Our Gatlinburg Labor Day Getaway - COMPLETED 9/17!!
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RobDVC · 09-06-2005, 01:36 PM

What a great view from your room!

SuperKate · 09-06-2005, 04:26 PM

Great start!

I can't wait to read more.

mestitch · 09-06-2005, 07:20 PM

Day One cont.: Roll Me Out of Here Please

So we get settled into our room and we're both STARVIN'!!! So I take a few minutes to wash, dry, and fix my hair (try and look presentable). And then we headed out for lunch. It was about 1:00 by now and the only thing we'd had all day was a granola bar before we left home. We grabbed a trolley map from the hotel office and got some change so we could ride. When the purple trolley came by we got on, but we were dorks and realized we should have gotten on the trolley going in the opposite direction So we had to ride the majority of the loop, which went up to the Gatlinburg Welcome center and then back past our hotel, and to the Park and Ride at Ripley's Aquarium.

After our 20 min. scenic route we got off the trolley and knew we had to stop at the first place we saw to eat. We went to a place called Legends by Max. We ate there on our last trip and it was good so we decided to go back. We got a nice seat by the open window and quickly ordered some beverages I love this place b/c they have white butcher paper as your table cloth and a mason jar of crayons on the table so you can doodle to your heart's content A silly story about our waiter. He had a thick accent (but we never really decided where from) and poor Andy had a terrible time understanding the guy when he came to our table. I'm sure he thought we were crazy just kind of staring at him until I could figure out what he said using the context clues around the situation

Andy and I decided to split the crabmeat dip appetizer and the Chicken Parmesan Sandwich. I knew I wouldn't, or rather shouldn't, eat the whole sandwich and figured since we were going to order the same thing we could split it. (We rarely ever order the same thing). The crabmeat dip was very crab meaty and cheesy. I thought it was great. I think Andy enjoyed it as well. It would have been even better served with toast but instead it came with tortilla chips. Our sandwich came and was very tasty. Breaded chicken breast, marinara sauce, parmesan cheese, and pesto on the side. We also ordered a side of onion rings with it. Now granted we split it, and I gave Andy the bigger half of the sandwich, I was completely stuffed!!! I had wanted to get something sweet, but there was no way that was happening after all that I had eaten We needed to be rolled out of the restaurant we were so full!

After our very filling lunch we headed back out onto the Parkway. We browsed through some shops, I made a purchase at the magnet store. They had "Support our Teachers" apple magnets for your car so I had to get those. There are 3 of them, one for my car, one for DH's car, and one for my DMIL (who is also a teacher). I also got a cute little kitty magnet for the dishwasher that tells us if the dishes are clean or dirty. (Side note... got that thing home and realized the dishwasher in our apt. is not made of metal so the silly thing doesn't stick to it. I had to stick it on the fridge so now we must reference the fridge to find information about the dishes ) After our window shopping we headed to my favorite place in downtown Gatlinburg, which is The Village, so we went in there to sit and people watch for awhile.

We sat and people watched for about half an hour and then realized we were old fogeys and needed a nap. Before we left I had to go into the Old Smokey Candy Kitchen and buy some honey. I bought one jar b/c it was a glass bear shaped jar, and then Andy wanted to get the jar with the honeycomb still inside, so we got both. Then we made our way back up to the trolley stop and caught our purple trolley. Only I forgot to tell Andy to tell the driver where we needed to get off So we come up on our hotel, Andy pulls the string, and a bell no longer rings (like it used to) but "Stop Requested" flashes on the digital scrolling bar at the front of the trolley. Well the old dude (I mean old dude) driving the trolley was so engrossed in driving the trolley that he paid no attention to our "Stop Requested" scrolling across.... so.... we took the scenic route...again...all the way up to the welcome center...and all the way back to our hotel. Andy told the old man when we stopped at the welcome center where we wanted off and he actually remembered and stopped We had finally made it back to our room where we took a brief nap before going out and... you guessed it.. eating again

Some more photos from Day One Part One:

Me and my so creative doodling (my initials, in block letter format)

Andy and his actually creative doodling (an otter...the guy at our hotel said they have an otter that hangs out around the river...so I suppose that was the inspiration)

My tummy was thinking more than my brain. So I only have the 2 pictures from lunch. More pictures in the next post...

Coming up: Day One Continued: The best BBQ in the South!

mestitch · 09-06-2005, 07:23 PM

Continued from above: The best BBQ in the South!

After our old fogey nap of about an hour and my TV watching (I have this thing where whenever I'm watching TV on vacation I have to watch the local channel with all the advertisements for vacation things to do.) We both changed, freshened up, and left to go out for the night. I was very excited b/c we were going to my favorite, favorite, place to eat for dinner, Calhouns. I went there with my parents along time ago when I was an early teen and I used to be the pickiest eater, (now I'm just a pickey eater ) I had never really eaten, nor liked, BBQ before but I tried it at this restaurant with them and LOVED IT!!! Now every trip I go I have to go to Calhoun's for some BBQ.

We were able to catch our purple trolley, going in the right direction this time, and rode it down to the Park and Ride again. We did a little shopping on the way to the restaurant. I have always wanted to buy one of the pretty quilts I see there so we went into The Maple's Tree. I found a very pretty red and white and cream patchwork quilt that Andy actually headed to first as well. It was on sale so I got the queen size quilt and two shams for $80. I was very excited. I am saving it until we get our house (hopefully in the next few months) and a new bed (our old bed will go in the guest room). Then I'll have something nice and new for our new bedroom!

After shopping we walked down to Calhoun's. Let me tell ya, the 5:00 sun was brutal! The weather was great the whole time we were there, but when you were out in the sun right before it started to set, it was hot hot hot! Poor Andy was carrying the bag with the huge quilt inside I told him that we could come back and shop after dinner but he insisted on going before. So he had to carry the bag. By the time we made it to Calhoun's we needed a drink Andy gave the hostess our name and we found a seat at the bar. Andy had a margarita (which was way too strong) and I had a very yummy strawberry daiquiri. By the time we had finished our drinks our table was ready. We again had a great window seat where we could sit and watch the Sugarland Wedding Chapel across the street. We saw 2 couples go in and get hitched during our dinner It was very interesting.

For dinner we both had the BBQ pork plate (no sharing this time, I want my whole plate to myself!). I had a side of cole slaw and baked apples. Andy had a side of baked beans and cole slaw (which he didn't eat). And you get a nice mixture of rolls, cornbread, and biscuits (which I must have honey with) I really wanted to order the homemade strawberry shortcake for dessert, but again, I had eaten like a pig, and had no room for anything else. Again, I needed to be rolled out the door.

After dinner we made our way back up the parkway. We window shopped some more and then, of course, made our way through The Village. I love staying here b/c it reminds me of one of the pavilions in the World Showcase. We swapped picture taking with another couple and then sat and people watched some more. It's so peaceful in there compared to the hustle and bustle on the main street. After a while of relaxing we headed back up to catch the trolley back to our hotel so we could turn in for the night and catch the end of the Busch race.

This time, we told the trolley driver where we wanted off, and believe it or not, he stopped at the right place this time We got in our room in time to see the last half of the race. (Kasey did a good job, thought he had a chance for awhile there)
I kept dozing off though, so we called it a night after the race went off.

More pictures from Day One:

Andy in The Village by the statue...

Andy in The Village on the statue...

Andy in front of the fountain that reminds me of something WDW...before the couple approached us to take our picture together...

Us at the fountain taken by the couple that approached us to swap picture taking times in front of the fountain

The big fountain in the main square of The Village

The Donut Friar

The Jelly Jar and The Hayloft

Coming up: Swimming with sharks!....and more eating!!

**DrDolphin** · 09-06-2005, 07:42 PM

Great update and photos Melissa!!!

lauren-roxy · 09-06-2005, 08:03 PM

Great updates Melissa!! Your photos are so cute!! Can't wait to read more!!

crystalloubear · 09-06-2005, 08:06 PM

Sounds like a great time! Nothing like eating like a pig - that is an integral part of vacation!!
Sorry the end of the day was a let down with Kasey only finishing 6th - if only he could have been 5th

Jennifer2003 · 09-06-2005, 08:18 PM

Great updates!!!!

Jennifer

mestitch · 09-06-2005, 10:04 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Sounds like a great time! Nothing like eating like a pig - that is an integral part of vacation!!
Sorry the end of the day was a let down with Kasey only finishing 6th - if only he could have been 5th

[/ QUOTE ]

Actually my friend... This was the Busch race and he did finish 5th

SuperKate · 09-06-2005, 10:32 PM

[ QUOTE ]
(I have this thing where whenever I'm watching TV on vacation I have to watch the local channel with all the advertisements for vacation things to do.)

[/ QUOTE ]

I do that too!!!

Great update Melissa! Can't wait for more.

**DopeyGirl** · 09-06-2005, 11:26 PM

Wait . . . so, you ate a pig like a pig . . .

Ain't nothin' wrong with that!!!

Great update and photos . . .

Tinker-Tosh · 09-07-2005, 12:29 AM

What a great TR!! I just adore Gatlinburg! We used to go there for labor day weekend when I was growing up. Unfortunately, we haven't made it back there in several years. I love the Village too! I also love the Pancake Pantry and Maxwell's. Ice skating at Ober Gatlinburg is fun too. I just cannot wait for the rest of your TR!

DaisynDonald · 09-07-2005, 12:35 AM

Sounds like a great time so far. We tried Calhouns for the first time on our trip, it was yummy!

DawnDenise · 09-07-2005, 01:49 PM

Another great update Melissa!!! Not a big BBQ fan myself but have heard rave reviews about Calhouns (especially from my mom). Looking forward to more!