No School - What to Do?

No school, What to do?

Today is a teacher-inservice day.  Mixed blessing.  Love having the kids at home, but if I hear another door slam or child whine, we will all go crazy!  Although I might already be there :)  When I am flat-out of ideas for what to do, I check several websites for inspiration.  These websites provide great lists of events going on in the area.  Usually, I can find some adventure to excite us.  

  

www.mypigeonforge.com 

This website is dedicated to listing the events happening in Pigeon Forge.  For instance,  the 8th Annual Heritage Day is happening tomorrow at the Old Mill.

“Experience the past now at the Old Mill Heritage Day in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Take the whole family to this event for a fun filled day! At Old Mill Heritage Day you will find quilt demonstrations, a petting zoo, kid’s train rides, basket making, a farmers market and much more! See firsthand what life in the 18^th century was like as you learn to make lye soap and yummy apple butter. Take a free tour of the Old Mill during your visit! People young and old are sure to enjoy the Old Mill Heritage Day.”  Taken straight from www.mypigeonforge.com website.  It looks like great fun.    

http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/events.htm 

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park website offers a calendar of events filled with ranger guided hikes, demonstrations, and wildlife programs available free of charge to everyone.  I took the children salamander hunting in the mountains with the rangers this summer and it was fabulous!  What child doesn't want to splash around in a mountain stream grabbing muddy creatures?  By completing three programs, children can become a Junior Ranger and are recognized at the Visitor’s Center.  Proud moments -too fun!  

Knoxmoms.com on facebook

http://familyfriendlyknoxville.com/events-calendar/

These are two other resources for great things to do with children in the area.  

Game Day

But on a beautiful fall Saturday in Knoxville, it is hard to beat Game Day.  Campus festivities at Neyland Stadium are filled with great fun for kids and parents.  If you aren’t a tailgater and don’t have a tailgate to visit, then everyone is welcome to the Vol Walk - 2 hours or so before kick-off (5:15 pm tomorrow).  While this tradition started in 1990, it has quickly become a fan favorite.  The whole team, along with the cheerleaders and Smoky, walk down Peyton Manning Pass to the stadium, shaking hands and high-fiving fans the whole way.  My kids adore this chance to get up close to the football players, or maybe it’s the cheerleaders.

Next, Tennessee’s Pride of the Southland Band marches down Andy Holt Drive and into the stadium every Saturday home game.  I adore seeing the band perform Rocky Top as the Majorettes perform a routine right on the street before heading into the game.  Even if you aren’t a VOL fan, walking around campus on game day is a unique experience that everyone should experience.  Look for us tomorrow at Game Day.  We love the VOLS!

The Wye in Townsend

The best kept secret in the Smokies, as far as my boys and I are concerned.  Don’t be intimidated.  The Wye in Townsend is just a swimming spot in the mountains.  It is very easy to find.  All of Knoxville should take advantage of having this beautiful destination at our fingertips.  It feels like a vacation, but you can return to your own bed at night.  We just drive straight down Alcoa Highway, past the airport, past Maryville, and through Townsend, following the signs to the National Park.  50 minutes after leaving downtown Knoxville, the Wye will be on the left-side of the road.  There is a parking lot right in front of it.  You just pull up, park, gather your gear and head down to the river for the most relaxing and free day of fun.  

As long as I bring the essentials, we can pass the entire day without noticing where the time went.  I always bring a chair to sit in (but none for my kids, to ensure they stay in the water), a cooler with drinks, snacks, and lunch, shovels, buckets, nets, water guns, life jackets, hats, goggles, river shoes, and sometimes little tubes or rafts.  My kids are in heaven up there.  Much to my amazement, they can play in the river for hours and hours without bickering once.  They skip rocks, dig rocks, paint faces with wet rocks, catch minnows, swim, build pools, and everything else children can do with water and rocks, as I sit there in a trance.  No alcohol needed.  In fact, a drink would probably put me to sleep.  

The temperature is dreamy.  The cool mountain water streaming past keeps the temperature on the beach just perfect.  During the June heat wave, we beat the 100+ degree heat with an escape to the Wye.  It was so cool by the river that we didn’t even break a sweat.   

Several times this summer I have taken the boys to the Little River BBQ restaurant in Townsend afterwards (because I avoid cooking on stay-cations, as much as possible).  There is a big screened-in porch out back that overlooks the river.  Being from Memphis, I can attest that the BBQ is suprisingly good.  The kids were pleased to get mini-corndogs from the kids menu.  Plus, eating on the back porch allows the kids and parents to relax in a kid-friendly environment.  Over the past two summers, we have introduced lots of friends to the Wye, and all of them have fallen in love and been amazed at how close by this little slice of heaven is to home.  One little friend even thanked me for inviting him to our river party!  

Swimming at the Wye is one of our favorite things to do in the Smokies in the summertime.  We look forward to it all year long.  My youngest son even jumped in the frigid water last November when we stopped at the river on our way to Cades Cove.  I can’t imagine a better way to seize the day than soaking up the innocence and happiness of my children in such a beautiful setting.  So pack your car and get on your way!     

MagiQuest - A Castle Full of Fun

MagiQuest is the best attraction in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg combined.  Of course, I am biased because my husband is the owner of the cool castle, which thereby makes me the Queen.  But, with all of my time spent there and other places, I can promise that MagiQuest is a must-do if you have children between the ages of 6 and 20.  My twins recently had their 7th birthday party at MagiQuest and we ended up with 90 people in the party room.  Luckily the party room was big enough to accommodate so many.  If the castle is a little foreboding, let me explain what you'll be getting yourself into when you enter...


Description of MagiQuest 
Each person gets a wand, goes through the training, and registers for a quest.  In order to play independently, a child needs to be able to read the clues in the booklet to find each of the things located throughout the realms.  If not, an adult will need to be there to assist the child.  There are 3 highly themed realms - village, dungeon and fairy forest, plus a hidden goblin chamber.  Your wand interacts with things in the realms, and it keeps track of what you have found.  After finding all of the clues in a quest, you can advance to another quest or adventure, slowly working your way up to Master Magi, battling the dragon, and other levels.  My 4-year-old proudly brags that he is a Master Magi, as though it translates to something at home.  It is almost like playing Zelda live.  Kids, and especially Dads, love it!

Tips

• MagiQuest is dropping their package price (with use of a training wand) to $19.99 at the end of June 2012, in an effort to make it more affordable.  The MagiQuest castle also houses three other attractions - The Vault, The Odyssey Mirror Maze, and SpecialFX Pirate Golf.  At $5 per attraction, MQ is not only the coolest way to spend an afternoon, but also the best deal.  
• Strollers are allowed.  If you have a child younger than 3, you will probably want to keep them in a stroller during MagiQuest so that you can chase after your older child as they run through the realms of MagiQuest hunting clues.  It is hard to keep a small child with you while you assist an older child, unless they are confined to a stroller for at least part of the time.  Small kids also delight in flicking their wands and watching as treasure chests open up, revealing their treasure.
• There are a couple of drink machines inside, but there are no snack machines.  So, I recommend you bring snacks with you, as the entire castle can take several hours to complete.
• You can leave the castle and return later to do the other attractions inside the castle - The Odyssey Mirror Maze, The Vault, or the Pirate Golf.  
• Perfect for Rainy or Hot Days.
• Wear comfortable walking shoes.  
•  It is always chilly inside.  Bring a sweatshirt if you tend to get cold.
• During summer and holiday weekends visit early in the morning (MagiQuest opens at 9 AM), or late in the evening (after 6) to avoid the crowds.  MagiQuest is busiest between noon and 5 PM.
• There are coupons in most of the brochure racks in town, or you can print a coupon from the website.
• Wands - they retain your progress so you can revisit MagiQuest and start where you left off, even years later.  However...
• Change your batteries at home.  If you are returning, make sure the batteries in your wand are fresh.  
• Contact Betty at 865-603-1592 for a special group rate. 
• Ask the employees dressed up in costumes for help.  They are standing there ready to help if you have trouble finding something or completing a quest.  
• The dragon at the end of the dungeon may be frightening for a little one.  
• Leave a comment if you have any other questions.  Have fun!