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.

🎢Visiting Theme Parks

Dollywood Theme Park 

Map of Opryland Theme Park we visited this park at least twice a year until it closed.

Riding the Ferries Wheel at Wild Adventures Theme Park Georgia 

One of my favorite rides at Wild Adventure Theme Park 

Epcot with grandkids 2004

Disney Studios 2011

The Animal Kingdom with group cheerleaders

Universal Studios Hollywood,  CA with cousins

Silver Dollar City Branson, Mo 

Magic Kingdom1989

Universal Studios Orlando, FL with hubby

Island of Adventure Orlando Fl 

Bush Gardens Tampa with daughter
Bush Gardens Virginia with sisters no pictures

2013 ~May 25-31, Lee County's High School Graduation, Universal Studios & Sea World

Day 1: Friday, May 24, 2013

At 5:30 A.M., I drove hubby to Foodland to catch his ride to work in Huntsville.

I went to ECM Hospital to visit my dad; he had Gallbladder surgery the day before. When I got to the parking deck at ECM I programmed my GPS for our trip to Columbus, Georgia. I stayed with my dad until about 9:00 A.M. 

I picked up hubby at Mapco in Huntsville, Al near NASA at 10:30A.M.

We ate brunch at Cracker Barrel Store number 51 in Cullman, Al.

I ordered a kids plate of grilled chicken fingers, carrots, with an of glass water cost ($4.69)

Hubby ordered a bacon cheeseburger plate with onion rings $10.58 and a diet coke $1.99 for total $23.11. (We shared a dark mallow cup $1.19.)

We stopped at Peach Park in Clanton, Al where we shared a bowl of peach ice cream & a fried peach pie. We walked around the park and I took pictures.  

Holding up a peach at Peach Park 

Riding a horse

Peach Ice cream and fried Peach Pie, YUM!

Hubby at Peach Park 

Peach Park 

We arrived at Country Inns & Suites 1720 Fountain Court Columbus Ga at 5:30 P.M. Room 108-confirmation number 73984065.  Total cost $95.12 for one night. (706) 660-1880

Hubby took a shower and I changed clothes. Graduation was at Smith Station Middle School Stadium Smith Station Alabama. 

We arrived early, we sat in the front row of the bleachers.

I started talking to the woman next to me, she was a friend of Justin’s mom (Stacy), who was sitting next to me. 

She leaned over and said I think that is Justin’s grandmother. Justin’s dad (Josh) and brother (Andrew) came later. Josh and hubby started talking about electrical work for both were IBEW brothers. I was told that Justin had joined the ARMY he was to leave for camp in August. He signed up before he had told his mom or dad.

There were 394 students to graduate from Smith Station in Lee County AL, the graduation lasted from 8 P.M. to 10:00 P.M.

After the graduation we made several pictures, we said our good-byes. We told Justin and his family that we would be back through May 29 to pick him up.

Justin 

Justin, Josh, Stacy, and Andrew 

Justin, me and Hubby

Justin 

After the graduation most restaurants were closed, we found a Taco Bell that was open located at 7330 Veterans Parkway Columbus Georgia  31906 at 10:39 P.M. we spent $9.27. 

I bought lottery tickets at the connecting store. 

Back at the hotel, we climbed into bed for it had been a long day. 

Day 2: Saturday, May 25, 2013

We both got up took showers, packed, ate waffles with fruit and fruit juice for breakfast then loaded the van and started our journal to Orlando Florida. We filled up with gas at the Summit in Columbus Georgia $60.50.

Along the way, we stopped at Marks Melon Patch in Dawson Georgia for hubby wanted some boiled peanuts. I took out my camera, I started taking pictures. I saw an outhouse next to the fruit stand I opened the door.

It startled me when the dummies inside started to speak, hubby laughed. The owner said it gets them every time.

Outhouse

Dummie in outhouse

We stopped at some of the historic sites in Dawson Georgia. I took pictures of Terrell County Historic Marker, Confederate Gun Shop Marker, World War II Marker, James Mathews Griggs Historic Marker, Terrell Courthouse, old homes, and churches. 

While I was taking pictures, I met the great-grandson of James Mathew Griggs. He told me that the marker of his great-grandfather had been moved to the courthouse lawn.

The marker read: 

To the memory of James Mathew Griggs who represented with conspicuous ability and fidelity the 2nd district of Georgia in Congress from March 4, 1897, to the dated of his death January 5, 1910. This memorial is erected in his hometown by the people of the district. 

He loved and honored the people they loved and honored him.

James Mathew Griggs

Terrell County Courthouse

Next, we stopped in the historic town of Sylvester, where I took pictures of Worth County Historic marker, the courthouse, War Markers, and a hundred-year-old train engine.

The Train engine was enclosed with a gate, it had a roof over it, it was located next to the main highway.

While I was taking pictures of the train, I heard a laugh.

I thought to myself someone thinks it is funny that I am taking pictures of the train. 

I looked around to see who was laughing, and to my surprise, it was a goat! 

The goat was on a trailer behind a truck that was stopped at the red light.

The goat laughed and laughed as the truck pulled away. LOL! Needless to say, he was not laughing at me but I sure thought he was. I walked back to the van and told hubby about the incident and he laughed.

A hundred-year-old train engine in Sylvester

The Laughing Goat 

We ate lunch at Texas Road House 3830 SW Archer Rd Gainsville, Fl for lunch. I ordered sirloin steak with potato and water. Hubby ordered hamburgers and fries at 2:46 P.M. we ate at table 44 and our server was Rachel. Total cost for the meal $26.76. 

When we arrived in Orlando we had to drive through several tolls cost $5.25 to get to Country Inn & Suites 5440 Forbes Place Orlando, Fl (407)856-8896 room 112. 

We took our luggage to the room, changes clothes and rode to the Island of Adventure.

 At the Island of Adventure, we watched Poison Adventure, we walked to the back of the park to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter to ride the Forbidden Journey of Harry Potter. 

The Island of Adventure

The Island of Adventure

We left the Island of Adventure, we went to City Walk, I had talked to Lora, she was to meet us there. As always she was late.

We decided to eat supper at Hard Rock Café, we insisted on eating outside, they said that we would have to wait, we said that was okay, we were not in a hurry.

It is funny now, but we thought that their tables outside were downstairs.

We were lead to a balcony overlooking City Walk, which had a gorgeous view, but a bit briskly.

Being so high up, it caught the breeze of the parks.

Hard Rock Cafe in City Walk Orlando

Hard Rock Cafe in City Walk Orlando 

The balcony at Hard Rock Cafe in City Walk

We ordered boneless chicken tenders, water and coke cost $19.91. We sat there for as long as we could wait for Lora and her friend. 

We paid our bill and left. 

We met Lora and her friend at Bubba Gumps. There were people outside of Bubba Gumps jumping rope and Hula, Hula  Hooping. It had been a long day, we said good-bye, we rode back to the hotel. 

We stopped at Race Trac store 522 at 1875 McCoy Rd Belle Isle Fl 32089 to get fuel at pump one for 15.215 gallons at $3.549 per gallon it was 5:37P.M.

Day 3:  Sunday, May 26, 2013

We slept late, we ate breakfast about 9:30 A.M. after breakfast we rode to Universal Studios. 

We rode ET, Doctor Seuss Ride, Spider-Man, The Minions, we watched Fear Factor, the Animal show. We walked to City Walk, at 4:12 P.M. we ordered lunch at Bubba Gumps, our server was Eric and we sat at table 62. 

We ordered the Shrimper’s Heaven and two glasses of water cost $25.51. 

We walked to Universal Studios, we waited one hour and fifteen minutes to ride despicable me, which was a great disappointment. 

We exited Universal Studios, we went to the Island of Adventure where we bought a Choro cost $3.00 at Neeps Cart at 18:28P.M. Hubby bought a Lemon Slush cost $4.25 at the Poe Lemon. 

We bought a large coke for $2.99 at Market Café at 21:39 P.M. We stopped at Taco Bell ordered one burrito supreme $2.49, three Dorito loco supremes $5.07 for a total of $8.05, at 10:58 P.M. 

Are we having fun yet? 

It must be Sunday... We're in Color!

The Island of Adventure

Day 4: Monday, May 27, 2014

Hubby was very tired from the day before, so he slept in, while I wrote in my journal about the events of the day before. For breakfast, we ate eggs, sausage, bagels in the hotel.

At lunch, we went to Wendy's where we ordered  hamburgers and frosty’s paid cash $10.00

We arrived at Sea World at 1:14 P.M., paid $15.00 to park 

The shows that we watched were:

Pets Ahoy at Seaport Theater at 1:45P.M.

One Ocean Shame Stadium at 2:30 P.M. (Killer Whale)

A’Lure the call of the Ocean at Nautilus Theater at 3:30 P.M

Blue Horizons at Dolphin theater at 5:00 PM

Clyde and Seamore Take Pirates Island at Sea Lion & Otter Theater at 5:45 P.M

For the remainder of the day, we saw at dolphins at Dolphins cove, the Stingrays at Stingray Lagoon.

We walked through the Manatee Aquarium 

Ate chicken nuggets and corn at Expedition café. Spent $9.25.

We stopped at Taco Bell on Mccoy Road where we ordered one burrito supreme $2.49, two Dorito Loco supreme at $2.78, one Nachos Bell Grande $2.99 and spent $10.07, at 8:08P.M.

One Ocean Shame 

One Ocean Shame 

A’Lure the call of the Ocean at Nautilus Theater 

Sea World

Blue Horizons at Dolphin

Blue Horizons at Dolphin

Sea World Entrance Antarctica

Sea World Entrance 

Day 5: Tuesday, May 28, 2013 

We ate breakfast at the hotel of bagels, sausage, cream cheese and orange juice.

I called Majorie Goodrich to see if she was at home and if she would like for us to come for a visit. We stayed a couple of hours at Majorie's trailer. She wanted to walk the nature trail near her home. After walking the trail, we said good-bye.

We stopped at Golden Corral in Clermont Fl for a lunch buffet at $6.99 each for a total of $14.96.

We drove to Downtown Disney where we walked around stopping at some of the souvenir shops. We stopped at Ghirardelli for some vanilla and strawberry ice cream cost $5.91.

 Ghirardelli at Downtown Disney

 Ghirardelli at Downtown Disney

We stopped in DTD Bridge where hubby bought a diet coke for $2.76. We stopped in at Trex where I purchased a Trixie Trecerator for $19.17. (like a build-a-bear).

We bought gas at Racetrack for $33.00 9.431 gallons for $3.499 per gallon at 18:30PM.

  Downtown Disney

Downtown Disney

Downtown Disney

Day 6: Wednesday, May 29, 2012 

Paid hotel bill of $300.05 for four days, we loaded luggage into our van and started home.

We ate breakfast at the hotel.

We stopped at Mark’s Melon Patch in Albany Ga at 13:38 P.M. for boiled peanuts and onions.

We stopped at Pilot in Tifton Ga for fuel 12.73 gallons at $3.299 per gallon $42.00.

We picked up Justin in Phenix City and started home.

We stopped in Calera Alabama at Cracker Barrel to eat supper, Justin ordered chicken finger plate, I ordered a kids chicken finger plate and hubby ordered Bacon Cheese Burger plate, we spent $34.10. We bought gas at Murphy’s USA in Calera for 12.609 gallons at $3.569 per gallon for $45.00

We drove home stopping to drop Justin off at Shana's.

She greeted us at the gate, I helped Justin unload his luggage. We said goodbye and rode home.

Hubby had to work the next day, after all that driving he dropped into bed.