This morning we slept in a bit and got ourselves packed pretty easily because it's a short trip we have planned. It was time to head north, back to Pigeon Forge. We had a super easy drive up there, stopping in Clayton at a Chick-Fil-A at one point, but that's about it. We didn't stop anywhere else that I can remember, not even anywhere in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Maddie was pretty excited after Newfoundland Gap because she looked out and downward, and saw a valley completely covered in clouds, this standing out so much because it was a very clear and sunny day. It is the Great Smoky Mountains, so that sort of thing is to be expected, I suppose. And sure enough, soon we were descending into the clouds, and then down to Pigeon Forge. I think along the way, we saw one elk, but that was it for unusual wildlife. Or at least, those things that we sort of hope to see. No bears or turkeys. Maybe on the way back, right?
We checked in early to the Inn at Christmas Place, and we have a nice room here. We got things unpacked, and had a look-around at our room, which is nice as always. Frank Sinatra is singing Christmas songs all day long on the virtual fireplace, and there's a small Christmas tree in the room - I have a few Christmas presents for Mom and Maddie here, ones I wrapped at the last minute this morning. We've had this "Elf" themed bag of Goldfish here, so we brought that along too. But one thing we were ready to go see was the new pool!
This pool has been under construction the last year, and recently opened up. It was really, really nice. It's themed to a snowy world, a tropical freeze, if you want to put it that way. The weather was slightly cooler, but the water was actually heated and surprisingly really nice! There was a winding "lazy river" with inflatable tubes to ride upon, and there was a jacuzzi grotto beneath a waterfall that was pretty nice. And there was a waterslide that we went down a few times too. It was pretty nice!
Afterwards, we went to Mellow Mushroom next door. We actually walked there, as it is next door and it was really close. No big lines here, and we had a great meal - Mom and I got the Pacific Rim pizza again, while Maddie tried some wings.
We got back to the hotel room, and used their laundry dryer to dry off some of our wet clothing from the pool. And while that was drying, we did the scavenger hunt - times two. We did the easy and the difficult one, looking from floor to floor for all the different objects on the list. Thanks to Mom, we fond that last one, the most difficult - and the one pretty much right next to our room.
Once we finished with that and things were dried off, we went down to see Santa! Once again it was time to see the Santa concert, pretty much what we did before the last two visits here to this hotel. Lots of kids there - a lot more than we've ever seen here. It was nice listening to them sing Christmas songs with Santa. It was sweet.
Oh, speaking of sweet, we got cookies afterwards from Mrs. Claus! We brought them outside to the fire pit area, sitting by the warmth of the fire for a good bit. When it was time to head back to the room, we popped in "The Grinch" to watch. Maddie and Mom opened their Christmas gifts - Mom got a few Crunchie bars and a Christmas CD of "The Judds," and Maddie got a Star Wars card game!
We watched the movie, and then it was pretty much time for sleep. Time to read, time to pray - and time to sleep!
Posts
