Birthday Road Trip

Earlier this month, the family went up to Pigeon Forge for the day to celebrate my birthday.  It was such a nice way to spend a Saturday, I had to just share a little with you.

Normally, I dread a drive up I-40 through the Pigeon River Gorge.  The big trucks, the curvy road, and lane barriers and the mountains just make for one crazy, claustrophobic, scary ride.  Fortunately it was a lovely day, the traffic was light (with oddly very few semis) and the fall colors were just on the downside of peak.  It was beautiful!

The morning started with a stop I knew the male offspring would enjoy - the Smokey Mountain Knife Works in Sevierville.  After that we did some shopping at the outlets in Pigeon Forge, and then grabbed a light lunch.

Next up was my very favorite spot in Pigeon Forge... The Christmas Place!

I managed to talk the family into posing for some silly pictures.

I really love this store!  I could spend hours just looking at all the decorations and trees.  It's like getting to hang out in Santa's workshop!

From there we went down to the Old Mill.  Where we browsed in the shops... and bought far too much candy!

The day ended with dinner at my favorite restaurant in Pigeon Forge: Mama's Farmhouse. (you can read my previous rave review of it HERE) Seriously... if you like country cooking and are ever in Pigeon Forge you have GOT to eat here!

It was a wonderful day with the family.  Part of the perfect birthday weekend.  Which I don't think I thank the Man of the House enough for putting together for me! 

Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge trip: Wonders of Flight

Up, up, and away... in a giant helium balloon.  Oh sure. That sounds like a great idea for someone terrified of heights!  But that's what the man of the house wanted to do, so I sucked it up and stepped on board Wonders of Flight: a 72 foot diameter helium balloon which takes riders 400 feet into the air.

Needless to say, I was more than a bit nervous as we began to rise into the air. 

But once we reached maximum altitude I was able to relax and enjoy the views

That's our shadow down there!

Pigeon Forge on Dwellable

Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge: Hollywood Wax Museum

The Man of the House and I are celebrating 20 years of marriage this week.  In honor of the occasion we decided to take a little 3 day weekend getaway and go somewhere we've never been before.  The destination was Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

I had never been to a wax museum before.  Neither had the man of the house.  So a visit to the "Hollywood Wax Museum" in Pigeon Forge became one of those "Sure! Why not?" kind of things to do.   The building alone was enough to draw us in!

Truth be told, a lot of the figures weren't that impressive, and some were downright bad.  But being able be silly and pose with all the "celebrities" was just good, goofy fun!!

Somehow I thought the man of the house would have a bigger smile on his face

We're in negotiations for Mr Freeman to narrate my life

Man of the House and the Raiders of the Lost Ark

Who's Captain now, Sparrow?

I'm telling you... James Dean keeps staring at me!

Are you gonna eat that box of chocolate?

Man of the House - Mall Cop

I think you should fire your hair dresser!

I can't talk about it.

"If you're not first, you're last"

Shake and bake!



Team Edward



Beam me up!

So glad I'm not wearing a red shirt!

Look out!  Behind you!

I make this look good

Two of my favorite guys!!

I'm flying!  (one question: why does Jack look like a zombie?)

Ready for my close-up

Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge: Mama's Farmhouse

The Man of the House and I are celebrating 20 years of marriage this week. In honor of the occasion we decided to take a little 3 day weekend getaway and go somewhere we've never been before. The destination was Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

Our first night in Pigeon Forge, I was ready for some good Southern cooking.  We selected "Mama's Farmhouse" for our dinner. 

Mama's Farmhouse is southern food served family style.  No menus.  They bring whatever they are fixing that day out to the table!  The night we were there it was fried chicken, fried fish, meatloaf, soup beans, cole slwaw, mashed potatoes, and honey carrots.  Your choice of peach cobbler or banana pudding for dessert.

Best sweet tea I have had in a long time!

I wish I had more pictures of the food to share, but once it arrived I was so busy eating (and enjoying!) it that I simply forgot to snap more photos! 

The fried chicken was perfect!  Nice and crispy on the outside, moist and delicious on the inside.  All of the sides were simply southern perfection.  Nothing tasted frozen or canned.  It tasted, well... homemade!  I'm not big on cooked carrots, and I even had two servings of those!  That's how good they were.  The peach cobbler with ice cream was the perfect ending to the meal.

To be honest, I'm still thinking about that meal.  And a big part of me wishes we had gone back to try Mama's breakfast too! 

Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge Trip: Titanic Museum

The Man of the House and I are celebrating 20 years of marriage this week.  In honor of the occasion we decided to take a little 3 day weekend getaway and go somewhere we've never been before.  The destination was Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. 

After the drive up I-40 through the Pigeon River gorge (or what I like to refer to as "Satan's stretch of road"... ugh)  we had arrived! 

A quick lunch at Joe's Crab Shack (meh... mediocre at best) and a stroll through the Tanger Outlets.  Then it was time to visit my sight of choice...

The Titanic Museum! 

Gasp!  The building even looks like Titanic!  Be still my heart...

Anyone surprised by this selection obviously doesn't know me very well.  Or maybe at all.  ;0)

Sadly, photography is not allowed inside the museum.  Oh... the pictures I could have posed for on that replica of the grand staircase.  sigh....

But I did snap away to my hearts content outside the building.

The exhibits were well done and interesting.  Whether you are interested purely in the historical aspect of Titanic, or simply a fan of the James Cameron movie, I would highly recommend this as a stop when visiting the Pigeon Forge area. 

Crescent moon over Titanic

Yes., that's me.  In Titanic bliss.