2023 July 21-23, Trip to Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, TN (3 Days)

Day 1: Friday, July 21: 

Today, we left Helen, Georgia, early morning, about 6 A.M. We took the back roads, and by 6:51, we were in Clayton, North Carolina. 

By 8:12 A.M., we were in Cherokee, North Carolina.

 We stopped here to take pictures of the bear statues before heading across the mountain. Along with several others, we stopped to see a herd of elk grazing. 

Herd Elk 

Bears of Cherokee, NC 

We crossed the mountain several times to take pictures of the smokey clouds on it. Then, we stopped for breakfast at Cracker Barrel in Pigeon Forge. 

We went shopping at the Tanger Outlet Mall. We bought two bras and two panties at Victoria's Secret and one bra at Pink. We also stopped at several other stores, including Disney, Nike, and Under Armour. 

The Christmas Place 

We feed the Ducks, Geese, and Pigeons at the Old Mill along the Little Pigeon River. 

We rode to the Old Mill Farm House, where I bought my son several different herb packages, a bag of stone-ground yellow cornmeal, and olive oil.

Near the Old Mill, we saw several geese, ducks, and pigeons along the Little Pigeon River. 

We ate Taco Bell for lunch.

We checked into Apple Valley Inn a little after 4 P.M., unloaded the car, and filled the fridge with snacks. 

Spent the rest of the day watching TV and resting. 

Day 2:  Saturday, July 22: 

We ate breakfast at McDonald's, and I ordered muffins and sausage. 

We rode to Pigeon Forge's Visitor Center and bought all-day tickets to ride the trolley. 

We bought fuel at Murphy's and bought a few groceries at Walmart (bagels, cream cheese, drinks, fruit)

Took our food back to the hotel. 

We rode to Parrot Mountain when they opened at 10 A.M. 

Parrot Mountain 

Had my picture taken with five birds, two on my arms, two on my shoulders, and one on my head.

We visited the parrot nursery where we could actually pick up the birds. 

We also went into the feeding area with Nectar and several small nectaries down and drank every drop of the Nectar from my hand.

Around Nectar A.M., we rode to the Trolley from  Pigeon Forge to Gatlinburg. 

We took the trolley from the Visitor Center in Gatlinburg to downtown. 

We were the last two to board the fully loaded trolley, which was standing room only.

A nice young man gave me his seat, and Hubby had to ride, standing up.

Because of the traffic, it took over an hour to travel a short distance. When we were almost there, everyone except a couple got off. 

When we arrived at the center near the aquarium, everyone had to get off the trolley and wait for another trolley to take us downtown. 

The traffic was terrible, and we had already waited over 30 minutes for the next trolley.

Where we were going was several blocks away, so we decided to walk. 

 We took the scenic route along the Pigeon River, which was not crowded and had a cool breeze. 

Seafood Platter at Bubba Gumps 

We were headed to Bubba Gumps for a late lunch. 

We ordered a seafood platter of shrimp, fish, hush puppies, and fries. 

When we finished, we walked down the crowded sidewalks, and it began to rain, so we looked for shelter. 

It did not rain long, so we walked further down the sidewalks. 

We returned to the Trolley Stop and waited for the trolley to take us to the Gatlinburg Visitor Center. 

The crowd had thinned out, so the trolley was not crowded going back. 

At the cross, there was an accident involving four vehicles. Our turn was blocked by police vehicles.

We had to take a detour, which took us a couple of miles away. 

We took the next trolley to Pigeon Forge, which also had to take a detour. 

This ended up being an all-day event. 

It was late when we arrived back at our hotel. 

Day 3: Sunday, July 23, 

We ate bagels with cream cheese for breakfast. 

Packed our bags, loaded the car, and headed for home. 

We stopped at a couple of rest areas. 

We had snacks with us, so we did not stop to eat until we got home. 

2023 July 12, Popes Tavern, Indian Mound Museums Florence, AL.

 Today, we took  Ava to see UNA's mascot, LEO, but he was sleeping. 

Leo is getting old and has not been as active since his mate died. 

I took her around the campus, showing her the Smith Bell Tower, the president's home. "Wesleyan Hall, constructed in 1856, is one of the oldest structures on the University of North Alabama campus." The building looks like a castle. 

Wesleyan Hall (Castle Building)

Smith Bell Tower 

Lion Cubs 

The campus fountain was turned off because of a leak. 

We next stopped at Pope's Tavern, where Ava learned about how the tavern was used as a hospital during the Civil War. Early cooking tools, the Forks of Cypress furniture, and Civil War artifacts. 

Ava asks the curator several questions about the articles in the museum. 

We also visited the building that held information about the processing of cotton. 

Cotton Balls 

Our next stop was the Indian Mound. 

She and I both walked to the top of the mound. Lots of steps!

43 feet Earthen Mound was built about 500 BCE. 

Inside the museum, Ava learned about the timeline of the Native Americans during the Paleo-Indian Period, the Archaic Period, the Woodland Period, and the Mississippian and Historic Periods. 

We saw arrowheads and many American Indian artifacts. 

On the way home, we stopped at McDonalds to get Ava a kid's chicken nugget meal. 

We stopped at Smokin Jalapeño for tacos. 

We took our food home to eat. 

2023 July 8, Day Trip Franklin, Brentwood, TN. and Huntsville, AL.

We started the day by eating Gravy and Biscuits at Jack, then Birding in McFarland Park. We saw the rain coming down the river, so we loaded into the car.

Then, we rode to Best Buy in Huntsville to buy a Canon EOS R6 Camera and stopped at Sam's Club for fuel. 

We had no luck at Best Buy, so we rode to Best Buy Brentwood, Tennessee. 

Hubby was going to take a shortcut but ended up taking a long way. We rode to Maradinville and stopped at Ardmore Welcome Center on I-65. 

Ardmore Welcome Center 

We stopped at Best Buy, where we purchased the Canon EOS R6 camera. 

It was way after lunch, so we stopped at Mellow Mushroom in Franklin. We ordered a small Pacific Rim Pizza. (It has a mild red sauce with Mozzarella, ham, bacon, caramelized onions, pineapple, and Jalapeños.)

Pacific Rim Pizza 

Mellow Mushroom Franklin, TN

We headed back home. On the way home, I reached into my purse to play video games, but my phone was not there. 

I took Hubby's phone and called mine. The manager at Mellow Mushroom answered. I told him who I was, and we were returning to get my phone. 

When we arrived, Hubby could not find a parking spot, so he let me out and circled around. I went inside and told the hostess who I was and that I was there to pick up my cell phone. 

I thanked them for finding it and putting it in a safe place. 

It had begun to rain when Hubby picked me up, storming home. 

I am so glad I noticed my phone missing before we got home. It is about 2 hours to Franklin. 

2023 August 3, Alabama Music Hall of Fame & Railroad Museum TUSCUMBIA, AL

Our first stop was the dentist. I had two teeth pulled Friday, and the dentist wanted to see how they were healing. 

We rode to Tuscumbia to tour the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. Our granddaughter now loves to go to museums, and I thought she would enjoy this one. 

We stopped outside the museum for a couple of pictures.

Ava at the Fountain 

Bought our tickets, and the lady at the ticket counter gave Ava a Scavenger Hunt sheet.

The sheet had a list of 10 different animals to be found throughout the museum. 

She told Ava that she would get a prize once she had completed the task.

(Dog, fish, snake, peacock, monkey, opossum, horse, rooster, fish,? )

The ticket lady took our picture before we entered the Museum Display.

We looked at the animals and the displays as we walked through the museum.

She liked the display of Nat King Cole, the Alabama Bus, and many others.

We reached monkey number ten on the list and walked back through the museum, looking for a monkey.

We got a hint it was on a hat of Clint Eastwood and near the end of the displays.

She found it and headed to the gift shop for her surprise.

She picked a whistle and a star keychain.

Ava and the dog 

Ava and guitar entrance 

Ava and I were at the entrance door when we left. 

Next, we rode to the Tuscumbia train Depot, but it was closed. 

We saw the trains on the back.

US TVA F2021 COLBERT STEAM PLANT Turn-about 

We rode to Florence and ate lunch at Chick-fil-A.

Ava ordered a kid's meal with chicken nuggets, waffle fries, and Chocolate milk. She also ordered ice cream but didn't eat it. I finished it off.

Once she finished eating, she wanted to play, so I said go on.

Ava eating Chicken nuggets.

2023 July 18-21, Trip to The Alpine Village of Helen, Georgia (4 days)

 Day 1: Tuesday, July 18:

We left home at about 6 A.M., stopping at Jack in Athens for biscuits and gravy. 

We continued through Huntsville, taking Hwy 72 toward Scottsboro through (hwy 35)Mento, crossing the Tennessee River,  to (Hwy 40) Hangar, Valley Head, and Mento, crossing into Georgia.

In Georgia, we traveled through Summerville, Rome, onto the I-75 bypass of Atlanta. We went through Cartersville, Marietta, taking 400 north, bypassing Atlanta to Dahlonega, Cleveland, and 75 to Helen.

We checked into the Castle Inn around 2:25 P.M. and carried all our luggage up two flights of stairs (there was no elevator).

We walked down the front of the hotel to the nearby Troll Tavern. The Tavern was along the Chattahoochee River, and a gate covered in locks weighed it down. A sign said no more locks and that all locks had to be removed, which made the gate unstable and unsafe. 

Troll Tavern with Gates full of locks 

While waiting for a table, we watched hundreds of people tubing down the Chattahoochee River on green, pink, and blue tubes.

We ordered a Reuben on toast with mashed potatoes and Diet Coke. They were short-staffed because there were many empty tables, and people were waiting to be served.

Reuben on toast with mashed potatoes

We walked around the town, and some of the places we saw were The Wooden Toys, Assay Station, Welcome to Wildwood, Hansel & Gretel Candy Kitchen, Wilkommen, Helen Hat, Grimm's Weg, Sock Store, Christmas & More, Christoff's Seventy-six, Helendof Inn, Pirate's Cove Adventure Golf, Pepper Place, Dizzy Bear,  Cowboys and Angels, The Christmas Shop, just to name a few. 

Gone Squatchin in Helen 

It was a beautiful but very hot day, so we returned to the Castle Inn and rested until around 7 P.M. 

We left the Castle Inn and walked across the bridge, stopping for a picture at the Cafe International (head in the hole), the Mural of Helendof Inn. I continued walking past the Alpine Wedding Chapel, Fashall, where they played bingo. I saw the Pirates Cove Miniature Golf and Alpine Village Inn. 

I walked to Wendy's, where I had left Hubby, and he bought us a strawberry frosted drink and Diet Coke. 

We returned to our car and rode to Cleveland, stopping at the White County Courthouse to take pictures. 

Day 2: Wednesday, July 19:

Early in the morning, I took my journal onto the balcony and began writing. I watched as the town slowly came alive. I could hear the birds chirping in the distance and feel the cool breeze, and the sky was full of clouds. The only people I saw were early-morning workers. 

We were at the Waffle House when it opened at 8 A.M. I ordered three pecan pancakes with whipped cream and Diet Pepsi. Hubby ordered two eggs, sausage, three pancakes with gravy, biscuits, and hash browns.

We rode to the visitor's center, where they gave us a map of Helen and suggested places to visit. 

She said Anna Ruby Falls, Sautee General Store, Hardman's Farm & Indian Mound, and the Covered Bridge. 

We walked through Veterans Park, taking pictures of the park behind the Visitors Center. 

We rode to Unite State Park to see Anna Ruby Falls, but before we began climbing uphill to the falls, it began to sprinkle, so Hubby returned to the car for the umbrella. 

During our climb uphill, we had to stop several times to rest. Stone benches were along the path. 

It was getting slippery with all the light rain, but we finally made it. Hubby stopped just short of the falls. Hubby talked to a couple while I walked to the top. 

Anna Ruby Falls 

I ask a red-headed girl to take a picture of me standing before the waterfalls.

We also met a family of teenagers walking up the hill, and they passed us when we came down. Several people were visiting Anna Ruby Falls. 

Our next stop was Baby-land, The Cabbage Patch Doll Hospital. Baby cabbage patches were planted all around the hospital. When you walked inside, there were pictures of famous people on the walls. 

There were several different rooms with dolls and scenery, which was overwhelming.

Cabbage Patch Kids

Choosing which baby to adopt was hard, but I settled on Sandy Sue. 

Everyone crowded around to watch the birth & the storytelling of a baby boy Cabbage Patch Doll. 

Our next stop was the White County Courthouse Museum.

It had already closed the day before, so we rode back today. 

Several ladies were sitting around a table talking about being members of the Historical Society of White County. 

One of them told us the history of the museum. 

We could hear music coming from upstairs. There was a man in the Old Courtroom playing a fiddle.

I saw a replica of the Covered Bridge and asked questions about it and its location.

Our next stop was the Hardman Farm State Park. We had to park on the hill and walk down several flights of stairs to the Visitor Center, so Hubby did not want to walk around the farm. 

Hardman Farm Historic Site Sautee Nacoochee, Ga 

He bought me a ticket, and I took pictures of the building and historic markers.

I also met a couple of women taking pictures of markers to be read later. 

Hubby was in the car waiting for me at the bottom of the hill.

Next, we rode to Stovall Covered Bridge and Old Sautee General Store.

The Stovall Covered Bridge has been washed away three times. 

We stopped at Walgreens in Cleveland for shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and health bars. 

We stopped at Nora Granary Mill, where we bought some stone mill cornmeal. 

We ate dinner at Wendy's, then went back to Castle Inn. (Hamburger and fries)

We watched the new Ghost Buster Movie.

I walked outside to talk to my daughter and to write in my journal. 

It had been a full day. 

Day 3: Thursday, July 20:  

We rode to McDonalds in Cleveland, bought a muffin with sausage, and Hubby ordered a big breakfast. 

Today, we rode to North Georgia Wildlife and Safari Park in Cleveland, GA. We walked through the petting zoo and then drove through the Safari, where we saw buffalo, Elk, Deer, Emu, Ostrich, camels, Zebra, and several small animals. 

I was not too impressed.

Next, we rode to Brasstown Bald Hiawassee, GA (the highest point in Georgia) and paid $8 to ride the shuttle van to the overlook and visitor center. 

It was too foggy to see very far, but we did enjoy the Visitor Center museum. 

Brasstown Bald Overlook and Visitor Center

In the museum, we saw several handmade quilts hanging on the walls.

We saw several different forest animals, a log with a saw, a train engine, displays, etc. 

Saw several barn Swallows and Gray Catbirds. 

We rode the shuttle bus back down the mountain. 

We stopped at Chick-fil-A in Cleveland for dinner. I ordered a kid's chicken finger meal with waffle fries and ice cream. 

It was raining when we returned to the Castle Inn. 

I sat outside on the balcony, listening to the band in the restaurant across the street. 

It was a stormy night, and very few people were outside. 

Day 4: Friday, July 21:

Check-out Castle Inn