Started day with breakfast at the day cafe / night bar. Good breakfast and we had discounted from hotel. Then off fairly early for a packed day of fun. Bear Country USA - https://www.bearcountryusa.com- drive through/walk through sanctuary. Very well ran and the babies were the best to watch. Being there first thing in the morning was a very good idea. 1880's Train - https://www.1880train.com- I made reservations and paid for tickets online ahead of time. This made it pretty easy to check in and pick up our tickets in Keystone, SD. Nice train ride over to Hill City. Not near as scenic as some other train rides but the staff gave lots of very informative information about the area. During the layover in Hill City ... read more

Left on a Saturday and back the next. I always try to do my road trips in a circle with as little back tracking as possible or going somewhere we have already gone. North from Texas straight up through Oklahoma, Kansas and half way into Nebraska. Then Northwest the rest of Nebraska into the South Dakota. 2 nights in South Dakota. Then West to Wyoming and three nights in Cody, Wy as our base for Yellowstone. Then Southwest down through to Colorado and a night in Cripple Creek, Co. Then home the next day cutting across the corner of New Mexico and West Texas. Really today was just a big driving day. Made our way to just over the Kansas border before lunch time. Stopped at McDonald's for lunch then since we were making good time ... read more

After a few days our plan was a quick stop in Nashville then some fun in Memphis. But as life is - S*@T happens! Our last day in Pigeon Forge I felt one of my infamous kidney infections coming on. We looked around online but didn't find any medical facilities that I felt comfortable with - my kidneys and I at the time were not friends. So the decision was made that I just wanted to get home and see my doctor. I did have some heavy duty pain meds with me so that trip was pretty much Narnia. We left the area about 4pm and made it to a hotel in Nashville later that night. I'm fairly certain the boys made another run at White Castle. Up early next morning. We did do a must ... read more

During our next few days we spent in the area. We took in the many sights to be seen. Along with a side trip to the North Carolina Mts. and a day at Dollywood. We played lots of mini golf as that is our thing. Ripleys has many fun courses in the area and of course you have to play Hillbilly Golf. A second trip to the aquarium before out the door. The Christmas Store which my husband has fond memories with his mother of. The Old Mill Restaurant which my grandfather took me too. Also took the ski lift up to Ober Gatlinburg then a ride back down on the mountain coaster after playing around a bit. We took an opportunity to drive around the mountains taking in the views and checking out the pretty ... read more

We took off pretty early around 5am I think. The kids are early teens so they just go from bed to the truck and back to sleep. Our first stop is a truck stop for breakfast just over the Arkansas border - yummy! Then through Arkansas to our first quick stop in Memphis. We just stopped in the visitor center to collect maps and brochures - really for later scrap booking ;) Our plan to do more exploring in Memphis on the way back home but more on that later. This is a really great place for a stretch as it's part of the river park right on the Mississippi. Mud Island is just across the way. After this on our way - long travel day! Next stop was for lunch / dinner on the other ... read more