Smoky Mountain Vacation '14 Part 1

We decided late on this year's vacation, not knowing whether we wanted to use time this summer or save it. However, the mountains were calling and we answered. :-)

We left home on a Monday evening and landed in Lexington, KY for the night.  The Clarion Inn didn't have the best rooms, but the gym, arcade, pool, and all you can eat breakfast buffet worked pretty nicely. 

Tuesday morning we continued on at a leisurely pace, knowing we couldn't get into our cabin till 3 p.m.

Overlook near Jellico

One of our favorite shops between Pigeon Forge and Townsend is a place called Moonshine Ridge.  They have lots of canned specialty sauces, dips, etc., and you can sample before you buy.  The girls like the huge goldfish pond. 

 

Choosing a cabin can be a bit intimidating.  For us, a cabin is 50% of the financial investment of the vacation.  We reserved late, so the company we used last year didn't have anything available.  When we reserved this year's cabin, I thought I was choosing something with a little less altitude.  We were shocked when we received the directions, and we ended up on the same mountain as last year!  We actually had to pass last year's cabin to get to this years.  Of all the mountains and of all the cabins, what is the chance of that!  Needless to say, we tried to make minimal trips up and down the mountain this year.  The trek seemed to give us a little more motion sickness.

The beautiful Giddy Up

This cabin is entirely horse themed. 

 

One benefit to a cabin...the kids are content to sit and relax. 

 On the first night, the weather was perfect and we decided to go to The Island in Pigeon Forge to eat dinner and ride The Wheel.  After browsing around there for a bit, we weren't really enticed by the food options on The Island and decided to leave to eat and come back later for the ride.  As we left the trolley in the parking lot, I looked at what I thought was our van, and it was rocking like the door had just been shut.  I told Greg that something was weird, and I took off around to the side that was out of our view.  Just as I rounded the front passenger side, a car pulled halfway into the spot next to us and a guy exited and took off for The Island.  I looked at our van, then at his car, and it was obvious to see that he had hit us while trying to park his car, then he backed out and tried again.  He looked at me while briskly walking off.  It took us a sec to process what had happened.  Greg and Ryan took off after him, and by this time he was already on the trolley.  The driver looked at Greg and asked if he needed on, and Greg told her that he needed to speak with a young man that was on the trolley.  The guy came with Greg pretty willingly, and after determining that he could not speak English, we called the police.  Very long story short, he was an illegal with no driver's license.  Fortunately, his boss came with cash and we left with enough money to fix the problem.  Our kids were educated to the fact that as we allow illegal immigration to continue, we are majorly jeopardizing our nation.  The guy that hit us will pay his fines, and he'll be back to driving illegally.  Sad fact.

Ready to board The Wheel

Love the expressions.  This was fun with teenagers.  :-)

 

 

This little gal loved every second of it.  I know she'll be
the one bungee jumping and probably sky diving if
her momma lets her.

 

 

Cool things at the shops on The Island.

 

And nothing like closing out the evening in the hot tub.