• Travel & Vacation: Aquarium Underwater Dining Adventure (Nashville, TN)

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    We were able to go to the Aquarium An Underwater Dining Adventure Restaurant with the kids while we were in Nashville, TN.  They thought it was the best place to eat.  I am not entirely sure they even tasted their food because they were so fascinated by all the fish and the aquariums all around us.  It was a unique experience and a lot of fun especially if you have kids.   The kids were so excited about the fish I forgot to take a picture of our delicious food!

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    One of the huge circular aquariums!  We planned to go there for dinner as a surprise for the kids.  They were hooked and excited as soon as they stepped foot inside the door.

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    Karlie wanted to take a picture at one of the sharks1

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    The last time we saw sting rays we were swimming with them at Grand Cayman Island.  These were on the other side of the glass.

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    I see you hiding…a sprinkle of sand doesn’t make you invisible!

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    Colorful fish!

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    In the middle of the restaurant was a giant aquarium you could see from any where in the restaurant.  Fascinating!

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    So many fish!

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    The girls decided they would enjoy one of these huge aquariums at our house! 🙂

  • Travel & Vacation: Adventure Science Center (Nashville, TN)

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    During our recent visit to Nashville we went to the Adventure Science Center.  The kids LOVED it!  It was a lot of fun hanging out, playing, and learning with the kids for several hours.  We were there when it opened that morning and left when it was closing 7 hours later, I would say it was a hit with the kids!  Even better is our whole family got in free (WOOHOO) because we are members of our local Roper Mountain Science Center in Greenville and the museums are part of the same affiliation.

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    Brina and Karlie discovered that they CAN lift a car off the ground, using the right tools!

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    Activity that simulates walking on the moon, they had a blast!

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    Karlie especially liked the Space Chase room.  Standing near her favorite planet….Saturn!

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    The space room was two stories high, this is looking up from the ground level.  Pretty neat!

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    Chatting with Brina, the old fashion way!

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    Brave Karlie putting her hand into the mouth of a fish and pulling it out of the log.

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    The water table was a popular spot for the kids!

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    Brina checking things out!

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    Karlie using the wind from the Jungle Gym to blow the sails on the sailboat!

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     Karlie in the bubble under the dinosaur as Brina points out that the dinosaur is moving.

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    Karlie generating energy on the bicycle! Pedal faster!

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    Parachute race!  Whose going to win!  You raise the parachutes on the pulley system, when it clicks they release and see who lands first!

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    Locating our house!

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    Found Grandpa and Grandma’s house too!

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    Exploring particles and magnets….

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    Feeding the giant mouth!

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    Trying to master the digestive track maze!

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    At the top of the 3 story jungle gym you can look out over downtown Nashville.  Great view!

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    Jake and the girls waiting for me to come down from the top.  They obviously move faster, ha!  Fun times with the family.

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    It’s probably been awhile since Jake’s been on a 3 story jungle gym.  He was a good sport and allow the girls to “show him around!”

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    This was a laser game that we played several times.  The good activities compete against the germs / sickness to see who will win.

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    Jake playing checkers with Karlie.

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    Brina maneuvering the wheelchair around the ramps and basketball court.  Takes some skill getting around places in a wheelchair.

  • Travel & Vacation: Nashville – Parthenon Park

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    Our family was able to spend a couple days in Nashville, Tennessee recently.  We had a little bit of time to burn before heading to our next adventure so we stopped at one of the parks near our hotel.  The contained a full-scale replica of the Athenian Parthenon.  It was massive!  The re-creation was built in 1897 for Tennessee’s Centennial Exposition.  The Parthenon represents classical architecture.  It was pretty neat seeing it!

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    Sitting near the statue with the Parthenon replica in the background!

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    If you look closely you can see two people on the steps of the Parthenon (that is Brina and Karlie).  They look tiny!

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    The side of the Parthenon.  Can you see us?!

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    Hanging out on the steps.  We look so small!

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    This statue near the Parthenon is of John W. Thomas.  John Thomas was a native of Nashville and was the President of the Nashville Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway for many years.

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    The outside of the Parthenon replica in Nashville, TN

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    Venting some energy out on the play ground for a few minutes!