gapwedge
Ottawa, Ontario
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We're planning a March trip to FL (Naples, Sarasota) and would like to make a five day stop on our return either in Memphis or Nashville. Any recommendations which city might be better? We have two kids (10 and 8), so our activities have to be educational/affordable and suited to kids. Graceland or Grand Ol' Opry? We'd welcome any advice. We travel in a Suburban and 28ft Fleetwood Mallard TT (bicycles and golf clubs included).
If I'm not camping, I'm golfing. 
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admiral0647
Illinois
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My vote is for Nashville. It is a much more family oriented city. Jellystone RV park has events and facilities for children available. Take one of the many 1/2 day bus tours that pick up right from the camp. See US President Andrew Jackson's home the Hermitage. Take a River Boat trip. Visit Opryland Hotel. See the Lane Auto Museum. Attend a concert or two and eat some great food.
Graceland, though impressive in its own way, might not interest youngsters. It is like they closed the doors in 1979 then opened them ten years later as a museum. Almost nothing has changed since Elvis died.
Good luck and happy camping...
Jim
I started with nothing... and have most of it left.
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rv bill-e
Nashville
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Nashville, by a mile. I enjoy visiting Memphis, but it is for an adult weekend of music, drinking, and ribs! Not best for the kiddies. Memphis can be a very dangerous city if you take a wrong turn. Jim gave you some good tips above. Also, the Cumberland Science Mueseum is a good kid place, maybe worth checking out. You can have a pretty fun (cheap) Saturday night just walking around on lower Broadway and hearing the music coming out of the clubs and seeing all the people out and about. Plenty of good golf courses, bikes are for those with really great legs, as there is NO flat ground. You better like climbing hills on those bikes! Have fun!
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kidfriend54
Great State of Texas
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We visited both cities last July and totally agree that Nashville would be better. Also, it might be worth your while to go to the Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area. LOTS to do with families. We spent 5 days there on our trip and wished a hundred times we had the grandkids with us. Plus you're right by Smokey Mountain National Park which is a must see for families. We thoroughly enjoyed black bear watching (are black bears "awake" by March? lol). Good luck and enjoy your trip. Jan
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TXcampingfamily
San Antonio, TX
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Tough call! We did both this summer. Memphis has a great downtown area. We were able to park the truck and ride the trolley to everything we wanted to see. We love letting someone else do the driving after we have driven so long to get to a new location. In the summer the water fountains were fun for our boys (10 & 12) to play in. Mud Island is a must see in Memphis. They have a great museum and the outside model of the Mississippi was fun to play in. You take a monorail ride to get to the island to add to the fun. The National Civil Right Museum was very educational and opened a lot of conversations with our kids. If you go I would suggest you go at the pace your kids want to do. If you read everything it will take some time. A great Firefighter Museum is located in downtown Memphis. They have the best children's section I have ever seen in a firefighter museum! Lots of handson! If you're not an Elvis fan then I would skip Graceland. My DH and DS went for me...I just had to see the "King's House"! Of course we had to see the Peabody Hotel marching ducks. My oldest son is into ribs, so you can bet we hit Blues City Cafe and Rendezvous! As for the comments about dangers, I think every city is dangerous if you are out late or get out of the main tourist area. We always make sure we know where we are going and never stay out in a downtown area after dark. It's just good common sense.
In Nashville we found that we spent more time driving. We actually spent very little time in downtown Nashville. Since we are not big Opry fans we skipped that. We did go to the Hermitage and found the audio tour fantastic! Our family loves history so we toured more of the historical sites in neighboring towns. The Carter House in Franklin was one such stop for our family that was very educational!
We enjoyed both cities, but Memphis was my favorite. I think we initially didn't have high expectations for Memphis. It was just a stop to visit as we made our way through Tennessee, but sometimes they say that you get a surprise when you least expect it! I think you'll have fun no matter where you go!
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Polishnurse
Schodack, NY
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Nashville is the largest City in US of A. Land wise that is. I think we spent 30 dollars a head, for tickets to the Grand Ole Opry. At that the original Ole Opry, since the new one was closed for some reason or another. That included the bus ride from the RV Park in and back. The bus tour was 20 bucks if I remember right, we again picked up at the camp ground. You can check them out here: Grayline Nashville
Have a good trip no mater which you choose. Bill
On Edit - we had a toad but opted for the bus, not knowing the town. It was December and raining. The campground also gave us a discounted tickets booking threw them.
* This post was
edited 10/24/09 04:04pm by Polishnurse *
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djevans
Tennessee
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Both have merit, but having spent much time in both cities, I vote Nashville - I truly love this place
note: someone came to Nashville and missed a full scale replica of the Greek Parthenon? 
Don . . . near 36.171N 086.784W, TN near here
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mwallace61
Alabama
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Nashville unless you ditch the kids somewhere along the way.. :-) Memphis is awesome in it's on right, but it's more adult friendly... Love the blues.....
Mike & Karen
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rv2go
Fulltime between Knoxville, TN and the coast.
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For all the reasons mentioned before, Nashville.
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garry1p
Geeville, MS
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I also vote for Nashville and have been to both cities many times.
Garry1p
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