Oct. 9, 2009 - Our Week Away
Last week was our first week off of the school year, so of course we took the opportunity to run away from home. 
We went to what has become our regular vacation hideaway these last few years, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Again, if you're visiting this area you really need to give Little Mountain Valley Resort a try! As usual, the cabin was spectacular, the ameneties of the resort were wonderful, and there wasn't a single time we regreted our trip.
Here are the obligatory pictures of our vacation:
Up early the first morning. Wish this picture wasn't so dark, it was lovely.
Didn't take many pictures inside the cabin this year, but the open loft with the pool table was the kids favorite hangout. There was even a small table with stools where you could eat a snack and watch the downstairs TV.
Peanut (4) rolling around on the couches.
This cabin had much more space for light saber fights than the cabin we stayed in last year!
View from our back picture window (same as the sunrise photo)
Going on a hike. Funny story about this. This trail was just outside our cabin. There was a picnic area off of it at one point. When we were checking in, the person at the front desk told us to watch for bears. It's fall and they're trying to fatten up for winter. Apparently, they've been chasing people away from the picnic area to get their food. Also, she recommended turning the lights out in our cabin & shining a flashlight into the woods if we wanted to see the bears at night. We tried....no one was out there :(
So, we're hiking on this trail, normal forest sounds going on.....until we're just past the picnic area. Then we hear a bigger sound that is decidedly not a squirrel! We didn't see any bears (the picnic area was up a small hill off the trail), but we certainly think we had visitors sniffing us out!
Playing some complimentary mini-golf.
Daddy and the kids also went fishing, but unfortunately this year I was too busy helping to take any pictures :(
Sun setting behind the mountain. Again, too dark, but you can see the "smoke" from the smoky mountains forming :)
And now for our out on the town pictures:
Big Man got to drive by himself for the first time in these go carts. The rest of us thought it was very, very fun. Not so much for him. He's extremely cautious, so I think it was more first time nerves more than anything else.
Little Monkey is very much NOT cautious, so he was disappointed he wasn't quite tall enough to drive himeself. Here, Daddy teamed up with him to be his driver. Next it was my turn with him. I thought he was hysterical, he gave running commentary the whole way (like we were racing NASCAR or something). Peanut wasn't even going to get near those things, so he just stayed with me watching from the overpass while I took these pictures.
Next was Ripleys Aquarium in Gatlinburg. We had never gone here before, but knowing how much our kids love aquariums, we couldn't pass it up! It was really great, very big for an aquarium with lots of neat things inside. If it weren't for my nagging migrane, I would have enjoyed the day as much as the kids! A fun moment for me was a Shark Myths & Facts presentation by one of the aquarium staff. She went over the top ten most asked questions & myths of sharks. My shark-loving boys knew almost every answer. The only one they missed was "What is the largest shark in the world?" If they had thought about it for a few seconds, they know it's the Whale Shark, but they both blurted out "Great White!" first before thinking. Thank you Newport Aquarium and many years of Shark Week, not to mention the constant shark books being read around here for their vast array of shark knowledge.
There were a few things there that we love about the Aquarium we usually visit (Newport) that this one didn't have, but Ripleys does have a bigger shark tank with tunnels to go through. One thing this aquarium has that Newport does not? A moving sidewalk to take you through the shark tunnels. My kids saw things from a slightly different perspective than most:
Good thing this place was virtually empty while we were there!
Peanut just HAD to get his picture taken on this pumpkin outside the aquarium.
On our last full day, we visited the very, very fun Wonderworks where you can surround yourself in a giant bubble:
Peanut gives it a try.
Little Monkey has to have his picture taken in the space suit as always...
as does Peanut.
This year Big Man is eager to try the rock wall..
as is Little Monkey.
My guys acting goofy. This is a fun wall where it flashes a really bright light and "freezes" a picture of your shadow on the wall.
Last moments in the cabin, need to take a family shot! Daddy, Big Man (9), Little Monkey (7), and Peanut (4).
My darling husband decided I need to come out from behind the camera for once.
Throwing the last of our fruit out for the forest animals small ....... and big, black, and furry!
Ahh, another vacation done. 
Why do they seem to speed by so fast?
Comments
Oct. 10, 2009 - Untitled Comment
Posted by umanjoelle
These look really nice. I'm gonna have to check this place out. We love road trip around here, and I always keep my eyes out for new places to visit. Thanks for sharing your lovely pictures.
Oct. 13, 2009 - Untitled Comment
Posted by 4sweetums
What a great vacation. We love that aquarium and are planning to go the ripley's one in myrtle beach when we are on vacation.
Blessings,
Dawn
Oct. 14, 2009 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
Yay! We get to meet! :o)
I LOVE Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge - but, my oh my, it's expensive. We'd spend our life savings riding go-carts if my son had his way!
Cindy
http://ourjourneywestward.com
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