PAST JOURNEYS
"Nashville Cats" Friendly Jaunt - September 24-26, 2026
The Nashville journey was a FRIENDLY JAUNT that occured on September 24 through 26, 2026. Ten Memphis members participated: Karen Bowyer, Sandra Martin, Diane Johnson, Geri Meltzer, Kathy Morgan, Emily Vergho, Ray Rider, Tina Tobias, Kelley Funderburg, and Journey Coordinator Rick Thomas. Points of interest were: Departed Memphis on Thursday, 8:00 AM. Visited Loretta Lynn’s Ranch in Hurricane Mills, TN. Next, had lunch at Loretta Lynn’s Kitchen. Afterwards, departed for Nashville to visit the Country Music Hall of Fame. Dinner was enjoyed at Nashville’s Union Station, now a hotel. The StationAiry Restuarant located there was very luxurious. The evening was ended by checking in to the Spark Hotel near the Opryland Convention Center.
On Friday we toured the Cheekwood Gardens and Mansion. Cheekwood is a 55-acre historic estate on the western edge of Nashville that houses the Cheekwood Estate and Gardens. Formerly the residence of the Nashville’s Cheek family. Christopher Cheek founded a wholesale grocery business in Nashville in the 1880s. His son, Leslie Cheek, joined him as a partner, and by 1915 was president of the family-owned company. Leslie’s wife, Mabel Wood, was a member of a prominent Clarksville, Tennessee, family. Meanwhile, Joel Owsley Cheek, Leslie’s cousin, had developed an acclaimed blend of coffee that was marketed through Nashville’s finest hotel, the Maxwell House Hotel. Cheek’s extended family, including Leslie and Mabel Cheek, were investors. In 1928, the Postum Cereals Company (now General Foods) purchased Maxwell Houses’s parent company, Cheek-Neal Coffee, for more than $40 million. The 30,000 square-foot Georgian-style mansion was opened as a botanical garden and art museum in 1960. Lunch was had at Brown’s Diner. After lunch, several museum options were available: (1) Museum of African-American History, (2) GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame, (3) Musican’s Hall of Fame, (4) Ryman Auditorium. Dinner and music was at the Fleet Street Pub in Printers Alley.
On Saturday we toured the Carnton Home/Museum in Franklin, TN. Lunch was had in Franklin at Puckett’s Restuarant. After lunch and a short tour of downtown Franklin, we departed for home.
Omaha, Nebraska - May 23-29, 2026- OUTBOUND
Omaha was an OUTBOUND JOURNEY that occured on May 23 through 29, 2026. Ten Memphis members participated. Points of interest were the Lewis and Clark Trail Museum, Union Pacific Railroad Museum, Joselyn Art Museum, Pioneer Courage Park, Durham Western Heritage Museum, and Boy’s Town Tour and Museum.
The Omaha journey ended with an add-on with a trip to Mt. Rushmore and the South Dakota Badlands
Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada - May 2-9, 2023 - INBOUND
Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada was an INBOUND JOURNEY that occured on May 2- 9, 2023.
Ukraine Open World - July 22-30, 2022 - Burns
This journey was an OPEN WORLD project that occured July 22 – 30, 2022. The subject of this Open World project was burn treatment.
Alajuela, Costa Rica - November 1-7, 2019 - OUTBOUND
Alajuela, Costa Rica was an OUTBOUND JOURNEY that occured on November 1 through November 7, 2019. Five FF Memphis members accompanied the Austin, Texas Friendship Force chapter on the journey they initiated.
Costa Rica has a population over 4 million. The country has a very stable tourisim industry. Besides tourism, Costa Rica exports coffee, bananas, beef, sugar, and cocoa.
Costa Rica is dedicated to conserving its natural resources by protecting all animal species, the forrest and jungles. Costa Rica is known by the term Pura Vida. Literaly in English, the phrase means pure life. However, the Costa Ricans use the phrase as hello, goodbye, thank you, you’re welcome, no worries, or life is beautiful.
Bogotá, Colombia - October 9-16, 2018 - OUTBOUND
Bogotá, Colombia was an OUTBOUND JOURNEY that occured on October 9 through October 16, 2018. This journey was organized by the Austin, Texas chapter where Memphis joined. There was an add-on at the end to Cartagena, Colombia. A number of places were visited as shown in the travel summary, followed by a photo gallery.
Day 1 (Wed) Began with a trip to the Ministry of Culture of Colombia. Traveling to this event took us through the Plaza de Bolivar, the main central square in Bogotá. Adjacent to the Ministry of Culture is the Museum Santa Clara. We ended the day trip with much fun at the welcoming party put on by the Bogotá host families.
Day 2 (Thur) Began with a trip outside Bogotá to a rose farm tour in the town of Toancipa. Near the rose farm, a visit was made to the beautiful church of the Basilica Nuestra Señora de Fatima. Next, lunch at the Universidad de la Sabana. From lunch, the city of Zipaquirá was visited. First, to meet the mayor, and visit city hall. Then, winding up at the very famous Salt Cathedral nearby.
Day 3 (Fri) This was a free day with the host families. A primary attraction this day was to visit the Museo de Oro
(Gold Museum), or the museo de Fernando Botero, known for his portrayal of subjects being “fat”.
Day 4 (Sat) This was a day trip outside of Bogotá to the Villa de Leyva, stopping along the way to visit the monument of Símon Bolivar. Lunch was had at a very nice hotel.
Day 5 (Sun) This was another free day with the host family. Some found their way to the crazy “Restuarante de Qudrés Carne de Res”. Halloween must be a big event in Colombia by the antics in this restaurant.
Day 6 (Mon) A farewell party given by the host families. No farewell party would be complete without Woody Pierce and his Elvis impersonation. The Colombian ladies loved it!
Day 7 (Tue) Departed Bogotá for a four day side trip to Cartagena, not part of the Friendship Force travels.
Crystal Bridges - September 27-28, 2018 - Friendly JAUNT
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is an art museum located in Bentonville, Arkansas, which opened to the public on November 11, 2011, and was founded by Alice Walton , the heir of Sam Walton’s Wal-Mart dynasty. This journey was an LOCAL JAUNT that occured on September 27 and 27, 2018.
Ukraine Open World - March 2018
This journey was an OPEN WORLD project that occured in March 2018.
Bogotá Colombia - September 20-22, 2017 - INBOUND
This journey was an INBOUND Journey that occured in Septermber 2017.
San Francisco - March 12-19, 2017 - OUTBOUND
This journey was an OUTBOUND Journey that occured in March 2017.
