Hanging out in Nashville with my sister — and mom

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - I’ve always wanted to have a mini-reunion in Nashville with my college girlfriends.

I imagined hanging out at honkytonk bars like the famous Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, listening to country music and meandering along Music Row. Instead, I found myself in Tennessee’s capital city with my 90-year-old mom and my sister.

Was it a drag? Far from it. The three nights we spent here turned out to be lots of fun as we experienced the different personalities of this Southern city, from its eclectic foodie culture to its rich history. My mom is very mobile and has the spunk of a 65-year-old. Still, I took plenty of precautions, did some pre-planning and focused on a few major sites. We needed to pace ourselves — and leave time for naps and coffee breaks.

We stayed at a hotel close to some key attractions but away from noisy downtown bars. And we tried to avoid noisy restaurants as my mom is hearing-impaired. We also found a friendly cabdriver who took us from place to place. Better to have my mom use her energy visiting tourist spots rather than tiring herself out getting around. We also chose fall for a visit rather than summer so we didn’t have to deal with sweltering heat. And we went during the week, not a weekend, to avoid bachelorette parties — which have become a huge trend in Nashville — and other celebrations.

Here are some highlights.

Lodging

I wanted to stay within walking distance of places like the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and the historic Ryman Auditorium. I also wanted a hotel with lots of amenities for my mom. So I booked a room at The Hermitage, a five-star, century-old hotel in downtown Nashville. Our September rate was a good one: two queen beds, $349, and we split it three ways. The Hermitage staff was extremely gracious, went out of their way to book dinner reservations and even got us great seats at the Grand Ole Opry.

Food

I wanted us to try different types of restaurants. Our first meal in Nashville