Dollywood Step by Step #2: Country Fair High

Sometimes height matters, like when you want to soar like an eagle and see below you. 

Photo:  Sky Rider ride

At Dollywood's Country Fair, height usually doesn't matter.  Most rides have no minimum height.  Some rides you must reach a certain height to ride alone (Shooting Star 42", Amazing Elephant & Sky Rider 48"). 

Who wants to ride alone anyway?  It's so much more fun to hop on the ride with your kid and hear them squeal nearby.

When we had toddlers and visited Dollywood, we'd go on the little rides close to the ground. See prior article Dollywood Step by Step #1 for photos.  When my kids got older, we still returned to the Country Fair.  The favorite rides simply changed.  My daughter's favorite became Sky Rider, an elevating spinning ride rising 70 feet into the air.  As co-pilots, you can control the rudders or move the wings.  I always volunteered to join her.  I admit to liking the feeling of flight and getting perspective up high.

The Country Fair was designed to be like a day at the County Fair.  It includes the traditional ferris wheel called the "Wonder Wheel".  I wonder what ride becomes your kids favorite.  Share your story.  Leave a comment.

Dollywood Review #2: Family Friendly Edutainment

I don't believe "edutainment" is a recognized word in the dictionary; I use it as a combination of education and entertainment.  Why not making learning fun?  And an amusement park may be the last place you think of enriching your child's mind.  At Dollywood, it's possible.

Certainly your kids will love the traditional rides, the carnival rides like the skyrider and waltzing swinger, and squeal with delight as they get wet on the Daredevil Falls and Smoky Mountain River Rampage.  The park smartly mixes educational exhibits between the thrill rides, helping children learn about the Smoky Mountain life including:
1) demonstrations of hand making crafts:  glass painter, blacksmith, candle making, wood carving, glass blowing
2) explanations of conservation programs:  Eagle Mountain Sanctuary show including birds soaring above the audience, it's the country's largest presentation of non-releasable bald eagles

3) celebrations of mountain music:  live concerts, we even heard Dolly Parton's relatives sing country songs

4) ride while learning about trains:  an authentic steam train ride

Take time to attend the service in the Robert F. Thomas Chapel.  Besides fun new songs, who could forget the lesson about the importance of carving your life (shaping your life with purpose) instead of widdlin' it away (acting randomly without an end product).

It's a bigger park than you would expect; plenty to do all day long.  The Adventure Mountain ropes course covers 2 acres alone.  The quality makes it recognized as award winning in the industry.  In 2010 Dolly Parton accepted the Applause Award for Dollywood, the most prestigious award within the amusement and theme park industry.

Certainly Disney makes magical memories.  However, if you are looking for a place to return year after year with edutainment and a value, consider Dollywood.  Tip:  Save $10 on season passes up to Feb. 25th 2011. A season pass for Dollywood ($81 adult, $68 kids) costs less than a one day pass at Disney World ($87, $78)!  After Feb. 25th, season pass tickets go up $10 and you can purchase a daily pass ($57, $46). 

Frommer's Top Destinations 2012

According to Frommer's Top Destinations 2012:
Best Beach:  Hanalei
Best Cruise:  Tromso
Best Food & Drink:  Lima
Not certain whether I'll travel to these far away lands, but I know I'll return to the Top Family Destination.  Yes, Frommer's online rated the Smoky Mountain National Park as #1.
Best Family Vacation spot:  Smoky Mountains National Park

Alexis Lipsity Flipper's description of the park is poetic:

"You and your family can cocoon yourselves in true wilderness, hike a trail in utter silence... Listen to the concert of leaves fluttering in the breeze.  you will be doing what untold folks have done before you --from Cherokee warriors to coonskin-clad pioneers--and it will feel fresh and new.  And when the swirling silver mist crowns the mossy peaks, you'll understand why these smoky heights continue to fascinate, as they have for untold centuries."

Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, TN also made a Frommer's top list America's Best New Theme Park Rides & Attractions written by Carrie Havranek.  Of the 12 rides recognized, Dollywood's Barnstormer was one of them.  Take your big kid if she likes a thrill.  With swings flying high over the barn rooftop at 45 mph, it'll pump her adreneline.

For full Frommer article, visit their website:
http://www.frommers.com/slideshow/index.cfm?p=11&axn=pause&group=599&cat_cd=3600&layout=win

Smoky Comparison: Mountain Valley vs. Smoky Mountain Winery

     There's several wineries in the Smoky Mountain area including a dense area called "Rocky Top Wine Trail" which consists of 3 wineries within 3 miles (Hillside, Apple Barn, & Mountain Valley Winery).  In this article, I'll compare two of them vs. Mountain Valley winery.

     Overall, I'd suggest including a winery as a portion of your Smoky Mountain schedule.  When I've traveled through wine country in Sonoma, CA or eastern, MI, you could fill the whole day happily wandering through grapevines and visiting wineries.  However, in the Smoky Mountains, I'd suggest you get outside and perhaps visit one or two wineries as a romantic ending to the day.  Therefore, I'd suggest being choosy in which ones you visit.

     I recommend Smoky Mountain Winery (Gatlinburg, TN) over Mountain Valley Winery or Hillside (both Pigeon Forge, TN).  While all had nice regional sweet wines, the real difference for me was the level of service.  At Smoky Mountain Winery, the lady gave me a warm welcome and gave me her full attention.  With such service, I was able to overlook that the samples came in a shot glass instead of a wine glass and have a conversation about the wine.  At Mountain Valley Winery and Hillside, no one even greeted me and it felt like they were really set up to crank through the tour buses and take orders.  Smoky Mountain Winery tasting room is much smaller and I think you'll enjoy the quaint atmosphere and service.

After I made my assesment, I searched online to see other traveler's viewpoint:

Smoky Mountain Winery:

Establishment Age:  Oldest premium producer in Eastern, TN

Wine:  Specialties in sweet wine; I chose the Muscadine Red

Price:  Entry level approx. $15

*Service:  Consistent positive ratings, criticism on service seems to be the outlier

Example quote on TripAdvisor "The people are so friendly and helpful.  They are personable and outgoing, just like Tenn. people are supposed to be."

Example quote on Yahoo Travel Guide.com "My husband and I do a lot of traveling but we have never been treated like we were at home like in this winery"

Uptake.com Tourist Review Rating:  6 reviews, 100% recommend

Mountain Valley (Pigeon Forge)

Establishment Age:  1991

Wine:  Specialties in sweet wine; examples - Rhubarb, Mountain Peach

Price:  Aprrox. $15; examples - Blackberry $15.49, Mountain Valley Blush $13.49

Service:  Inconsistent, seems dependent upon the host, shout outs to Kevin & Doug

Example negative quotes on Trip Advisor:  "Beautiful shop, great wine, but the staff members completely kill it"; "Worst service ever...we walked in and no one acknowledges your presence."

Example positive quotes on Trip Advisor:  "treated like family and wined like royalty"
Uptake.com Tourist Review Rating 58 reviews, 75% recommend

Pigeon Forge: Wonder Works & 3 Other Fun Places for Teens

Your teens will have a blast in Pigeon Forge.  And the upside down building will make your whole family look twice and laugh while driving by WonderWorks.  Here's 4 fun places for your teen and entire family:

1.  Wonder Works amusement park

http://www.wonderworksonline.com/pigeon-forge/

Facts

What:  indoor amusement park- science edutainment plus rides - defy gravity, design a coaster, listen in the sound lab, bubble lab, space zone, bed of nails, rockwall, ropes challenge course
Cost:  $22.99 adult

2.  Titanic Attraction
http://titanicpigeonforge.com/
Facts
What:  world's largest Titanic museum attraction, 400 artifacts, movie exhibit
Cost:  $21.38 adult, $58.80 family pass (2 adults, 2 kids)

3.  Dollywood Splash Country Waterpark
http://www.dollywood.com/splashcountry_home.aspx
Facts
What:  30 acre waterpark, named "one of America's best waterparks" by The Travel Channel, slides and wave pool
Cost:  $49.40 adult daily, $86 season pass
Tip:  $10 discount pre-season online

4.  Pigeon Forge Gem Mine
http://pfgemmine.com/
Facts
What:  gem mining in wood flume, buy a mystery bucket and get your hands dirty and wet looking for gems
Where:  Pigeon Forge, next to the Three Bears General Store
Cost:  $15 starter gem bucket, $35 fossil bucket, $100 family bucket