"To Disney & Beyond" ~ Road Trip 2010 ~ Final Drive & Final Thoughts

[burly]

Man that "off the beaten path" stuff looks like a whole lot of fun and great memories! Very cool.

 

[taymacsmom]

My DD would love that! She is an animal freak and that looks like alot of fun!

 

[mandas08]

Wow, what a fun place. It looks like you guys were the only ones there?!? I love the baby pig picture...how cute!! I think I may have an idea about you are talking about in your next post

 

[ashleighbass06]

It looks like you had a lot of fun at the ranch! If I'm ever in the area I'm going to have to check it out! I want to ride a camel!

 

[Disneygrl36]

Wow that wine bar/restaurant looks great. Might have to try it out some time.
Loved the wax museum pics......was it the sangria loosening you guys up?
The llama trek & camel ride looks like a lot of fun.....who knew there was even such a thing available.

 

[momof2TNboys]

Great updates! I am finally caught up. I am so glad you had a great vacation. Can't wait to hear all about the rest of the trip. The restaurant in Gatlinburg looks great. We live very close and I will have to try it.

 

[Spartangirl]

What an amazing adventure. I would have never thought something like that existed in Tennessee. Want to hear something cool? My uncle raised Zeedonks for years and sold them to people all over the world.

It was amazing!!! Such a great experience! Oh my gosh...that is a very cool fact about your uncle!

What a great update...that ranch looks like such a fun and random adventure!!! I loved the pictures you all captured of the animals!

Thanks, Shannon! It was definitely an adventure that was "out of our comfort zone," but we loved it! Glad you enjoyed the pics!

How cool! What fun memories to have...how many people do you know that have ridden on camels?

It was truly a unique experience! I don't know of anybody other than Chris and I!

Okay, now I am all caught up!

I love the pictures from all of your travels during your Disney hiatus! You have had so much fun traveling!

Thanks.......we LOVE to travel and have such a great time together!

I had to laugh about how you choose your destinations based on driving distance. That is totally something I would do!

I know...it's kind of random but I'm glad we're not alone in thinking that way!

So sorry about the loss of your grandmother!

Thanks, Jackie...

The hotel in the mountains is so pretty! Who would have thought a Best Western would be so picturesque.

I know, right? I couldn't believe we found such a little gem of a place!

The wax museum! What a hoot!!!

Yeah...I guess we have no shame!

The llama and camel rides are so cool! Who would have thought you could do something like that in Tennessee of all places! Those beetles look like something out of an Egyptian horror movie!

I couldn't believe the tour was listed in TN! It was so much fun!

That's one way to put it........I've never seen that many beetles together at once!

What a wonderful update. Great pictures of you both with the llamas and camels. I would never have thought about doing something like that. It looks awesome. I love the picture of the baby pigs. The picture of the birds is amazing. You take great pictures. How did you ever find out about this type of excursion? Do you still have the contact information? My husband and are currently in the planning stages of a trip to the Skyline Drive, Blue Ridge Parkway, etc for next June the week after my daughter's wedding. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks so much! We loved the tour and Sandy, the owner, is so down-to-earth and nice. I found this tour through a LOT of research of the internet! I definitely still have the info. and can PM it to you if you're interested...just let me know! I bet your trip is going to be beautiful and amazing!!! How exciting!!! And your daughter is getting married? Congrats! You must be so happy and proud! Thanks so much for the compliments on my pictures!

That looks fun. Might have to look into it. The inlaws live 30mins from pigeon forge.

It was SO MUCH FUN and unlike anything I've ever done before! 30 minutes from Pigeon Forge........wow, it wouldn't be far at all!

 

[Spartangirl]

Man that "off the beaten path" stuff looks like a whole lot of fun and great memories! Very cool.

Chris and I are always looking for unique things to do and try in all of our travels...we really did have a blast!

My DD would love that! She is an animal freak and that looks like alot of fun!

Kelly ~ It was a great adventure! If you think your daughter would enjoy that activity, wait until you see what we did in SC! It's the hands-down, best experience that we've EVER had with animals!!!

Wow, what a fun place. It looks like you guys were the only ones there?!? I love the baby pig picture...how cute!! I think I may have an idea about you are talking about in your next post

It was very fun! We WERE the only ones there! I guess Sandy, the llama owner, only does one walk a day and we were it! We happened to get lucky at the camel ranch too! It was a great, personal experience! Oh my gosh, the baby pigs were adorable! You probably DO have an idea........guess you'll have to read to find out if you're right!

It looks like you had a lot of fun at the ranch! If I'm ever in the area I'm going to have to check it out! I want to ride a camel!

Hey Ashleigh! You should definitely check it out if you're vacationing out that way......it was SO MUCH FUN! I can honestly say that the camel ride was unlike anything I've ever experienced. I've ridden horses before, but it was so different from that!

Wow that wine bar/restaurant looks great. Might have to try it out some time.
Loved the wax museum pics......was it the sangria loosening you guys up?
The llama trek & camel ride looks like a lot of fun.....who knew there was even such a thing available.

Hi Melanie! We loved our meal at the restaurant! You should definitely try it sometime! It's kind of a little "hole in the wall" type place, but the food was great! You know, Chris and I can be "like that" even without drinks (if you can imagine that! ), but I'M SURE the sangria probably didn't hurt! When I found out about the llama trek/camel ride, I booked right away.....I never imagined ANYTHING like that being available, especially in TN!!! I'm so glad it was though!

Great updates! I am finally caught up. I am so glad you had a great vacation. Can't wait to hear all about the rest of the trip. The restaurant in Gatlinburg looks great. We live very close and I will have to try it.

Thanks so much!!! This trip was so much fun...we had so many great adventures all along the way! You'll definitely have to try out the restaurant since you live so close! Like I mentioned above, it was a little "hole in the wall," but sometimes those types of places have the BEST food. We thought it was great, and the owner, Glenn, was so nice!

 

[Jennifer48]

That llama trek and camel ride looks like something you'd see out in like the Grand Canyon or something, not TN! What a great find!

 

[stacikristine]

What a great adventure! I've never been on a camel or walked a llama--both look so neat.

I love the video of Chris feeding the llama water. I never would have thought that they can drink out of bottles! Your lunch looks amazing--it's making me hungry. The picture of you two on the camels is GREAT! I'm sure you made tons of great memories!

 

[AlienBrain]

Sounds like your trip went great! I live right by Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge, so I know what type of heat you were experiencing. It was extremely hot that weekend. Well, I look forward to the rest of your TR..

 

[laashley]

Following along. What a fun trip so far. I love that you ventured off the beaten path. Riding camels in tennessee, writing that down, such a unique experience. Hilarious pics at the wax museum. My hubby laughs that I love wax museums. What is there not t o love? Looking forward to the rest...

 

[jenniferkeala808]

Awww those llamas are cute!! Hehe!! Those green beetles are yucky!! Bleh! LOL! Awww the piglets are cute!!! Wow! You folks got to ride on camels too! What an awesome adventure! And WOW@the Zedonk! Cool! LOL! Can’t wait for next adventure!

 

[hlrababy]

Hey Lynne!!! I just now saw that you had a TR going on! I am here now!

 

[Spartangirl]

That llama trek and camel ride looks like something you'd see out in like the Grand Canyon or something, not TN! What a great find!

I know, right? I NEVER imagined that we'd ever be able to llama trek/take a camel ride in TN! So glad we got the opportunity though!

What a great adventure! I've never been on a camel or walked a llama--both look so neat.

I love the video of Chris feeding the llama water. I never would have thought that they can drink out of bottles! Your lunch looks amazing--it's making me hungry. The picture of you two on the camels is GREAT! I'm sure you made tons of great memories!

Staci ~ Both were a 1st for us too! Since we are able to travel so much, it's really nice to do things that are out of our comfort zone!

Oh my gosh......it was crazy watching the llamas drink from the bottles! We put water in a dish for them, but they only wanted to drink from the water bottles! Sandy (the owner) said they are way too spoiled!

Sounds like your trip went great! I live right by Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge, so I know what type of heat you were experiencing. It was extremely hot that weekend. Well, I look forward to the rest of your TR..

Welcome!!! Our trip was fantastic...I have so many great memories to look back at! Oh yeah...it was super hot ......so many of the locals we met kept telling us that it's usually not that bad!

Following along. What a fun trip so far. I love that you ventured off the beaten path. Riding camels in tennessee, writing that down, such a unique experience. Hilarious pics at the wax museum. My hubby laughs that I love wax museums. What is there not t o love? Looking forward to the rest...

Hey Ashley...thanks for joining in! Riding camels and llama trekking were both so much fun...definitely something to try if you ever get the chance! Oh my gosh.........I LOVE wax museums too! Thankfully Chris puts up with and joins in on my craziness!

Awww those llamas are cute!! Hehe!! Those green beetles are yucky!! Bleh! LOL! Awww the piglets are cute!!! Wow! You folks got to ride on camels too! What an awesome adventure! And WOW@the Zedonk! Cool! LOL! Can’t wait for next adventure!

Hi Keala! There were so many cute animals to look at.......but yeah, those beetles were just so gross! The camel ride was so FUN!!! Isn't the Zedonk cool? I couldn't stop staring at it......it was just so unique looking!

Hey Lynne!!! I just now saw that you had a TR going on! I am here now!

Yay.....welcome, Heather! Hope you're adjusting to life with sweet Hannah! I bet Hollie is a big help!

 

[Spartangirl]

Sunday, July 25, 2010
Holy Calzone!

We headed back into Gatlinburg after our day of adventure with the camel ride and llama trek! However, first we made a stop at the Incredible Christmas Place.

Here we made a couple of purchases. We found a Michigan State gnome that was begging to be taken home with us. He'll look perfect in our flower garden!

We also picked up an ornament. Since Chris and I travel quite a bit, we pick up a Christmas ornament from every place that we visit. Now every year at Christmas time, we put out our "travel tree!"

Here's a picture of the ornament we purchased!

Chris and I got back to our hotel at around 6:30 p.m. We dropped off a few things and started our journey to dinner. We knew it wouldn't take as long to get to the restaurant because we were on foot now, not stuck in gridlock (Remember the traffic we encountered on the way to the llama trek?)!

Before leaving on our trip, we had it in our mindset to try the "famous" Pancake Pantry. Since the restaurant was closed by 4:00 p.m. each day, that didn't happen for us with our busy schedule. However, we found some other fantastic places along our journey. Tonight we were headed to the Best Italian Cafe and Pizzeria. Here is a shot I took as we headed to the restaurant down the strip.

We made it!

Chris and I started with what the restaurant is known for...the garlic rolls! Oh my gosh...SO GOOD!

Then we decided to split a calzone...this was good thinking on our part...check this thing out!

I asked Chris to describe the calzone and he said, "Huge and delicious!" So there you have it! I ate a quarter of it...Chris says it was only about a fifth because HE ate the rest! Man can that boy eat!!!

After finishing our delicious meal, we wanted to walk the Gatlinburg strip and we made our way to the Village...

Check out the cool fountain!

Then, we spotted it...the famous Donut Friar!

We were told that while in Gatlinburg, we HAD to try a donut from the Donut Friar. Even though we were full from dinner, we stopped in and checked out the donuts.

I felt my hips growing as I eyed the selections. Chris said that we should try the Friar's Special...I told you that boy can eat! Check out this pic!

Now I don't generally eat donuts all that often, but I am so glad the Donut Friar is not ANYWHERE near our house. That was one good donut!

Feeling quite full now (remember, we had a calzone not too long before), we walked for awhile before heading back to Zoder's. Here is a pic we snapped along the way!

Chris and I got back and settled in for the night, anxious to see what the next day would bring!

Up Next: The Great Smokey Mountains

 

[ashleighbass06]

Sunday, July 25, 2010
Holy Calzone!
Here we made a couple of purchases. We found a Michigan State gnome that was begging to be taken home with us. He'll look perfect in our flower garden!

He looks like the guy in my avatar! (Ok, not really. But they're wearing similar colors) Funny that you had to go to Tennesse to find a Spartan for you Garden!

And that calzone and donut look yummy!

Can't wait to hear more!

 

[cdotla]

Finally all caught up! You are not even in Disney yet, and already having a blast! This is definitely shaping up to be a good trip!

Love all the food porn...but those green beetles were the creepiest things ever!

Can't wait for more!

 

[Shannon84]

Ok donut friar...couldnt resist a temptation like that...I mean smiley donuts hello! I love your christmas tree "theme"...ours is disney, I have collected a disney ornament (dated) every year, though DBF is in the midst of me training him to love disney movies and his first trip to WDW will be this year.

 

[taymacsmom]

Warn me next time to eat BEFORE I look at the post! That stuff look down right delicious!