Thursday, May 16, 2019

Smoky Mountain Opry Review

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I’ve lived within an hour of the Smoky Mountain Opry for nearly five years. My interest has been piqued for awhile, as we often drive through Pigeon Forge around Christmas to take in all the beautiful light displays up during Winterfest. It was on one of these drives we happened upon the Smoky Mountain Opry, and could hear the beautiful Christmas music wafting into the chilly parking lot, with Christmas trees and lights ablaze.

Finally, I recently had the opportunity to see the show. WOW. It was much different than I anticipated. The emcee is the former ringmaster for Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus (RIP, you are missed classic circus), and the only female ringmaster ever at the circus. She does a spectacular job of narrating the show.

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Their current show opens with a medley of songs from The Greatest Showman, with aerialists and acrobats to boot. The sets are fantastic, and the music is on point. Because of the term opry and the style it implies, I was surprised to find music outside the country genre. But interspersed throughout the show, between a startlingly wonderful rendition of a Garth Brooks song and a toe tapping country number, songs from Beauty and the Beast and An American Tale were performed. A classic country hit is updated with choreography including a silks aerialist that pairs perfectly. The caliber of talent is remarkable, and I had no idea we had such a marvelous show right in our own backyard.

As a huge Disney nerd, I especially loved the Beauty and the Beast and Mary Poppins song and set, and their An American Tale number brought tears to my eyes, as I’ve been known to sing it to my babies at bedtime (though they’re now old enough that both would blanch at being called babies, but they’ll always be my babies. I get what my Grams meant about that now.) I definitely quietly sang along many a time (as the audience is kind of encouraged to- I couldn’t tell if they were joking!).

During one big set change, a comedian comes out. Although I expected it to be a cheesy series of bits, he was seriously funny. I had tears in my eyes.

With fun concessions and songs the kids may know, this show may even work for those visiting with kids. Although the 8 p.m. start time and two hour run time is a bit after my little ones’ bedtime, I look forward to taking them at some point. Until then, I’m looking forward to visiting seasonally with my hubs as a date night!

If you’re interested in checking out the Smoky Mountain Opry and you live in one of the counties surrounding Sevier County, you can visit for a discounted rate!

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You can also purchase tickets online here. Tickets typically begin at $19.99, with special deals and coupons often found here. Ticket prices depend on what seats you choose.

Have you seen Smoky Mountains Opry? What was your favorite part?

Wednesday, May 15, 2019

The Moms that Built Me

 Hey friends! I also write over on the Knoxville Mom’s Blog. You can find my latest post here– a love letter to the moms who’ve loved me, who’ve helped build me into the mom I have become.


Friday, May 10, 2019

An Inside Look at Dollywood’s Cabins

 

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Dollywood has some great lodging options. You can find my Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort & Spa review here to learn more about that option, but this post is all about the cabins.

Did you know that Dollywood has cabins? Cabins are perfect, especially if you have a larger group, plan on doing some cooking, or just want more of a homey feel. Much like staying at the resort, staying at a Dollywood cabin has some serious perks!

Benefits of staying at a cabin:

  • Length of stay ticket: When you book a Dollywood cabin, you can also choose a Dollywood ticket that is good for the length of your stay. Here’s the pricing information for those tickets.
  • Early Saturday park entry: Cabin guests can access the park an hour before opening for one ride each Saturday. Bonus- for June and July, the ‘ride’ with early access is the entirety of Wildwood Grove! #PerfectSummerVacay
  • Reserved parking- free parking at Dollywood and Dollywood’s Splash Country
  • Cabin guests get $5 off Timesaver passes.
  • Many cabin properties have community pools and playgrounds.

Those are the official benefits. There are some other perks, too, though. Here’s why I loved my Dollywood cabin stay:

  • Breathtaking views are all around. It’s magical. Our cabin had three porches, all overlooking the beautiful Smoky Mountains. One morning I even woke up in time to catch a Smoky Mountain sunrise. It was unbelievable. I even had a gorgeous view out of the bathroom window.
  • Hot tubs! Our cabin had a hot tub on the porch. Yep, you can take in the view and soak at the same time. The hot tub was the perfect way to rest our feet after walking around Dollywood most of the day.IMG_2792
  • Cute details abound! Cowboy boot lamps. A totem pole in the living room. With each cabin being individually owned, you just never know what cute details your cabin will have. I discovered something unique and cute I hadn’t noticed every day.
  • Staying in a cabin gives an immersive nature experience. If some members of your group are more excited about Dollywood while others are looking forward to a hike in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, a cabin is the perfect lodging for you. You’re surrounded by nature with easy access to both Dollywood and the national park. You can have a vacation with all kinds of different activities, all in the Smoky mountains.IMG_2753

I had the opportunity to stay in one Dollywood cabin and tour several others, so these photos are a compilation of the various cabins I visited.

Dollywood’s Cabins offer a great opportunity to have a family reunion or multi-generational visit to the Smoky Mountains region. With Dollywood, the national park, dinner shows, Splash Country, and other entertainment offered in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, there’s something for everyone.

Remember, if you’re visiting Dollywood, you can get a discount on your tickets by using this code!

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Friday, May 3, 2019

Dollywood’s Wildwood Grove: Sneak Peek!

 On Saturday, May 11, Dollywood is opening an entirely new section of the park! It’s called Wildwood Grove, and it is all about family.

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As a Dollywood Insider, I got to get a sneak peek before all the final touches are put on. Here are the things I love about Wildwood Grove:

  • From start to finish, this section is all about guest experience. There is loads of shade, every landscape wall doubles as seating, and the lines for the rides are behind the ride itself, so you can get a great shot of your kid or grandkid without having to zoom in over the heads of those waiting in line.

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Shade, fans, and seating for those waiting on riders!

  • Hidden Hollow is an indoor, climate-controlled play area that parents are going to love. It can be so hard to get your kids to slow down and take a break at Dollywood- and who can blame them? But sometimes we need to cool off, and so do they. Hidden Hollow can give caregivers a break while little ones are cooling off but still playing. Win-Win!
  • Shaded lines! This will make waiting in line for a ride much more comfortable.

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Shaded line area with fans to help those waiting to ride be comfortable.

  • This entire area is really family focused, like the rest of the park (this is why you’ll find a play area for those under 39″ near Firechaser Express; this is done one purpose, so little ones don’t feel left out of the fun. They get their own fun experience while the bigs are on Firechaser). Wildwood Grove offers fun rides, with 36″ and 39″ height requirements, so more kids can ride. For those under the 36″ mark, the indoor play area and a splashing in the creek splash pad offer a diversion while bigger siblings ride.

Musical instruments and a splash pad are a fun diversion.

  • Gorgeous details abound. From carved shutters to hand-painted designs, the forest theme is on point and beautifully executed.
  • While we’ve seen character meet and greet moments during seasonal events, Wildwood Grove is introducing its inhabitants at their own meet and greet. You can meet fairies Flit and Flutter and Benjamin Bear daily for a special experience.

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  • The Wildwood Tree is an experience unto itself. Standing 50 feet wide and 50 feet tall, this elaborate structure is a visual centerpiece. The full experience will begin in June- trust me, you want to be in Wildwood Grove at dusk!

Rides

Wildwood Grove is introducing some new and exciting rides! Here’s what they are, and their height requirement.

  • Dragonflier: This suspended rollercoaster is the largest and fastest of its kind. Height requirement: At least 39″, those under 48″ must be accompanied by someone at least 16 years old.
  • Mad Mockingbird: Fly in a high speed circle around a large tree, just like Tennessee’s state bird. Height requirement: At least 36″, under 48″ must be accompanied by someone at least 16 years old.
  • Black Bear Trail: Go for a ride on a bear’s back on a meandering track with plenty of photo opportunities. Height requirement: At least 36″, those under 42″ must be accompanied by someone at least 16 years old.
  • Treetop Tower: Enjoy the view as you soar 40 feet in the air before drifting back down. Height requirement: No minimum height; under 42″ must be accompanied by someone over 16 years old.

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  • Frogs and Fireflies: Hop aboard and join the chase as the frogs and fireflies race around the lily pad. Height requirement: No minimum height; under 36″ must be accompanied by someone at least 16 years old. 
  • Great Tree Swing: Big enough for the whole family, this leaflike structure swings back and forth. Height requirement: At least 36″, under 48″ must be accompanied by someone at least 16 years old.

Food

Now that you’ve worked up an appetite playing in Wildwood Grove, where should you eat?

Till and Harvest is a restaurant offering patio seating while serving Smoky Mountain Mexican food. I’m crossing my fingers they’ll offer BBQ tacos, because if there’s any way to my heart, its through BBQ and tacos! Right now, this restaurant is planning to open on Memorial Day. Until then, you can check out my restaurant guide over on the Dollywood Insiders page.

Sweets and Treats: This walk up snack shop offers options for on the go snacking!

Shopping

Mountain Grove Merchants offers merchandise to remember your time in Wildwood Grove. I peeked in and saw some adorable bags and cute tees, as well as some over the counter medicine if you find yourself feeling a little off during your time in the park. Don’t let a headache ruin your Dollywood day!

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Insider Tips

If you’re not a season pass holder, use this code to purchase your tickets online and save. You can upgrade to a season pass in the park, and save $10 off per person. If you want to go to Dollywood more than once this year, the season pass is the way to go. My favorite option is to get one Gold Super Pass per family, and the rest Super Pass, so you can save 20% off with the Gold pass, get free parking, and get access to both Dollywood and Dollywood Splash Country all year long.

Season Passholders typically get a one-hour early access opportunity each Saturday, called early ride time. It’s usually one ride per week, but for June, July, and August, the early ride time experience is all of Wildwood Grove! Get access to all of Wildwood Grove for an hour each Saturday all summer as an extra season passholder perk!

If you’ve got little ones, remember to take them by central measuring before you hit the rides- get a color coded bracelet so you know exactly what rides your kid can ride, and your wait time will be more efficient if your kiddo doesn’t have to be measured at each ride.

 

What are you most excited for at Wildwood Grove?


Friday, April 26, 2019

We've Moved!

We've Moved!



You can now find all your favorite Paw Prints in the Sink content over at PawPrintsintheSink.com!

Tuesday, April 23, 2019

How to Dye Easter Eggs Without Vinegar

 Decorating Easter eggs was an inherent and much looked forward to part of my childhood Easter celebrations… Except for the stinky smell. It bothered me then, and as I’ve gotten older I’ve become unable to stomach the smell of vinegar. While I was pregnant, it grew worse. And my inability to smell vinegar lingered even after the babes were born. Now even warm ketchup or a strong salad dressing send me scooting away from the offensive dish.

So how can I reconcile my love of decorating eggs with my disdain for vinegar? One option is shaving cream, but then you can’t eat the eggs. We try rather hard to not be wasteful, and so shaving cream wasn’t really an option for us.

But then I got to thinking…whipped cream is a similar consistency to shaving cream, yet food-safe. What if we combined whipped cream and food coloring to dye eggs?

How to dye Easter eggs with whipped cream

  • Place two inches of Cool Whip (or off brand, if you’re like me) in a baking dish. We used one 8×8 pan for each kid.
  • Place one to two drops food coloring per corner and swirl outward with a butter knife (don’t mix too much- the eggs will do this for you). You can do more colors if you want, but this creates a marbled effect.
  • Roll hard boiled egg through as many or as few of your colors as you wish.
  • Don’t wipe the cool whip off yet! Place in a shallow bowl in the fridge for a couple of hours. 
  • Remove from fridge and wipe cook whip off with a paper towel or dish cloth. Don’t rinse!
  • Enjoy your pretty marbled eggs!

Sunday, April 21, 2019

Why Rainy Days at Dollywood are My Favorite

 My latest Dollywood Insiders post is up! You can check it out here. In it, I talk about my love for rainy days at Dollywood, and include some Insider tips on how to have a fabulous time, regardless of the forecast.