GATLINBURG AND DOLLYWOOD

May 11, 2006 and May 12, 2006

Since more rain was in the forecast we decided that we would not plan a bike ride or hike and would do the Gatlinburg Stroll instead.

We drove into Gatlinburg and parked the car and set off along the main street, umbrellas in hand.  We started with the Ripley’s Believe It or Not, which had a Batman car sticking out of the side of the building.  We walked along past the miniature golf courses (5), pancake shops (4), the T shirt shops (8), the funnel cake stands (4), Puckers Bar, the Haunted Mansion, gift and curio shops (too many to count), Go Karts, tramways (4), wedding chapels (3), and bridal shoppes (5).  We finished up with No Way Jose’s Mexican Restaurant.  All in about 3 blocks.  Of course there were many motels and hotels along our path too.  Luckily with the rainy weather and the off-season we didn’t have to deal with hordes of tourists, but still there were many people out looking for fun.

In the afternoon we decided to go to Dollywood.  They have a ticket deal if you buy your ticket after 3pm it is also good for the following day.  We figured 4 hours would be plenty for us, but thought it would be good to have the option to return if we wanted to.

Well, we were glad we did that, because there are about 8 different performances to see. 

The first day we caught the Kingdom Heirs singing gospel and Naomi and the Wood Brothers, a bluegrass band.  We explored the park which includes Timber Canyon, a lumber camp theme, Craftsman’s Valley and the Eagle Mountain Sanctuary, Dreamland Forest with its kiddy rides, Rivertown Junction where there is a replica of Dolly’s Tennessee Mountain Home and a whitewater rafting ride, Showstreet with it’s Gospel Music Hall of Fame, the Casing Rainbows Museum, Jukebox Junction, a step into the 50s, the Village with its Dollywood Express Train, and the Country Fair.  In our 4 hours we just had time to see these two performances and make a brief visit to each of the areas of the park. 

The following day we planned to be at Dollywood when they opened the doors, to beat the crowds.  It was Friday and we figured it would be busier.  Well, we didn’t beat the crowds.  It was very busy and the first two parking lots were full when we arrived at 10am.  But, we didn’t have to wait in line to buy tickets and I had spent hours the night before planning how to cram all of the performances in.  Plus, they really hyped their roller coaster, so I had to ride that.

So, we were able to enjoy the Country Crossroads group performing country classics, Heartsong, a film of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains and life of the mountain folk set to country music, the Magician, On the Back Porch With the Kinfolks, pickin’ and strummin’ with Dolly’s uncles and cousins, the Gem Tones singing those great 50’s classics, and the Rainmaker, a comedy/magic act.

We also toured the replica of Dolly’s two room cabin, the Gospel Museum, rode the train around the park, checked out the one room schoolhouse, watched the beautiful eagles in their aerie, munched a sandwich at PaPaw’s Flatbread stand, and took a ride on the Smoky Mountain Wilderness Adventure.  The Chasing Rainbows Museum houses Dolly Parton’s collection of photos of her with various notables, musicians and film stars, many of her costumes, and a multimedia history of her career.  It was very interesting and fun.  There were even interactive stations where questions could be posed and Dolly’s pre-recorded answer would be aired.

To finish up the day Don patiently waited while I rode the Thunderhead wooden coaster.  As a roller coaster connoisseur I must say this is an excellent ride.  I would have gone several more times, but it was getting late into the afternoon and was time to go see if the bear would make an appearance at Loggers Delight this afternoon.