Our Second Honeymoon, or more accurately, The Adventures of Mamaw and Papaw
Luke and I are in the mountains taking a couple of days to belatedly celebrate our 18th anniversary. While here, we have come arrived at two overwhelming conclusions:
We are old.
We are boring.
Here are the highlights of our trip thus far:
1. We ate at Bullfish Grill.
We arrived at 3:40 looking forward to a nice meal full of uninterrupted conversation. Since it was uninterrupted, we were able to eat and say all of our words in 33 minutes flat. We left at 4:13.
2. We shopped at Five Oaks.
Found some adorable things for the kids at Old Navy. That’s where the pleasant shopping ended. Went to Aeropostale and I only have one thing to say: If my teenage daughter is ever working at a retail clothing outlet and rolls her eyes at you because you are obviously too old to be trying on a pair of shorts from a predominantly young, skinny people store? You have my permission to jerk her up by her ear lobe and pray some Holy Spirit fire down on her. I didn’t – but I wanted to.
And by the way, smart alec girl? They totally fit. I just hated the color.
3. We ate dessert at Marble Slab.
The inside of the place was packed and one particular woman was letting her kids tear the place down so we decided to sit outside. When I am childless there is no stinkin’ way I’m going to subject myself to someone else’s kids’ tantrums. It was quite chilly outdoors and because of this I discovered something interesting: The picnic benches at Marble Slab have the same effect on cellulite as on ice cream. Hence our taking the party to the peace and warmth of the truck.
Romantic stuff, eh?
4. We burned an hour’s worth of gas trying to think of something to do which basically means we can’t afford anything we might think of.
We really want to be fun y’all. We have racked our brains trying to think of what our young, cute friends would do if they were here. I had some great ideas but seems like everything we could agree on was closed because after all, it is a Monday night in off season. Which leads to…..
# 6. We are back in the room. It is 7:20.
So, the fact I am blogging should clearly indicate we aren’t cut out for this second honeymoon thing. At this rate, we’ll need to get up by at least 4 p.m. tomorrow to fit in all the fun we have planned.
But, here’s the cool thing. Luke has agreed that he will do at least one thing I want though he can’t decide which would be his worst nightmare. In the interest of making things easier on us both, which one would you pick?
L8r!
From your list I’m guessing you’re at Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg! Its just fun walking down the streets there! Check out Ripley’s or the Star Car Musuem. I really loved the Aquarium. But mostly I loved it when my husband let me go to the Scrapbook outlet!! That would be my #1 pick without kids! We didn’t make it to Dollywood. But they do have a lot of minature golf places, too. Have Fun!!
Hey Guys! or should I say you old farts! I would suggest the Aquarium. Britt and I went there on our honeymoon and had a blast. Another place I might suggest that is not on your list would be the Wonder Works Musuem. That is the building that looks like it is upside down. We have been there and want to go back when we are childless. Good luck deciding and let us know what you choose.
So glad you are in the area ! I would invite you over for dinner while you are here but I don’t want to impose on your busy schedule ! I am just about 30 minutes away from Sevier county. I have never played Gooney Golf but our family really enjoys Davey Crocket’s Mini Golf and also Old McDonalds Mini Golf is fun.
Have a great time !
Blessings,
Cecelia
Sorry for another comment but you MUST eat at Tony Roma’s next door to Wonder Works. Also if you go to Wonder Works you have to ride the bicycle that goes upside down and the roller coaster simulator. Have Fun !
So glad I’m not the only 2 comment person……Britt says he votes Goony Golf, and BTW, Dollywood is closed on Tuesdays. (sorry)
Hey girl! I live within 45 minutes of PF/Gatlinburg and love every bit of it…My top pick is the Scrapbook Store as well as a round of goofy golf at the McDonald’s Farm Goofy Golf…it is the one in front of Five Oaks…Also the Christmas Place is amazing…especially their stock of Vera Bradley! Have fun and blog about your day tomorrow!!
Lysa:
Sounds like your near Gatlinburg…one of our favorites places. Great idea for you two (especially if you’re feeling old and boring…). Go visit the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community on Glades Rd. / Buckhorn Rd. (off 321 toward Cosby…just outside Gatlinburg). There are wonderful pottery shops (Alewine is my favorite…the best pottery around…and Brandywine Pottery has some cool stuff.) Also, I like to visit bead shop where I make lots of cool earrings (Buckhorn Gallery…it’s one of the shops in the gallery). The guy who owns it is really cool (Kevin Ivers). Tell him I sent you. He won’t remember me.
For lunch? The Wild Plum Tea Room which is also in the arts and crafts community (fabulous and unique). Anyone would have a map. It’s a loop and doesn’t take long to tour, but well worth some dinking around. Stay away from downtown and Ober Gatlinburg (the nightmare of a cable ride which leads to absolutely nothing…trust me on this one!).
Anyway, hope this helps. I promise you, this is well worth exploring if you’re into old and boring. Anyone can direct you there!
peace~elaine
oh…Wild Plum is open from 11 – 3, Mon. thru Sat. Phone # is (865) 436-3808. UMMMMMMMM! ~elaine
This post cracks me up. It sounds like me and my husband. I don’t think mine would like one thing on the list, but would endure the gooneygolf just because he would get to kind of be playing golf. Don’t worry about being boring, it happens to the best of us.
Corey and I are celebrating 15 years this week.
We are also old because we can’t even figure out where to go for dinner.
By the way, I voted for horseback riding, because it seemed like the Christian thing to do. But you know I wanted to check “other” and say, “You’re on your second honeymoon for Pete’s sake, people! Get busy!”
Oh my, this was funny! It sounds so familiar! We went there quite a few years ago (with kids). My husband called it Pidgeon Gouge. All I can remember is Dollywood (surprisingly better than I expected)and that it rained an inordinate amount of time, keeping us in the hotel. It was a good thing the Olympics were on, or I don’t know what we would have done.
I enjoy reading your posts!
Lisa, you know I am all up for a good game of goony golf. We played while we there and had a great time, however I voted for the horseback ride. I would have loved to have done that but it stinking RAINED the whole time we were there. I also found that just being in the quite of our room was rather nice too.
Hope yall have a great trip. C ya soon.
BTW we had #2 and #3 at the ballfield with us last night and they were great.
Tammy
We always love to take a picnic and go to the Chimney Tops (sp???) and play on all the rocks in the creek. They have that little picnic area or you can go to the trail and right past the bridge you will cross on the trail, go down the bank and play on all the rocks there. I have even laid back on a big rock before and taken a little nap.
My sweet friend,
Since I was born in east Tennessee and know the area where you are at like the back of my hand I am going to suggest something for you two to do. GO horseback riding in Cades Cove. I have gone on many a date at Cades Cove. Breathtakingly beautiful and romantic. While playing goofy golf, etc… is fun, go carts fun, this is what you need to do. You can pick a private spot for a picnic (done this, very romantic) in Cades Cove. After this, YOU NEED to take the old time photo. A lot of fun. Eat dinner in Gatlinburg. Have a great day/night :>)
Love Ya,
Patty
Don’t ride the gocarts.
I saw a story on the news last night of a woman who was riding gocarts and her hair got caught in the engine. She was scalped.
yeah…..stay away from the gocarts.
HAVE FUN just enjoying the quietness. But I totally get it. When your vacation trips are during the week (same as we do since missing a Sunday wouldn’t be good really) there isn’t much to do.
Go eat a candy apple – or a caramel one, I’m not picky — for me.
love –
mindy
Eat at Maxwells.(in Gatlinburg) It is a come as you are place but the food is so good. Steak, lobster etc…
I am headed home next week to visit family and I am sure I will take a trip to the mountains. I miss it!
This made me feel so much better!!! When my hubs and I actually get to go OUT, we end up home at 9 because we don’t know what to do! So glad we’re not the only ones :) Have a fantastic time!
OK – horseback riding would be the obvious “romance” choice, but I chose the old time photo op – ’cause then it at least LOOKS like y’all did SOMETHING!!!!!
PS – my man and I have the same issue. We have one monthly date and usually spend it running errands!
Sad!
These sounds so much like my husband and I when we finally do go out to dinner we are back in one hour so now we have started going to those movies where they can order food like a pizza, hambuger, diet coke popcorn hotdog and kill to birds with one stone can you belive it has come to moive all in one with dinner, you are so not alone I have no idea where you are but I would go to Dollywood that sound like fun.
But I think if it where us we would be at the beach since its only 2 hours away. and that nasty girl at old navy I don’t like it when that happens to me ,just sob her and look the other way YOU ARE BEAUITFUL LISA and you don’t have to be a siz 0.love,marina
PS. and we talk naps when we don’t have our son are we old frats or what!LOL
Definitely go horseback riding…..I want to hear the stories after that trip:) lol!!!! Anything outdoors!!!
Have a great time!!!
Okay, I voted for the Old Tyme Photo since you are bemoaning your advanced age.
And why all these people are voting for horseback riding on an anniversary when that will leave you waaaay too sore to enjoy other aspects of said anniversary is beyond me. (See Kelly Love Well’s comment.)
And I can so relate. My husband and I (and from her recent post, Xandra and her husband!) usually end up at Barnes & Noble after dinner on our anniversary!
When we were dating I used to joke that you could always tell by looking around at restaurants who was married and who was dating. The tables with little or no conversation were the married folks.
Have fun!
I voted for gooney golf! It’s by far my favorite! I like to beat Nick so I can rub it in!!!!! LOL!
One of these days, we’re going to run into each other in Pigeon Forge. Love it.
Fret not – you’re just used to talking to small children and following them. If you’re like us, you just don’t get away often enough to know what to do/how to act.
Ok, I did vote the horseback riding, but just enjoy the peace and quiet and childlessness for the few days. I had the sweetest boy sit with me for a while at the games last night. He said Amber beat him at tennis! LOL Have a great time!
Sorry but a good laugh at your expense! Vacations can be a lot of work! Can’t wait to here how it ended!
gooney golf is ALWAYS an adventure!!!!
Can’t believe the “obvious” activity choice wasn’t on the list. LOL It is a second honeymoon… after all! Since we had to choose something, I voted for the Aquarium, it’s a really neat place!
Enjoy your getaway!
You two sound about as exciting as me and Brian……What are we gonna do when our kids are gone? We all live for our kids don’t we? Maybe you should go ahead and be working on a book for “How to live without kids and stay Married”
Hope ya’ll enjoy your free time!
Actually being in a hotel room that offers peace and quiet sounds really nice to me especially right now b/c my 8 yr old is bouncing a ball over and OVER right next to me
He just asked me why I was staring at him – HMM I wonder?!!
Enjoy!
Kim
I voted horseback riding because my hubby & I did that on our real honeymoon, 14 years, 10 months, and 13 days ago. Approximately. We also white-water rafted and drove through the log cabin village where I got stung by a bee. And hiked a lot, and looked at the black bears. And other things that we had never done before, that I agree with other commenters you should be doing! ;)
I’m right there with ya sister! We would be just as fun! :) But, give me some go carts and I’ll have a blast!! Just enjoy doing nothing. Go get your nails done.
Luke won’t like that though will he??
Carry on!
But isn’t it just fun being together, not having to do ANYTHING! Just relax…and you know you’ll end up talking about the kids!!!
I’m so relieved to hear that it’s not just Hubby and I that struggle with short dates! We usually surprise our sitters by arriving home hours before we’re supposed to.
I do start to have little panics attacks when I think of us with an empty nest. It’s years away still but it makes me realize how important these date nights are now. Because we’ve got to figure out what we like to do together between now and then so that when the last kid gets kicked out, I mean FLYS AWAY, our eyes don’t start twitching, our fannies don’t fuse to the couch and drool doesn’t start pooling up on our laps!
Have FUN! Even if it’s just sitting outside a little cafe while you discuss the people walking by. =0)
Looks like you folks gonna be doin’ some horsyback ridin’!
And it doesn’t help that men have like a word “quota”. My husband uses up his quota before he ever gets home from work! Your husband probably used up his word quota around year 5 of your 18 yr marriage and well, you see, there’s just nothin’ to talk about (in his mind).
Wow, 18 years huh? I was like 16 when you guys got married! Teehee! happy honeymoonin’. Again.
Goodness, you sound like me!
Pigeon Forge is where we honeymooned, and our FIRST honeymoon sounds like that! Anyway, if you are trying to avoid kids, then the Aquarium is probably out, and maybe the goony golf, although both of them are fun.
I totally vote for Cades Cove. It’s beautiful…
Congrats on your anniversary! I vote for the photo…it will at least make you laugh. Not that it doesn’t sound like you’re already having a barrel of fun. ;)
I know I’d probably rather be bored with my man than anywhere else. Praying right now that satan doesn’t get a thing this week; that your time together binds your hearts closer than ever! :)
To me it just sounds like a relaxing weekend! Oh how I wish Steve and I could do that very thing! Hope you guys enjoyed your time!
I needed that good chuckle today. Glad I’m not the only one that gets “stuck” to benches on chilly days. Haha!!!
Oh, girlfriend – don’t choose do it all. Gatlinburg/PF is so wonderful especially this time or year
ENJOY!!!
Ummm… second honeymoon. Why go anywhere? =)
We just took a trip to the same area with a 5 year old, a 2 year old and a 4 week old. They had fun, but we were so exhausted. The funny thing is, a few days after we returned, my Mom offered to watch the kids so we could have dinner. Would you believe we just sat in silence? It was wonderful. I had forgten what it felt like to eat without someond hanging on me or screaming.
We have been married for seven years next month and have NEVER been without our children overnight to take a trip. Maybe by our 18th, I will be so lucky.
Looking forward to seeing you Saturday night!