Tennessee- Part 2

On Saturday morning we went to our usual mountain breakfast place- Flapjacks!  The boys were ready for their bear pancakes.

After breakfast we drove up into the Smoky Mountains National Park to Ober Gatlinburg.  It is just absolutely gorgeous up there!

We tried out their new Ski Mountain Coaster! It was so much fun- it goes pretty fast on a rail through the woods.  I rode with Charlie, Marc rode with Tucker and Marky went alone.  Julia sat that one out!

Me and my buddy.  He kept saying, "weeee- go faster!"

They were working on their snow machines- this hill is where we went snow tubing in January- on the right is the ski slope!

Ober was all set up for Octoberfest and had a ton of fun things to do.  We all went as a group through this maze- you had the find four spots in the maze before leaving. 

 

We went up to the big luncheon hall for their lunch show. 

We sang these fun German songs and linked arms and swayed-

The children did a parade-

Daddy and Sissy danced to the Tennessee Waltz (I will say they were the only couple actually waltzing too).  :)

Conga line!

Chicken dance and Hokey Pokey-

We decided to ride the Tram down the mountain to Gatlinburg so we could go to the annual Craftsman's Fair at the Civic Center. 

We had a great time at the fair.  While some children might complain about going to a craft show, ours were excited to see all the neat novelties.  And they all tried their first candied apples. 

After spending the afternoon at the crafts festival we rode the tram back up the mountain and then drove back to Pigeon Forge.  We really loved the Lumberjack Adventure dinner show.  We'd seen Lumberjack Feud years ago- but it's all been changed.  It was bought by Dolly and now it's fancier and full of professional gymnasts. 

After the show we went back to the condo and enjoyed the indoor pool.  You always feel on vacation when there is an indoor pool.  :)

On Tuesday morning we finally went to see the Titanic Museum.  We've been driving past this thing for years, and I'm so glad we finally went in.  It was awesome.  No pictures inside, but the tour was inspiring and I learned so much more about the Titanic.  We were there almost two hours (no pictures allowed inside). 

At the beginning you get a boarding pass of a real passenger, and at the end you find out if you made it or not.  It was haunting. 

 For lunch we stopped by the Apple Barn and went to the Applewood Restaurant.  It's a great place with a bakery, winery, Christmas shop, gift shops.  We loved walking around .

We had a wonderful time in the mountains, but were happy to get home Tuesday evening.  We've jumped right back into life.  Thank you, Lord, for this little Columbus-day weekend getaway.  :)