunday, September 27, Dick met us at the Nashville airport. The hour was late, we flew with two transfers (in Washington and Charlotte), spending a total of 14 hours in the air. And since another 8 hours of time difference with Moscow were added, Dick and Brigitte with the words “We’ll talk tomorrow” took us to a guest room with a bathroom and a toilet on the second floor. On the lacquer table, in addition to a beautiful bouquet and a “Welcome!” postcard, we were also expected – it would be a pity not to mention – a bottle of vodka and cognac with the appropriate glasses, some juice, salted nuts and a deck of cards!
Brigitte was a German by birth, she and Dick met in Germany in the mid-1950s, but that was where her resemblance to Erika, the heroine of The Betrayed Heart, ended. But there was an undoubted similarity – however, only on the first hundred pages – of Dick himself with his hero named Hamilton (or simply Ham) Davis. At the university, he, like the author, studied Russian. Drafted into the army, he is sent to the American military intelligence in West Germany (which gave Nagibin a reason to suggest the name “Strange Intelligence Officer” for the translation).
Irina Goryanina with Dick Porter on the banks of the Cumberland River
Dick Porter’s novel is the story of lost love. Alas, this is how the planets aligned. The hero, having briefly (as he thought) returned from Germany to his hometown, gets bogged down in its toxic environment, turns out to be unsteady – and how to remain solid when his own mother threatens suicide? – and writes a pathetic letter to his German bride. I won’t elaborate on the plot. Closing the book, you feel heart annoyance, why in life it happens so often. The love story of Dick himself, thank God, was different, their happy marriage with Brigitte was already 34 years old at that time.
Both the author and his character are not quite the southerners we know from Faulkner’s novels. Although Ham also constantly thinks about God and justice, about the North and the South, he does not go so far as to insist that the Great Southern Civilization died in that Civil War, blown away by the wind. From time to time, Ham wants to believe fellow writers who insist that the South is more heroic, nobler and more generous than the soulless North, but the Nashville society he plunged into after Germany does not confirm this hypothesis.
Irina Goryanina with Brigitte Porter
What the Porters impressed us with was their generosity. Brigitte was an artist, taught at an art school, Dick had classes at the university in the morning, but he or they gave us the afternoons for a whole week. Our first excursion (Dick called it a “cult trip”) was to the Hermitage, the name of the estate of the seventh President of the United States, Andrew Jackson. Everyone in America knows him by sight, because he adorns the 20-dollar bill. I don’t remember much about this visit, the porcelain night vases in the bedroom of the president and his wife struck me with their size and beauty.
When your emperor Alexander II, – said Dick, – saw a photo of the monument to Jackson, he decided to put something similar in memory of his parent, Nicholas the First
Dick reported an interesting detail: in 1852 Jackson was awarded an equestrian monument in front of the White House in Washington, unique in that his horse rests only on its hind hooves, holding on to two points. There are many heroic riders on rearing horses in the world, but usually the horse’s tail, as if by chance, touches the ground or some rocky ledge, thereby providing a third point of support. “When your emperor Alexander II,” said Dick, “saw a photo of the monument to Jackson, he decided to put something similar in memory of his parent, Nicholas the First. And in 1859a year the square in front of St. Isaac’s Cathedral was adorned with a monument so beautiful that it survived even under your Bolsheviks. Although they didn’t much like Nikolai.” shouting: “Slave owner!”. But the monument – for nothing, that at two points – survived. And it’s good that it survived. Nobody can be judged out of the context of time and according to later, non-retroactive laws. In our country, even the enemy of serfdom, Radishchev, had serfs, such was the structure of life in his time.Under Andrew Jackson, a two-party system was established in the United States, and this merit of his is infinitely more important than anything in which he failed to get ahead of his time.0003
Nashville is called the “City of Music” and the “Athens of the South”
On the banks of the Cumberland River that flows through Nashville, Dick showed us a carefully replica of a wooden fort built by the city’s original founders. Surprisingly – or, conversely, expected – this fort was like two drops of water similar to a wooden fortress on the banks of the Lena River, built a century and a half earlier when the city of Yakutsk was founded by the Cossack Peter Beketov. Pioneer pioneers are typologically similar under all latitudes.
Dick announced, a little shyly but proudly, that Nashville was called the “City of Music” and the “Athens of the South”. On another occasion, he and I reached the Parthenon, an exact copy of the Athenian. It was erected – they thought it was temporary – at the end of the 19th century, on the centenary of Tennessee’s entry into the union of states, and so honestly that they decided to leave it. (The case is not entirely unique, think of the Eiffel Tower or the Eye of London Ferris wheel.) Soon after the end of the war between the North and the South, one of the richest Americans of that time, Cornelius Vanderbilt, paid for the creation of a university named after himself in Nashville. Vanderbilt University has remained a private university and has been ranked high in all rankings for many decades, has produced many American celebrities. The name most familiar to us among them is Robert Penn Warren, the author of the novel “All the King’s Men”, which was not very successfully (but in three series) filmed in our country and at least four times (I don’t know whether it was successful or not) in other countries.
Comrades, Dick once said, do you want to visit an American millionaire?
We also walked around the university campus, which has the status of “arboretum” (botanical tree garden). To achieve this status, one must be almost a tree paradise, and in the case of Vanderbilt, this is met. Dick showed us an oak that had been a full-grown tree already during the years of the American Revolution. Deciding that he was a major expert on the topic, I tormented him for some time with questions: “Dick, what kind of tree is this? And this?” – to which Dick always answered with a kind smile: “I’m sorry, Sasha, I don’t know.” “I see,” I said at last, “you are an expert on that oak tree.” For some reason, we laughed for a long time.
“Comrades,” Dick once said, “do you want to visit an American millionaire?” “We want,” we said. Millionaire John Cheek (Cheek, as “cheek”) – a former pilot and China specialist, he and his wife recently moved into a new house on a hilltop. The university asked John Cheek to read some rare course to the students, there was no one else besides him. He does it without pay. Mr Chick speaks some Russian.
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We climb the serpentine to the top of a forest-covered hill (it seems Strawberry Hill), the gates slowly swing open. We get acquainted with the owners, he is a little over 70, a significant person, thin. The wife is younger, originally French (I think Marie), desperately fighting for a figure: with Irina, she quickly moves from the topic of Yeltsin to the topic of diets. On a huge terrace with a pool, we admire how the moon is reflected in it in some special way. The maid, with the help of the owners, builds special cocktails for everyone: in a glass there is ice, cognac, something mint, and on top such strong rum that they set it on fire, everyone received a glass of fire. They show us the house: flowers, paintings, a large library. The house was built according to the project of the owner himself. In plan, it has the outlines of an airplane with wings, a detailed drawing is on the wall. We will go to a restaurant for dinner, but for now a light table is set (“Pré-dîner”, Marie explains). John did not say goodbye to aviation, in the hangar of the local flying club he keeps a plane of his own construction, sometimes he flies on it. For the sake of exercise, he speaks to me in Russian, and I don’t understand everything, which is a pity: he developed some interesting idea about Russia and China. John was only once in the USSR, but a very long time ago: in the late 50s, he crossed Siberia on the train on his way to China. He is fully aware of what is happening with us today.
John turns on the radio and what do I hear? “Knight’s Romance” Glinka: “Either on a shield, or with a shield”
We are going to feast with John in one of his collectible cars – a huge, but for some reason two-door Cadillac of 1954, there are five of them in the world, the owner is driving, Dick is driving Brigitte and Marie. John turns on the radio – and what do I hear? Glinka’s “Knight’s Romance”: “Either on a shield, or with a shield.” I have heard him at home twice in my life. Words by Nestor the Dollmaker! “Is this for us?” I ask. “Record?” “It’s a local radio station,” John replies. The chance that this would happen was nil.
I won’t talk about the restaurant, all restaurants are similar, even the most fashionable and expensive ones. And restaurant conversations are not remembered well. Parting, we hugged with Chicks and promised to be friends. On the way back, I asked Dick to turn on the local radio station. Tchaikovsky’s overture “1812” burst out. However, the Americans revere it for theirs, this is the year of their victorious war, only with England.
Looking at the map, I figured that since the distance from Nashville to New York is two Moscow-Petersburg distances, it is very tempting to admire America from the train window all day: leave in the morning and be in New York by night. Brigitte even laughed: “You should have come 20 years ago. Then there were still such trains. Now everyone values time too much and fly by plane.”
This is how we traveled from Nashville to New York. But I want to devote a separate chapter to this city. In the meantime, about Jordanville, where we still got out for a few days, but already from New York.
Holy Assumption Monastery in Jordanville
Those places near the border with Canada, the first settlers from Europe mastered in the XVIII century, during the era of the American Revolution. The name Jordanville means “town in the Jordan”. In the local river, temporarily equating it with the Jordan, they made a font and, while they were building the temple, they baptized babies in it. Then the river was returned to its Indian name, and the settlement remained Jordanville.
In the 1920s as early as the 20th century, ascetics appeared here, looking for a place for a Russian monastery – not too far from New York, but extremely remote from the bustle of the world. The local wilderness fully met these requests. The place was found one and a half miles from Jordanville. The desert fathers, working together at first, were able to buy out and somehow initially equip 120 hectares of land in a few years. Over the years, a few more selfless people have joined them. At the peak of the Great Depression, everything built burned down, the small brethren were left in debt and in the open. Thank you, for the first time they were sheltered by the family of an American farmer. The determination of the brethren seemed to be tested for strength, and it withstood the test. The conceived appearance of the Holy Trinity Monastery began to acquire in the late 40s with the financial assistance of Igor Sikorsky. A printing house and publishing house “Orthodox Rus'” appeared at the monastery, in 19On the 71st, the building of the theological seminary was completed. Compatriots reached out to the Russian hearth. In the late 70s, Mstislav Rostropovich and Galina Vishnevskaya acquired an entire estate in Jordanville and named it Galino. An English-language guide reports that the couple built a vast house of 770 square meters here. m.
Mountain dwellers at the gates of Galino
Volodya Rusak’s house, a couple of kilometers from Galino, was, in my opinion, no worse: one and a half floors, four rooms, a veranda. Housing was, as they say, service. Volodya, one of the last political prisoners of the Gorbachev USSR, was released from a camp in the Perm region at the request of the US Congress and a number of international organizations. They were released on the condition of an early departure to the West, and in the spring of 89th he and his wife Galya ended up in Jordanville. Here he began to teach the history of the Russian Church and canon law at the seminary, and the seminary provided the aforementioned house near the monastery. The maple forest of the Mohawk River Valley opened from the house’s veranda.
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Volodya introduced us to interesting people who in recent years have moved closer to the Holy Trinity Convent. In the nearby town of Richfield Springs, he said: “We’ll go to the Smirnovs.” Who are these Smirnovs, Volodya explained, already pressing the entry bell. A lady with a noble bearing and in a high turban, but at the same time reminiscent of late portraits of Catherine II, who did not wear turbans, extended her hand to me and introduced herself in a voice that unmistakably betrays the singer: “Anna Yuryevna.” About 20 years earlier, somewhere in the wilds of the Tien Shan, I heard a Radio Liberty program about the “March of the Partisans”, which became the anthem of the French Resistance, and about Anna Marley, the author of the anthem. She herself then talked about the years of the war, about occupied France, and how in military London words and melody came to her as if they always sounded, and I was amazed, I remember, at the sophistication of her Russian speech and inimitable voice. In the performance of Marley, the march itself sounded in this program. She sang in French, but she also read the Russian original, I remembered the first lines:
From the forest to the forest the road goes
Along the cliff,
And there, high somewhere, a month floats
Hastily.
Let’s go where the Raven won’t fly,
The Beast doesn’t go…
Venedikt Abdank-Kossovsky, Svetlana Kossovskaya, Irina, Anna Marley, Alexander Smirnov. And Petechka Rusak (died at 17)
I forgot the sequel, but I didn’t forget the voice. Anna Betulinskaya was born into a noble family in Petrograd a week before the Bolshevik coup. Soon her father was shot, and her mother and two daughters managed to get to France. Fate was merciful to Anna, she received a ballet and vocal education, under the stage name Marley became a successful pop singer and author of almost 300 songs, toured many countries after the war. At 1950, at her concert in Brazil, 36-year-old Yuri Smirnov, also a native of Petrograd, but with a Soviet past, completely lost his head. A graduate of the Leningrad Industrial Institute, who survived the blockade, he still managed to fight and in the summer of 1944 was taken prisoner by the Germans near the Ukrainian city of Buchach. After the war, Smirnov avoided repatriation and went to South America, where metallurgists were needed. Went, as it turned out, towards his happiness. Having shown considerable resourcefulness, he managed to get to know Anna and win her heart. She divorced her Dutch husband and became Smirnova.
They were a touching childless couple. Quite recently (when there is no one to ask already) I learned that after the death of Yuri Alexandrovich in 2000, the widow moved for some reason to Alaska, to the town of Palmer and died there six years later. I forgot who and when sent me a photo of a memorial plaque on her grave with words of gratitude from General de Gaulle.
At the grave of Anna Marley. Palmer, Alaska
Landscapes around Jordanville are reminiscent of Valdai. Not only Valdai fauna – for example, large marsh turtles, uttering rumbling cries from time to time. It was here that famous literary personalities lived: Leatherstocking, Chingachgook the Big Serpent, their creator Fenimore Cooper lived, in the pretty town of Cooperstown there is his museum.
We traveled around a lot, and I was curious to correct the image of America that had lived in me since my teenage years, when America was a forbidden fruit (which reliably ensured interest in it). I was 12 years old when an update happened in our yard: a single mother with her son Slavik, I forgot my last name, left for Saratov. In their place, another single mother moved in with her son Oleg, I remember his last name: Maslov. He was older than me, adored jazz and always turned the knob of the trophy receiver in search of some particularly dashing stations. Not immediately, but he found his permanent ideal in the form of radio Tangier (the one opposite Gibraltar, although Oleg insisted that this was America). I myself did not get used to jazz, but I am extremely grateful to Oleg Maslov: they had a heavy binder of the America magazine at home, and he gave it to me to read. The year and month were never listed on the magazine, only the number, but it came out, as I found out later, in the years from 1946 to 1952, then it was angrily closed by the Soviet side, but after four years it was resumed and then came out endlessly for a long time.
Cover of the magazine “America”
Oleg’s folio included, it seems, pre-sunset issues of the “first series”, i. e. early 50s. I read them all, more than a thousand pages, and in high school I was a major, by the standards of Tashkent, an expert on America. Over time, this knowledge, not useful, for the most part went into the sand (and there was no one to discuss the skyscrapers of the architect Sullivan or “Giant adding machines” – I remember such an article), but the mansions of the South in wonderful color photos, small towns , farms, driveway mailboxes, mowed lawns, schools, fire hydrants, small hotels, ethnic restaurants, nightclubs, Central Park in New York – all this has formed in my memory in a very solid and understandable image, eighty percent then coincided with what he saw. Fashions have changed, Japanese small cars filled the roads, but I recognized America right away.
In my first year at university, I read The Grapes of Wrath, a scary book. The author, John Steinbeck, wrote it before the war and talked not about some long-standing cases, but about what he saw personally right before taking up his pen – he saw in Oklahoma, Kansas, California. The evidence of poverty, cruelty and the negligible price of human life was simply amazing. But Steinbeck did not cancel the image created by America magazine, he complicated it. I realized that the 1930s hit most countries hard, but the United States, with its margin of safety and enterprise, took 10-12 years to get out of the crisis and make a powerful leap towards prosperity.
Alexander Goryanin and Vladimir Rusak, Jordanville
Many years later, already in Moscow, in a sentimental impulse I bought ten issues from the very first series of the magazine “America”, and now I leafed through them with pleasure, admiring the now, apparently, almost gone America. By the way, chronologically, the one that was revealed to the gaze of Nabokov’s hero Humbert Humbert.
Acquaintance with another country, experienced travelers say, it is better to start not from its main and famous city. It is wiser to start from the periphery, from the outskirts, where the country is less cosmopolitan, less recognizable, less, if you like, banal.