Dollywood begins!
So after every child and pet are accounted for, we packed up and headed south.....southwest, I guess!
We got 3.5 miles and DH said "hey, I wanna stop at that tractor store and see what they got"
Grrrrrrr.......but he never has a day off and he really wants a new tractor.....he has a 1947 one now that only runs when it feels like it!
So, I grit my teeth, wait in the car, and 55 minutes later, we are off.......again!
It's a nice drive down I-81--no traffic and nice scenery. He even bypassed the giant BASS PRO shop at the exit, probably cause of the tractor detour!
We arrive at Pigeon Forge and decide to grab lunch before we hit the park. Where should we eat?? (yeah, I know, no advance planning!!)
We look left......we look right.... and were amazed at the number of Cracker Barrel restaurants! There are probably 4 or 5 along the stretch leading to DW! So we ate there!
Then, we continued to the park--FYI, we learned a short cut cause the "strip" has a lot of traffic, seriously!
Anyway, we get to the parking entrance and my DH yells:
"
Look honey, they're FOCKER WATCHERS"
(I am DEAD serious about this--he was not overly amused by this Focker watcher thing at Disney, yet it is the first thing he says at Dollywood!)
I look up quickly, and yes, the parking fee collectors are wearing neon, lime green shirts! I refrained myself from asking them if they DISed! But I knew it would be a good day, right??!
Then, we walked into the park (yes, walked, we had a good parking spot) then processed our season pass with no lines, then walked into the entrance.....
Close your eyes now......ok now open them cause you can't read with your eyes closed!
There are flowers EVERYWHERE--tons of hanging baskets, flower gardens, giant butterflies . Really pretty and colorful!
Then we walk past "Friendship Gardens" and <<gasp>> notice the person in front of us.....
SHE BOUGHT LIME GREEN
CROCS!
DH said--"I'm not gonna ask why you just took a picture of that woman's rear end........."
So we decide to see a show! There are a lot of good shows and of course, I had downloaded the day's show times. We decide to see James Rogers--DB and other DW vets feel free to comment!
We sat in the 2nd row amongst about 150 senior citizens. The show opened with a patriotic tribute to US heroes and then a medley of Eagle songs (the bird, not the band)---we'll get back to eagles later, cause they are really big at DW.
Then, for no apparent reason, he decides to impersonate Donald Duck singing "You better watch out, you better not pout...." Y'all know the words, but wait......it's not even Christmas! He says, "that was for all the kids out there!" I look around........we are the youngest people present! So I clap.........cause I like Donald anyway, right??
Then we decide to ride some rides and walk some more.
Here's a shot of me in front of the grist mill--
Note the ever present pink fanny pack!
By now, the park was closing----yes, it's only 7 pm! It's still daylight! So we have to leave and go in search of fine dining near Dollywood...........and we found Johnny Carinos! That's ok--I like Italian........and we pick up some fudge for the room. There are more fudge shops than Cracker Barrels! DH tried to find some nice wine for the room, but the store's version was "Boones Farm" and he muttered something about rednecks so I said "That's ok--fudge is better anyway!" And it is in my book!
So we head to the Hampton Inn------yea, I know, we always stay at Hilton cause DH travels a lot and is Diamond and we stay free. But, ya know what??? THERE ARE NO HILTONS NEAR DOLLYWOOD! So, Hampton Inn it is! And it's pretty nice, right on the Little Pigeon River with a little patio and duckies, and kind of a funny smell.................which DH discovers on his morning run is the sewage treatment plant!
Well, enough for now---kids are sick again today...so I'll try to grab another moment soon!