Wheel house on General Jackson Showboat

June 3, 2008.

We are staying in Two Rivers Campground near Opry Land in northeast Nashville over the Memorial Day weekend. Two Rivers is the private campground we recommend for anyone visiting Nashville. It ain't cheap $31 but it is $21 cheaper than the next best campground. The $31 is for water & 30-amps; full-hookup and 50-amps are a bit more. But, and it is a big BUT the Yogi Bear Campground next door starts at $51 and goes up. KOA a block away starts somewhere above that and the sky is the limit. In Nashville you are paying for LOCATION and Two Rivers Campground has LOCATION. Besides that they sponsor good entertainment in the park several times a week. When I say "GOOD" entertainment I mean FREE afternoon shows from the likes of Hot Damn out of South Florida, Paul Hill who operates out of Nashville and the incomprehendable Mel McDaniel who still resides in Nashville.

Visiting honky tonk row is one of the main attractions in Nashville but there are other things to do.

Today, we spent the afternoon on The General Jackson Showboat a stern wheel boat plying the Cumberland River in Nashville.

General Jackson Showboat on Cumberland River in Downtown Nashville

Since 1985, this 1489 ton, four deck, diesel-electric powered, sternwheel showboat has plied the Cumberland River.

Commissioned by Gaylord Entertainment, it would be christened the General Jackson.

Named in honor of that first riverboat ever to land in Nashville back in 1819.

Today the General Jackson operates as an entertainment showboat plying the Cumberland River between Opry Land and downtown Nashville.

We are on the General Jackson today and enjoying every minute of it.

The General Jackson Showboat is the Largest showboat in the World

Today the General Jackson showboat is the largest showboat in the world. At 300 feet in length is can carry 1,200 passengers with 157 crew members. It is 55' tall not counting the folding smoke stacks that rise to 77'. This behemoth weighs 1489 tons with a draft of almost 7'.

A cruise on the General Jackson showboat provides an excellent meal, entertainment, and service in grandeur and style reminiscent of it's historical namesake.

After the Cruise was over Joyce and I visited with the Captain of the General Jackson Showboat in his wheel house

After the cruise Joyce and I toured the bridge with the captain of the General Jackson. This was the best part of our cruise, at least to me it was.

Wheel house on the General Jackson Showboat

Wheel house on the General Jackson.

Wheel house on the General Jackson showboat, Nashville

This chart plotter and radar are totally awesome on the General Jackson Showboat.

Joyce with Captain in his Wheel house on the General Jackson Showboat

-------------It doesn't take Joyce long to become Captain. VBG

And Captain of the General Jackson no less. VBG

General Jackson Showboat on Cumberland River, Nashville

The General Jackson showboat as it nears downtown Nashville.

Barge traffic on the Cumberland River in Nashville

Barge traffic on the Cumberland River as seen from the General Jackson Showboat near downtown Nashville.

------- In addition to paddlewheelers and showboats the Cumberland River has a lot of barge traffic as can be seen by these two barges and tow boats.

If you enjoyed this adventure you may be interested in some of our other adventures:

Click here for more Nashville Attractions

Click here for Nashville Honky Tonks

Click here for Nashville Musicians

Our 2009 visit in Nashville

Our 2010 visit in Nashville

Click here for more of our Tennessee Travel Adventures

Until next time remember how good life is.