Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Vacation

We're on vacation this week and spent today in the wonderland that is Dolly-in-da-hood. My son did me proud and proved that he is no longer a ride wuss. He's a thrill-seeker now! My daughter, um, not so much. She was more of a fried chicken/biscuit seeker, enjoying the country cooking that is abound in Dolly Parton's theme park. She spent the thirty  minutes following lunch walking at a snail's pace throughout the park, gnawing on a chicken leg.



We went to Smoky Mountain National Park yesterday and saw all manner of spring blooms and wildlife, including an adorable otter sitting on a rock. I was the only one that saw him (we were in the car) and, although I believe my fellow passengers are skeptical of my experience, it was, hands down, the most exciting wildlife siting of my life. I'm determined to find an illegally domesticated otter on the black market and raise him as my pet. Yep, I'm only one person but I can do my part for nature and give an unsuspecting otter a life of American gluttony. It's my civic duty.



I must say that the Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area is a literal cesspool of weapons outlets, rebel flag merchandise, restaurant franchises and airbrushing vendors but it is redeemed entirely by the Smoky Mountain National Park. I could spend the entire week there and never get bored.



8 comments:

  1. I took my kids to Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge a few summers ago - we loved it, too!

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  2. Pigeon Forge sounds like a great place to people watch. Though given our Yankee status, I'm sure we'd be the ones being gawked at!

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  3. You forgot tattoo shops, ceramic yard ornaments, wooden bears carved out of trees, and windchime stores. All in all it's still a great place to have fun with the kids.

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  4. If I had known the otter meant that much to you, I would have complemented you more graciously about your discovery, however, I must inform all your readers, when you saw the beast, we had just re-entered the car after a 15 mile, trek, up hill both ways, during which I unselfishly packed BOTH your kids simultaneously on my shoulders for the entire distance, and, what kind of mushrooms were those that you found?

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  5. Sounds like a marvelous vacation!
    By the way, as soon as you're ready to provide a home for an illegally domesticated otter, I know where you can get them dirt cheap: out of the trunk of a '62 Chevy in the east side of any Los Angeles 'hood. Bring cash.

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  6. Vacation, I forget what one of those feel like.
    I hope you have fun

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  7. Also a cesspool of miniature golf courses, go-cart parks, pancake restaurants, etc. etc. etc...we just got back from a weekend trip there ourselves! LOL
    (Next time you go, make sure to check out The Alamo restaurant - it's a bit pricey - $138 for four of us - but absolutely fantastic!!!) And I love your Dolly-in-da-hood! A classic!

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  8. Since I moved to the great state of TN I have spent way too much time/money in the Great Smoky Mtns!!! And I still won't go on rides. I keep saying next ime, but then I chicken out. Maybe next pay check, I mean next time

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