Grapevine: A Doodle Recommendation Worth Following
Last summer in Moab, we met another Doodle owner who enthusiastically recommended their hometown of Grapevine, Texas, in the northern part of the Dallas–Fort Worth area. This year, we decided to see whether the town lived up to the hype. Apparently, conversations between dog owners can lead to some pretty good travel tips!
We were impressed before we even finished settling into The Vineyards Campground & Cabins. Our spacious site had lovely views of Grapevine Lake, the people were friendly, and the campground had the comfortable feel of a favorite local getaway. Halloween was still more than a week away, but you wouldn’t have known it from the fully decorated campsites. These campers were ready!
A short drive into historic downtown brought us to plenty of public parking, inviting shops, and enough wine-tasting rooms to make an afternoon disappear rather quickly. Grapevine certainly embraces its name, with opportunities to sip and shop along Main Street.
At the southern end of downtown, Hotel Vin adds an upscale place to stay, dine, and gather. If your palate leans toward something stronger than wine, look for the phone booth concealing the entrance to Magnum Speakeasy. Finding your way into a cocktail bar is considerably more entertaining when a secret entrance is involved!
Hot Springs: The Golden Age of Bathing
Our next stop was Hot Springs, Arkansas, for our second visit to Hot Springs National Park. This park has a very different feel from the wide-open landscapes we had been exploring out West. Here, historic Bathhouse Row faces the shops and restaurants of Central Avenue, placing an important piece of the national park right in downtown.
We were happy to see the restoration and renewed activity along the Row. The eight historic bathhouse buildings belong to the National Park Service, but they serve a variety of purposes today. Two, Buckstaff and Quapaw, still offer bathing experiences using the park’s thermal spring water. Depending on your choice, that might mean traditional bathing treatments or a more modern spa experience with thermal pools and private baths. Check directly before visiting, since services and reservation policies differ.
For a look at bathing in its more elaborate heyday, we toured the restored Fordyce Bathhouse Visitor Center and Museum. Opened in 1915, the Fordyce brought European-inspired spa elegance to Arkansas. Stained glass, marble, fountains, lounges, and a gymnasium made it clear that taking the waters could be quite an occasion.
Visitors once traveled from across the country seeking relief from a long list of ailments. Separate men’s and women’s spaces offered baths, steam treatments, massages, and an assortment of equipment that looked considerably less relaxing than a warm soak! These were the treatments of their time, and walking through the rooms offers a fascinating glimpse into what people once expected from a health retreat.
I have to say, some of those contraptions made today’s spa menu look awfully appealing!
Our KOA offered a convenient shuttle into town and dropped us near our lunch choice, Diablos Tacos & Mezcal. Halloween decorations greeted us as we climbed the steps to the outdoor patio.
It was one of those lovely fall days that practically requires eating outside. With generous lunch portions, an attentive waiter, and plenty to look at along Central Avenue, we were quite content to linger.
Nashville: Old Friends, Good Food & One Unhappy Doodle
One stop I had been looking forward to since the planning stage of this rather extended trip was Nashville, where we would catch up with my college roommate, Missy. She and her husband were visiting their younger daughter, who lives and works in the area. Naturally, we decided our reunion needed food, conversation, and a night at the Grand Ole Opry!
While their daughter worked, we met for a very nice—and very expensive—lunch at the Gaylord Opryland Resort. We also enjoyed dinner together in Franklin at Pelato, an Italian restaurant their daughter recommended. The shareable dishes and great waitstaff made it a wonderful place to catch up.
The following day, Missy and her husband spent time with their daughter while Mark and I enjoyed some pool time at Nashville KOA Resort.
Timber’s afternoon was considerably less exciting.
The campground had converted a cargo trailer into a private dog-washing room, and we took full advantage. Timber smelled so good and looked so handsome afterward, though he made it quite clear that he did not appreciate our idea of an afternoon activity. Apparently, campground amenities are only impressive when they involve a dog park.
A few treats and plenty of hugs eventually restored diplomatic relations.
Opry with Friends: A Grand Ole Evening
Missy’s daughter came through with another excellent restaurant recommendation for our big night out. We enjoyed beautiful weather and rooftop dining at Sixty Vines, overlooking the Ryman Auditorium near Broadway.
Good food, old friends, and a view of one of country music’s most famous landmarks made a pretty wonderful start to the evening.
Then we drove back toward the Grand Ole Opry for Friday night’s live performance at the Opry House. The lineup included Riders In The Sky, Chancey Williams, John Conlee, Jason Crabb, The Whites, comedian Trish Suhr, Nate Smith, and The Oak Ridge Boys.
Jason Crabb received a standing ovation for his rendition of Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the U.S.A.” It was one of the highlights of an already memorable evening.
We had such a great night! Between the music and the time together, this stop delivered everything I had hoped for.
Of course, my visit with Missy was much too short. Our solution? Invite them to join us next summer when we travel to the Canadian Maritimes.
They agreed! We are soooo excited!!
Sevierville: One More Rally Before Home
Our next stop is Sevierville, Tennessee, for the Open Roads rally, and the team has certainly been building our anticipation!
They have lined up vendors, RV industry and supplier speakers, catered lunches and dinners, fun excursions, and a packed itinerary. Their communications over the past several weeks have given us plenty to look forward to. It sounds like a fantastic way to wrap up the rally portion of this adventure before pointing Jackson toward Fort Mill.
Homeward Bound—with a Montana Twist
This will be the final blog entry of this trip. After Sevierville, we’ll be making our way home to Fort Mill, South Carolina, on a fairly tight schedule, with several things awaiting our return.
One of those things involves packing our bags again! We’ll be heading to the Bozeman, Montana, area to take care of the inspection, final walk-through, and closing on our new ski place. Apparently, we weren’t quite ready to put away all the travel plans.
Between a Montana ski getaway and next summer’s Canadian Maritimes adventure, there will be plenty more to share. For now, take a little break with us over the winter, and then get ready to follow along again next summer.
Thanks for riding along with Mark, Timber, and me—and for following Jackson and Cheeto through another round of adventures!
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