Over the past few years it has became a tradition for us to visit the Opryland Hotel for Christmas. We all dress warm and jump into the car and head out. I know it's not Rockefeller Center, but it is something not to be missed.

With nearly 2 million Christmas lights that adorn trees, bushes and even the grass that runs along some of the side walks it's definitely hard to miss.

Throughout the hotel there are many different trees, all beautifully decorated. It gives you a feeling of being at home as you walk through the halls of the hotel. That is if your home were ridiculously large, but you get my point. Just suffice it to say that it gives you that warm feeling that everyone should have when coming home.

Each section of the hotel is filled with true Christmas spirit. You know the kind that just can't be faked. The kind that when you run across a stranger and maybe bump into them any other time someone may call their lawyer. Well not this time of year. Everyone just seems to get along and say thank you and hold doors for one another.

This is a wreath that hangs across the grand stairway leading to The Magnolias, another beautiful section of the hotel. You make your way through this section of the hotel finding along the way other great decorations. When it hits you a wonderful smell. It's that of two great restaurants within the hotel. The Old Hickory Steakhouse and Rusty's Sports Bar. I have yet to eat at either of these, but most definitely plan to.

After you pass these they have a newer feature that I could not recall seeing in my past visits. It's Fuse a night club that has other locations in the Nashville area. I had the feeling that it was kind of out of place and didn't really fit in with the allure of the hotel, but did seemed like fun.

After making your way past all of this you find yourself at one of the entrances to the hotel and if you take the doors leading outside and pan side to side you see the mass of the nearly 2 million lights complete with a nativity scene.

Below I have added other pictures that I took. The pictures however do it no justice, you really do have to be there to grasp the total beauty of it all. This is really a tradition that I know my family will keep for years to come and I hope that you and yours may enjoy it if you ever find yourself enjoying a Tennessee Christmas.

Merry Christmas everyone.