I Kicked it I Played it and now..Wheeling & Dealing at the WL final 9/9 p87/88

[MEK]

I can't imagine having to sit in that traffic to get to Dollywood. Nicholas noted that there was a go cart place every 200 ft. Many of the hotels on the "strip", so to speak, had elaborate pools and water slides that faced the road.

Here is one attraction I really thought sounded super interesting......

Titanic ! apparently its some interactive type museum / tour where you are assigned the name of an actual passenger. Its supposed to be an exact, or pretty darn close, replica of the Titanic. I believe you have to make reservations. Since we were passing it at almost 6pm and the visitor center closed at 6:30pm, we kept on driving.

Ellen - Please do this tour when you go in November. Out of all the attractions there, this one clearly looked the coolest.

Finally, off in the distance, we could see the Smokies......

Getting closer......

Oh No......

fortunately the vehicle accident was on one of the auto loops. We wanted to go to the visitor center and see if we could take a short hike.

And a hike we did take, albeit a very short one since we were losing daylight fast.....

I took mostly "up" pictures to take advantage of the remaining daylight. The other pictures turned out a bit blurry.

We ended our hike at a waterfall, which actually wasn't all the impressive.....

A fire hydrant in the forrest....

Up Next.....More TN and the rest of the drive home!

 

[SoonerGirl]

Ugggg for the traffic what a pain!

We have actually gone to the Titanic museum in Branson, MO. It sounds like they are basically the same, we really enjoyed it!

Beautiful pics from your hike

 

[MEK]

so I might as well finish Tennessee!

I lingered on the nature trail for as long as I could. I figured we weren't going to be back to the Smokey's for a long time. I know there are acres and acres and miles and miles of the Smokey's. I really wished that I had an extra day to explore the area. Apparently there are some amazing trails and amazing views. The Smokey's actually reach 7500 ft which I think is pretty impressive. I've been to Mt Washington in NH many times and that is only about 4500 ft, yet it boasts the wickedest weather in the world.

As we headed out of the park we found some viewing spots. Lovely views of the mountains and Gaitlinburg.....

I let Nicholas use my camera, so between the two of us we took umpteen million vista shots!

Next stop was a quick tour of Gaitlinburg, only this town had the same traffic woes as Pigeon Forge. Needless to say, we did not drive through the entire town.....

Crazy Ivy. We started to see this in southern Virginia. Interesting!

After Gatlinburg I was getting really hungry. We really didn't want to stop for a sit down meal. We were tired and dirty and hungry and just wanted some FF, but nothing was appealing. And interesting, all the FF joints and most of the other restaurants were on the opposite side of the street as we were heading north through Pigeon Forge. I can't remember where we finally stopped for grub, but it was definitely after the sun went down.

Here's one of those hotels I was talking about.......

And sunset........

 

[vamassey1]

Once again beautiful pictures! I think my favorite shots are the mountain shots.

Sorry about all the traffic. I would love to visit the Titanic museum. Being an actual passenger would be very thought evoking and probably creepy too.

You really got to see a lot of interesting area on your trip.

 

[dawnbu40]

Great pictures! You were fortunate to have several great trips this summer! Your camera really got a workout

 

[MEK]

Ugggg for the traffic what a pain!

I got the feeling that it was a very popular vacation spot and serviced quite a wide geographical range.

Ugggg for the traffic what a pain

We have actually gone to the Titanic museum in Branson, MO. It sounds like they are basically the same, we really enjoyed it!

Its a great concept! I am fascinated by the Titanic and this is one attraction I would really like to see. I didn't realize they were a "chain". Well, if they ever build one in orlando I'm there.

Beautiful pics from your hike

Thanks!

Once again beautiful pictures! I think my favorite shots are the mountain shots.

.

I agree. I would have loved to explore those mountains for another day. We used to visit the mountains in NH and Vermont when I was a kid and I realized that I really miss that type of vacation.

Sorry about all the traffic. I would love to visit the Titanic museum. Being an actual passenger would be very thought evoking and probably creepy too.

You really got to see a lot of interesting area on your trip.

Traffic was a pain, mostly because we didn't expect it to be that bad. I agree with your thoughts on the Titanic museum. That's why I would love to visit it.

We did get to se a lot on this trip. It was really fun to go to a part of the country we had not seen before and I'm glad we made it a driving trip.

Great pictures! You were fortunate to have several great trips this summer! Your camera really got a workout

I do feel very fortunate to have gotten to take so many great trips since May. I feel a little spoiled, too. The OBX had been planned for awhile, but the TN trip was rather impromptu. Honestly, we weren't sure until about 3 days before hand that we were going. No hotel reservations, no definite plans. That certainly added to the adventure when you are used to planning every small detail.

 

[brookelizabeth]

Those Smokey Mountain pictures are amazing!!! I can only imagine how fun it was to see in person.

So is your DS in contact with the California Girl?

 

[praisehisname]

I really enjoyed looking at your TN pictures; thanks for sharing! Despite the traffic, it looks like you had a nice weekend get-away!

A fire hydrant in the forrest....

Probably a smart idea!

 

[burly]

Your Pictures are beautiful as usual. if i knew how to just quote one pic i would say the one with the spider on a mushroom? is really cool. did you intentionally get the spider or was it a luck shot?


KIM

 

[SoonerGirl]

I would love to visit the Titanic museum. Being an actual passenger would be very thought evoking and probably creepy too.

That was a very neat part of the tour. You were assigned your passenger at the very beginning and were given a bio of them. You had to wait until the end of the tour to learn your fate. I thought for sure as I went through the museum that my passenger perished, I was 3rd class after all, but I was surprised to learn that I was a survivor If you are ever near one of those museums definitely check it out!

 

[vamassey1]

That was a very neat part of the tour. You were assigned your passenger at the very beginning and were given a bio of them. You had to wait until the end of the tour to learn your fate. I thought for sure as I went through the museum that my passenger perished, I was 3rd class after all, but I was surprised to learn that I was a survivor If you are ever near one of those museums definitely check it out!

Wow very unsual to be 3rd class and a survivor. Both of my daughters would love this too.

 

[mickeysmyboy]

What a fabulous trip through TN! The Smoky Mountain shots are beautiful! That Titanic Museum looks and sounds very cool! You know, there's a Titanic Museum on International Drive (I think) in Orlando!

 

[Wicket's Mom]

Your pictures of the Smokies look a lot like mine. We've been going there since 1966 & have seen a lot of changes. Pigeon Forge used to be this podunk town until Dollywood came into being. Then it took off with lots of outlets & tourist traps. If you go after Labor Day on weekdays it is quite devoid of traffic. There are two carshows in Sept that bring out hundreds of classic cars. A great sight to see!

The Smokies are the most visited of our National Parks because of their nearness to the East Coast & the midwest. It has been putting quite a strain on the park with all of the traffic. We really love Gatlinburg & the surrounding mountains.

 

[Wicket's Mom]

I've been to two Titanic exhibits in Cincinnati. They are very stirring & sad. The range of artfacts is just amazing. If you have not seen it you should go. It is a little creepy getting a passenger ticket & waiting until the end to find out if you made it to safety. My first time I was a first class male & drowned, second time I was a maid & lived.

At one of the exhibits they had a wall made of ice to show how cold the water was that night. One was to hold their hand on it to see how long one could stand the cold.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Love your soccer shots!!!

Yes, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg are quite the vacationing spots for lots of people here in Georgia. My family may be one of the last people to never have made it up there! I am pretty sure all of my students have been.

Beautiful mountain shots!!!

I think that ivy you saw might be kudzu -- it is completely overtakes everything here in Georgia.

 

[KatMark]

Love your pictures of Gatlinburg (and all of TN). We've not been to Gatlinburg in over 20 years...we need to take a trip back there.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Mary Ellen, you truly have a gift with the camera! What terrific shots!! Remind me, what kind of camera are you using?

 

[Courtn'Trouble]

I am not new here to the boards but I sure am new to postin an such. I just posted on my other favorite trip report. You and RigLee are such a hoot. She never posts up pictures so although I like her writin a whole mess, you have the best pictures I have ever seen here or even in those fancy magazines they have at the doctors office.

I haven't got as many pictures as you do but I reckon the next time I go to see Disney, I can gather a few more and try to be as good as you but I doubt I can come close. Your pictures are as pretty as a hollar in the moonlight when the sun kisses the earth and you know God is shining down on you to show you the way home.

Since I was gettin brave enough to write my own trip report finally, I wanted to make sure I thanked the people who have given me courage and you and RigLee are my rabbit's foot.

 

[MEK]

Good Morning Everyone!

Sorry I have not replied or updated this weekend. I had a pretty busy 3 day weekend. Went to see my parents on Friday. Picked up LJ (remember him?) and his brother Friday afternoon. They spent the weekend. soccer play day on Saturday. Then yesterday we went to Dorney Park.

I hope I have time to reply today. Will really try!!!!!!!

 

[mickeysmyboy]

Good Morning Everyone!

Sorry I have not replied or updated this weekend. I had a pretty busy 3 day weekend. Went to see my parents on Friday. Picked up LJ (remember him?) and his brother Friday afternoon. They spent the weekend. soccer play day on Saturday. Then yesterday we went to Dorney Park.

I hope I have time to reply today. Will really try!!!!!!!

Hope you had a fabulous weekend! Yippeee for LJ!! Such a great kid!