On Saturday, my mom and I ventured out to Opry Mills Mall, in a part of Nashville that we hardly ever visit. The mall is near the airport, the infamous Grand Ole Opry, and the Gaylord Opryland Hotel. It’s located on the site of the old theme park, Opryland, several years ago Opryland closed and Opry Mills replaced it. The mall itself is gigantic, the area is over five miles in all. Sure it’s no Mall of America, but it contains two (possibly three) carousels, a huge food court with around 26 fast food restaurants and smaller food stalls, an IMAX movie theater, an Aquarium Restaurant with Stingray petting area, a Rainforest Cafe, a rock climbing wall, Barnes and Noble, Tower Records, Old Navy outlet, Off 5th Saks Fifth Avenue outlet, Lane Bryant outlet, Banana Republic Factory Store, Bed, Bath and Beyond, Gap outlet, Forever 21, Charlotte Russe, Wet Seal, Aeropostale, American Eagle Outfitters, and more stores that I adore.

The reason we never visit Opry Mills is clear when you step inside the mall–there’s so many people. It’s a tourists wet dream, but a pain in the ass to navigate through, the crowds are large and most people loiter in the middle of the path, causing traffic jams and others just walk as slow as possible taking up as much space as possible. Three weeks ago or so there was a gang-related shooting, apparently the gangs that used to hang out at one of the other Nashville malls, Hickory Hollow, have migrated to Opry Mills.

Despite the crowds it’s a fun place. It’s no Opryland, but it’s got a wide, wide variety of stores, everything from Tommy Hillfiger to Bass Pro Shops. Can’t get two more different stores than those.