On day 78 of “The Ultimate USA Road Trip” we drive from Mammoth Cave Kentucky to Nashville Tennessee. As you leave Mammoth Cave Park, you will see Mammoth Cave Railroad Engine No. 4 on the right. This locomotive played a key role in bringing more tourism to Mammoth Cave and improving transportation for locals. It was also used to transport agricultural products to the town of Glasgow Junction (Park City) and bring back supplies from the town's merchants. This “dummy” type locomotive and its associated combine were among the last of their kind to be used in the United States. If it's safe, stop to take some photos.

The next short stop is at the “Doyel Valley Overlook”. Here you have picturesque views of the rolling hills and valleys of Mammoth Cave park. The area's namesake, the Doyel family, called this area home before the creation of Mammoth Cave National Park in 1941. The Doyels are also believed to have owned nearby Sand Cave, where a local caver became trapped in January 1925 , an event known in the Tragedy at Sand Cave.

We visit the “Diamond Caverns” in Park City. This cave was discovered on July 14, 1859. The cave consists mainly of limestone. There are also large deposits of calcite. Fresh water dissolves the limestone and then deposits the mineral, while the water itself loses its acidic nature. Other speleothems (formations) that can be viewed at Diamond Caverns include Soda Straws, Stalactite, Columns, Flowstone, Drapery/Bacon Strip and Cave Pearl. A tour of these beautiful caves takes about an hour.

We drive via beautiful winding country roads to Scottsville, this town has many restaurants and bars and is an excellent place to stop for lunch. After lunch we drive to Davidson County where we visit “The Hermitage”, a historical museum located 10 miles east of downtown Nashville. The more than 400 hectare site was owned by Andrew Jackson, the seventh President of the United States, from 1804 until his death in the Hermitage in 1845. It also serves as his final resting place. Jackson lived in the property intermittently until he retired from public life in 1837.

Enslaved men, women, and children, nine at the purchase of the plantation in 1804 and 110 at Jackson's death, worked at the Hermitage and were primarily involved in growing cotton, the main cash crop. It is a National Historic Landmark.

We drive into Nashville, from the bridge over the Cumberland River you have a beautiful view of the skyline of this city. Before checking into our hotel we visit Marathon Motor Works, a brass-era automaker based in Tennessee. Southern Engine and Boiler Works, founded in 1889, which made industrial engines and boilers in Jackson, Tennessee, established the plant in 1907. From 1909 to 1914, the company manufactured the Marathon car.
William Henry Collier, an engineer from Southern Engine and Boiler Works, developed a gasoline engine and a prototype automobile in 1906. Southern Engine built a few cars to Collier's design before expanding to a factory in Nashville. The Marathon Motor Works was founded from a cotton mill complex. Southern Engine decided to develop and build every part of its car in-house. The vehicles were initially marketed as Southerns, but another company used that name. In 1910, Marathon Motor Works was founded to produce the Marathon car, named after the enthusiasm for all things Greek that emerged from the 1904 Olympics.

The preserved building is on the National Register of Historic Places and has a museum and shops. Although only nine marathons are known to have survived, five are currently in the Marathon Building museum.

We drive to downtown Nashville, also known as “Music City”, which has a reputation for being an excellent destination for party goers. After all, it is one of the top locations for bachelor parties! But while there are certainly many honky-tonk bars open until the wee hours of the morning, this historic city has even more to offer. The city has many (famous) hotels and there are iconic locations with live shows with country legends (it's not called Music City for nothing), museums full of country music history, beautiful state parks with, adventure parks for children, distilleries, wineries and shopping centers.
Nashville is known for its “Southern Food”, there are several restaurants where you can enjoy it, such as Hattie B's, famous for its hot chicken sandwich (long lines), or restaurants with barbecue dishes, cookies, meatloaf or other classic comfort food

For a quintessential Nashville experience, visit Honky Tonk Highway (also called Lower Broadway), one of the most famous streets in Nashville, known for its music and atmosphere. For a more family-friendly atmosphere, go before 8 p.m. If you want to get a little wild, go there after dinner. You'll find iconic spots like Tootsie's Orchid Lounge and The Second Fiddle.
Visit the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Fans of Johnny Cash won't want to miss the Johnny Cash Museum, home to the world's largest collection of Johnny Cash artifacts and memorabilia. It's one of the top attractions in the area and right next door you can grab a bite to eat at Johnny Cash's Bar & BBQ.

Visit “The Grand Ole Opry”, one of the biggest attractions in Nashville, this is one you don't want to miss. Attend a two-hour live show several nights a week, featuring performances by country legends and rising stars, or simply take a tour.
Experience and enjoy Nashville Tennessee, “The Music City”!