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). 

Alpine Slide Thrill at Ober Gatlinburg

The Smoky Mountains activities remind me of different places.  While anticipating the aerial tramway ride, I reflected upon my ride experience in Tahoe.  When I told my family about the alpine slide ride, I explained that I rode one in Austria.  When I described a Zorb ride, I reminded them that a cousin rolled in one in Rotorua, New Zealand.  Connecting everything to some exotic place then became a joke as my husband smirked "oh, yes, I did that in Switerland" to every activity.

You don't need to fly over the ocean to try out these new adventures.  Just drive to the Smoky Mountains.  At Ober Gatlinburg, you can ride the alpine slide down the mountain on a wheeled cart.  It's a blast!  This was the most fun ride at the park.  As you ascend the mountain on your chairlift, you can watch riders go down screaming and laughing with joy.  Jump off the chairlift and get in your own cart.  As an employee explained physics - weight and gravity help.  If you are racing down the track with your competitive son, you finally have the advantage (-:

The Facts

WHO: big kids & adults; 6 & under ride free with adult (due to chairlift with no seat belt, I wouldn't recommend this for little kids)

WHAT:  two 1,800 foot concrete slides

WHERE: Ober Gatlinburg, take the ariel tramway (see my story)

how much - $7 ticket or buy an all day Ober Gatlinburg package

Alpine slides also exist in Chamonix, France or Thredbo, Australia.  Zorb is also available in Guam and coming soon to Jamaica.  Why not just take a road trip to Gatlinburg, TN and create your own adventure story?!?

Springtime in the Smokies, A Special Season

Springtime in the Smokies

When I told a co-worker that we planned to spend Spring Break in the Smoky Mountains, he was inquisitive.  He had always been to the Smoky Mountains in the summer and really enjoyed it.  He had not thought about visiting in another season and he asked, "Let me know what the Smoky Mountains are like in the Spring."

How can you explain you've experienced a place where it feels like the whole world is awakening?  The landscape's stretching and yawning and reaching up to the sun.  Blooming with color and innocence.  On the lowest ground level, the wildflowers erupt with pastel colors.  Moss wraps itself around the rocks.  Brand new vibrant green leaves fully clothe the trees at the bottom of the mountain.  Different shades of green slowly crawls up the mountain side.  It's a natural portrait of beauty and health.

How can you explain the magical feeling of observing the world come alive?  Baby bunnies hop with glee.  Wide eyed does jump through the meadow grass.  Oo-waoh, the morning doves call.  Tap tap tap of the busy woodpecker.  Baby bears pounce on it's prey.  Waterfalls stream.  Everything is new, fresh.  The ground that seemed dead and brown transforms into new, strong, and green.

At the very top of the mountain, where Lightning Bug Lodge sits, there's still bare trees.  It creates an open view down the mountain.  Stand still and hear the rushing water moving down the creek.  It's flush with new water.

Do not be satisfied with my words and photos.  You need to discover the world awakening yourself.  Pack your shorts and hiking boots and head out on the trails of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.  Smell the crisp, clean air.  Feel the cool water rushing through your fingers.  Let the Spring awaken the senses within you and inspire a whole new year of adventure.

Mingo Falls & 7 More Waterfalls Near the Smoky Mountains

The power and peace of the waterfalls, perhaps that's what draws us to visit them.  If you only go to the waterfalls within walking distance of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park visitor centers or the ones on all the postcards, you might miss the peace.  Seek the trail less traveled. 

One I'd recommend is Mingo Falls.  It's a bit difficult to find the entrance to the trail (small country roads & few signs), but once you arrive, you'll note that there's less than a dozen parking spots and there's still room for your car (especially small crowds if during the week).  Once at the Mingo Falls Campground on the Cherokee Indian Reservation, you only need to hike 0.4 miles.  It's considered moderately difficult because it includes 161 rough steps built along a creek, sometimes wet and muddy.  But when you get to the top, it's worth it.  Watch 120 ft. of water cascading down while standing on bridge.  Hear the peace.  Smell the fresh air.  Feel the breeze.

There's many waterfalls near the Smoky Mountains, here's 8 more to add to your "to see" list:
1.  Mingo Falls (as pictured above)
2.  Juney Whank Falls- moderate 0.8 trail to 90 ft. falls, from Bryson City drive to Deep Creek Campground
3.  Abrams Falls - moderate 5 mile hike to a 20 ft. waterfall, short but powerful with its large volume of water, near stop #10 Cades Cove
4.  Ramsey Cascades - difficult 8 miles, but rewarding with the park's tallest waterfall (100 ft), 4.7 mile drive first from the Greenbrier entrance (TN)
5.  Meigs Falls - 0 hike, drive along Little River Rd and stop at the pulloff 13 miles west of Sugarlands Visitor Center (TN)
6.  Hen Wallow Falls - moderate 4.4 mile hike from Gabes Mountain Trail, park at Cosby Picnic area
7.  Indian Creek/Tom Branch Falls - easy 1.6 mile hike, 2 falls for 1 hike special, Indian Creek Falls = 25 ft. tall, also from Deep Creek Campground
8.  Mouse Creek Falls - moderate 4 milke hike, includes Midnight Hole, a picturesque pool below a 6' falls; exit I-40 at Waterville Rd. (#451) turn left after crossing the Pigeon River and proceed 2.3 miles

Tip:  See photos before the trip to choose which one you want to visit.  I've added a photo gallery of each of the 8 falls on flickr for you http://www.flickr.com/photos/krenda/galleries/

Walk through History at Mountain Farm Museum

Even if you stay in TN, you can be in NC and back in the same day.  I'd suggest visiting the NC entrance to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, especially the Oconaluftee Visitor Center.  It's only 2 miles north of Cherokee, NC.

You can walk through the history, numerous buildings built in the late 19th century:
1) John Davis Cabin - constructed with the rare chestnut timber
2) Enloe Barn - only moved 200 yards from its native site, includes 16,000 hand split shingles

3) Messer Applehouse - originally partially underground to help insulate the apples

+ meathouse, Baxter/Jenkins Chickenhouse, Blacksmith Shop, Springhouse (for refrigeration), corn cribs, and a sorghum press.

The Mountain Farm Museum is free and located near the scenic Oconaluftee River.  The Cherokee considered the waters of the river sacred.  If you have the time, take the Oconaluftee River Trail, an easy 3 mile trail along the river.  It is especially recommended to hike during the spring, the time in which hikers have identified over 40 species of wildflowers.

Tip:  Consider timing your trip for the 3rd Sat. of Sept.  It's the Mountain Lifestyle Festival and you'll be treated to seeing people make cider and lye soap.  Plus you can visit a working blacksmith.