Yesterday was rad
We got up not-terribly-early and bade farewell to our visiting friends, and then we got ourselves ready, piled into the car and drove to Dollywood. It was a gorgeous fall day, so warm that I actually wore shorts. At the end of October.
We hadn’t been to the park since early in the summer, when it was so crowded that Poppy asked if we could wait to return until the schools were back in session. And so we wait we did.
Since it was Friday and school is indeed back in session, I expected us to have the park pretty much to ourselves. But I learned that I am a poor theme park prognosticator. The Southern Gospel and Harvest Celebration is underway at Dollywood, and there were a ton of elderly music lovers there. Most of them weren’t there to ride the rides, though, so the lines were very short.
The kids’ favorite rides & attractions at Dollywood
The best thing to eat at Dollywood
Cinnamon bread at the Grist Mill. It’s about $5 for a loaf of bread, and it’s totally delicious.
A side trip to the bean factory
The Bush’s Beans factory is near Dollywood, and there’s a gift shop, museum and cafe across the road. We got there about 15 minutes after the museum closed, so I didn’t get to see the giant can of beans inside. (Next time, Bean Can. Next time.) We wandered around the gift shop for a while, and I bought a bean strainer and 2 cans of beans. They were cheaper than they are at the grocery store, probably because they only have to travel across the street.
Buying the weekly provisions
On the way home we went to the grocery store, and the Starbucks inside had samples of peppermint white chocolate mochas. And it was delicious. We bought our groceries, and on the way out I bought a giant peppermint white chocolate mocha. And they split it betwixt two cups for me. Grocery store Starbucks is the best Starbucks.
The end of an awesome day
Rockford gave the kids their baths while I made pizza, and then we watched “Rio” and ate dinner. After the kids went to bed, Rockford and I had some ice cream and watched “Modern Family,” “The Office” and “Moonrise Kingdom.”
I would like it if all the days were pretty much just like yesterday.
That sounds SOOOO lovely! I adore that cinnamon bread, by the way. We discovered it 2 or 3 trips ago, and every time, I resolve to figure out how to make it myself. Hasn’t happened yet.