Our Tennessee vacation—part 4

Monday…

                I had a lot on my list of maybes for this day.  As I mentioned before, originally we had planned to make this our second day at Dollywood.  Had it not been for our ECVs (electric carts) there would have been no way for us to do it in one day.  Lots of hills, inclines both slight and steep, shows that would have been impossible for us to get from one to the other as quickly as we’d needed to.  Another advantage of using the carts was that we could skidder past all those little food places QUICK!  Lol  Country food, fair food, candy….all have this magnetic power over me.  With the cart’s go power, I made it through with only our meals.

                One of my MUST DO places to see was the Incredible Christmas Place.  It’s such a special place!  It’s not just the Christmas store that’s the draw.  For many, I’m sure it’s the Inn.  They have a beautiful, huge resort across the main drag from the store area.  And there is also a lovely little restaurant that we could see next to the store area.  As big as the Inn is, my guess is they have one or more food places there too.  And it’s beautiful.  Makes you think Christmas in the middle of 90+ heat. 

                The shopping here didn’t disappoint me.  I’m a Christmas lover.  It was just beautiful.  Let me drop a photo or six in here as we “talk.”  I was pleased to see they did respect the men who come with the shoppin’ mamas.   They had quite a few sitting areas.

               

                As we got out of the car, conveniently there was a potty stop.  J  They’re smart.  Having them OUT of the actual store probably kept down the possibility of thefts.  Next up, we came to the “reindeer” area.  It was a little walkway between things that had cute fake deer in stalls. 

They had a discount area upstairs too.  Nothing up there struck my fancy enough to bring it home, but I’m sure a few would have if I’d had a little more to spend.  I wanted to get some specific things to bring home.  Nope.  Not talkin’.

               

                It was mesmerizing to walk around in this place.  Beauty in every step.

                

                This was maybe the cutest of the rest stops.  Made for a man.  All done in there with a hunting theme.  And…a TV. 

            More and more and more themes.

    I was soooo tempted, Cheryl.  J

               

                Next on my list of must do places was the Apple Barn.  I love fall and give me an apple any old way and I’m happy.  This place didn’t disappoint.  In fact, we loved it.

               

                We decided to start out with our noon time meal.  Our dinner was going to be at Dixie Stampede.  We found out there is a restaurant at each end of this beautiful place.  We chose the Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant for lunch.  I’m so glad. 

               

                They seated us right away.  The place is huge and we were a bit off the peak meal time so we didn’t have a wait.  I loved that our seats were in porch swings.  No kidding.  Porch swings.  Now isn’t that cool?

               

                Then we are brought a basket of apple fritters, apple butter and two little glasses of apple julep.  Very good!  It’s served to everyone like people get bread in so many places.  (They later gave us the Applewood julep recipe.   1c. pineapple juice, 1c. orange juice, ¼ c. lemon juice and 1 qt. apple juice.  Serves 6)  Wonderful, wonderful.  They had my vote!

               

Next came a piping hot cup of yummy veggie soup.  Our food was great!  I chose chicken.  This was my chicken vacation.  I’m a chicken lover from way back.  Any way, shape or form.  Just makes me happy.

                When we finished our meal, we decided to adventure a little bit and check out the shops.  First…the General store.  How cool!  Everything in it was apple related!  Even the lampshades!

               

                From there we went to the Apple Cider Bar and got a nice glass of fresh squeezed cider.  Yummy.  I bought a GIANT bag of dried apple slices for much, much less than the equivalent of apples would have cost.  And I don’t have to use my fruit fresh, my dehydrator and my time to put them up!  Cool!  Also got some recipe cards.  Awesome recipes for lots of things we’d been able to taste.

                Next…candy?  Did someone say candy?  And the sugar free section was huge compared to most candy stores.  Great selection!

                

                Yes you’re reading this next one right.  Moonshine taffy!  Lol

               

And they do make much of the candy right there.

               

                Next the bakery and ice cream shop.  Oh my goodness, my goodness, the BEST ice cream EVER is apple cinnamon.  It was like an apple dumpling ala mode!  So so sooooo good.

               

                We drove around a little bit checking out other areas.  We wanted to see what else was there so we had a heads up for our next trip down.  We wouldn’t decided on a next trip even if we hadn’t purchased the vacation deal.  Oh yes.  We really do love the area.

                And then it was time to head to the Dixie Stampede.  I  love their show and their preshow and didn’t want to miss a minute of either.  The first picture here isn’t a good one, but I wanted you to see that you are definitely close up to the action.  This is the folks beginning to bring the horses in from the stables for the show.

               

                For the preshow, they take you into a room with long, long tables and a “bar.”  No alcohol, but drinks.  I think they used to have beer but this time it was pop.  We were able to drive our carts right in and then when it was time for the show, we’d be able to go up an elevator to the seating.  Perfect.

                

                Once the room was full, the entertainment started.  Great stuff.  Loved it.

               

                Then up to the actual arena seating.  Couldn’t really get pictures.  They don’t allow them during the show any more.  I was a little disappointed.  Last time we went we could take as many as we wanted.  We did get a picture of our server.  He was great!

               

                We did enjoy the show so much.  Even though we were in the tippy tippy top seats, we could easily see it all.  I don’t think there are bad seats there.

                I hope I’m not boring you.  If I am, the good news is, you can click and exit at any time and I won’t even know!

                You know, Adam was right.  Getting away totally from it all for a while was definitely proving to be a good thing.

Our Tennessee vacation—part 3

Sunday…

               

              We woke up and decided to make microwave omelets today.   HA!  What a joke!  The microwave looked real good but had to be the slowest cookin’ one I’ve ever seen!  I’d gotten a carton of egg beaters southwest omelet mix.  I figured traveling with eggs probably wasn’t a good idea.  They’d have been a scrambled mess by the time we got to the cabin anyhow so why not start with the mix?  And we didn’t plan on eating real healthy this trip so this little effort to do something right seemed good.  We had lots of juice with us too, lots of fruit, bagel thins and coffee so we were set.  Also the pre-cooked bacon.  I know.  It’s not healthy, but remember the eggs?  Ya.

                We headed out for our day after checking the porch out in the daytime.  Didn’t get to spend much time there the day before since we wanted to get to the park fast.  So pleasant out there in the mornings.  Even if it was just for a couple minutes a day, I enjoyed a few rocks or swings before we started our day.  We wanted to check the hot tub temperature too.  That sucker was HOT last night!  Wowie zowie someone had set it on MELT! 

                Our time for the resort tour was 11:30.  I wanted to take a couple pictures where it was too.  You know me and my camera.  It’s set up on a great mountain with an awesome view.  One famous mountaintop you see is the one that inspired the song “Rocky Top.”  The other was Mount LeConte, the third highest peak in the Smokies.

                My first picture after checking in was … in the bathroom.  I just thought it was a good idea.  I think I’d like this in the basement bathroom.  Hahaha

               

Actually I think I’d prefer it in public restaurants still using single size rolls.  How many hate those stupid things where you have to just “slide to the side for extra roll” printed on them?  Ya with me on this?  Have you ever been the one to have to slide it?  Not always easy, is it?  Lol  With this, you grab the cardboard and crumple and pull it out and voila!  Whoop there it is!  Or, if they’re using the kind of TP I think should be sold everywhere, you have the “no tube” rolls.  Use and use it and use it then it’s just gone and down would come the spare.

My next picture was of the cool looking furniture in the room they did the presentation in.  I love the outdoorsy stuff.  The whole room was fresh with the colors and styles of nature.

               

Before we boarded the shuttle to go check out the cabin that was completed (three buildings were either done or in the process), I got my chance to take a couple pictures of the scenery.  I was in love with the place.  Not just the resort.  This whole part of the country.  But if this was the same as the Wyndham hotel deal we’d done in Myrtle Beach?  No way Jose.  Not happening.

               

Some folks walked over to the cabin.  It wasn’t real far, but the hill was VERY steep.  Ramps and hills are not good for my knee and I wasn’t taking the chance of ruining it the second day there.  They offered a shuttle and it was a go for me and two others who also had knee issues.  One young gal was so bad she was in braces and walked with a cane.  So much younger, thinner... I felt bad for her!

When we walked into the place I loved it.  So homey.  Just my style.  The one we looked at had a two bedroom side with huge full kitchen, livingroom, big bathroom, laundry area and patio.  Completely furnished.  Of course.  It had a connector door to the “guest” area which had its own everything!  Yep, even the laundry and kitchen.  I liked that idea if we ever travel with the kids.  They’d feel more on their own. 

I won’t go into all the boredom of the presentation, but I’ll tell you it was the best we’d ever seen, the most for the money and the cheapest.  We bit.  We got in pre-construction so it was a way better deal.  Way less than half what the Wyndham deal would have been.  Plus a huge military discount.  I don’t have any regrets or anything even now that we’re home.  And, it’s not a place you have to go a week at a time.  You can do a day at a time if you choose.  All over the world.  Our actual deed is for Branson since the State of Tennessee requires your deed is for a completed place.  We do have the option of trading for the Pigeon Forge on if we choose but it doesn’t really matter since it’s not a reserved specified week at a specified location.  I like that.  And…we’re probably selling the campers.  This will cost us about the same as the camper BUT it will be paid for within a few years.  And it will be passed to our heirs.  Not only do we have the two plus weeks a year, we also have 12 get away weekends and lots of other perks for life, but there are a lot of other extras since we bought pre-construction.

Things were running late, we talk A LOT for those of you who don’t know us personally, so they offered to call Dixie Stampede and change our tickets for Monday instead of Sunday.  We were good with that.  Since we’d decided to do Dollywood just one day, Monday was now open.  And Dixie Stampede is good any day of the week.  I just really, really like the show.

One of our perks was a dinner certificate.  We ended up going to the same place as some of the folks that worked there.  They invited us to sit with them and we really enjoyed their company.  We all exchanged cell numbers and will be keeping in touch now I’m sure.  Next time we’re down there, maybe we’ll talk to them about meeting at another place they all go.  We like eating on the local rather than the chain.  And down there?  Local food is soooo goooood!

                 We had also gotten a hundred bucks cash for doing the presentation and at first thought it would go for souvenirs for the kids.  Well instead, since we already had set aside that $$, we thought we’d take the time to check out the casino in Cherokee, NC, just a little down the road through the mountains.  Now THAT was an adventure! 

                We all know the mountains are full of twists and turns and tunnels.  No one told me they also do circles!  Yes, circles. 

               

I did do a video of that circle, but it’s not as impressive to watch as it was to ride.  Whoa hold on!  It was a beautiful ride.  Seeing the sun set over the mountains was awesome.

               

                I’m not wanting to do the casino again.  They were renovating and where went in was at the complete opposite of where we needed to go get a players card.  AND you HAD TO have one!  The machines won’t take your money unless you do!  I don’t like that at all.  Sometimes I prefer to play without a card!  Not real impressed.  And if we had gotten hungry, the penny machines were at the opposite end of where the food places were!  Nope.  Don’t want to go back.  But I do want to go back to Cherokee. 

The National Cherokee museum is there plus lots and lots of little shops and things.  There were also stages set up in front of some with dancers.  The American Indian culture has always fascinated me since we lived in Oklahoma and north Texas and followed the historical signs and checked out those museums.   AND, they have a place called Santasland!  It’s an amusement park and zoo, but it hints to Christmas!  Cool cool. 

Not the best picture, but it was taken while turning a corner.  lol



                We didn’t stay real long.  When we got back to the cabin, we hit the hot tub again.  Oh how I want one at home.  We were getting spoiled.  Sleeping wasn’t fun.  It was hot.  Even with a fan blowing directly on me (we always take a fan) I was uncomfy.  This was not good.  The week was set to get hotter and hotter day by day.  Ohhhhhhhhh

Our Tennessee Vacation--part 2

Saturday…

                Day #2 is about to start!!  GET UP GET UP GET UP GET UP!!!

                All of y’all who know me KNOW I don’t do morning.  Well THIS morning is different!  Can’t sleep!  Gotta be up and out and on the road.  Dollywood awaits!  YES!

                We got there bright and early.  $8 to park.  Whew!  To take up just a few square feet of space for just not even 24 hours?  Wow what a racket!  Lol  We followed the signs and found the park without a hitch.  It was a lot farther from the main road than we thought it was.  Don’t know why, but we both thought it was right over yonder just past the main road.  That’s where the sign is, but the park is quite a ways back.

                We parked up close in the handicapped parking in an end spot so we could unload the carts.  The ramps that we got at Harbor Freight worked perfect.  We were able to roll the cart right up and then roll them right back out without a problem at all.  We had backpacks that we hung on the back of our seats to hold water and other things we thought we might need through the day.  We’d also packed our filtered water bottles.  Great things.  Each filter will do 150 bottles of water.  They hold 20 ounces I think.  That’s about $22 worth if you get 24 16.9 oz. bottles on sale for $2.99.  Filters are about $3 each so it’s a lot cheaper than bottled water.

                Dollywood has a great rate for military, active and retired.  The total cost is $39.90 for one day.    Their regular rate is $57.25.  Before the day is over, if you plan to go a second day, you can upgrade to a season pass for $34.  So for $73.90 you can go again and again and again.  We actually planned to do that but decided that we would only do the one day.  There is SO much down there we wanted to experience all we could.

                And we

were at Dollywood!

                We picked a great time to be there.  They were having a Barbeque and Bluegrass celebration.  We saw so many awesome acts!  Loved it!  And the smells.  OH it was mouthwatering!  But something else impressed me even more.  I don’t think I could even count how many people, workers and guests, who noticed Cliff’s retired Air Force hat and came to thank him for his service.  It was really something to behold.  The people of the south really do appreciate the servicemen.  In fact, this was only the introduction to the appreciation.  Everywhere we went it continued to happen the entire week.  And at every performance we were at they outright honored the military.  Amazing.

That’s the Smoky Mountain String Band.  Cool guys.

                Next stop was just to glance at the outside of Dolly’s bus.  Oh wow.  I’d have loved to go in it, but I didn’t want to try the climbing just yet.  I’d had that shot in the knee on Wednesday and it seemed like it was doing a good job, but the day had just begun and I didn’t want to wreck myself just yet.

                            

                Next we caught a show.  It was inside a theater and we drove our buggies right on in.  The group was great.  And the gal in it told us to look for her brother in the 50’s street show.  Okie dokie.  Sounded like a plan.     

                   

               

                We ate burgers for lunch.  Nothing special but good.  I really enjoyed the little show we watched as we ate.  A 50’s street show called the Gem Tones, the one that gal had told us about.  Cute.

               

                Throughout the park were memorial signs for lots and lots of entertainers.  It was interesting to check them all out. 

               

                The next performance we came upon was a group called The Larkins.  Loved the fiddlin’!  Oh the singing was great too, but that fiddle…

                

At the end of their show they announced that there was going to be a cooking demonstration followed by a watermelon eating contest.  Cool!  Down home country fun!

                Too bad we’d already eaten.  We ran up on this super skillet of mmmmm good smellin’ grub after we got done with the Larkins’ show. 

                       

And the pie wasn’t bad either!  25 pounds of apple pie for $70.  You could feed a crowd for a week!

                          

                Just had to show you this cute picture.  I got such a kick out of the crafty things everywhere.

               

                Up the road a piece we found the replica house of Dolly’s childhood home.  It is unbelievable that they raised that many younguns in such a small, small space.  My hat’s off to that mama!

               

                I got a real kick out of the rocking area. 

               

                Since we were in carts, we felt the freedom to see something and go for it instead of count our steps and make use of each one.  We did a lot of ziggin’ and zaggin’ and saw a lot.  The wagon maker was cool.  There was a barn that had a guy making wagon wheels.  He’d stopped to talk to one family and we sort of sat by and listened. 

                The carts made by this company had something special about them.  They were all made by hand with an eagle eye of love and in each you would find an embedded penny.  The penny served more than one purpose.  It records the year of manufacture, it brings luck to the passengers and it ensures the wagon will always be worth something.  Neat, isn’t it?

               

Next we stopped in the beautiful little chapel that actually does hold services on Sundays.  But I think the next stop about did my cart in.  I was curious. 

It was at the tippy, tippy top of a steep, steep hill and I made my cart do it with all my weight.  I could almost hear it crying!  How could I resist though?  Log furniture!  Gorgeous stuff.  Everything from bedroom sets to outdoor swings.  I loved it all.  And there is a skunk outside as I’m writing this.  It’s a little hard to hold my nose and type!  I appreciate wildlife but this lil honey can find another place to roam!

Next we watched a show called wings of America.  Cool, informative bird show.  It was in the area that they have eagles who’ve been rescued and are healing or who have injuries that won’t allow them to be sent back to the wild.  I’ve never been so close to that beautiful bird.

         

No, the birds weren't in little bitty cages.  They actually had a mountainside all their own. 

                I think I appreciated the bird show more since our kids just got birds from a bird rescue place.  A friend of theirs has the rescue and let them adopt two of the birds.  Our extra son Brian has also adopted one.  Such beautiful birds.  They are slowly learning that they are in a place that will love them and are beginning to get back feathers where they had plucked themselves bald.  One of Kris and Darlene’s wasn’t an abused bird and had its feathers.  Its owners just couldn’t take care of it any more.

                We did go into the blown glass shop to have a look see and I couldn’t leave without a favorite ornament.  Butterflies is Dolly’s symbol and she sings about chasing rainbows.  I found a rainbow colored butterfly perched on a circle of clear glass that made me think about the song we heard earlier that I LOVE.   ~~ Will the circle be unbroken, by and by, Lord, by and by.  There’s a better home a-waiting, in the sky, Lord, in the sky.~~  The ribbon on it said Dollywood 2011 so it was a perfect souvenir of our trip.

 Supper was at a little place called Ham and Beans.  And that’s what I had.  Pulled ham and beans with cole slaw on the side and a little iron skillet of cornbread and butter.  Yummy.  The gals at the blown glass shop said we wouldn’t be sorry and they were right. 

   

While we were eating, I was watching the leather worker.  He was working on a belt.  If Cliff hadn’t just got a new belt, we’d have been in the market for one.

On our way to the show Sha-kon-o-hey (land of blue smoke) we did run into a funky chicken.

Wouldn’t it be fun to run around like that and watching all the little kids’ faces?  I really do like to interact in silly ways with the public.  Just don’t get the chance to do it much these days.

                My pictures of the show didn’t turn out good.  I really needed to use a flash and even though we were allowed, I felt like it would have taken away from the beauty of the show to sit back and flash away with as many pictures as I take.  The normal Joe only takes a couple.  I take hundreds.  It was a fantastic show.  So entertaining for all ages and full of education.

                I know I’ve missed a lot of what we saw, but if I told you everything there we’d be here for hours!  I loved the iron works.  I loved every single show we saw.  I loved the rides.  It was all good.  The only thing that sort of made the hairs on my neck stand up on edge was this weird old man.  Cliff had gone to get our Dixie Stampede tickets from the booth they had there (our next day’s adventure plan) and the old guy followed me and sat and kept talking.  I don’t mind talking to strangers ever.  But this guy?  He was just weird!  And his conversation went from odd to downright nasty!  Lol  Sooooo I put my buggy in “go” and went!  And wouldn’t you know that on our way out, HE FOUND ME!  Lol  Put the buggy in rabbit mode then and high tailed it to the van! 



Our Tennessee Vacation – part 1

Travel  day…

                Our drive down to Tennessee was pretty much uneventful.  The weather was good, the traffic was nothing to write home about.  Nothing out of the ordinary for the beginning of a fun filled week.  We didn't make many stops since we had food with us.

I actually was able to make the drive pretty easily.  The shot in the knee (cortisone) that the doctor gave me on Wednesday helped get me tuned up for an 8+ hour ride in the van.  We were packed tight, but left my seat with a bit off room behind it thinking I may need to tilt back and stretch out.  Nope.  Didn’t need to.  The knee didn’t act up at all.

When we got down to the area, we decided we should probably stop at the Welcome Center and pick up some information on things to do.  We had four shows booked, but wanted to be sure to sneak in some other fun things too.

While at the center, we set up to do one of those tour-schpeels about a new resort they are starting.    We thought, why not?  The hundred bucks we were getting to do it would buy the souvenirs we planned to get the kids.  We would be heading to the resort, just up the street, on Sunday.  Sounded good to me!

Next stop, the cabin.  We drove the main drag through Sevierville, Pigeon Forge and the Gatlinburg.  On our way twisting and turning and twisting and turning, we wondered would we ever get up there AND were we getting into bear country?  We were.  But we never saw even one. 

We finally made it to the cabin.  Not exactly what we thought we were going to, but it looked okay from afar.  Cliff got out of the car and fought his way though some killer spiderwebs to get to the key’s lock box.  Cool.  The combination worked.  We have a key!  Then CRAP! The key broke off in the lock!  NOW what?? 

I got out the information on the cabin and Cliff called the emergency number.  It was Friday evening and any office would have been unattended.  They answered and after a few minutes decided to send out a locksmith.  Well GOOD!  Shouldn’t have been much to think about!  They suggested we “run back into town to get a bite to eat.”  It was 8PM.  This area doesn’t really do 8PM.  They close up early in these here parts.

Down, down, down the twisty, winding roads.  Into Gatlinburg.  There seemed to be a couple places to eat, but maybe not.  Looked like everyone was pretty much heading back to their motels and cabins.  Okie dokie well Pigeon Forge seemed like a town a little more with it.  Through the mountains and on to Pigeon Forge.

We drove around a little bit and ended up stopping at a place called Old Mill area.  The main restaurant seemed super busy.  No dice.  We were tired!  Instead we went to the Old Mill Potteryhouse Café and Grille.  What a good choice!  The menu was a good one and the food was reasonable.  I loved the decorating.  Might be the pottery lover in me.  I wish I had felt more like exploring and that we’d gotten there a little sooner.  The restaurant was about to close as were the other little shops around. 

We both ordered the Old Mill Chopped Steak.  It was a nice 10 oz. piece of meat topped with onions and mushrooms, served with mashed potatoes and cinnamon apples.  Mmm. 

             

            What a surprise we got too!  We were sitting and trying to relax a bit when this man came up and asked if we were the people in the grey mini-van.  Why yes.  We were.  “Did you know all the doors are wide open?”  Huh?  Wha what?  We had EVERYthing in that van.  Computers, cameras, all our belongings, our ECV carts.  Whoa boy.  Cliff got up and went out and sure enough, while he was sitting, keys in his pocket, he somehow hit the buttons and opened up the doors!  He closed it up and thanks to the couple who were sitting with their ice cream on the bench next to it, no one got in and took anything.

               

                I had hoped to shop for a little piece of pottery but it was late, we were tired, and the sidewalks were rolled up by the time we were done eating.  I put it on our possibilities list for our spare moments.  Didn’t happen.  But, now that I’m home and able to get on the computer, I see the prices were a bit out of my league anyhow.

               

                Time to head back to the cabin.  Boy these mountain roads were a little trickier in the dark!  But we made it.  After what we’d experienced so far, I told Cliff to check it out before I even started to get out of the van.  He opened the door and the inside seemed very nice. 

                When you walked into the cabin, you entered into the kitchen.  Nice big kitchen too.  It had all the kitchen things anyone should need for a Smoky Mountain getaway.  The table’s top came off and it was a bumper pool table.  Never did use it, but we had it.  The living area was just beyond the kitchen.  The area was split about even.  There was a fireplace, a TV on DirecTV and a leather couch (sofabed) and chair.  So far so good. 

The other side of the room had a door that opened to the porch.  On your left when you went out the door was the hot tub.  Not new, in fact the cover was pretty crappy and shed, but it would do the trick.  To the right was a porch swing, two wood rockers and three white stacking chairs.  This whole porch was surrounded by the woods and couldn’t be seen from the roads.  Privacy.

Back inside, we checked out the bedroom.  VERY big bedroom with kingsize bed, TV on a little corner shelf up high, dresser and two side tables.  The little lamps didn’t work very good, but oh well.  The Jacuzzi was very big and in an alcove off the bedroom.  There was a little cabinet there that had the sheets in it for the sofabed.  The bathroom wasn’t anything special.  Tub, sink, toilet.  And one and a half rolls of toilet paper.  Better go get extra.  We were staying a week.

Our only issue was it was warm inside.  And the windows didn’t have screens.  If there had been screens we could have opened up and cooled the place off.  We turned the thermostat down and figured we’d get cool.  Didn’t happen.  The thing froze up and continued to freeze up all…week…long!  UGH it got to nearly 100!

We unloaded, plugged our carts in, then hit the hot tub.  Nice.  Wow I wish we had one at home.

If you’re curious and want to check out the cabin more, it’s called Together Always and will be found in the cabin rental websites.  I just did a google check and it comes up if you type in Together Always cabin Gatlinburg.