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

[hlrababy]

Oh wow!!!!! We have never visited the donut friar in Gatlinburg before but you can bet we will when we go back in December!!

I am so glad you guys had fun at the wax museum!!

 

[momn9702]

Looks like yall have had a great time so far. I have been to Gatlinburg many times and the donut friar is so good.

 

[lovegrumpy]

Love that Christmas store. Have to check out the donut shope when we are there this Christmas.

 

[Charleston Princess]

You weren't kidding when you said that calzone was huge!!! Oh my goodness!!!

The doughnuts look so tasty! Now, I might have to get some tomorrow morning when I grocery shop although I suspect they won't be quite up to the Friar's standard of excellence!

 

[Spartangirl]

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!

We were so excited to find anything MSU in Tennessee! The poor girl at the register didn't have a clue about what team it was for...she asked us if it was for some team down south (can't remember which team she named)......we laughed with her and filled her in! Guess not many people from MI buy their "school mascot" items down south!

Both were fantastic......I don't know what I liked better...the calzone or the donut!

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!

Our WHOLE trip was really great, Trish! I don't think it could have gone any better..........well, maybe if it wasn't so hot and humid!

Glad you're enjoying the food porn.....so much more to come! It's so weird taking the food pics outside of Disney. People looked at us like we were out of our minds! But, we got over that pretty quickly!

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.

Hey Shannon! LOVE the Donut Friar.........and the smiley donuts? Yeah, definitely too cute to pass up! Awwww....a Disney tree would be cute too! Our "travel tree" DEFINITELY has TONS of Disney ornaments too...we get a new one every time we go!

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

Sorry, Kelly! It was SUCH a good meal.........and dessert at the Donut Friar wasn't too bad either!

Oh wow!!!!! We have never visited the donut friar in Gatlinburg before but you can bet we will when we go back in December!!

I am so glad you guys had fun at the wax museum!!

Oh my gosh, Heather.........you must go to the Donut Friar! SO DELICIOUS! I bet Gatlinburg is so pretty in December...

I remember you encouraging me to visit the wax museum...I'm so glad we did! We had a blast!

Looks like yall have had a great time so far. I have been to Gatlinburg many times and the donut friar is so good.

Welcome to the DIS and welcome to my TR!!! We had an absolutely fantastic trip! Isn't the Donut Friar fantastic? I'm so glad we found it!

Love that Christmas store. Have to check out the donut shope when we are there this Christmas.

That Christmas store was very cool........there were so many great ornaments to choose from! Definitely check out the Donut Friar.....it was so good!

You weren't kidding when you said that calzone was huge!!! Oh my goodness!!!

The doughnuts look so tasty! Now, I might have to get some tomorrow morning when I grocery shop although I suspect they won't be quite up to the Friar's standard of excellence!

Jackie, that calzone was the BIGGEST that I have ever seen!

The donuts were so good..........I would be in a lot of trouble if we had a Donut Friar anywhere close to our house!

 

[redsox721]

I can't believe the size of the calzone. It's huge. Looks delicious too. Love the garden gnome. The donuts look amazing also. Great update.

Also---thanks for the llama trek information. I truly appreciate it.

 

[Disneygrl36]

that you didn't make it to the Pancake Pantry but that gives you a reason to come back to TN. I have never seen a calzone that big. I haven't been to the Donut Friar in years.....wow did that case of donuts look good. Maybe next time instead of a carmel apple from the candy kitchen I should get a donut. The Village is one of my favorite places to go in Gatlinburg.

 

[antnyh]

So glad you enjoyed your trip to Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge. We live in Cleveland, TN. You probably came through here on I-75 on your way to Disney! We love the Pancake Pantry, too bad you didn't get to try it. Since we go there every year at Thanksgiving we have learned all of the back roads. Let me tell you that is a big time saver. If you thought the traffic was bad when you were there you should see it on Black Friday when it is full of shoppers. You also need to come back one day and visit Dollywood, not Disney, but fun nonetheless.

 

[MinnieTexan]

Hi Lynne!
I just found your trip report, and am so glad I did! I'm joining in...but have a lot of catching up to do! Great photos...You two are a very cute couple, and it's wonderful that you have such fun together!

 

[mandas08]

Huge Calzone+ Donut Friar= Amazing day!!

 

[AlienBrain]

I find it funny that you comment on the "famous" Pancake Pantry because every time we go to Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge, we count the number of Pancake restaurants. I think we easily got into the double digits last time.

I have yet to try the Donut Friar either, so I will have to go there next time I'm in Gatlinburg.

 

[Jennifer48]

Oh man you should have put a warning on that update. I read it just before I'm about to head home to dinner. I want to stop at the pizza place and get a donut on the way home!

 

[Spartangirl]

I can't believe the size of the calzone. It's huge. Looks delicious too. Love the garden gnome. The donuts look amazing also. Great update.

Also---thanks for the llama trek information. I truly appreciate it.

The calzone and donuts were SO GOOD...I'm kind of craving both as we speak! I LOVE my little garden gnome...I'm still so happy on the find!

Anytime, Cheryl! Hopefully you find the info. useful!

that you didn't make it to the Pancake Pantry but that gives you a reason to come back to TN. I have never seen a calzone that big. I haven't been to the Donut Friar in years.....wow did that case of donuts look good. Maybe next time instead of a carmel apple from the candy kitchen I should get a donut. The Village is one of my favorite places to go in Gatlinburg.

I know, Melanie...it just didn't fit into our plans...but that's why we have to go back! Ohhhhhh....those carmel apples looked good too, but just thinking about the donuts makes me crave one! The Village was very cool!

So glad you enjoyed your trip to Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge. We live in Cleveland, TN. You probably came through here on I-75 on your way to Disney! We love the Pancake Pantry, too bad you didn't get to try it. Since we go there every year at Thanksgiving we have learned all of the back roads. Let me tell you that is a big time saver. If you thought the traffic was bad when you were there you should see it on Black Friday when it is full of shoppers. You also need to come back one day and visit Dollywood, not Disney, but fun nonetheless.

Welcome to my TR and to the DIS! We did pass through Cleveland on our way down...I was a little sad about missing out on the Pancake Pantry, but it just gives us a reason to go back! I can only imagine it on Black Friday! We thought about visiting Dollywood, but it just didn't fit in timewise this trip...next time!!!

Hi Lynne!
I just found your trip report, and am so glad I did! I'm joining in...but have a lot of catching up to do! Great photos...You two are a very cute couple, and it's wonderful that you have such fun together!

Hi Kathy!!! Welcome and so glad you joined in! Awwww, you are too sweet with your comments! We have a fantastic time together...we always make the best of every situation!

Huge Calzone+ Donut Friar= Amazing day!!

Wow, I couldn't have said that any better!

I find it funny that you comment on the "famous" Pancake Pantry because every time we go to Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge, we count the number of Pancake restaurants. I think we easily got into the double digits last time.

I have yet to try the Donut Friar either, so I will have to go there next time I'm in Gatlinburg.

Oh my gosh...that is so true! We saw so many Pancake restaurants too, but the only one that I had actually heard about was the Pancake Pantry!

Definitely give the Donut Friar a try if you're in Gatlinburg. I didn't think the donuts would be all that special, but they were fantastic! So fresh and good!

Oh man you should have put a warning on that update. I read it just before I'm about to head home to dinner. I want to stop at the pizza place and get a donut on the way home!

So sorry! I didn't mean to put calzones/pizza and donuts on the menu for tonight!!!

 

[Spartangirl]

Monday, July 26, 2010
The Great Smokey Mountains

Chris and I wanted to get an early start to our day so we set the alarm for 7:00 a.m. THAT didn't happen! We lounged around until about 8:00 a.m. and finally started getting ready. We grabbed a quick bite to eat from our hotel and made it to the Sugarlands Visitor Center by around 9:15.

Here we grabbed a hiking map and began our adventure on a short nature trail right behind the visitor center. We were fortunate to see a doe making her way through the forest...Chris actually spotted her! I probably would have missed her and kept walking had Chris not pointed her out! Here's a short clip of the doe...


We also stopped for a few pics along the way!

It was kind of cool having to go under this little bridge on our hike...

We hiked for a little ways and came upon Cataract Falls.

It wasn't the most spectacular set of falls that we've even seen, but it was a great starter hike to warm up our legs.

Chris and I made our way back to the car and set out in search of Laurel Falls. On the way, we stopped for a nice photo opportunity. Such pretty views!

We continued until we reached the trail. Once we found a parking spot near the trailhead, we set off. Although there were signs saying that bears were active on the trail, we didn't see or hear anything!

This hike was not bad, but had very steep dropoffs off the side of the trail. What a picturesque hike and the waterfall was worth hiking to!

After looking at the upper falls, Chris and I hiked down a steep, rocky slope to have a better view of the lower falls. We took some pictures and sat down to enjoy the views. So relaxing and just beautiful!

On our hike back to the car, I snapped a picture of our "hiking view." So pretty!

Up Next: Clingman's Dome, No Way Jose & Big Hair

 

[snoopypharmd]

Just wanted to say I am really enjoying your report

I also want to say thanks for the Laurel Falls pictures!

We went for vaca back in June and I picked that trail for us - now you gotta realize that we have alot of little ones - so we packed a picnic and headed up the trail. Wouldn't have been bad except the 75 pounds of babies and stroller I was pushing My husband was pushing Nathan - I mean the guide books say it is stroller accessible and even though it said moderate I figured we were ok - we like to hike and are in relatively good shape. Yep about half way up I was like no - I can't push this thing anymore!!! So we "carefully" turned around, pretty much "chased" the stroller down, and found another picnic sight ... with a nice river view

We didn't get to eat at the Pancake Pantry either - wanted to but the line was always so long but we really liked the Donut Friar

 

[brianatwcc]

this brings back so many memories. i spent almost every childhood summer, at least in part, in the smokies

 

[Charleston Princess]

Such pretty hikes!!! The falls and views are beautiful! However, I did a double take when I saw that sign about bears! I think I would have thought twice about heading down the path!

 

[MeMom]

Sunday, July 25, 2010
Holy Calzone!

You weren't even kidding! That thing was huge.

We live in Middle Tennessee, but it has been years since we have been over to Gatlinburg. (We saw bears a couple of times when we went, by the way, but we were in a car, thankfully.) We keep saying we are going to, but whenever we get a chance to get away, we head south to Disney World. Whenever I see pictures, though, I say again that we need to get over there - at least for a weekend trip. Thanks for sharing your time there with us.

 

[Disneymommy2006]

I can not wait to read tomorrow. We go to Tennessee quite often and before we had our children we did the same hike but never went to Clingman's Dome. It really brings back great memories! If you ever get a chance to go back in the summer, I would suggest staying at the Hippensteal Moutain View Inn...it's the most amazing place. It is a splurge but it is so so so worth it! We haven't been in several years because of the kids but it is just beautiful and so relaxing. One note about the Pancake Pantry- we have gone there very often but usually for lunch (they seem to close at 2 on most days). They have amazing burgers that are really different. Once my brother in law got one that had bananas on it...he said it was wonderful! They also have these cucumbers that they bring to the table as soon as you sit down and they are so good! I asked for the recipe once but they don't give it out! Thanks for sharing your adventure!

 

[Disneygrl36]

I forget all the time that I live so close to all that beauty! Glad you enjoyed your hikes....I just love spotting deer. They are one of my favorite animals.