Somewhere In The Mountains

The Crafts of Dollywood

2009-08-18T21:49:00.000-04:00

The Great Smoky Mountains has a rich history and culture of arts and crafts. The people that settled here were on their own, so they had to figure out how to provide for themselves. Dollywood provides many opportunities to discover the various arts and crafts of the region. Master craftsmen and women demonstrate every day throughout the park, mostly in Craftsmen's Valley. Many of these people are extremely talented and have been doing these crafts their entire lives.

My personal favorite is the Woodcarving Shop. I regret not taking some inside shots of the store - I will be sure to do this next time I am there. There are tons of wood-related items in this shop. I especially enjoy smelling the cedar wood items. Thats me, picking up a wood box, opening, and sniffing. Some of the more interesting items are the wood spirits and fireplace mantels. Pretty much, anytime you go in there, the master woodcarver is working on a fireplace mantel with an elaborate mountain scene on the front. The attention to detail is amazing. Whats even more amazing is watching the craftsman work. He will also do customization of items you buy in the store. I found the perfect hiking stick on the shop's front porch and had him put my name on it. They make it look easy! We also ended up buying a mail and key holder wall hanger. The shop also includes wood carving starter kits in case you want to give it a try. I ended up getting one online before I went on my trip and I got quite far on my starter project - just need to get back to it and finish it. The wood spirits are especially cool. People in Germany once believed wood spirits protected the forest from fire and destruction. Eventually, people created these wood spirits as their interpretations of what the wood spirits look like. What you see here are the Smoky Mountains version of wood spirits.

Old Flames Candles is a candle shop with the most unique and amazing candles I've ever seen. Just look at the pictures below. I've never seen an ice-cream sundae candle before, but there it is! They also have an area where you can dip your own candles to color them. Watch out - that wax is hotter than it looks!

Smoky Creek Leather is the place to satisfy your leather needs. Hats, belts and jackets, oh my! I might have to get one of the leather wallets next time I am there. The leathersmith can usually be found at work making items to sell as well as doing customizations. This store smells really good...

Handmade wagons is a really interesting shop because you can watch the craftsmen build wagons. They had finished working on a Christmas sleigh last time I was there. This fully-functional shop is one of the last wagon-making shops in our country. There are signs around the shop educating visitors on different aspects of wagon-making. Also, they will let you hitch a horse up to a wagon and take it for a test drive. Just kidding...

The Blacksmith and Foundry has tons of iron items, signs, decorations, etcs, many of which will add nicely to your home decor. They create a lot of items daily here. Its interesting watching the blacksmith as he forges various items and talks about what he is doing. Its amazing to think this is how it was done! I believe he takes requests for customizations.

You haven't seen anything until you watch one of the glassblowers demonstrate the art of glassblowing at the Rainbow Glass Blowing Factory. I am trying to remember if there were glass items in the attached shop. I think there may have been some, but that shop has lots of other stuff in it that is unrelated. There is a shop in a different part of Dollywood called Custom Glassworks that is devoted exclusively to handmade glass figurines and ornaments.

Even though I mentioned the Sweet Shoppe in my Dining At Dollywood post, it had to be mentioned again here due to the fact that you can watch the candymakers make taffy and many other types of candy that are sold right there in the store. The candymaker was really nice and explained what she was doing when we asked how she did it!

During the Dollywood National Gospel and Harvest Celebration (basically, all of October), you will see dozens of different craftsmen from all over the country. The booths are spread throughout Dollywood. I found a woodcarver right near Victoria's Pizza that had all kinds of wood puzzles. I ended up buying two pair of wooden dice, regular size and jumbo size. I got a few other items but they alude me at the moment. If you have crafts you want to sell, you can request a booth and participate! Below is the fiddle maker in one of the provided booths.

In summary, Dollywood has many crafts demonstrated daily throughout the park. If you REALLY like crafts, October is the time to go as dozens of craftsmen and women participate in the Harvest celebration.

Check out my other Dollywood posts:
Dollywood Introduction
The Rides of Dollywood
Blazing Fury IS a roller coaster, mom!
Dining At Dollywood
The Shows of Dollywood

The Shows of Dollywood

2009-08-09T17:00:00.029-04:00

One thing that has always made Dollywood great is the live entertainment. Dollywood has a history of incredible talent gracing the stages all across the park. From the newest country hits, classic country such as Patsy Cline, bluegrass, gospel, 50s, comedy and more, its really hard to find another place that has such diversity.

Also, shows change throughout the year depending on the season. During the Festival of Nations, performers from all over the world perform their country's dance and music. With Fall comes the National Gospel & Harvest Celebration. Dollywood's Smoky Mountain Christmas wraps up the year with Christmas shows that really add to the holiday spirit.

The first show I have to mention is a show that, sadly, is no longer. My hope is that Dollywood may eventually revive it. Back before Dollywood was Dollywood, it was Silver Dollar City. Every evening, as the rest of the park closed, the Barnwood Theatre would host the Silver Dollar Jamboree. From about 7 until 9, this show was the ultimate closer to a day at the park. It was later named the Dollywood Jamboree after it became Dollywood. The show starred James Rogers, who had (and still does have) a one-man show several times throughout the day at Dollywood. The Jamboree featured a live band, a female lead, cloggers (dancers), and for comedy relief, Elwood Smooch. I will be writing an article all about him very soon. The music featured was current country hits along with classics. I have a lot of good memories of this show. As I said, it was the PERFECT way, for us the ONLY way, to close out our days at Dollywood. We would always sit front row or maybe second row. It was great seeing James lead the way after having seen him hours earlier in the day at his one-man show (of which I will cover below). James is an accomplished singer/song writer, best known for the song Fly Eagle Fly. I just spoke with him recently on my visit in October 2008, telling him of my fond memories of watching the Jamboree and he said he was just coincidentally speaking with the management at Dollywood to try and get something like that going again. For me, the highlight was whenever Elwood would come out from backstage and interact with James. Billy Baker, aka Elwood Smooch, is an absolutely amazing performer. He brings to life Elwood in such a way that its hard to believe Elwood is a character - even to this day. To me, Elwood is as real as anyone. Sure, this is one goofy hillbilly, but if you saw him, you'd know what I was talking about. I remember going on stage with them as a kid. Before the show began, a Dollywood staff member would ask a select few kids if they wanted to be in the show. I remember one year we went to Dollywood 4 days in a row (we went after 3, did the next day free, then repeated that). I remember being at the show the first night, they asked if I wanted to go on stage, I said sure. The next night, they asked again. I said I was just on stage last night. The guy says, no problem, you can do it again! Then on the third night, someone asked me AGAIN! I was like, I was on stage the last two nights. The guy says, thats fine, no problem! So I was literally on stage 3 nights in a row!!! Other fond memories of this show were waiting to talk to James and Elwood, I mean Billy (heheh), after the show. I remember walking out of Dollywood after the show, being among the last few people left. We would walk by the River Rampage, which was always empty at this point at night. And I remember going out to our motorhome, the only vehicle left in the parking lot! Then there was the drive through the woods between Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, then out of Gatlinburg along highway 321 to our campground Crazy Horse/Clear Creek Resort. Ahhhh, such great memories.

Ok, so that was a lot about a show that doesn't even exist anymore, but those were truly magical times. Dollywood needs to get this going again. So now on to the shows that ARE still being performed daily at Dollywood.

This has to start off with James Rogers. This show is one of the most fun shows I've ever been to. James has several guitars, some of which are capable of special sound effects. His show has comedy and music that ranges from rock, country, 50s to patriotic. He is an avid lover of bald eagles and as mentioned above, wrote the song Fly Eagle Fly, which was adopted as one of Tennessee's state songs. James is an amazing talent - a singer, song writer, and really friendly guy. He stays around after his shows and meets with fans, sign autographs, answer questions, or just catch up with those of us that keep coming back for more. He knew my family quite well when we went every year back when I was younger. If you go to Dollywood and just want to have a fun time, definitely see James Rogers. I just discovered his show was moved to the Wings of America Theatre for the 2009 season, which is appropriate given his love of bald eagles. Hmmm, now that I think of it, I wonder what James thinks about performing outside? He's been performing indoors for quite a few years now.

Country Crossroads, which is performed in the outside Valley Theatre, is a great show with a cast of six, three guys and three girls, who sing to recorded backing music. This show is one of my favorites because of the songs they sing. The songs range from older stuff like Patsy Cline all the way to the latest in country music like Rascal Flatts. The singers in July 2006 were noticeably better than when I went in October 2008, but maybe they had a few new people. Anyways, definitely a show worth seeing!

The Jukebox Junction section of Dollywood hosts the Dreamland Drive-In at the Pines Theatre. This show features the hits of the 50s and 60s with a very talented cast. The costumes and set are top-notch. My parents grew up in the 50s and 60s, so this was always a fun show to see with them. My mom is a huge Elvis fan. Even for those of us that are younger, its still a great time. One thing I love doing when I see this show is getting some cinnamon glazed almonds or pecans in the lobby!

Dolly's Family Reunion is just the latest incarnation of a tradition that goes back to the beginnings of Dollywood. Originally called The Kinfolks (as you will see in a picture below), this show is performed at the Backporch Theatre and features family members of Dolly Parton performing music and telling stories about Dolly.

If you want to hear some bluegrass, then see the Smoky Mountain String Band. Its funny, I don't really listen to bluegrass, but whenever I hear it, I love it. Its just so fast and up-beat. I don't know how anyone can listen to it and stay still! There's just too much energy! Orange Blossom Special, anyone?! I got a cd from one of the prior bluegrass bands at Dollywood and throw it on every now and then.

When you get off the train (notice I say WHEN, because if you go to Dollywood and don't ride the Dollywood Express, you are depriving yourself of a tradition!) Professor Seymour Tricks Magic Show will start up just as you come around the back of the caboose. For years and years and years, maybe even since the days of Silver Dollar City, there was a magician named David Talent. Unfortunately, he left Dollywood about two seasons ago. Anyways, the magic show is fun for the crowd, especially for the kids, some of which may end up on stage at some point! Right next to the stage is the magic shop where you can find all kinds of cool magic tricks, gags, etc. My nephews were going nuts in the magic shop. While in the shop, Professor Seymour will show you how to perform the tricks if you want! I got a squirt coin and squirt camera from here when I was a kid and I'm happy to say they still have them in the shop! This past year, we got a couple of items, but the most fun one is the magic coloring book, which you'll likely see during the show!

Several years ago, Dollywood became host to many injured and endangered birds in the form of the Eagle Mountain Sanctuary. This large aviary is home to many birds that are being rehabilitated. Its here that you can watch the Wings of America Birds of Prey show at the Wings of America Theatre. This show features some beautiful birds, some of which soar over the crowd. Of course, the star of the show is a bald eagle. Truly a majestic bird.

Sha-Kon-O-Hey! is a brand new show this season, 2009, so unfortunately, I have not seen it. If you've seen it, please leave us comments and tell us what you think. I can say that it looks like its a replacement for a previous show that was themed similiarly - a show all about the Great Smoky Mountains, how the mountains were before they were settled, and how life was for the earliest settlers after they arrived. I am sure this show has fantastic special effects, sets, costumes, and talent. Even though I haven't been back to see it yet, I can just about guarantee this is a show not to miss! This show takes place in Dollywood's "main" theatre, the Celebrity Theatre.

One final show I will mention is Heartsong in the Heartsong Theatre. This is a short, 20 minute multi-sensory show that is narrated by Dolly herself where she talks and sings about her home, the Great Smoky Mountains. Its interesting to see, but don't beat yourself up too much if you miss it.

Believe it or not, there's even MORE shows at Dollywood, although I would say these are the main ones. Dollywood's web site has a page listing all of them here: Dollywood Shows

Smoky Mountain Christmas is a very special time to visit Dollywood as there are tons and tons of lights throughout the park. The holiday season at Dollywood features 7 different Christmas shows. Talk about holiday spirit! These shows are Dollywood's Babes in Toyland, Christmas in the Smokies, Appalachian Christmas, Carol of the Trees, Christmas with the Kingdom Heirs, O' Holy Night, and 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. I went to Dollywood once during this season, but it was MANY years ago, and they have added a lot of shows I haven't seen. Therefore, I would say click the link above and scroll down the list of shows and you will see the Christmas shows. When I finally make it up there for Christmas, I will do a post on all the Christmas shows. It might be within the next few years, so stay tuned! If you go this season and write a good description of each show, let me know and maybe I will allow a contribution!

The shows at Dollywood are the only thing you really have to plan for - everything else you just do when you come to it. So I would recommend picking a few shows you really want to see and planning your day around those shows. Sha-Kon-O-Hey! is probably the show you don't want to miss. If you want to have a real fun time, definitely see James Rogers. If you are in a 50s and 60s mood, you don't want to miss the Dreamland Drive-In. To see Dollywood talent performing today's hits, Country Crossroads is where its at. If you want a real dose of Dolly, why not spend a little time with members of her family at Dolly's Family Reunion? All in all, Dollywood offers a great variety of shows from very talented performers! Its a BIG part of the Dollywood tradition!

Check out my other Dollywood posts:
Dollywood Introduction
The Rides of Dollywood
Blazing Fury IS a roller coaster, mom!
Dining At Dollywood
The Crafts of Dollywood

Dining At Dollywood

2009-08-02T10:04:00.025-04:00

On to one of my favorite subjects, food! Dollywood has some really great food throughout the whole park.

A great way to start off any discussion of food at Dollywood is to start with a great place to have breakfast, Aunt Granny's. Arrive at Dollywood 30 minutes before it opens and they will let you in. At this point, the only thing open in the park is Aunt Granny's. This is a high quality, all-you-can-eat buffet that serves both breakfast and lunch. For breakfast, you'll find ham, eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes, grits, biscuits and gravy, french toast, hashbrowns, fruits, cereals and anything else any self-respecting southern buffet would have on hand. It amazes me that the scrambled eggs still taste exactly the same as they did 20 years ago, which is a good thing because they are great. Normally, I am not really a biscuits and gravy kind of guy, but when I was there in October 2008, I couldn't believe how good they were - I was going back for more! Its just nice sitting there having breakfast, looking out the window at Dollywood, seeing the people walk by, and anticipating all the fun stuff you'll be doing throughout the day! Aunt Granny's also serves lunch and dinner buffets with a wide assortment of stuff, including fried chicken, baked chicken, fish, shrimp, steak, corn, mashed potatoes, other vegetables, breads, and some tasty desserts such as ice cream, cakes, and pies. Believe it or not, I am not sure if I have eaten there for dinner before, so I'll have to make it a point to do that next time I am there!

Another great place for breakfast is the Spotlight Bakery. Just walk through here and breathe in all the freshly baked breads and pastries. Fruits, salads, soups, and sandwiches can all be had here. I had a pastry last time I was there and it was huge. I would recommend sharing if you get anything really big. This bakery has it all - except for one VERY important thing... The best bread in all of Dollywood can't be found here, but rather requires a trip to the Dollywood Grist Mill. Inside this fully functioning grist mill, you'll find Dollywood's famous cinnamon bread, baked fresh daily until early afternoon. This stuff is REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY awesome. Don't forget to try some of this. Two people will devour a whole loaf in less than 5 minutes. I am not joking. Time yourself.

Another personal favorite of mine is Victoria's Pizza. Located across from the Dollywood Express train station, this place serves very good personal pizzas and some of the best garlic breadsticks/marinara sauce I've ever had.

Red's Diner is pretty cool because its in the 50s section of Dollywood called Jukebox Junction. This gives you a real feel of what it must have been like to eat in a hamburger joint in the 50s! Hamburgers, cheeseburgers, chicken sandwiches, chili dogs, and french fries are washed down with Coca Cola and root beer. The apple pie is pretty good too. I just love sitting in here with the 50s music playing in the background and all the Dollywood staff are dressed like its 1955! There's some old cars right outside that adds to the whole 50's atmosphere.

Apple Jack's Sandwich Shop is the place to go for sandwiches, soups, and salads. I believe their main sandwich is a chicken sandwich with all the fixings. If you are in the mood for some tasty apple cider, this is the place to go. They don't call it Apple Jack's for nothing!

If you are in the mood for a hand-pulled bbq pork sandwich, Hickory House BBQ is waiting for you. Amusement Business magazine named this the best pork in any theme park in the country! They also feature smoked chicken and smoked turkey legs.

You'll likely smell Market Square before you see it. As you walk up, the aroma of onions and peppers cooked in giant skillets and later put in cheese steak sandwiches is sure to catch anyone's attention. This is one of the first places you'll come to as you enter Dollywood.

If you happen to see someone walking around Dollywood eating a turkey leg, it likely came from Miss Lillian's BBQ Pit. I had a really good bbq pork sandwich here a few times, and their rotisserie chicken is pretty good. Corn on the cob, baked beans, and roasted potatoes round out the sides.

Miss Lillian also has an all-you-can-eat buffet, Miss Lillian's Chicken House. Located in Craftsman's Valley, you'll find some really good fried chicken here. Country fried steak and ham also round out the main selections along with some sides such as mashed potatoes, green beans, and other vegetables.

The Sweet Shoppe features several flavors of Edy's ice cream along with different types of milkshakes. This place is the place to go if you happen to be there on a hot summer day. The Sweet Shoppe also has a candy kitchen in it where you can watch taffy and other candy being made. The staff will even tell you how its done if you have questions! They have a ton of different types of candy here. Notice to all fudge-lovers - this is where to go! I got 5 types of fudge last time I was here! Milk chocolate fudge, maple fudge, maple walnut fudge, mint chocolate fudge, and peanut butter fudge. They had even more flavors - those were just what I walked out of there with! I believe this is where you can also get different jams and other stuff too. My sister loves Dollywood's pumpkin butter. I, on the other hand, am a huge fan of their apple butter! My buddy Ted just went up there a month or so ago with his family and I had him bring me back Dollywood's Hickory BBQ sauce and Mesquite BBQ sauce! I forgot to have him bring me back their apple butter! Cracker Barrel has a decent apple butter, but not as good as Dollywood's!

There are even more places to eat, such as the Backstage Restaurant. I am not sure if I have eaten there, so I can't really report on it. I would imagine its good like everything else Dollywood has to offer. Again, I think I'll make it a point to try it out next time I am there.

Bottom line, Dollywood is absolutely at the top of the game when it comes to food in a theme park. There is something for everyone all throughout the park. When I am there, I feel overwhelmed because I want to eat at all the different places but I can only pick a few! If you take one thing away from this post, take this: go to the Dollywood Grist Mill and get the cinnamon bread!!! And not too late in the afternoon or they might be out! We've literally been handed the last loaf to come out of the oven, with a line of disappointed people behind us! And this was like 2 pm, I think!

Check out my other Dollywood posts:
Dollywood Introduction
The Rides of Dollywood
Blazing Fury IS a roller coaster, mom!
The Shows of Dollywood
The Crafts of Dollywood

Blazing Fury IS a roller coaster, mom!

2009-07-21T10:31:00.011-04:00

I just thought I'd share a quick, funny story at Dollywood back when I was a kid. After walking around a bit, the family was going to ride Blazing Fury, the roller coaster in a burning town ride. I was, shall we say, a little apprehensive about riding it because I remembered riding it the year before. Now, I was probably 10 at the time, and even though I didn't mind roller coasters too much, I really didn't feel like riding this one... again. So I told my mom, "This is a roller coaster, I am not sure I want to do this one right now." And she says, "No, its not a roller coaster." I repeat, "Seriously, this is a roller coaster, I remember it specifically from last year. Don't you remember the on-coming train?!" She says, "D-J, would I make you ride something you didn't want to ride? Trust me, its not a roller coaster."

At this point, I didn't know what her deal was. Maybe she was confusing it with the Flooded Mine, which was also a dark, indoor ride (although no roller coaster). I don't know. But at this point, I was resigned and said, "Ok, no problem. Just wait, you'll see... Let's go."

Needless to say, after the ride, she realized she got a few nice surprises, in the way of three drops in the dark. Then I say, "That was fun! Let's go again!" Oddly enough, we didn't ride it a second time that year... Check out the Rides of Dollywood to see more Dollywood rides!

Check out my other Dollywood posts:
Dollywood Introduction
The Rides of Dollywood
Dining At Dollywood
The Shows of Dollywood
The Crafts of Dollywood

The Rides of Dollywood

2009-07-09T21:43:00.037-04:00

Dollywood has added many exciting rides over the years. With roller coasters, water rides, indoor rides, and kid rides, there is pretty much something for everyone. Several of these rides are award winners, so you definitely get a thrill at Dollywood. As you scroll down, you will see I have included links to YouTube videos of several Dollywood rides.

When it comes to roller coasters, Blazy Fury, The Thunderhead, Tennessee Tornado, and Mystery Mine round out the field.

Blazing Fury is one of the oldest Dollywood rides. This roller coaster is an indoor roller coaster where you go through a burning town. Its a dark ride with lots of burning buildings and people trying to escape. The darkness makes the drops a bit of a surprise. While inferior to all the other coasters (because they are all newer), Blazing Fury is still a lot of fun to go on. I truly hope they don't ever shut it down. I am concerned they might simply because its so old.

The Thunderhead, one of Dollywood's award winning rides, is quite possibly my most favorite roller coaster ever. Its a wooden roller coaster, and as such, pretty loud. You hear all the clickety-clack it has to offer. I love this coaster because it is a speedy 55 mph the whole way. The sweeping turns and changes in direction, along with the first-ever station fly-by makes this a ride you'll probably want to go on a few times. There's a really cool video of it from the front row shot by a rider on YouTube. Follow the link Thunderhead at Dollywood for a great video.

The Tennessee Tornado is a steel monstrosity and one wicked coaster. This coaster features a couple of loops that nearly make me black-out, literally. Its fast and has some crazy turns to it. Some people really prefer this coaster to Thunderhead, but I just really enjoy Thunderhead more. This ride is just past Blazing Fury, so its good to just knock them both out one after the other. Here's a video from the front row, Tennessee Tornado at Dollywood

Mystery Mine is the latest roller coaster added to Dollywood. This is a very strange roller coaster. The beginning actually launches you up vertically and the ride seems to stop and start a lot. I need to go on it again to see what other impressions I get from it, but it is a fun ride. The end part is the best part because it stays up to speed and does some twisting. It just struck me as a weird roller coaster. Its hard to describe - just go on it and see for yourself. Or watch this lengthy video both off the roller coaster and on it! Mystery Mine at Dollywood

Next up, the water rides. These rides will get you wet. The #1 Non-roller coaster in America, The Smoky Mountain Slidewinder, starts out this category. Then there is another favorite, The Smoky Mountain River Rampage, Daredevil Falls, and finally River Battle.

The Smoky Mountain Slidewinder is my favorite ride, ever. I am dying to go back to Dollywood just to ride this ride a couple of times. When I was there last October, this ride was shut down because of the cooler weather. Basically, its a water toboggan down the side of a mountain. Some people complain about the walk up to it - I welcome the walk. Its really not that bad at all, and in my opinion, WELL worth it. Once at the top, you are weighed and placed in either the left boat or right boat, with up to 5 people in each one, one person behind the other. When they let you go, it picks up speed, and fast. I guess what makes this ride so unique is that there seems to be an element of surprise, or rather, non-control. Every ride is unique because every ride there are different people of different weights sitting in different spots in the boats. The bottom line is when you hit a turn, you almost feel like you could fly out of the slide/track/whatever you call it. Then, of course, there is the drop at the end. What a rush! If this doesn't get your adrenaline flowing, nothing will. A final word of warning, when (not if) you get splashed on this ride, the water is COLD! None of the other rides have water thats particularly cold, but this ride does. Maybe they pump it straight out of the mountain! Here's a video, sadly its low quality and only 7 seconds. I will record my own video when I go next. Smoky Mountain Slidewinder at Dollywood

The River Rampage... ahhh the River Rampage... Some people miraculously walk off this ride relatively dry. Me? I walk off the ride looking like someone threw a full bucket of water at me, specifically on my shorts. I personally think this is the wettest of all Dollywood rides, but then again, I haven't actually been on River Battle yet. This is one of those rides I just have to go on, even though I don't want to slosh around Dollywood for the rest of the day in wet shorts and wet socks. Specifically, its the wet socks that drives me nuts. There are several videos on YouTube for this ride, so I thought I'd link to a few of them.
This kid gets pretty excited, not to mention soaked halfway through the ride
Teen girls on the ride (the audio is very loud)
Another family rides
This little kid Trevor wants to go again!

Daredevil Falls is a log flume ride. Years ago, Dollywood had a much smaller ride called The Log Flume, which was actually from the New York World Fair. Daredevil Falls is a fun ride and you can get wet - not absolutely soaked like the Rampage, but pretty wet. The only thing that irks me to this day about Daredevil Falls is that it was built on the site of one of my other favorite rides, The Flooded Mine, a slow-moving boat ride through a mine with prisoners and bandits. We miss you Flooded Mine! Here's the video of the drop at the end of the ride, Daredevil Falls at Dollywood

River Battle is one of the newest rides at Dollywood. At first, I thought I wouldn't really care for this ride very much. Actually, I have yet to go on it. BUT, I can't wait to because this is a really cool ride after all. You ride in boats and shoot at targets along the way, including other boats (ship to ship battles) and better yet, people walking by the ride (ship to shore) that wander into the shooting zones. Of course, they have water canons mounted that can shoot back at you. This was actually my own experience with the ride. As we walked by, I saw a kid standing manning one of the water canons on the walkway, shooting at riders in one of the boats. After they targeted him from the boat, he ran off. So I naturally took up the call to action, ran over to the water canon, and started blasting some mom in one of the boats! She finally realized where all the water was coming from and started firing back at me! Of course, I was able to retreat and stay dry! What a cool ride, whether you actually ride it or just walk by it! Here's a video of all the action, ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore, River Battle at Dollywood

There are several other rides, but I am just going to mention a few of the other big ones.

The Dollywood Express is more than a ride, its an experience. You can't go to Dollywood without riding this. Pulled by either Cinderella or Klondike Katie, the Dollywood Express takes you on a 5-mile ride through Dollywood and its backwoods. This is a steam-powered, coal-fired locomotive that is so much fun to ride. Just hearing that train whistle blow brings a tear to me eye! Sometimes midway through the ride, the train will stop and a short show is put on, sometimes taking people from the train. I recommend sitting near the back so you get a good view of the train as the track turns to the left or right. And don't forget to wave to everyone waiting at the train crossing guards as you roll by them! When the train ride is over, the people in the back get off first as you walk around the back of the caboose. And when you do make it around the caboose, you'll notice a magic show starting at the stage to the left of the train! Sit down and check it out! One of my favorites is the magic coloring book! Next to the stage is a magic shop with tons and tons of cool stuff. My nephews were like kids in a candy store when they went in there, except they were kids in a magic shop... Ok, back to the train, There are a ton of Dollywood Express videos on YouTube, so here's a few videos.
Dollywood Express
Better quality video on the train
Dollywood Express leaves the station on the last day of the 2008 season, Jan 3rd, 2009. Notice the Christmas trees and lights!

The last ride I will mention is the Sky Zip, a brand new attraction for 2009, so I haven't done it yet. Its a zip line operated by a company from Hawaii. There are 5 stations, so you get 5 legs of the zip line tour you go on. The whole experience lasts 1 hour and it is the only thing in Dollywood that is a premier attraction which means you have to pay extra if you want to do it. I believe its $40 per person. I am definitely looking forward to trying this out when I get up there next summer.

There are more rides at Dollywood, including a whole section called Country Fair with fair rides for little kids. Just check out Dollywood's web site http://www.dollywood.com/ for more Dollywood rides! All in all, I am no ride aficionado, but Dollywood has some very fun rides for everyone. The other thing I forgot to mention is the ride operators are very cool - some of them are hilarious and entertain you while you are waiting.

Check out my other Dollywood posts:
Dollywood Introduction
Blazing Fury IS a roller coaster, mom!
Dining At Dollywood
The Shows of Dollywood
The Crafts of Dollywood

Dollywood!

2009-07-07T22:40:00.021-04:00

In the early 80s, my family discovered one of our most favorite places to go, even to this day. That place? Silver Dollar City Tennessee. The park was bought by the Herschend family as a sister park to their Branson, Missouri park, Silver Dollar City. In 1986/1987, Dolly Parton got in on the action with the Herschend Brothers and named it Dollywood!

If you've never been to Dollywood, you are missing out on a really wonderful experience. Dollywood is one of the most fun theme parks you'll ever go to. It has so much to offer that I am going to give a good overview of it in this article, then I will be posting separate articles on Dollywood's rides, shows, crafts, and dining. I may try to get my wife to write the article on shopping in Dollywood! This will sound more like a review than a what-we-did blog because the last time I was there was last October, so we did on each day is a little lost on me. When I go again (currently expecting to in early or mid 2010), I will post a blog that's more of a what-we-did or as-its-happening style.

If you want to add some family fun to your Smoky Mountain vacation, give this place a try. I have seen it grow over the years in every direction. They have added some pretty cool rides, attractions, and shows over the years. The shows have some very talented people. The only two things that ever really bummed me out about Dollywood was 1. when they closed down their ride The Flooded Mine, a slow-moving boat ride through a mine with prisoners, and 2. when they stopped producing the Dollywood Jamboree, which was a daily park-closing two hour show starring James Rogers (who also does an amazing one-man show several times a day). This show featured a female lead, a live band, dancers (cloggers!), a few other talents, and that hillbilly hunk, Elwood Smooch! Elwood Smooch, aka Billy Baker, left Dollywood to pursue his own show and is currently at the Chattanooga Choo Choo in Chattanooga, TN. I will do another article on Elwood as he certainly is deserving of his own!

Back to Dollywood. Dollywood has something for everyone. Some people like shows. Some people like rides. Some people (ok, most of us) like to eat. Some people like to shop. Some people like crafts. You will find it all at Dollywood. As it has grown quite a bit, there is a lot to see. A deal they have always had at Dollywood is if you come into the park after 3:00 pm, you get the next day free! I highly recommend this if you want to get a decent Dollywood experience. I showed up at 2:15 pm one time and they said as long as I wait until 2:30 before entering, they can give me the next day free, so I didn't have to wait until 3:00!

There are certain things I always have to do when I go. Visiting the Dollywood Grist Mill is a tradition for me. Anytime before early afternoon, you can go in there and ask for their famous fresh baked cinnamon bread. Once you buy one of these, their life expectancy is about 5 minutes, no joke.

Another thing thats been at Dollywood probably longer than anything else there is the Dollywood Express, consisting of two steam-powered, coal-fired locomotives, one named Cinderella, the other named Klondike Katie. The girls will take you on a 5 mile train ride through parts of Dollywood and the backwoods behind it. Every now and then, they stop the train on a loop thats midway through your journey, and put on a short, impromptu comedy show, whether its train robbers or some other funny scenario, sometimes involving one of us train riders!

Eagle Mountain Sanctuary is a great attraction added several years back now. Injured birds are brought here and rehabilitated and returned to the wild. Of course, they have a few bald eagles as well. The area is a huge, netted enclosure that gives the birds plenty of room to fly around in, which gives visitors a great show. Speaking of shows, the Birds of Prey show in the Wings of America theatre is a great show for seeing these birds up close as they are presented on stage and even fly over the crowd!

As far as food goes, everything at Dollywood is awesome. We like to get there about 30 minutes before the park officially opens so we can eat breakfast at Aunt Granny's. They have an amazing breakfest buffet. Its hard to imagine, but in all the years of Dollywood, their scrambled eggs still taste the same as they did 20 years ago! I am not normally a biscuits and gravy guy, but they had me going back for more. For lunch, I usually like to swing by Victoria's Pizza, right across from the train station. They serve personal pizzas and their breadsticks and marinara sauce are some of the best I've ever had. Another place worth mentioning is Market Square. When you walk through here, you won't be able to miss the aroma of bell peppers, onions, and sausage being cooked in cast-iron skillets. Check my article on Dining at Dollywood for a more thorough account of eating at Dollywood.

As far as rides go, Dollywood delivers - for everyone. Roller coasters, water rides, rides for the kids. Two of my personal favorites are award-winning rides. The Smoky Mountain Slidewinder, a water toboggan ride down the side of a mountain, was named #1 Non-Roller Coaster Thrill Ride in America a few years back. The Thunderhead has been named #1 Wooden Roller Coaster. If you manage to come off the Smoky Mountain River Rampage dry, I suggest you play the lottery because that would be your lucky day. If you have little kids with you, the Country Fall Fairs area of Dollywood has lots of rides for the little ones. I find myself wanting to go into more of the rides right here, but I keep reminding myself More detail of the rides, along with with pics and links to YouTube ride videos is here at The Rides of Dollywood!

Dollywood has a rich tradition having some very talented people performing on the various stages throughout the park. This is another area where I am going to have an article dedicated to the shows of Dollywood, but I will mention a few here. First off, I have to mention James Rogers. This guy has been entertaining us all for over 20 years. He's a one man show that plays a wide range of stuff and has a lot of fun doing it. He also wrote one of Tennessee's state songs, Fly Eagle Fly. Another of my personal favorites is Country Crossroads, set in an outdoor theatre where today's country music is covered while also paying respects to country's past. A 50's show, a magic show, bluegrass, and Dolly's own kinfolks also play out across the stages of Dollywood every day. Again, for more on shows at Dollywood, see my article The Shows of Dollywood.

The themed shops of Dollywood are a blast to walk through. A magic shop, nature shop, music shop, an Ireland themed shop, candy shop, crafts shops for wood carving and leatherworks, as well as the Butterfly Emporium are just some of the shops in Dollywood. I will likely co-write an article on the shops of Dollywood with my wife very soon. My wife went nuts going through all the stores. When we were there in October, we started getting souvenirs for everyone, then thought, why don't we just make these souvenirs be everyone's Christmas gifts?! So we ended up doing a lot of our Christmas shopping in Dollywood.

Crafts are a core part of Dollywood. In Craftsmen's Valley, you can find a wood carving shop, leather shop, blacksmith, wagon making, and more. Other parts of Dollywood are home to the candle shop, glassworks, and glassblowing. You can get customized or personalized merchandise as well. My favorite shop is the woodcarving shop. Like many of the crafts shops, Dollywood employs expert craftsmen. Every time you go in there you'll see the main project the master woodcarver working on is an elaborate fireplace mantle. Back in October, I was on a quest to find a new hiking stick. There was a ton of them outside the shop, so I picked mine out, then had the woodcarver carve my name in it. See my article The Crafts of Dollywood for more information on the crafts at Dollywood.

Seasons in Dollywood don't pass without big changes. Depending on the time of year, Dollywood has special festivals that give a unique experience. In Fall, the National Gospel and Harvest Celebration brings lots of Fall decorations throughout Dollywood, such as pumpkins, unique shows, and lots of local craftsmen selling their creations in the streets of Dollywood. While there was lots of neat stuff, one of my favorites was a guy that set up his booth across from the train station where he sold several different wood puzzles and other related items. I ended up buying wood-carved dice, a regular-sized set and a jumbo-sized set. I just had to have them. I don't know why. I just did. And now I do. Winter brings with it Smoky Mountain Christmas, where the park is decorated in Christmas lights and a huge Christmas tree is set up, along with other holiday decorations. Special holiday shows are added to put you in the mood and make you have a great Smoky Mountain Christmas. Spring brings the Festival of Nations, with international shows, music, food, and artistry. Summer belongs to the kids in Dollywood's annual KidsFest, with special shows, rides, and attractions just for kids!

The staff at Dollywood are very friendly. Dollywood employs the entire spectrum of ages. In addition to a young staff, it has quite a few older people that work there. And a lot of these people are so funny. Some of the ride operators will tell jokes and entertain you while you wait. You almost get the feeling these people enjoy their jobs. On the train ride, the conductor will have you waving at complete strangers at railroad crossings, and they'll all be waving back. At Dollywood, there's just a real good vibe you don't get anywhere else, let alone a theme park. Whether its fair to make the comparison or not, I have always said Dollywood just feels "real" as opposed to other theme parks, even Disney.

All in all, Dollywood's motto rings true for most people that go there, "Memories worth repeating." And with all that Dollywood has to offer, that makes it easy. Dollywood is constantly growing, yet it still maintains its charm. The people here continue to keep it personal and make you feel right at home.

Check out my other Dollywood posts:
The Rides of Dollywood
Blazing Fury IS a roller coaster, mom!
Dining At Dollywood
The Shows of Dollywood
The Crafts of Dollywood

Hillbilly Golf: A Unique Golfing Experience

2009-06-28T21:53:00.008-04:00

When visiting Gatlinburg, TN, its a tradition for me to play at least one, usually two games of Hillbilly Golf. On your way into Gatlinburg from Pigeon Forge, as soon as you exit the woods and see the first signs of town, you come right across the awesome mini-golf experience on the left-hand side. It seems like its been there forever - I can't remember it not being there.

What makes it so unique, and so much fun, is that you ride a 12-person (maximum) car up the side of the mountain to Hillbilly Golf's two 18-hole mini-golf courses. When you get to the top, you pick which side to get out on, which determines which course you play. Despite having been up there as recently as October 2008, I can't remember anything unique about one side or the other that would make one course better than the other. In fact, I think there were a few holes that were similiar, but all in all, they are both fun courses to play. Last October, I played at night for the first time, and that was a really cool experience as I was on the side of a mountain playing mini-golf down it in the dark! Well, they do have extremely adaquate lighting that comes on at dusk, so I guess its not in the dark, but you get the idea.

Game play for Hillbilly Golf is that you play a hole and go down steps to the next hole. Actually, many of the holes require going down steps to play the end of the hole! The course has some very challenging holes with very slight hills that can really take its toll on your score if you aren't careful! Like I said before, the two courses are pretty even, so its not like one side is easier than the other. Once you play down to the half-way point (ie half-way from the bottom to the top where you got off the car), there is a place to wait for the car to pick you up on its way down from dropping off the latest players at the top. Also, important point to keep in mind: because you are at the mercy of the car to come pick you up and bring you back to the bottom, if you gotta go, you are going to have to hold it. At some point into the game I realized I needed to go, and it was kinda rough. Keep this in mind if you have kids with you, or grown-ups like me that don't plan ahead. I was afraid I was going to make a puddle. Fortunately, there are bathrooms in the adjacent parking lot.

There are some other mini-golf courses in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, but I have never gone to any of them. As much as I like playing mini-golf, I don't go all the way to Tennessee to play it. There is one called Black Light Golf in the middle part of Gatlinburg that I *may* try someday, but who knows. I just love Hillbilly Golf because of the twist with playing down the side of the mountain and its like being in the woods. If you have played any of the others and have anything to say about them, post a comment and let me know!

Where to stay in the Smokies

2009-06-21T22:05:00.026-04:00

When you go to the Great Smoky Mountains, there are only two really good options: camping or a cabin/chalet. Do not stay in a hotel. Repeat, do NOT stay in a hotel. When you stay in a hotel, you are likely to want to only be out and about all day (why would you want to sit around in a hotel?), but if you are gone all day, then you are exhausted at the end of the day. End result: you need a vacation from your vacation.

By staying in a cabin, or even better yet, camping, you get a much fuller experience of what the mountains have to offer. Some of the cabins you can rent are nice, REALLY nice, like you'll end up wanting to move into it permanently. While there are cabins all over the Smokies, the ones between Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg are centrally located, making it very convenient to go to either town whenever you want, or you can go back up to your cabin and get away from it all. Cabins often have pool tables, hot tubs, and fantastic views.

The other option is camping. This could mean tent camping, camping in an RV, or in some campgrounds, staying in a camping cabin, which is much smaller than the above-mentioned full-house style cabins, yet still provide a great mix between camping and staying indoors. While there are quite a few campgrounds in the area, there is one and only one I ever stay at because I have always stayed there. I consider it my second home. Crazy Horse Campground, off Highway 321, about 12 miles east of Gatlinburg, has a lot to offer.

It has lots of trees, so its very shaded. I have been appalled at some of other campgrounds' lack of shade! Who wants to camp with the sun beating down on them? Another huge feature is that Crazy Horse has creeks that run through the campground. I can't tell you how many hours I spent as a kid going into the creek and trying to damn up the water with all the rocks. Actually, I was down in the creek again the last two recent times I was up there: July 2006 and October 2008. Its nice to wake up to the sound of the water rushing past the rocks, creating that great babbling-brook sound. In the back of the campground the creek turns into a couple of pretty cool waterfalls with a pool at the bottom. Beware the slippery rocks! I found it easier to go in barefoot as it allows me to keep my balance better and know whether I am on a slippery rock or not. If you do happen to go in with your shoes on, then decide to dry them by a campfire that evening, I recommend keeping an eye on them. My dad and I melted our shoes one night that way!!!

Crazy Horse also has a trout pond where you can catch your own fish. Just behind the pond is one of the coolest things I've ever seen in a campground - a little cabin with a porch, a firepit, and bleachers in the front. Welcome to the Jack Tales Theatre, where on Saturday nights, stories are told by campfire for everyone there. Campers volunteer for bit parts in the tales for a very unique and fun experience.

At the front of the campground is a pool, waterslide, a general store, and a recreation center with video games, air hockey tables, wi fi for your laptop, and a crafts room. There are several wash rooms throughout the campground, along with bathrooms and shower facilities. In the center of the campground is a small playground.

We used to go to Tennessee for two weeks during the summer, every summer, in our motorhome when I was younger. So when we were not busy going to Dollywood or going into Gatlinburg or whatever, we had days where we just hung around the campground cooking out, listening to music, playing cards, playing down in the creek, having campfires, and just relaxing. When I was a kid, my dad would put Indian arrow heads and fools gold down in the creek (you can buy that stuff in Pigeon Forge) for me to find. Years later I finally figured it out! But for a while, I thought I was rich. Turns out I was right all along - not rich in gold, but rich in memories of the most fun family vacations one could hope for.

The last two times I was there (July 2006 and October 2008), we stayed in one of the 7 log cabins along the same creek we used to camp along in our motorhome. From here on out, I will be staying in those cabins. We may be going back next summer, 2010, in fact. They have covered front porches that overlook the creek. Go inside and you have all you need, a pull-out couch, tv, kitchenette and fridge, bathroom with shower, and back bedroom.

I know this sounds like a review, but its not. This is just my experience and I really do love this campground. They have no idea I have written this article. If you do stay, make sure you get a spot along the creek. They have full hookups for RVs and pop-ups, tent spots, and 7 cabins along the creek. A map of the campground is here. If reserving the cabins, one of the 7 cabins (green icon) along the creeks is what I recommend. The deluxe cabins (red icon) are not that much bigger, plus they are no where near anything interesting, especially the creek. The rustic cabins (brown icon) are smaller, also not on the creek, and have no bathrooms in them. The log cabins (green icon) are the way to go as they are on the creek and have bathrooms in them.

Well, I hope this review was interesting! I had fun writing it!

Somewhere In The Smokies

2009-06-21T21:22:00.002-04:00

Welcome to Somewhere In The Mountains! This is my blog dedicated solely to the vast amount of time I have spent in the Great Smoky Mountains of east Tennessee. While I do intend on someday visiting the Rockies and will definitely blog on the experience, I have come to call the Smokies my second home. My family and I have been going on an annual basis since I was about 7. I am 31 now, so do the math. The Smoky Mountains, comprising of the towns of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, as well as the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, have tons of fun and entertainment to offer the whole family. There is something for everyone. Some people enjoy doing the touristy stuff such as the shows, attractions, Dollywood, and everything else the area has to offer, while others prefer the more outdoors-type adventure, such as horseback riding, white water rafting, tubing, running ATVs, camping, hiking, and so on. The area has the best southern food you'll find anywhere and you will find it rich in arts and crafts. If you go here and get bored, I recommend having someone check your pulse to make sure you are still alive because there is simply so much to do here.

This blog is going to go into all of the things I have experienced over the years as well as things I do in the future. I have years worth of memories, stories, and photos that will become a part of this site. And my wife and I intend on starting a family so we can keep the tradition alive as we go back again and again over the years to come. We've even thrown around the idea of retiring here someday! By reading these posts, you will have a very good idea of what the Smokies have to offer you and the family! If you haven't been yet, I hope this inspires you to visit. And if you have been, I hope it brings back your own memories. Well, that's it for my introduction, but as they say in Tennessee, ya'll come back now, ya hear?