What we love most about our road trips is the opportunity to visit with friends and family that live far away from home. Today was one of those days, spent with friends we hadn’t visited for way too long a time.

After several days of intermittent rain, the weather gods smiled on us and we had picture perfect weather – sunshine, low humidity, and temps in the mid 70s. After a leisurely brunch, we were taken for a tour of Goodlettville, ending with a visit to The Hermitage, President Andrew Jackson’s home. It seemed full circle since we learned about his early years near the North/South Carolina border when we visited the Historic Museum of Lancaster County, SC two days before.

President Jackson’s first home on The Hermitage property was a 2 story log cabin built in 1804. As Jackson’s financial situation improved, he had a 2 story brick plantation home built between 1819 and 1821. In 1831, while President Jackson was in the White House, it was remodeled, including the addition of 2 one story wings, a one story entrance portico with10 columns, and a small rear portico. After serious damage from an 1834 chimney fire, a 13 room house was built upon the original foundation.

The Hermitage is a National Historic Landmark, and it has been open to visitors since 1889. It is set on more than 1,000 acres and consists of a museum, the mansion, several out buildings including slave quarters, and a family cemetery. The grounds include some beautiful gardens. The peonies, snowballs, and irises were in bloom. The museum provided interesting information about Andrew Jackson’s personal life as well as his military and political careers.

The wonderful day was topped off by dinner at an Irish Pub with live music.