Tag Archives: family vacation

A Day at Ober Gatlinburg

For some reason, we had never visited Ober Gatlinburg during our family vacations.  With a little research, we realized this may be a perfect, kid-friendly activity for the whole family that Nolan would enjoy as well.

In addition to the children’s rides, we were excited about the  Alpine Slide, the Ski Mountain Coaster, the Wildlife Encounter, the Amaze ‘n Maze, the Cyclone Rapids ride, Mini Golf and an indoor ice skating rink.

Our first step was to take the Aerial Tramway to Mountaintop Park.  Reaching heights of 2813 feet above sea level, each tram’s capacity is 120 guests.

 

Waiting for the next Tramway, we were the next to board the tram which worked to our advantage offering a place near the window to enjoy the stunning views.   Standing towards the front, we had an amazing view of the mountains as well as the other trams making their way, a little over two miles, towards the top.

The Tramway was completed in August of 1972 transporting millions of people to the Adventure Park to date.

Nolan was the most excited of all.  Pointing out trees, houses and other sights, his commentary proved to be quite entertaining.

As we passed over the Animal Habitat, we knew we would need to make a stop to see the black bears – BJ, Chief and Holly, river otters and their adorable bobcats, all animals native to Tennessee.

We tried to talk Nolan into going down the side of the mountain on the Alpine Slide, but he was just a little too nervous.  We thought that we would let him ride a few other games so that he would see how much fun the rides were and agree to take the slide. Lucky for us it worked.

Nolan was happy and content to ride the children’s rides.  Animated and enjoying every minute of making us laugh, he was finally ready to ride the Alpine Slide with his mom, with a bit of hesitation.  By the time they reached the end of the slide, he was ready to go back and do it all again.

With so many activities for young children, Ober Gatlinburg kept Nolan entertained.  We were happy to see his enthusiasm to make friends on each of the rides.  After a couple of hours, we moved on to the Scenic Chairlift,

The Chairlift reaches Mt. Harrison with a rise of nearly 800 feet.  This is my favorite ride in the park with scenic mountain and bird’s eye views.  On a clear day, riders can see as far as Douglas Lake and the views of Mt. LeConte are spectacular.

At the top of Mt. Harrison, we were entertained with bluegrass music….

…and met with an overlook that continued for miles.

Ober Gatlinburg is Tennessee’s only Ski and Snowboard park making winter its peak season, open all year around.  We thoroughly enjoyed visiting during our summer vacation and thought it would be fun to visit in the winter during ski season.  What a beautiful place no matter what time of year it is.

Have you visited Ober Gatlinburg?  Which season did you explore the park?  I would love to hear about your experience if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Ober Gatlinburg
1001 Parkway Suite 2
Gatlinburg, TN  37738
Telephone:  865 436 5423

  • Admission Fee: $29 for ages 5 and older for the tram only; $49 for the wristband, ages 5 – 59 and $39 for the wristband ages 60+; ages 4 and under may enter at no charge with an adult admission
  • Hours:  The park opens from 10AM to 6PM daily but parking is open at 9:40 and the tramway begins its operation at 9:40AM.
  • Length of Visit: 4+ hours
  • Amenities:  Aerial Tramway, Tennessee Flyer, Wildlife Habitat, Ice Skating, Ice Bumper Cars, Scenic Chairlift, Carousel, Rock Wall, Family Snow Zone, Snow Tubing
  • Tips for Your Visit:   The Ober Mountain Wristband is valid for unlimited use of the Aerial Tramway and all other activities on the mountain for the day in which it was purchased. Activities such as snow tubing, snow sports, white water rafting and ziplining are not included with the wristband. Check their website for activities available based on the season.

Where to Stay:

The Firefly Chalet booked through VRBO.

Where to Eat:

The Best Italian Restaurant
968 Parkway
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
Telephone: 865 436 4345

What to Eat: 

Everything on the menu and I highly recommend the Garlic Knots.

Climb Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Michigan

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Having spent several summers visiting the Outer Banks of North Carolina, everyone in the family agreed to explore Sleeping Bear Dunes during our family vacation.  Located along Michigan’s lakeshore, this historical state park was once home to the early Anishinaabek culture.  It’s name was derived from their story of the Sleeping Bear.

The story begins with a mother bear (Mishe Mokwa) and her two cubs that lived in the land that is now Wisconsin.  Covered in trees, this land caught fire and the bears continued south to escape.  When they arrived at Lake Michigan, their only hope was to cross over, so the mother bear urged her cubs to swim.  At some point in the night, Mishe Mokwa lost her cubs and in the morning when she woke on the shores of the lake.  Looking back into the water, she noticed them slipping through the waves.  Heartbroken, she lay depressed by the loss of her cubs and looked out into the lake where her babies had died.

The Great Spirit, Gitche Manitou, created two islands, North and South Manitou in honor of the cubs.  With a heart that would never heal, the Spirit covered the mother with a blanket of sand and laid a spell of sleep upon her.

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Before climbing the tall sandy dune, we stopped by the Philip A. Hart Visitor’s Center to pick up a map of the national lakeshore and surrounding area.  We were also interested in driving the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive during our stay, so we picked up a map of this popular tourist route with its scenic stops and ecological features.

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The weather could not have been more perfect.  The skies were a deep blue and not a cloud in sight while the temperature was moderate with a gentle breeze.  From the bottom of the dunes, it seemed like it would take an eternity to reach the top but we each had our own game plan for tackling the hill.

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Each of us finally made it to the crest and looking back towards our start, we could see Lake Glen sparkling under the afternoon sun.  Our calves would be a little sore over the next couple of days, but it was well worth the effort.

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We all agreed to continue on in hopes of seeing Lake Michigan on the other side.  We learned that there are two hikes that originate from the Dune Climb. One is the 3.5 mile round trip Dunes Trail and the other a 2.8 mile Sleeping Bear Point loop hike.

We were surprised that once we made it to the top, the climb continued upward.  We were certain that we would soon reach Lake Michigan but it would take a little more hiking to even come close.

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We learned from a group of returning hikers that we were hardly close to the lake.  If we continued on for about another quarter of a mile, there was a chance that we would see it in the distance.  Pushing on, we found a small hill off of the path where we were able to catch a glimpse of Lake Michigan.  With our legs burning and out of breath, we enjoyed the view and then decided to make the journey back.

Have you visited Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Michigan?  I would love to hear about your experience, so if you leave a message in the comments below!  Many thanks for reading about our climbing of the Dunes Trail in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park!  Wishing you many Happy Travels!

For more information about the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, contact them directly or check out their website by using the following information.

What to See and What to Do:

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
9922 Front Street
Empire, MI  49630
Telephone: 231 326 5134

  • Admission Fee:   Park Entrance Pass is $25 per vehicle which is valid for seven days from the of issue.  Alternatively, visitors can pay a $15 per person fee.  Annual Park Entrance Pass is also available for purchase for $45, valid 12 months from the month of issue.
  • Hours:  The Dune climb is open all year, 24 hours a day
  • Amenities:  The park offers the following activities – biking, climbing the dunes, fishing, geology tour, hiking, hunting, kayak and canoe, scuba diving, skiing and snowshoe,  swimming, tubing and winter activities.  Visitors can also explore the Sleeping Bear Maritime Museum, the US Life-Saving Service station, the boathouse, Glen Haven General Store, Cannery Boathouse and Blacksmith shop.
  • Length of Visit:  Full day of food, fun, activities and entertainment
  • Tips for Your Visit:  You may want to climb the dune without shoes or decide to climb in socks if the sand is hot.  There are also all-terrain footwear that you may want to research as well.  Bring plenty of water and sunscreen.

Where to Stay:

Bayshore Resort
833 E. Front Street
Traverse City, MI  49686
Telephone:  231 935 4400

Where to Eat:

Blu
5705 South Lake
Glen Arbor, MI  49636
Telephone: 231 334 2530

I selected this restaurant because of the stunning views of Sleeping Bear Bay and the Manitou Islands as well as their use of local ingredients.  I ordered the Loma Farm Greens as a starter with Feta cheese, apples, almonds and mustard vinaigrette and for my entree, I could not pass up the sea scallops served with butternut squash.  I wanted to sample the local wines, so I ordered the Boathouse Vineyards Pinot Noir prior to eating my starter and then I ordered the Chateau Fontaine Chardonnay to pair with my meals.  Both wines are from the Leelanau Peninsula.

What to Eat: 

  • The Coney Dog from Detroit, Jackson or Flint.
  • Vernor’s Ginger Ale
  • Founded in the Upper Peninsula, the pasty is a pastry pocket with fruit filling
  • Mackinac Island Fudge
  • Apples
  • Cherries
  • Detroit Style Pizza shaped in a rectangle and baked until the edges are crispy.
  • Better Made Chips from Detroit
  • Germack Pistachios 
  • Walleye Fish from the Great Lakes
  • Faygo beverages

What to Read: 

  • Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
  • The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides
  • Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
  • Eight Mile High by Jim Ray Daniels
  • The Dollmaker by Harriette Arnow
  • The Glass Highway by Loren D. Estleman

Photo Guide for Traverse City: 

  • Black Star Farm Vineyards
  • Glen Haven Beach at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park
  • Grand Traverse Pie Company pies
  • Grand Traverse Lighthouse
  • North Bar Lake at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park
  • Tall Ships along the coast
  • The vineyards at 2 Lads Winery

Disclosure:   Please refer to our blog disclaimer tab for more information.

Hotter Than Hale – Day Three

After sleeping in and having a carb-filled breakfast, we were all happy to spend the late morning and afternoon on Long Lake.  The kids were so excited to spend time on the water, so they eagerly put on their life jackets and boarded the pontoon.  My brother Mike would be captain for the day and we wanted to find a small cove for swimming.

Mike parked the boat and we carried the kids up to the house.  Walking the lawn, we arrived at the stairs where we dropped off our towels at the balcony.  Most of us washed up in preparation for making dinner while the boys took short naps before the food was ready.

Scott wanted to fish, so he took his tackle box and rods down to the edge of the lake where he could board the boat to throw in his bait.

Grace and Erika played in the sprinkler having a great time playing tag.

Gunnar woke up from his nap in such a happy mood hanging out with Dad.  Joy spent her time in the kitchen making us a casserole for dinner while the rest of us worked on side dishes.

It was time for dinner and Erika crawled up into her seat.  The kids were so hungry from playing outside and couldn’t wait to have dinner so they could play some more.

While most of us had fun taking family photos and capturing the fun moments of our vacation, Gunnar was a little less enthusiastic.

The kids were starting to wind down as the grownups discussed what we would want to do the next day.  Making plans we decided that we would have one more day on the lake because the weather would be more overcast and perfect for swimming and fishing.

Gunnar was trying so hard to stay awake as long as he could in fear of missing out.

It was another amazing day in Hale as we walked down towards the lake to take in the sights and sounds.  Listening to the bullfrogs and watching a family of geese swim across the water, was a beautiful ending to our relaxing day on Long Lake.

What to See and What to Do: 

  • Relax on the lake…swimming, boating fishing

Where to Stay: 

  • We went through VRBO to find this lovely lake house in Hale, Michigan.

Where to Eat:

Coach’s Pizza (now Mikey’s Pizzeria Hale)
221 N. Washington Street
Hale, MI  48739
Telephone:  989 218 3333

The pizza and service is what brings locals to Coach’s Pizza.  From great appetizers such as their wings to the yummy pizzas, you will want to come back for lunch AND dinner.

What to Eat: 

  • Better Made potato chips
  • Biggby Coffee
  • Chipati – pocket bread stuffed with salad
  • Detroit-style pizza where the toppings are under the sauce and loaded with cheese
  • Hummer – drink made with kahlua, rum and ice cream
  • Pasty – pastry shell with savory fillings
  • Vernor’s Ginger Ale

Hotter than Hale, Our Vacation in Michigan – Travel Day

Our family vacation began with a stop in Frankenmuth, Michigan where we decided to have lunch at Zehnder’s, famous for their chicken dinner.  We took an afternoon stroll to walk off our giant portions of homestyle cooking, exploring the Bavarian architecture of this charming village.  With a deep German heritage dating back to 1904, this is one of Michigan’s most visited towns offering exciting festivals throughout the year.

Within an hour and a half, we arrived at our rental house in Hale, Michigan where we would spend the next ten days of vacation.  Situated on the shores of the lake, we had access to a pontoon boat and a small ramp for fishing.  Grace couldn’t wait to drive us around.

After a long day on the road and settling into our rental house, we were blessed with a beautiful sunset.  We sat around the fireplace enjoying the solitude as the sun slowly drifted behind the lake and tall pines.

What a beautiful way to spend our first evening in Hale after a long day of travel.

What is your favorite family vacation?  I would love to hear about your travel memories if you will kindly provide them in the comments section below.  Many thanks for reading about my family vacation in Hale, Michigan and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

  • Walk the charming town of Frankenmuth

Zehnder’s of Frankenmuth
730 South Main Street
Frankenmuth, MI  45734
Telephone:  844 802 8323

Where to Stay:

Zehnder’s Splash Village
1365 South Main Street
Frankenmuth, MI  45734
Telephone:  844 330 1715

Where to Eat:

Zehnder’s of Frankenmuth
730 South Main Street
Frankenmuth, MI  45734
Telephone:  844 802 8323

What to Eat:

  • Zehnder’s Fried Chicken
  • Schnitzel
  • Sauerbraten

What to Read:

  • Frankenmuth:  A Guide to Michigan’s Little Bavaria, by Lynn Marie-Ittner Klammer

Photo Guide for Frankenmuth:

  • Bavarian Belle Riverboat
  • Frankenmuth Brewery
  • Illuminated Village Christmas Zehnder’s
  • Lager Mill
  • Old School House Brick

Winter Olympic History at Lake Placid, NY

My brother, Mike had moved to Argyle, New York outside of Saratoga Springs, and my parents had planned a family vacation to visit him.  On the road for 12 hours, we arrived at the charming dairy town, where my brother had been working with the Young Life organization.  After a long day, we settled into Mike’s home, ordered a pizza from Squirt’s and turned in for the night.

Sleeping in after a long day of driving, we began our two hour drive towards Lake Placid located in the Adirondack region of New York.  Known as the location of two winter Olympic Games, Lake Placid is best visited during the fall. We had arrived just in time to watch the changing of the leaves and the beautiful early fall sunsets.

What I remember most about Lake Placid was that it was the location where the United States hockey team took home the gold medal in 1980.  I had a huge crush on goalie Jim Craig and sat on the edge of the couch as Eric Heiden took home five gold medals for speed skating.  Visiting the location where it all took place was super exciting as it brought back such awesome childhood memories.

As we approached the Olympic grounds, we could see the Lake Placid Olympic Ski Jumping Compound where the 90 meter and 120 meter jumps towered over the simple country roads.  Once home to the Lake Placid Club, this was the location of the area’s first ski jump built in 1920.  With funds to improve the jump towers, the complex will be ready to host several major games over the next few years.

Another highlight of my day in Lake Placid was a stop at the Olympic Sports Complex.  I was hoping to book the Bobsled Experience, but it was closed for the season.  The track, close to a half mile long, races up to 55 miles per hour.  In addition to the experience, thrill seekers will also receive a complimentary photo, a t-shirt and discount on an upcoming session.

We continued our exploration of Lake Placid by driving the country roads towards Saranac Lake.  The fall colors were in their early stages of changing color and the air was crisp.  It was the perfect day for checking out the Adirondacks.

Have you visited Lake Placid or have a favorite village in the Adirondacks?  I would love to hear about your experience, recommendations or best of list if you would leave a message in the comments section below.  Thank you for reading about my amazing time in Lake Placid and wishing you many Happy Travels!

Disclosure:  Please refer to our blog disclaimer tab for more information.

What to See and What to Do:

Lake Placid Olympic Center
2634 Main Street
Lake Placid, NY
Telephone:  518 523 1655

Where to Stay:

Adirondack Vacation Rentals
Telephone:  518 524 7335

Where to Eat:

Whiteface Lodge
7 Whiteface Lane
Lake Placid, NY  12946
Telephone:  518 523 0505

Check  out Kanu for its exquisite dining overlooking the Adirondacks.

What to Eat and/or Drink:

    • Adirondack Seltzer
    • Beef on Weck Sandwich: Roast beef and grated horseradish on a kimmelweck roll (seasoned with caraway seeds and coarse salt)
    • Boston Shake is a milkshake with a sundae on top
    • Chicken Riggies: a dish made of rigatoni, chicken, hot and sweet peppers, covered in a tomato cream sauce
    • Croghan Balogna: smoked beef links
    • Garbage Plate: a combination of macaroni salad (or baked beans), fried potatoes, meat (such as beef, hot dogs, fried fish),
    • Grape Pie (in the Finger Lakes region)
    • Jell-O
    • Aunt Rosie’s Loganberry or PJ’s Crystal Beach: non-carbonated and carbonated drinks
    • Michigans: a hot dog smothered in meat sauce
    • Peppermint Pigs
    • Saratoga Chips
    • Thousand Island Dressing

What to Read:

  • Dancehall, by Bernard P. Conners
  • Wild Fire, by Nelson DeMille
  • Mountain Shadows, by Patricia Reiss
  • Adirondack Mysteries & Other Mountain Tales by Dennis Webster

Photo Guide for Lake Placid:

  • The summit of Cat Mountain for a view of Lake George
  • Schroon Manor State Campground for views of Schroon Lake
  • Copeland Covered Bridge
  • Moose River for morning and evening photos
  • Bog River Falls for cascading waterfall

Imitating the Napoleon Dynamite movie