Continued from previous
The next and unfortunately final stop for us was the Cable Mill Historic Area & Visitor Center. And for those of you like me who like to know these things, the only restrooms on the loop are here! We started off at the visitor center and checked out their gift shop.
In the gift shop, DH and I each got a Cade's Cove T-shirt, and we also got a Great Smoky Mountains National Park magnet and postcard for DS.
Well that sign looks reassuring...
No idea what this actually is, but DS was very excited to proclaim that it was a "seat!"
DS LOVED this wheel at the mill!
I took DS inside the mill, and he was thrilled to look down and see all of the gears turning and wheels spinning to turn the mill. The man working even let him come up and see the corn going in so he could see how it got grounded down to cornmeal and let him touch some of the cornmeal when it came out. He definitely loved that part!
DH being artsy
Another home
The barn
Smokehouse. Someone had seen a snake here just a few minutes before we went to look! Another photographer was nice enough to warn us. Thankfully I didn't see any or I would have lost my mind!
By the time we finished up there, it was nearly noon and it would take us awhile to get back to Pigeon Forge from where we were, so we decided to pass over the rest of the stops and head out of the park. I would have loved to stay and see them all, but you really just need more time and it's difficult with a toddler.
It was nearly 1 pm by the time we made it to our lunch choice for the day, a recommendation from my uncle, the Bullfish Grill.
DS was getting cranky (he usually goes down for his nap at 1), so we had to break out the iPad with some Mickey Mouse Clubhouse to keep him quiet during lunch. DH had a Tennessee Jack Grill sandwich, that was a grilled chicken sandwich with BBQ sauce, melted pepperjack cheese and bacon, with fries. I had the grilled filet medallion which was a 4 oz filet that came with steamed broccoli and mashed potatoes. DS got a grilled cheese on Texas toast that he ate about half of with some applesauce. This was a really great meal, but a little pricey, which is why we ended up there for lunch instead of dinner.
We got back to the resort at 2 pm, and I snapped some pictures from the car.
DS went down for a nap right away and slept until 4. We had discovered our ice machine was not working, so someone came up to fix it once DS was awake. He was there a little longer than we had anticipated, so we didn't leave for our dinner show until 5:20 pm, a little later than we had planned. Which dinner show?
DH had seen this show as a kid, but I never had. He got me all freaked out when he told me there were NO UTENSILS!! So I had come prepared with a set of plastic utensils in my bag, and do you know what? I didn't even use them!
We stopped by the stables to see some of the horses, but they were all showing us their butts.
When we went inside, we still got to see some of the pre-show entertainment. We went up to the balcony to watch so we would be closer to the theater entrance when it opened.
These guys were great! They were covering all kinds of songs, including some Justin Bieber!
We went into the theater not too long after and found our seats. We were on the side of the South (of course!) all the way to the right and on the second row from the bottom, but no one sat in that row so it was almost like being first row anyway! DH said he remembers the place settings being a lot closer together when he went, like you were shoulder to shoulder with the person next to you. But I guess since we were there at a slower time, everyone had a little more room. Which worked for us, because since DS was free he didn't technically have a "seat" but there was more than enough room for him between us. Good thing because I don't know how we would have kept him on our laps the whole time!
Only picture of the show, as they don't allow photography
Before the show started, they came around with flags for $3, so we bought one for DS. Probably the best purchase of the whole trip! He LOVED waving that thing around during the whole show. In fact, he pretty much loved every single part of it! He was clapping, stomping, and flag waving almost the entire time. He also ate really well, which surprised me because I thought with all the activity he might not want to.
For the meal, you start off with a cup of vegetable soup (delicious!) and a biscuit, then you get a whole small rotisserie chicken, a half of a baked potato, a biscuit, a slice of pork roast, and corn on the cob. I gave DS some of my dark meat from my chicken and he ate some of that plus my whole piece of pork roast and some of DH's, and some of each of our biscuits. I was impressed! And it was all REALLY good. The only thing I didn't really like besides the pork was the corn on the cob, but that's just because I hate biting into it. So DH finished mine. Dessert was a delicious flaky apple pastry.
DS's favorite parts of the show were some of the competition aspects, like the chicken chase and the pig races. There were some slower parts where he started to get a little bored, but then he would get drawn back in by something else that interested him. Totally worth the money! And after all the competition, the South won!!
After the show was over, we stopped to talk to a couple of the performers. I tried to get DS to take a picture with one, but he was wiggling.
We stopped in the gift shop on the way out, but didn't want to buy anything. We had pre-purchased a souvenir boot cup when we picked up our tickets, so we did have to stop at the counter just to pick it up. Another great purchase, as he loves that boot cup! And he'll sometimes pick it up and say, "There's a snake in my boot!"
It was a little later than his usual bedtime when we got back, so he got a quick bath and was put right to bed. When I was covering him with his blanket, he turned over and said, "Mama, I like the horsey show."
Honestly, I think he enjoyed Dixie Stampede more than anything else we did that week! I was so tempted to take him back, but it's just too expensive for that. I was so happy he loved it, and we all three had a great time!
UP NEXT: Horseback riding & Corn Fritters!
Our DW trip is Oct 19-26, so we will overlap some. We're also planning MK on 10/24 and AK on 10/25...so maybe we'll bump into you! Loving all the pictures and the TR within a PTR.
x
And I got all of the days and times I wanted. I did search in vain for a Be Our Guest ADR, but I'm thinking those were all snatched up by the people able to reserve 180+10. We are planning to have lunch there though, so I'm just happy to be able to eat there even if it isn't for dinner.
Although we did not have the best experience there last year, I read enough comments to convince me we had service problems and that our experience was not the norm. So we are giving 'Ohana one more try.
All along I was thinking the 24th and then I realized that my inlaws aren't coming in until the 24th while we arrive on the 23rd. Sheesh!
