City ❀ Country ❀ Beach
I’m sure this isn’t the first time you’re reading about the new Star Wars land at Hollywood Studios. I’m sure you’ve heard all the hype. People have been raving about it. Well, rightfully so! In my opinion, it is awesome! If you haven’t been to …
Grande Villas Resort is the perfect place to stay in Orlando while visiting the theme parks. Owned by Hilton Grand Vacations, it is ranked as a 3-star hotel with an almost 5-star review by guests. It is conveniently located about 10 minutes from all the …
I am a California girl. Literally living only 5 miles to Disneyland has brought much happiness to my childhood and it now reflects into my adulthood. I lived off of Mac Nab Street & Hopi Road in Garden Grove which is located in Anaheim.
They took me to Disneyland often. Undoubtedly, that is why I still love Disney to this day. I have precious memories that I thank my parents for.
And to make it more interesting, our family of four now lives only 1.5 hours away from Walt Disney World and I truly believe it was no accident. It was meant to be. I inherited the travel bug from my father and that explains why I moved from one coast to another.
My mother was very much like me in the sense that she loved visiting Disneyland. Clearly, I know this because I have a photo of her at Disneyland before I was born! I’m pretty sure that Disney runs in our blood.
This next photo shows me as a baby. My father is holding me in his arms. My brother is the other child. It must have been my mom taking the photo. I think this photo depicts my very first time visiting Disneyland. Moreover, I believe it was love at first sight because look at me staring at the castle!
Here is another occasion we were at Disneyland. I know this for a fact because my brother is wearing a different outfit and so am I. This photo is amazing to me because the background is “It’s a Small World.” Amazing because that is and always has been my favorite ride. I hope Disney never gets rid of that ride because if they do, it will feel like a piece of me would be missing.
In 2015, my current immediate family & I were able to travel back to California on vacation. Back at home in Florida, I was able to make prior plans to contact the people residing at my childhood cul-de-sac home in Garden Grove. I came to find out that they also spoke Spanish, as that is my first language, and they were so kind to let us come into their home when we arrived. Visiting my childhood home brought me a rollercoaster of emotions. Many memories, good & bad to be honest, came back to me. But there will always be my favorite memory. My memory of visiting Disney often because I only lived 5 miles to Disneyland.
And now the tradition continues within our family, but this time at Walt Disney World! Both of our boys have grown up visiting Disney countless times. My wish upon a star is that my grandchildren and great-grandchildren will get to experience and make their own memories by visiting Disney parks.
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With so much to see in Tennessee, there’s no doubt that these 3 great cities will give you plenty to do. Our road trip will take you to what we recommend you do & see, especially if you’re a country music fan!
If you want to go to a well-known restaurant, we suggest you go to the home of the original Chick-Fil-A which is really in Atlanta, GA, but it was a great stop on the way to Tennessee. It’s so much different than all the others but with the same great taste & customer service. We were surprised that they serve beef here! It used to be more of a diner with other food options, which they still sell.
Nashville is worldly renowned as the capital of country music and I found out why very quickly. It makes sense to start there as most people think of Nashville first when speaking of Tennessee.
There are many murals in Nashville. The way I found out about them is I literally just googled “murals in Nashville.” Be careful though because one of the murals “It’s gonna be O.K.” is in front of many lanes of traffic. Please use the crosswalk. And, of course, these make great photos ops!
Need a bite to eat? Make sure you stop at Hattie B’s Chicken for some awesome fried chicken. At the time, I was watching my weight so I tried their grilled chicken with pickles on top, spinach, and coleslaw. It was delicious!
The Bluebird Cafe is one of the reasons why Nashville is known as the country music capital. It is a place where you can come and listen to songwriters & the meaning behind why they wrote their songs. It is famous because many country artists that have made it big have sung here. So, you never know who you’ll hear that may become the next country star! It is small and quaint, but it’s like that so we can get that family feel. You must make reservations so make sure you go to their website to do that.
This should be your NUMBER 1 stop if you’re a country music fan AND it’s your very first time in Tennessee. There is no other place in the entire world like the Grand Ole Opry. There have been and continue to be so many legends that have walked the hallways & rooms and that have stood in the famous “circle.” The circle is literally a circle on the stage that the artist stands on and performs. Any artist that has been invited to perform here can be considered as having it made big in country music. It’s an awesome experience to stand in the circle. You must take a tour to go through the dressing rooms and be on stage. It is extremely informative and you won’t be sorry you took this tour. Plus, you never know who you might run into!
We end our trip in Nashville at Centennial Park. Here you will find the film location from the Percy Jackson movies. The Parthenon was evident in the film and it is also the only full-scale replica of the actual Parthenon in Greece. There is a small fee to enter so check out their website for details.
Gatlinburg was one of my favorite stops because it reminded me of an old country store. The scenery here is absolutely gorgeous.
The sidewalks in downtown Gatlinburg can get crowded especially in the evening so I suggest going during the day if you don’t want to fight crowds. However, there is a lot to see and there are many options for dining down at the village shops.
One of the most popular things to do here is to ride the SkyLift to the SkyBridge. It is the longest pedestrian bridge in the U.S.A.! You will also get the best views of The Great Smoky Mountains. For more information, visit their website.
If you are looking for a hotel right in the heart of downtown Gatlinburg, this is your place. It is beautiful, affordable, and breakfast is included! Plus, it’s also next door to Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies! What else could you want? This place has it all. For rates, availability and more information, visit their website.
All that walking downtown at the village shops will make you hungry. Literally just steps away from the lodge is Ole Red Restaurant. It is owned by Blake Shelton and is a restaurant with a stage for country music bands that will perform when you’re dining. However, make sure you go to their website to see when bands/artists are playing.
The Great Smoky Mountains is a huge mountain range that stretches across the borders of Tennessee and North Carolina. If you love nature as much as I do, you will absolutely love to drive around here, especially if you have a convertible. One important thing to remind everyone is to please DO NOT feed the wildlife, especially if you see any bears. Cades Cove at The Great Smoky Mountains is the place we were told that we would most likely see a bear, but unfortunately, we never did see one here. We did see deer though. Oh! And don’t think bears can show up only in the wild. We saw a real bear in downtown Gatlinburg!
Don’t underestimate or pass by this city because, honestly, I’ve heard of it before but I always thought “What is there to do in Pigeon Forge other than nature?” I am so glad you asked because the answer is A LOT! Let me tell you about 2 unique stops that I believe you will enjoy.
We met some friends at Dollywood that we hadn’t seen in a long time and we decided to make a day of it at Dollywood. I knew it was a theme park, but I left there knowing that it is one of my favorite theme parks ever!
Dollywood has something for everyone. Whether you’re young or young at heart, you will enjoy the roller coasters, markets, food, shows, and special events. For tickets and more information visit their website.
Christmas store all year round at Dollywood!
Despite any controversy, a stop at Paula Deen’s restaurant has a lot to offer. Make sure to come here VERY hungry because you will leave full. Everything is served family-style and is delicious. If you’re counting calories or strictly watching your weight, you might want to think twice or just make this your cheat meal! If you’re not hungry, you can still just visit the store without buying a meal.
BONUS!
Point Park / Lookout Mountain
in
GEORGIA
On our way back home to Florida from our Tennessee road trip, we stopped at Point Park & Lookout Mountain which is located on the border of Tennessee and Georgia. It is run by the National Park Service and commemorates the battle that happened between the Union and Confederate forces in 1863. The park & mountain make a great pit stop and the views from the top are spectacular!
So as you can see, these 3 cities make great stops during your Tennessee road trip! If you had to choose just one stop or attraction, which one would it be and why? I’d love to hear if you’ve been to any or all of these places by commenting below!
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Weeki Wachee is a gem in Hernando County, Florida. If you’ve ever wanted to imagine what it’s like to see a mermaid, this is the closest you’ll ever get! Visit Weeki Wachee and see the mermaids come to life before your very eyes.
This Florida state park is often missed because of a famous mouse that also lives in Florida. Because of this, it may be overlooked. But what many people don’t know is that this was one of the very first attractions that Florida ever had. Weeki Wachee has been open since 1947 and has a lot of historical value that people may not know about.
Our family was recently invited to check out what they have to offer and I was extremely impressed! I remember going as a child once, but as a child, I had no idea what a great park this is. I got a sense of nostalgia and a real sense of Florida’s authenticity. It was exciting to show our boys the real Florida. From natural springs, alligators, manatees, and outdoor activities, Weeki Wachee has it all.
When we visited on this day, I was super excited to see the new Mermaid show. They’ve been here all along, don’t get me wrong, but their new show is one not to miss! They did a great job in showcasing where they started, where they’ve been, and where they are now.
One thing I found very interesting is how much these ladies train to become mermaids. Have you ever tried to hold your breath underwater? It’s hard. Yes, they have a tube to help them, but it’s hard seeing underwater, holding your breath, and looking beautifully graceful and happy all at the same time while performing! They explain some during the show how they do this.
The show we saw is a new show that they were under training. It started out with a ringleader and the movie tune “The Greatest Show” from the movie “The Greatest Showman.” It started off strong and ended strong. If you want a good seat, you don’t have to worry because the indoor theater is stadium seating and it really is not very big to where you won’t have a bad seat. What you do have to worry about is getting to the park early because it can get to capacity and they could close the park off to more visitors. Therefore, my suggestion is to get there as soon as the park is open like we did. You won’t want to miss the mermaid show because this is the most popular attraction!
Now that I’ve spoken about my favorite part (and most popular part) of Weeki Wachee, let’s not stop there. There is much more to do here! Weeki Wachee is situated on natural springs. This state park makes a great day to lounge, relax, and swim at Buccaneer Bay. Buccaneer Bay is an awesome swimming hole where water slides meet natural springs. The kids love this part of the park! It makes for a great way to cool off in the natural 72-74 degree water, especially on a hot Florida day! Beware though because when we went it was an overcast day and it started to rain and the water seemed A LOT colder than 72 degrees!
You are allowed to bring your own lunch & cooler, but there are a few restrictions so check the website for details before heading out. We brought our own lunch, but there are some great places to dine at if you don’t feel like packing food and bringing extra bags.
Since this is a state park, you will encounter some wildlife roaming freely about the park. The snake was an added bonus to our visit. I don’t do snakes, but my boys & husband enjoyed it.
If your children need a break from the water, there is a playground they can enjoy. This is a nice touch the park put in because they know many families come here.
I suggest you do this toward the end of your park visit, but don’t forget to take a memento for yourself or a souvenir for loved ones back home. Weeki Wachee has a great shop with many things that will help you remember the great day you had here!
I love to see that Weeki Wachee treats our veterans, foster, and adoptive families with special perks! Thank you Weeki Wachee for doing this!
Even on a rainy day, we had a fantastic time! We will definitely be back another time and spend the entire day here. Thank you Weeki Wachee!
If you enjoyed this post, check out my other Florida posts. I have many!
If you have a specific question about this post, please email me.
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