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Dolly Parton Dixie Stampede at Pigeon Forge

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Mountain Ruckus in the Dixie Belle Saloon

Mountain Ruckus in the Dixie Belle Saloon

The Dixie Stampede Dinner Attraction in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee is one of the most popular events in the Great Smoky Mountains. Sher and I found out why when we spent the evening at the Stampede.

Touted as the most visited dinner show, your evening’s entertainment is really two shows in one. You start out in the Dixie Belle Saloon. Starting about 50 minutes before the Dixie Stamede show you will be treated to a great trio of musicians known as Mountain Ruckus. Playing your favorite bluegrass songs with a touch of gospel these guys have played with Dolly Parton in the past. Grab a bucket of popcorn and a cool non-alcoholic drink and enjoy this fabuous, professional quality music.

When it is time to move to the arena you leave the Saloon and are directed to your seats. The seating consists of rows of long tables, all of which offer great views of the arena. Once seated your server pours your drink in a Mason jar. Yes, a real mason jar! Keep in mind that your meal is served item by item while the show runs. You will be fed well. Soup and bisquit, whole small baked chicken, pork chop, half a potato and corn on the cob. No silverware provided (or needed) makes for a fun dining experience. Your server will bring you a warm moist towel when you are finished for hand cleaning. Dessert is a large apple turnover. Sher ordered the vegetarian meal with veggies, pasta, the potato and corn.

In the arena

In the arena

The set with changing video screen.

The arena is a sight to behold. One end is formed to look like a rocky mountain cliff complete with a huge video screen across the top. This serves as the entrance for the perfromers as well as the changing of the scenery for each act. The show starts with the host on horse back setting up the friendly competition for the night. The arena crowd is divided in the “north” and the “south”. Part of the show is a series of contests between the performers.

The skills of the riders are amazing. One gal stands with a foot on two different horses as she perfroms her tricks. She has remarkable balance. Her horses are not spooked by the pyrotechnics and flames, including a large circle of fire that she jumps through. Other trick riders will take your breath away.

The production is professional with dynamic sets that even drop from the ceiling of the arena. The costumes are magnificent and the musical numbers will have you tapping your feet. You’ll see a herd of buffalo, wagon trains, an eye popping Native American number complete with a flying performer. The north vs. south events all showcase equestrian skills. Ever seen pigs racing? You will at the Dixie Stampede. It is hard to describe in words this full evening event. But rest assured this Pigeon Forge attraction has earned its name as the most visited dinner show in the area. Plan you visit and make reservations at the Dixie Stampede website. You’ll have a great time.

"King" ready to perform in the Dixie Stampede

“King” ready to perform in the Dixie Stampede

Washington State Cascade mountain range

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Beautiful mountain stream

The Cascade Range in Washington is one of the features of the Pacfic Northwest that draws tons of folks each and every year . The Mt Baker-Snoqualimie National Forest offers a tremendous varitey of recreation and nature loving opportunities.

We have family in the Seattle area. When visiting we always try to allow for some time up in the mountains. The Mountain Loop Drive gives you some fantastic scenery, incredible photo ops and a chance to enjoy the lush forests of the mountains.

Roads turn to gravel but are very well maintained. Of course the season does make a difference, as winter snows can be very intense to say the least.

 

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Snow melt and waterfalls on Big 4 Mountain

Snow Melt and waterfalls on Big 4 Mountain

We could visit Boothill Graveyard in Tombstone

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IMG_3915After being disappointed with the town of Tombstone (see article here) I decided to see if we could park at the lot next to the Boothill Graveyard. Boothill is now on the National Register of Historic places. According to a plaque the graveyard was restored by Tombstone residents in the 1920’s.

The final resting place of some of Tombstone’s most colorful people is well maintained now. All of the graves look pretty much the same: a pile of rocks and simple wood markers. A few graves have fencing. The entrance to the graveyard is through a souvenir shop. They request a $3 “donation” for a flyer with the grave locations marked.

This was an interesting attraction. The graveyard is portrayed as being authentic, however you have to wonder about the spacing of the graves. The spacing is almost too perfect. The sayings on some of the graves are pretty humorous.

We were able to park in the lot, however any rig over 25′ will not be able to park here. I was able to find a spot and back in ok.IMG_3928

           

Sunset over the Sonoran desert

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We took a drive to the Tucson Mountain District of the Saguaro National Park one evening. It was a visual delight to watch the desert turn from the bright sunlight of the day into the subdued lighting of dusk followed by yet another night.

One by one the cacti lose the sun's warmth

One by one the cacti lose the sun’s warmth

Shadows begin to lengthen

Shadows begin to lengthen

A beautiful blaze of the day's last light

A beautiful blaze of the day’s last light

Dusk arrives

Dusk arrives

Northwest Michigan’s Best Bear Lodge & Campground

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Matt and Carrie Bearup

Matt and Carrie Bearup

We found a marvelous campground in the middle of northwestern Michigan after we had finished a large festival nearby. The Best Bear Lodge and Campground is a work in progress that is already gaining a reputation as a favorite spot to stay. Nestled on ten acres of beautiful woodland, this resort is located south of Travis City and north of Baldwin.

Right now there are seven pull through water/electric sites, tent camping, one cabin and a four room lodge/motel. The cabin has two sets of bunk beds, TV, fridge and coffee pot. Bring your own linens to the cabin. The lodge rooms are outfitted with full kitchens, bath, TV and includes daily room service. The TV service is satellite with 200 channels. Seperate rest rooms are sparkling clean as are the coin operated showers.

Our home for a few days

Our home for a few days

A beautiful setting

A beautiful setting

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That is the overview. Here is the scoop: This place is one of the most peaceful, beautiful and nice parks you will ever find. The pull through sites offer plenty of room to run out your slides and/or awning. Between the sites there is a buffer with native oak, pine and other foliage giving the sense of privacy so often missing at most RV parks. Free pumpouts let you leave your sewer hose stowed. Bagged ice and cheap firewood is available.

We used our Verizon Jetpack for internet hookup. It went in and out, as did our phone service. This is not a good Verizon service area. The campground offers an ATT jetpack rental for a strong internet connection if you so desire.

Owners Carrie and Matt Bearup are just delightful hosts. They make you feel like family and will do anything to make your stay more comfortable. They know the area and can provide all you need to know about the hiking, ATV and snowmobile trails of the area. This area of the state is famous for the year round recreation opportunities.

The lodge building

The lodge building

The 1st of the cabins

The 1st of the cabins

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional lodge rooms, cabins and RV sites are planned and will include 28 pulll through sites. The pads will be grass with paved roads for easy access to large rigs with towed vehicles or trailers. Right now the newly cleared and level sites are dirt as is the road. The sandy soil is well drained so mud is not a problem.

The $25 rate for an RV site is very reasonable and the best in the area. Be sure to visit the Best Bear Lodge website for all the information about this great campground. We will be back.

 

 

Civil War Trails stop

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IMG_3426_resizedThe signs on I-295 near Richmond, Virginia listed EXIT 34 as the way to Cold Harbor Battlefield. I decided to hop off the road and see how far this was. The first road east of the interstate had signs showing the direction of the Battle of Gaines Mill.

As I have been a Civil War buff for years I figured that a stop was in order. Sher and I headed down the road and followed the signs to the Battlefield. What greeted us was a sign announcing the entrance and a long narrow tree lined road winding up through the ravines to the ridge top.

I was greeted at the ridge top with an incredile vista. There was a simple two story house and large “outbuilding”, several hundred yards of spilt rail fences and a few artillery pieces. Some informational signs were scattered around. An unoccupied NPS Park Ranger squad car was the only indication that this was the year 2015, not 1862.

This plantation home was the Union Headquarters and was shot to pieces during the battle

This plantation home was the Union Headquarters and was shot to pieces during the battle

Fences are the Union lines, the Confederates attacked from the tree line.

Fences are the Union lines, the Confederates attacked from the tree line.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The grounds were totally empty. There was only one other car when we pulled in, and it left in short order. I couldn’t believe that we had the entire site to ourselves.  As I walked along the line where Union artillery pounded the advancing Confederate infantry as they came up the ravine and through the trees I could not help but imagine the horror of the conflict. This is hallowed ground that is filled with the energy that remains from the turbulant times of the American Civil War.

Artillery cannon with the plantation buildings in the background

Artillery cannon with the plantation buildings in the background

Our rig parked on the site with cannons off to the left.

Our rig parked on the site with cannons off to the left.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Battle of Gaines Mill was one of the Seven Days Battle that took place in late June/early July 1862. This day’s fighting resulted in combined casualties of 15,000 killed, wounded or captured. If you are interested in details, you can find them at this NPS website.

Tom’s Cove Park on Chincoteague Island, Virginia

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Fishing piers at the park

Fishing piers at the park

Tom’s Cove Park is one of two large RV parks on Chincoteague Island on Virginia’s Atlantic shore. The RV park was our stopping point for a couple of days during our jaunt up and down the Delmarva Penninsula.

The park is easy to get to, just turn left on the main street when you cross the bridge at the end of the causeway leading to the island. There will be a nice drive along the inner waterway and you will see the signs to the park.

The park has over 900 sites with about half being seasonal rigs. There are sites for tents as well as the big rigs and everything inbetween. They offer free WiFi which actually provided a strong connection. The cable TV was available at our site, but it was poor quality.

Sher getting a little computer work done

Sher getting a little computer work done

Restrooms and dump stations are scattered around the park, although there are plenty of full hook up sites as well. The store/registration office is very large and stocks a bit of everything from food to power cords to bait.

The water is close and several private fishing and crabbing docks will make this a delightful place to wet a line or set the crabbing pots if you are so inclined. There is also a boat ramp and marina on the property.

Working lighthouse you can see after dark from the park

Working lighthouse you can see after dark from the park

Camp store/registration

Camp store/registration

Take a drive through the park and check out which site you want. This is a suggestion I would make. Had we done that before we registered we probably would have picked a different site. There is quite the selection of sites in the park. Staff are friendly, fellow campers are friendly and there is also a nice pool with a lifeguard on duty.

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This camper is ready to fish!

The large swimming pool

The large swimming pool

Rates are moderate to high, so pick and choose what you want in your site: full or partial hook-ups, 30 or 50 amp, cable TV or not, etc. All in all it is a nice, clean, safe park albeit on the high price side. Click here for the park Website.

Beautiful waterfall and Nature Preserve

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20150522_134618 (2)Traveling in the Columbus and Dublin, Ohio area? There is a little gem of a nature park that you really should see. Nestled in a ravine running into the Scioto River in Dublin, Ohio you will find a stunning waterfall in a peaceful setting in the middle of the city. The Griggs Nature Preserve is part of the Columbus Parks system.

The small parking lot is located on the west side of the river on the south side of  Hayden Run Road east of Dublin Road. There is a trail head that immediately turns into a new, well constructed boardwalk trail. The steep steps lead down the ravine bank to a wide boardwalk with railings on both sides. The boardwalk follows the stream which may give you the chance to see some ducks and their families. Songbirds add to the vista of the pretty trees, wildflowers and other foliage.

The waterfall itself is at the end of the 1/4 mile long boardwalk. What a beautiful waterfall and pool! The rock outcroppings are stunnning to see and you wonder how did this falls come to be. It is hard to believe that this serene natural setting is surrounded by the bustling cities of Dublin and Columbus!

Words of caution: The steps leading down to the stream trail are very steep and long. It is easy going down, but the climb back up can be difficult. Plan accordingly. In addition, the parking lot is small and will require the use of your towed vehicle. Only a Class B will fit into the small parking lot.