The General Jackson Showboat in Nashville

Even if it sounds like a broken record, I’ll again and again state that Nashville is a beautiful place to live and to visit. July, the month when time to sail along the river had just started from a pandemic. We had the unique opportunity to get out there and experience another side of Nashville with fresh eyes. Also a getaway for hubby’s birthday at the same time a day after July the 4th holiday.

Indeed, a lot of potentially undiscovered sites are just around the next corner here. By being both an old-timer for more than two years now and a relative newcomer to Nashville. For sure, I am still missing a lot. I wanna be forever a traveler in this city, or can I call it my city?

The General Jackson Showboat is a historic unique 300-ft paddle wheel boat. It is one of the largest showboats ever built. It has rich history in its 36-year existence. They offer midday and dinner cruises. We went on a dinner cruise. There are fantastic ways to see everything. It has four decks. There is a balcony and outside decks which allow for awesome panoramic views, towering skyscrapers and sparkling lights of the city.

It can hold 1,000 passengers and up to 172 crew members.

𝒟ℴ𝒸𝓀𝒾𝓃ℊ 𝒜𝓇ℯ𝒶

Docking is located on the banks of the Cumberland River on the back side of Opry Mills Mall.

We enjoyed exploring the boat before it left the dock. The cruise is appropriate for all ages, handicap accessible as well. Cameras and video cams are allowed. 

ℐ𝓉 𝓈𝒶𝒾𝓁𝓈 ℴ𝓃 𝓉𝒽ℯ 𝒞𝓊𝓂𝒷ℯ𝓇𝓁𝒶𝓃𝒹 ℛ𝒾𝓋ℯ𝓇.

The river was named after the Duke of Cumberland and is one of the members of the British Royal Family named after the historic county of Cumberland. This cruise lets you experience Nashville as it can best be seen from the beautiful Cumberland River.

𝒯𝒽ℯ ℋℴ𝓂ℯ ℴ𝒻 𝒞ℴ𝓊𝓃𝓉𝓇𝓎 ℳ𝓊𝓈𝒾𝒸

In Nashville, there is always a song in the air, especially around downtown.

The presence of a live band is one of the scene’s defining highlights. And it helped bring the story of country music to life. The performance backed up a recurring thought of mine. Most of us have childhood memories of time spent by the sea, river – to any form of water, from holiday to day trips. In sunshine and stormy weather. Plus the country music here. It’s fantastic. As we walked up into the deck, the vibe changed instantly. It’s vibrant, it’s simple and it definitely feels like Nashville. Fun begins.

𝒯𝓌ℴ-𝓈𝓉ℴ𝓇𝓎 𝒱𝒾𝒸𝓉ℴ𝓇𝒾𝒶𝓃 𝒯𝒽ℯ𝒶𝓉ℯ𝓇

It is a high energy live entertainment showcasing country and country music stars from Tennessee. It’s truly toe-tapping entertainment. This boat carries with it a lot of thoughts and experiences, mirrored here in food, place and music reflecting the journeys of the past. It has a rich history in its 36-year existence. There is so much aspirational energy in here, a kind of awesome glamour as well.

 𝒱𝒾𝒸𝓉ℴ𝓇𝒾𝒶𝓃 𝒟𝒾𝓃𝒾𝓃ℊ 𝓇ℴℴ𝓂 𝒻ℴ𝓇 𝒶 𝓉𝒶𝓈𝓉𝓎 𝓁𝓊𝓃𝒸𝒽

 The cruise lasts approximately two and half hours. It includes a meal. Delicious food served with well-known Southern hospitality. Round tables set up with numbers is cool. Everybody could converse and make friends while waiting for the food. We were sitting with a family and a couple. It was fun. No need to justify coz it’s so true, the heart of many relationships is surrounded by a meal.  

Midday cruise and dinner cruise feature a 3-course Southern meal.

ℬ𝓊𝓎 𝒶 𝒹𝓇𝒾𝓃𝓀 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓀ℯℯ𝓅 𝓉𝒽ℯ ℊ𝓁𝒶𝓈𝓈.

Just as it is getting dark, it truly exudes more the authentic feeling of the natural world. I paused a lot of times in admiration. I know I can’t miss the moment. It’s precious. I have no time to kill and dared not to blink. It is still your choice to focus on the scenery of the river or on the stage. Both are stunning. I have to be where I am and when I am. As we’re here on Earth for the time that we’re here. It is so matter-of-fact.

And now, living here, one of the things I look forward to most is the view over the city and water. The pungent smell of hickory smokes and the aroma of pine forest. It is mesmerizing. I can’t take my eyes away or my thoughts away. To what’s gonna happen or what’s around the corner. Everyday it’s great to be alive.

The turn signals that we have gone out far enough. It’s time to go back. Love watching the boat’s sufficiency of going into the water.

And opsss… did I happen to mention that a speed boat is actually a wonderful sight to spice up the panoramic view of the cruise? Yes it is and it was. That rush of splashing waves roaring in the background is epic for me.

From this experience, I can say I am done for the day and very satisfied. Not just for the stunning views that had been captured. The City is brimming with arts, culture, learning institutions and classical Greek Architecture.

It is a one-of-a-kind experience. Wherever I go it becomes a part of me somehow. It is an attraction in Nashville that is worth checking out. See more @ https://youtu.be/KPNhpa9ZiFI

Cheers…