Travel has always been part of our family story.
It started years ago when our girls were young and we packed them up for trips to Disney — back when strollers, character breakfasts, and tired little legs were part of the plan. Those early trips weren’t just vacations; they were the beginning of a tradition we didn’t even realize we were starting.
As our girls grew up and had children of their own, those trips turned into adventures with our grandchildren. Over the years, we were blessed to travel with most of them when they were young — and yes, that even included a Disney trip with one grandchild still in diapers, complete with midday naps and carefully timed schedules. We always felt incredibly grateful that our girls trusted us with their children, and those shared experiences became some of our most treasured memories.
Eventually, Disney trips evolved into full family vacations, and a couple of grandchildren traveled with us alongside their parents. But the heart of it never changed — seeing the world through young eyes and making memories together.
Now, here we are in a new season of life, stepping into travel with our great-grandchildren.
This trip is with our 9-year-old great-granddaughter, Cilla, and we decided it was time to see if we’re still young enough to keep the tradition going. (We are… though we may require a little more rest than we used to.)
Cilla had some dream destinations, Disney wasn’t on the list. Instead, she dreamed big: Texas, the Appalachian Mountains, mountains anywhere, Hawaii, and Mexico.
We quickly ruled out Hawaii (mainly because we haven’t been there either), and Mexico was clearly not happening this time. After a lot of research, we landed on the perfect compromise — the Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area. Mountains? ✔️ Dollywood? ✔️ Scenery, lights, and adventure? ✔️
One thing stood out immediately from her dream list — she wanted to fly somewhere. And sure enough, there’s one daily nonstop flight from Washington, DC to Knoxville, Tennessee. We grabbed it, scored a great deal, and even splurged on first class. It’s a small plane and a short flight, but to Cilla, it was the real deal.
We planned this trip way back in the summer and managed to keep it a secret until Christmas Eve.
By Saturday morning, it was finally time.
We loaded up the car and headed to Reagan National Airport. Bless TSA PreCheck, because traveling is much more enjoyable when you don’t have to remove shoes, jackets, and half your dignity. Once through TSA Cilla happily watched planes taxi, take off, and land while we waited.
She was starving (a theme that would continue all day), so she quickly inhaled a hamburger and water while we waited.
A gate change followed — because of course it did — and we ended up chatting with the nicest couple who had just spent Christmas with their son in Springfield, Virginia. They shared some great local tips and even recommended a dinner spot for later that night.
We finally boarded our plane and she was so excited and looking out the windows and taking off was what she enjoyed the mosts.
Even though slightly delayed waiting on our flight crew the pilot clearly had places to be because he made up the time in the air. We landed right on schedule… only to wait an hour for our luggage. Airports like to keep you humble.
Once we finally grabbed our bags and rental car, we set the GPS toward Pigeon Forge — and wouldn’t you know it — the restaurant we’d been told about appeared right on our side of the road like a little Tennessee miracle. 😉
Blue Moose Burgers & Wings ended up being a great stop. Think Buffalo Wild Wings, but better food and a friendlier feel. We had a fantastic waitress, watched UVA beat Florida State (Michael still insists it was a bad ref call — I’ll let y’all decide), and Cilla once again announced she was starving. She ordered a hot dog, applesauce, and water and inhaled it like she hadn’t eaten all day.
Oh, and fair warning — I may come home with a Tennessee accent. I can feel it bubbling up already.
From there, we headed to our hotel, the Drury Plaza Hotel in Pigeon Forge. The drive included some very dark, winding back roads, which made Michael focus intensely on driving while I focused intensely on making sure he didn’t exceed the speed limit. I gently reminded him that we were no longer in Spotsylvania — we were in the foothills of East Tennessee, right near the Great Smoky Mountains.
I assumed Cilla was glued to her phone during the drive, but when I asked, she surprised me by saying,
“I’m not on my phone. I’m looking out the window at the scenery.”
We spotted beautifully decorated homes still glowing with Christmas lights, and once we reached the main strip in Pigeon Forge, the lights were very impressive! She casually asked if she could move here. We didn't expect that reaction. Hmm 🤔
At the hotel, we were upgraded to a King Suite, and Cilla was thrilled to have her own space with a pull-out sofa bed. Michael and I were exhausted — the drive had been intense, and honestly, we’d earned our rest.
Day One wrapped up quietly, tired but thankful, already knowing we’d made the right choice with this trip.
Stay tuned for our first full day in Pigeon Forge — the adventures are just beginning. ✈️🏔️💙
