Day 4: Another Lazy Morning, Comfort Food, and Ribs That Fixed Everything

 Today started exactly the way yesterday did — slow and a little lazy.

Michael and Cilla were already dressed and ready while I was still in the process, when a surprise visit from the resort office brought a bag of goodies to our door. A very kind gesture… but it definitely delayed my getting-ready timeline. By the time we were all finally out the door, everyone was starving.

Our first plan was The Old Mill, but when we heard the wait was about an hour, we walked across the street to the Old Mill Pottery Café. This place was also recommended to us by the couple we met at the airport in DC.   Turns out, the wait there was about the same — but at that point we were committed. While waiting, we passed the time doing what one should always do in Pigeon Forge: browsing the candy store.

Eventually, it was time to eat.

Michael ordered fried chicken livers as an appetizer, which immediately caught Cilla’s attention. Michael and I both went with soup and a half sandwich. I ordered tomato basil soup with grilled cheese — a shocking choice, I know. (If it’s on the menu anywhere, I will find it.) Michael had stuffed pepper soup with a half club sandwich.

Cilla ordered a plain cheeseburger and declared that it had too much pepper mixed into the meat. She loved the fries, though, and even sampled one of the chicken livers. She didn’t spit it out, which we counted as a win. Her official review: she wouldn’t order it, but it “wasn’t too bad.”

Chicken Livers with "Come Back" sauce

Tomato Basil with Grilled Cheese

Plain Cheeseburger and Fries

Stuffed Pepper Soup with a Club Sandwich

After lunch, we wandered through the General Store and did a bit of shopping before attempting to go to Beyond the Lens & The Fly Ride. Unfortunately, the pilot was “off duty” today, so we’ll try again tomorrow. And don’t panic — it’s a simulated ride, very much like Soarin’ at Disney, which for those who know me… I love Soarin’.

Back at the condo, we finally located the indoor pool, and Cilla and I headed down so she could swim. Michael stayed behind to do laundry.

And y’all… this man loves doing laundry. I don’t know if it’s the sense of accomplishment, the hum of the machines, or just the joy of freshly folded towels — but he was living his best life down there.

Cilla swam, played with a few other children, and then announced she was ready to head back to the condo and didn’t want to go out again. She showered, got cozy, and settled in — until Pops returned from the laundry room and casually mentioned that he wanted ribs. That changed everything.

She immediately got un-cozy (very happily), because this girl loves ribs. Off we went to Bennett’s Pit Bar-B-Que in Pigeon Forge. Dinner was wonderful, desserts were even better, and everyone left happy.

Brisket, Baked Potato and Coleslaw

Full Rack of Ribs, Greens and Baked Potato

Kid's portion of Ribs and Mac n Cheese

Cilla wanted Banana Pudding and said it was very good.

Michael and I both had the Blackberry Cobbler and Vanilla Ice Cream

Yes we brought back leftovers for Michael as he is the only one that will eat leftovers. 

On the way back to the condo, we grabbed a few pictures of the Christmas lights still glowing around town but for some reason I only have 1 of them on my phone I think Cilla got the rest of them— a perfect ending to the day. 

This one was a Drum Line! The lights move so it really looks like they are drumming but I snapped a picture not a video. 

Maybe tomorrow we’ll finally make it to Gatlinburg… or maybe we’ll see what the coffee conversation brings in the morning.

Either way, we’re right where we need to be in front of this fire! 😉 It has been very cold the last two days looking for warmer temps to finish our last few days here.

Day 3: A Relaxed Morning, Culver’s Smiles, and a Stampede Surprise

We started this morning exactly the way a vacation morning should begin — slow and relaxed.

Michael made coffee for the two of us, and before long Cilla wandered out to join us. She had some mini muffins, we all sat around chatting, and no one was in a hurry to be anywhere. Those quiet mornings are some of my favorite parts of traveling and having a recliner makes me very happy too. 

As we talked, we decided we’d go to the Dolly Parton Stampede for the 3:30 show. (Old habits die hard — I still want to call it Dixie Stampede.) With that plan in place, we remembered seeing a Culver’s sign the day before, and that sealed the deal for lunch.

We headed out around 11 and enjoyed a very happy lunch at Culver’s. It made my heart smile — we really loved Culver’s during our Nebraska trip. In fact, our friends Susan and Mark, along with Michael and me, have been planning a trip to North Carolina specifically to visit Culver’s.  So yes… I had to confess that we went without them and make sure we were still friends. Thankfully, all friendships remain intact.. I think. 😉

I ordered my kids’ meal (of course) and happily collected my free ice cream like the seasoned professional I am. 

After lunch, we headed to Walmart, thinking we’d grab a few things. Turns out, we found ourselves in a Walmart Neighborhood Market, which we’d never seen before. It was more grocery store than superstore, but we grabbed what we could. The cashier was incredibly kind and pointed us in the direction of the nearest Super Walmart.

Off we went again — Cilla needed earbuds that worked with her phone and fit in her ears and since there’s supposedly an indoor pool at the condo, we also picked up a pair of shorts and a shirt for her… just in case we manage to find it one day.

By then, it was time to head toward the Stampede, since we could enter at 2:30. Today we woke up to a cold and windy day, so we were thankful the line moved quickly. We also splurged on the souvenir boot mugs, which came with a slushy-type drink. They weren’t expensive, and honestly, they’re pretty cute. None of us drank much of the slushy, but now Cilla has little boot mugs to take home to remember the day.  Cilla also grabbed a bucket of popcorn during the pre-show, and then it was time to head inside.

Cilla had been a bit unsure about this experience. She thought it might be boring. That opinion changed quickly.

She got completely involved — cheering, answering questions, videoing, taking pictures, and fully soaking it all in. Watching her reactions was half the fun. At one point during the ice-skating portion, she leaned over and said, “That was epic.” That alone made it worth it. Here are a few pictures that Michael and I took she is saving her pictures and videos for when she gets home to share.

We paid a child price for Cilla and she received every bit as much food as we did. Michael, however, will be enjoying leftover chicken sandwiches for days — the gift that keeps on giving.

Here are a few pictures from our show.

By the time the show ended, we were simply tired. The first two days had been packed, and today, while wonderful, finished us off in the best way. We came back to the condo climbed the stairs to the third floor and declares ourselves ready to relax and everything felt just right. 

Tomorrow, we’re thinking we might venture toward Gatlinburg… but we’ll see how the morning coffee conversation goes. 

For now, we’re content right where we are. Stay tuned — ☕🥾❄️

Day 2: A Warm Day, Big Plans, and Dollywood Dreams and a Whole Lot of Walking

 After deciding that our first full day in Pigeon Forge needed to make the most of the warmest weather predicted for the week, they agreed — Dollywood it was.

We started the morning the right way: downstairs at the hotel with a nice, hot breakfast. Full bellies, happy hearts, and a 9-year-old already asking what was next. After breakfast, we checked out and made a quick stop at Oakmont Resort to see about checking in early — or at least getting our keys — since the office closes at 8 p.m. and rooms aren’t guaranteed to be ready until 5.

We were greeted by the nicest people (Brandy was a gem), got all our paperwork taken care of, and even purchased our Dollywood tickets right there at a discount. Turns out, it does pay to be old — Pops and Momps paid the same price as Cilla. I call that a win.

That’s when we learned a very important detail: Oakmont’s buildings are three stories… with no elevators. And of course, all RCI trades are on the third floor. Naturally.

Brandy assured us maintenance would help with luggage later — which was comforting, since we clearly packed like we were moving in for the season.

With that settled, we headed toward Dollywood, stopping first at Walmart because we knew we’d need a few condo essentials. Best to handle that before the park.

Back in the car and — surprise! — Cilla announced she was hungry. This was impressive, considering breakfast had been maybe two hours earlier. I promised her the very first thing we’d do at Dollywood was eat.

We parked, waited a bit, hopped on the tram to the gate, and immediately encountered a very long, very packed line. Cilla was wide-eyed when we told her this was a lot like Disney World — just warmer and with more mountains.

Lunch was at Aunt Granny’s, which hit the spot. Full again (for the moment), we moved on to rides and exploring.

Full again (for the moment), we moved on to rides and exploring. Cilla had mentioned that she didn't want to see the Hollywood sign when we were at the airport.  Michael assured her we were not going to California.  Well right after lunch we found the Dollywood sign on the mountain and she allowed us to take a picture of her with the sign. 

 Cilla and Pops rode Rockin’ Roadway, with Cilla proudly chauffeuring her Pops. 

We wandered through the replica of Dolly Parton’s Tennessee Mountain Home, then stopped at the Hug a Bee Honey stand, where Cilla purchased ten honey straws. We sat for a while so she could enjoy one properly — because that’s serious business.

Next up was the Christmas in the Smokies show which was simply lovely, a reminder of tradition, faith, and the joy of the season.

 Next followed by an attempt at the carousel… until we saw the line. Cilla took one look and said, “NOPE.” Smart girl.

She spotted the Sky Rider, decided she wanted to ride, and Pops immediately decided he did not. Momps, however, was all in.  So Cilla and I stood in line for about an hour. 

When it was time to get on, I briefly wondered how exactly I was supposed to climb into that seat without assistance. Enter the kindest young man riding with us, who offered his knee so I could step up — and helped another woman as well. He even hopped off afterward to make sure we both got down safely. Kindness still exists, folks. 

Michael got a great shot of our shoes to prove we were riding. 🤣🤣🤣

Here are a few pictures showing the lights near where Cilla and I were riding.  Michael tried to capture the magic.

By then, Cilla was hungry again (shocking, I know) and wanted a hot dog from Dogs N Taters, but the line convinced us dinner would be better outside the park.

Before leaving, we made a quick stop at the Emporium — and let me tell you, this girl loves to shop. And I mean shop. Somehow, we made one small purchase in record time and headed out to the tram.

Let me just say this: Dollywood could use a little help from Disney and Chick-fil-A when it comes to crowd flow and lines. Just saying.

Back to Oakmont we went, and true to Brandy’s word, maintenance arrived immediately and carried everything up to the third floor — including our Walmart haul, which may or may not have included a fan because… well… we need a fan at night. I tried to tip him, and he politely refused, saying, “This is my job.” Exceptional staff all around. I had read a lot of reviews about the condos needing updating etc but that said, the condo is fabulous. We’ve stayed in cabins here before, we have zero complaints. The staff is exceptional, and — best of all — I have a recliner where I can sit comfortably and write this blog.

After unloading, we piled back into the car and headed to Cook Out to pick up our dinner — hot dog for Cilla as promised, and instead of drinks, we upgraded to shakes. Funny thing, though… I noticed Pops’ and Cilla’s shakes safely stored in the freezer later. Mine, however, was mysteriously absent — the empty cup sitting in the trash. Vacation rule: ice cream daily. These two clearly need to get with the program.

My take on the day? Now, if you’ve followed our travels at all, you know theme parks are not new territory for us. Disney raised us in this department. But Dollywood is different — it has its own personality, charm, and pace, and we were excited to experience it through Cilla’s eyes. We probably should have scheduled Dollywood later in the week. It was warmer than expected, and we didn’t pack quite the right clothes for a full park day. Also very crowded so I am not sure we were able to do it justice for Cilla.  Although she said it was a fun day.  Also — and this is important — Dollywood is built on a mountain, which means a lot of walking uphill and downhill. It’s beautiful, but your legs and hips will feel it. 😉  

All in all, a full day, a tired crew, and another memory tucked safely away.

Stay tuned — today is a slower start but we are up for more adventure and hopefully blog done tonight.—  💙🏔️🍦

From Our Girls to Grandkids to Great-Grands: Passing the Travel Bug Down the Line

 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. 

Oh yes it was snack time after we got in the air. 

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.

Trying to get a picture with the bear at the Knoxville Airport after arriving but I didn't do a great job. But still a cute picture. 

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. ✈️🏔️💙