2019 Oct 8-11, Luminights at Dollywood and Fall Harvest at Sevierville, & Pigeon Forge, Tennessee ( 4days)

To celebrate our birthdays, we decided to take a trip to the Mountains for a few days.

I had booked a room at La Quinta Inn by Wyndham (check-in time is after 3 PM Eastern time) in Sevierville.

We decided to eat a late lunch and early dinner at Texas Road House on Collier Drive in Sevierville.

I ordered the lunch special 6-ounce lunch sirloin steak medium-well, with Ceaser salad and a baked potato.

Hubby ordered 8 ounces of New York Strip medium with a baked potato and a salad.

We filled up with gas at Murphy Express before checking into our hotel.

Later that afternoon, we rode to Krogers for a couple of diet cokes and a package of chocolate eclairs.

Harvest Festival Pigeon Forge 

We bought a small bag of freshly ground yellow cornmeal at the Old Mill General Store. We also stopped at Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede. It was beautifully decorated with pumpkins & gourds of every size, shape, and color.

A great place to snap a photo

Welcome to Pigeon Forge.
Stopping for a rest break. 

I ate a waffle with syrup, sausage, and a glass of cranberry juice at the breakfast bar at the hotel.

After breakfast, we rode to the Tanger Outlets we stopped at the Disney Store, where I bought a long-sleeved Mickey Tee-shirt, a Halloween 2019 Minnie Doll, and a Halloween bag.

We also stopped at Victoria's Secret, where I bought two bras and a pair of panties.

Our next stop was at the Island, Hubby wanted a souvenir shirt from Margaretville.

Hubby let me out at Margaretville, and then he parked the car.

It was a beautiful day, people were enjoying the Smoky Mountain Ferries Wheel, The Spinning Parrot Coaster, Time-shot, the Island Express Train, the Flying Horse Carousel, the Thunder Dome, the Reverse Time Ride, Happy Swings, & Funny Cars. There were lots to see and do on the Island. 

Pumpkins and Autumn Flowers Everywhere.
Lot lots of places for selfies on the Island.

Our fun did not stop with the Island. We rode the trolly to our car, and then we rode to Dollywood, where we stayed until closing.

It was fall break, and the parking lot was full of cars. We had to park in lot D and wait in a long line to ride the trolly to the gate, where we purchased a two-day pass ticket.

At 12:45, we watched the tail end of the Smoky Mountain String Band at the Gazebo.

At 1 PM, we watched Candy & Jeremy perform at the Valley Theater.

It was after lunch, so we stopped at the Front Porch Cafe, where we ordered the Cheddar Bacon hamburger with yellow corn, coleslaw, and fried green tomatoes.

Dollywood
Welcome Pumpkins

Scarry Pumpkins
We saw pumpkins eating, reading, playing music (on rubboards and wash pans), painting, butterfly catching,
waking their dog, quilting, pumpkins made into a guitar, a large spide pumpkin with web, and so much more.

We saw this steel Eagle statue standing tall as it watched the Wild Eagle Coaster soar through the air. 

Near the Eagle Ride, we saw the Eagle Sculpture built by A Canadian sculptor, Kevin Stone, owner of Metal Animation Studio in Chilliwack,  British Columbia, at $250,000 US dollars.

Great Pumpkin Luminights Roaming Character was Patches the Scarrow
Harvey the Pumpkin, PUMPKIN Master, Pumpkin Polly,  Jack-O-Juggler, and Pumpkin Penny.

Throughout the park, we saw the roaming Characters of Applejack, Frances, Clive Abernathy, & Miss Lillian.

In Wildwood Grove, we saw Flutter, Flit, Ned, and Benjamin the Bear. 

We also saw The Wildwood Tree with a collection of butterflies dancing colorfully in the breeze.

When the sun went down, the music brought the pumpkins to life with dancing, & singing.

There were small pumpkins, large pumpkins, scary pumpkins, funny pumpkins, and pumpkins everywhere.

Dancing Pumpkins

We stayed at the park from 12 p.m. to close, we were worn out from all the walking. We walked to the trolley stop, waited in line to ride the trolley, and then we rode to the hotel.

We had purchased a two-day pass, so we needed some rest for another day at Dollywood. 

For breakfast at the hotel, I ate sausage, & a cranberry bagel with cream cheese and cranberry juice. 

We stopped at The Christmas Place it was packed, and there were long lines at the checkout.

We did visit the bakery shop, where we purchased a chocolate pretzel, a box of saltwater taffy, and some fudge. 

We stopped at the Lodge outlet, where we bought a seven-stick corn stick pan.

We ate lunch at Long John Silvers, and we both ordered Shrimp meals. 

Harvest at The Christmas Store 

Day two at Dollywood, but at a slower pace. 

At 3:30 PM, we watched the Hysongs at Show Street Palace Theater.

At 5:30 PM, we watched the Erwins at DP's Celebrity Theater

At 6:30 PM, we watched Live @ the Back Porch at the Back Porch Theater (there was a young man from Muscle Shoals performing  there)

At 7 PM, we watched the Cords Men at the Valley Theater.

When the last show ended, we walked through the Luminiights. 

We had a great three days, and I had never seen so many pumpkins in one place. I loved the Harvest Festival throughout Sevierville, & Pigeon Forge.

Now for the long ride home.

I saw this beautiful pink Rose of Sharon when we stopped at the Nick Jack Rest Area in Chattanooga on our way home.

2018 Feb 19-22, President's Special The Inn at Christmas Place Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Presidents Day, Monday, February 19
For breakfast, I cooked bacon, eggs, and toast.
Hubby and I rode to Athens to leave the Chrysler Van for repairs.
Filled up with gas at Murphy’s in Athens.

We rode to Madison to look at an old Fireo.
We stopped at Dollar General for snacks, meat skins, and drinks.
We rode through Jasper, South Pittsburg, White Side, Chattanooga, and Trenton, stopping at Richville Rest Area, where I took pictures of Pushing Forward Knoxville Union Army on the Move.

We traveled US 72 through Huntsville, crossing into Tennessee near South Pittsburg, taking I-24 through Chattanooga to I-75 N to Knoxville, I-40 Knoxville to Kodak, taking 66 to Sevierville, and 441 into Pigeon Forge.

We went to Huck Finn’s for dinner, for we had skipped lunch.
Hubby ordered the small catfish plate with creamed potato and fixings.
I ordered the Cajun Grilled Trout with creamed potato and fixings. (white beans, Coleslaw, onions, pickles, and hush puppies.

Huck Finn's 

We took several pictures at Huck Finn's.
We checked into The Inn at Christmas Place at 4:38 PM for two nights.
We took our luggage to the room and returned up front in time to listen to the Christmas Bells Chime.
We rode through Pigeon Forge to  Gatlinburg, where we saw many Christmas Lights for Winter Fest.
We saw Johnny Rockets, Bubba Gumps, Dicks Last Resort, Dude’s Daiquiris, Texas Roadhouse, Calhoun's, Hollywood Star Cars, and Cooters’.
We came back to Pigeon Forge, where we saw a building covered in green light.
We saw a sign that read Dollywood loves every moment turn here.
We saw a storefront with alligators, sharks, and bear statues.
We rode through the archway at the Old Mill, it was covered in Christmas Lights of red and white.
Hubby took my picture in front of a picture of people skating at the Old Mill.
We bought a bag of yellow stone-ground cornmeal and apple fritter mix.
We rode to Patriot Park, stopping to take several pictures and videos. Stayed on the sidewalk because the ground in the park was still full of water from all the rain.
As we were riding through Pigeon Forge, we saw Arcade lit up in neon lights and a new place called Alcatraz East Prison.

We rode through The Island, where we saw the carousel, fairs wheel, Margaritaville, and Paula Deans's Family kitchen.
We stopped to take several pictures of Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Adventures covered in Christmas Lights it was closed for the season.
We also saw the Magic Quest on our way back to The Inn at Christmas Place.
At 7:30 PM, we sat on the balcony at the Inn eating oatmeal raisin, Chocolate, and Sugar cookies served with hot apple cider.
It was a clear and warm night as we watched the flow of traffic and all the Christmas lights that surrounded the Inn.
We retired for the night, for it had been a very tiring day.

February 20, Tuesday
Took showers, dressed, and walked downstairs to the dining room for breakfast.
I got three sausage links and watched the cook prepare my made-to-order omelet.
I chose mushrooms, spinach, peppers, ham, and cheese.
The cook said he loved to cook, and I told him that my middle son loved to cook.
I said you have to have a knack for flipping omelets, but he said it takes a good pan.

It was still a little foggy outside and too early for stores to open up, so we went back to our room. Hubby watched TV, and I wrote in my journal.
Last night, before we went out, we talked to the bellman of the Inn. He said his daughter was the manager at the front desk, and he was a retired Sheriff of 25 years. He still worked part-time to get his 30 years of service. He said that he loved working at the INN.
At 10 AM, we rode to Gloria Vanderbilt and Lees, where we bought hubby a shirt.
We went to the Tanger outlet, where I bought a shirt from Under Armer and a black and white shirt from Nike. (I had only brought long sleeves tops, and it was 77 degrees outside) It is too hot for long sleeves.
We rode to Bass Pro in Kodak, where we bought hubby a couple shirts.
We ate dinner at Uncle Bucks, which is inside the Bass Pro Shops. We had all-you-can-eat shrimp for $9.99.

Uncle Buck's All you can eat Shrimp.

We rode to the Douglas Dam and park, stopping to take several pictures.
We filled up with gas at Murphy’s.
We rode by the Apple Bar, where we saw two geese waddling near Little Pigeon River.
We stopped at the upside-down Museum, Hatfield & McCoys, Hard Rock Cafe, and Titanic to take pictures.
We stopped at Dixie Stampede to take pictures of the horses.
We parked at The Island, walked around, stopped for Ice Cream, and finally sat down to watch the fountain dance to music.

Hatfield & McCoys 

The Island 

Watching Fountains Dance with the Sunset

Margaretville

We walked to Margaretville Hotel, a gift shop, and a restaurant to take pictures.
We rode back to the Inn around 7 PM.
From 8-9PM, we listened to Santa sing Christmas Carols and religious and Country Songs.
After the performance, we enjoyed milk, cider, and cookies.

Wednesday, February 21
Hubby and I enjoyed a nice hot breakfast, packed and checked out of the Inn, and started for home.
We stopped at the Rest Area in Jasper, TN, and Richville.
Hubby dropped me off in Athens to pick up the van.
Hubby rode to Madison to buy that Fireo we had looked at before we went on our trip. It had to be towed home. Hubby bought the Fireo parts for his Fireo.
Today is my grandson’s twenty-seventh birthday, so we are meeting him, his wife, dad, and sister at Logan’s Roadhouse for dinner.
Hubby and I ate hot rolls and fried mushrooms.
I gave my grandson a birthday card with money inside for his birthday. He said they were taking their camper to Fort Wilderness Campground and going to Universal Studios Theme Park for the weekend.

🚗2009 Nov 17-20, Trip to Pigeon Forge, Chattanooga and Nashville , Tennessee

Day 1:Tuesday, November 17, 2009

We left home at 8 A.M. and rode to Chattanooga, TN. We stopped in the old part of town and walked up to the historic bridge but it was raining and too cold to cross. We went inside the Subway and bought cookies and a drink. 

We rode through Chattanooga on our way to the mountains. 

We stopped at a rest area just outside Chattanooga to use the restroom.

The rest area was alongside the Tennessee River so I took many pictures.

We rode to Pigeon Forge, stopping along the way to take pictures of historic markers and other interesting things. 

We made many stops so I could take pictures of historical markers along the side of the highway.

Historic Bridge in Chattanooga

Historic Bridge in Chattanooga

Rest Area at Tennessee River the Nick Jack Reservoir

We made many stops so I could take pictures of historical markers along the side of the highway,

Dumplin Creek Treaty
About 2 mi. E., at the mouth of Dumplin Creek, was Henry's Station, founded by Maj. Hugh Henry. Here, the state of Franklin, represented by John Sevier, and the Cherokee Nation, represented by Ancoo, Chief of Chota, signed, on June 10, 1785, the treaty opening a large area south of the French Broad and Holston Rivers to settlement.
John Porter McCown,
Born 1/4 mi. SE, Aug. 19, 1815. Graduate USMA, 1840. Brevetted captain at Cerro Gordo, Mexican War. Resigned in 1861 for the Confederacy; rose to the rank of major general. Commanded at New Madrid, Madrid Bend, Island No. 10, and later East Tennessee. Dept Commanded division at Murfreesboro. After the war, teacher and surveyor in Sevier Co. Died at Little Rock, Ark., Jan.2,1879.
 Isaac Dockery
A native of Sevier County, Isaac Dockery, an African-American brick maker, and mason, established brick kilns near Sevierville. After the Civil War, he built or made bricks for many buildings in Sevierville including the Masonic Lodge (1893), New Salem Baptist Church (1886), and the Sevier County Courthouse(1896). A talented master builder, he taught several generations of local brick masons.
Nancy Academy,
Founded on this site in 1806, this school was named for Nancy Rogers, the first white child born south of French Broad River. The first trustees were James Reagan Hopkins Lacey, Thomas Hill, Allen Bryant, and Isaac Love. The Legislature authorized a lottery to support it in 1813; it burned in 1816 and was later rebuilt. It closed in 1890.
The McHanah Indian Mount,
This Mississippian substructure, Ft 16  high and Ft 240 in circumference, built during the Dallas phase (1200-1500), was first excavated in 1881, with artifacts being sent to the Smithsonian. Later excavations exposed nearby villages of the Woodland Indians dating from 200 A.D. to the Cherokee who roamed this valley when pioneers settled in the late 1700s.

We stopped in Sevierville hoping to get some discount tickets, but we ended up buying a temporary time-share. 

We stopped in downtown Sevierville, and I took several pictures of the Sevier County Courthouse and the statue of Dolly Pardon that was standing in front of the courthouse.

Statue of Dolly Pardon 

Sevier County Courthouse 

Shiloh Church 

In 1802 Methodist Bishop Francis Asbury preached in the home of Mitchel Porter, Revolutionary Veteran, who lived 2 miles north of Sevier County and preached in the newly built log chapel, 400 yards west of here. Shiloh Cemetery grew up around this chapel

We stopped at the Motor Harley Davidson Cycles to look at Motorcycles.

We checked in at the Inn at Christmas Hotel at 4 P.M. 

It was dark outside and the city was decorated for the Christmas holidays so we decided to ride around looking at the Christmas lights.

We went to the Black Bear Jamboree show and had a meal.

Come with us and enjoy Christmas at the Black Bear Jamboree where you can discover the true meaning of Christmas. 

The cast was dressed in extravagant costumes with vibrant sets and millions of Christmas, lights and they took us on an adventure to Santa's Workshop to the festive streets of New York City at Macy’s department store, and finally a Nativity scene with baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, the wise men and angels in the sky above. 

We were served Southern-style chicken hickory pit barbecue ribs, buttery corn on the cob, vegetables, potatoes, baked bread, creamy soup, and dessert with tea, coke, or coffee. 

Some of the songs they sang during the show were, I’ll Be Home With Bells on, Mary Did You Know, Santa Claus Is Coming to Town, Most Wonderful Time of the Year (at Macy’s) Sleight Ride. 

After dinner, we rode around town looking at the Christmas lights, back to the hotel for a good night's sleep in our luxury room at The Inn at Christmas Place a favorite place to stay in Pigeon Forge, TN 

Motor Harley-Davidson Cycles

Motor Harley-Davidson Cycles

Motor Harley-Davidson Cycles

Incredible Christmas Store

Incredible Christmas Store

Incredible Christmas Store

Incredible Christmas Store

The Inn at Christmas Place

 Black Bear Jamboree 

 Black Bear Jamboree 

 Black Bear Jamboree 

The Inn at Christmas Place

the lobby at The Inn at Christmas Place

The display is from a Christmas Story 

The Inn at Christmas Place, Santa, and Tree 

Apple-barnCider Mill & General Store

Apple-barnCider Mill & General Store

Apple-barnCider Mill & General Store

Little Pigeon River 

Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World

Christmas Tree at Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World

Setting next to the fireplace base Pro Shops Outdoor World

The waterfall at Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World

Brown bear at the Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World

Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World

Dixie Stampede

Day 2: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 

Early that morning we spent four hours listening to a talk about time-share, which we bought.

We rode to the Apple Barn for lunch. 

The Apple Barn is located in Pigeon Forge with unsurpassed natural beauty with a flowing creek right in front and a hillside of apple trees in the back. It has the best apple butter, and corn relish you can buy anywhere. Their restaurant serves the best apple fritters and apple butter anywhere. It was worth stopping and we ate at both places. 

The Apple Barn complex is home to two of the most popular restaurants in the area. The Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant is the original favorite. Built in the 1920s the farmhouse was converted to a restaurant and opened in 1986. It specializes in family meals and good country cookin'.

The Applewood Farmhouse Grill was opened because of the enormous popularity of the original restaurant. The Grill serves many of the favorites from the Farmhouse, with a few updates and some lighter selections. It is nestled in a beautiful location right in the apple orchard. We drove over to Kodac TN to the Bass Pro Shop large store decorated for the holidays and many stuffed animals. 

We rode over to Kodac, TN to the Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, Welcome to the Smoky Mountain's Great Outdoor Store by Reputation. At the Bass Pro Shop, there are departments for hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, or birdwatching. They have an aquarium full of fish that they feed, there is a restaurant called Uncle Buck's Grill and Uncle Buck's Coffee Shop and you can get you're fishing or hunting licenses right there on the spot.

For dinner and a show, we went to the Dixie Stampede.

They took our pictures before we went inside to eat.

The spirit of the season appears before your very eyes. The live nativity scene comes down from the ceiling it is dramatic and spectacular. The true meaning of Christmas comes alive as three kings riding atop camels on their way to Bethlehem. 

The beauty of angels from above is amazing. The holiday festivities get playful as Elves from the North Pole and the South Pole will compete in a friendly rivalry while serving up a festive four-course feast! 

We were served whole rotisserie chicken, creamy vegetable soup, homemade biscuits, corn on the cob, herb-basted potato, dessert, and unlimited drinks.

At the Dixie Stampede, cheering for your favorite Elves is all part of the excitement since the audience is always part of the show! Be ready to stomp your feet and get loud! That is all part of the thrill! From amazing stunt riders and the ring of fire to live horse races, there is something for everyone at the Dixie Stampede!

 Babes in Toyland,

Christmas in the Country

I will be home for Christmas

Dollywood Christmas Parade

Dollywood Express passengers & freight-line departure for the mountains

Day 3: Thursday, November 19, 2009

We bought season tickets to Dolly Wood and spent the entire day there.

We watched several shows and we stayed until the park closed at 9 P.M. 

We watched Christmas in the Smokies, O’ Holy Night, Dolly Wood’s Babe in Toyland, The Polar Express, and Santa’s Workshop.

Knoxville County Courthouse

Rest area in Cartage, TN

 John Harlan Willis Marker,

The Lord's Prayer at James K Polks Memorial Gardens in Columbia 

St John's Church 

Ancestral Home of James KK.Polk 

Maury County Courthouse in Columbia, TN

Day 4: Friday, November 20, 2009 

We checked out of the hotel at 9 A.M. 

As we were leaving Sevierville and driving into Knox County,  I took pictures of Knoxville, Sevierville Eastern Railways KS & E, The Great Indian War Trail, Knox County, Sevier County, Fort Dickerson, and Stanley.

In Knoxville, we rode by the Courthouse so I could take a picture of it.

Between Knoxville and Nashville, we stopped at the Rest area in Cartage, to use the restrooms and I took pictures of the Blue star marker, In memory of the Tennessee Department of Transportation Employees who lost their lives marker, US Senator Albert Gore Sr Tennessee and a Marking Time Preston Farabow artist.

In Nashville we stopped at Opry Mills Mall Shopped did not stay long.

We rode down the Saturn Parkway stopping to take pictures of Polk's Boyhood Home, and Sam Davis.

We rode through Columbia Tn stopping to take pictures of the John Harlan Willis Marker, Columbia Courthouse, Veterans markers at the courthouse, James Polk Rise to the Whitehouse, James Knox Polk Marker, James K. Polk House, Hood and Schofield Historic Marker, Forest, and Capron, James K. Polk statue, the stone-carved Lord's Pray in the nearby cemetery, Delaying Forrest, St John's, Battle and Snap Plantation.

Our last stops were on Highway 43, where I took pictures of  McMillan's Stand and Pleasant Garden.