Tag Archives: girls weekend

Meeting the Stars at Dixie Stampede

Posted on September 29, 2011 by Sarah Vernetti

At the end of the Dixie Stampede show, which involved lots of horses and musical numbers and American flags, a video of Dolly Parton started playing on a huge screen at the end of the arena. As the music swelled, Dolly informed us that we’re all winners. I couldn’t help it…I rolled my eyes. Then I looked over at four-year-old E. She was happily waving her blue Dixie Stampede flag, having the time of her life!

Dixie Stampede. Pigeon Forge, TN

After the show, the performers lined up along the side of the arena so that the kids could meet them and their horses. I bought E. a flag thinking that it would end up crumpled in the back of her closet, but it is still proudly displayed in her bedroom, adorned with autographs from several of the performers. For E., Dixie Stampede was one of the most memorable experiences of our trip to the Smoky Mountains.

To get an idea of what the Dixie Stampede dinner show is like, check out the video on their website. Did I mention that they don’t give you utensils? You’re supposed to eat dinner with your hands. (eye roll)

For more Photo Friday fun, stop by the family travel blog Delicious Baby.

Note: I did not receive any compensation from Dixie Stampede, and all opinions are my own.

6 Comments

Posted in Tennessee, travel and tagged , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Christmas in July: Our Visit to a Holiday-Themed Hotel in Pigeon Forge

Posted on August 7, 2011 by Sarah Vernetti

During our recent girls-only adventure to the Smoky Mountains, we stayed at a Christmas-themed hotel called The Inn at Christmas Place. It was such a blast! Every inch of the hotel is decorated as if it were December, and Santa makes special appearances at the hotel several times per week.

Christmas tree in July. Inn at Christmas Place. Pigeon Forge, TN
My daughter and her friend check-out the beautiful Christmas tree.

Cookie decorating at the Inn at Christmas Place. Pigeon Forge.
Special Christmas-themed activities for kids include cookie decorating. (This picture was clearly taken pre-manicure!)

Our room. The Inn at Christmas Place. Pigeon Forge.
Our room included it’s own little Christmas tree, not to mention a balcony overlooking a pond and the garden.

Glockenspiel. Inn at Christmas Place. Pigeon Forge.
The glockenspiel was hand-carved in Germany and rings at the top of every hour until 9 p.m.

The Inn at Christmas Place. Pigeon Forge, TN
You won’t miss the Inn. It’s located on US 441, the main street through Pigeon Forge. Just look for the sign…and the huge Tudor-style building!

Studying flowers at the Inn at Christmas Place
We ate breakfast outside on the patio, and the girls enjoyed exploring the garden while my friend and I finished our coffee.

We enjoyed our stay, and this was a great location from which to explore the national park and Gatlinburg. I recommend it, especially to families travelling with children.

Note: I was not compensated in exchange for writing this post. All opinions are my own.

1 Comment

Posted in Tennessee, travel and tagged , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Photo Friday: A Mani/Pedi on the Road

Posted on August 5, 2011 by Sarah Vernetti

On our recent trip to the Smoky Mountains, we had the opporutunity to hang out with our friends from Ohio. Us four girls (two moms and two daughters) shared a room at the Inn at Christmas Place, a Christmas-themed hotel in Pigeon Forge. After busy days of sightseeing, we usually headed back to the room early and watched a movie, sat on the balcony, or treated our daughters to pedicures.

Mani/Pedi

Four-year-old E. has never let me paint her toenails, but she had no problem when my friend Jen offered to do the painting. Isn’t that how it always goes? Sometimes Mom gets a little boring, I guess!

Mani/Pedi

For more Photo Friday fun, head over to the family travel blog Delicious Baby.

11 Comments

Posted in Tennessee, travel and tagged , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Photo Essay: Smoky Mountains of Tennessee

Posted on July 31, 2011 by Sarah Vernetti

We recently went on a girls-only adventure into the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. The landscape couldn’t be more different than the surroundings we’re used to in Texas: tall trees, lots of green, and cool breezes.

Great Smoky Mountain National Park

GSM National Park

GSM National Park

GSM National Park

Ober Gatlinburg entrance.

Gatlinburg: Ober Gatlinburg Aerial Tramway

Gatlinburg trolley stop

We travelled with my friend Jen and her daughter. Check out her Photo Friday post for two more pictures of our Smoky Mountain adventure.

6 Comments

Posted in Tennessee, travel and tagged , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Advice: Napa Without A Car

Posted on July 28, 2010 by Sarah Vernetti

.So, you’ve got your Napa Valley trip all planned. Your flight is booked, your hotel room is reserved, and your wine tour is paid-in-full. But what about the rental car? Yes? No? Well, that depends. Here are a few things to keep in mind when deciding whether or not to rent a car in Napa.

–Transportation to Napa Valley from area airports is available via shuttle service. Expect to pay about $45 dollars one-way if you want to be dropped off at your hotel. You can call your hotel and ask for recommendations. Be sure to plan ahead, since it might be necessary to book your spot on the shuttle in advance.

–Of course, you can always use cabs to get around once you’re in Napa Valley. However, be aware that at certain times of year there are more people needing rides than there are available cabs. On Friday and Saturday nights, you might be waiting 60-90 minutes after you’ve called the cab company.

–Wine tours aren’t only fun and educational, they’re also a great way to see Napa Valley if you haven’t rented a car. We loved the Platypus Wine Tour, which took us to four local vineyards.

–Ask if your hotel offers a shuttle or courtesy car. This can be a great way to get around town and is often less expensive than a cab (although you should always tip the driver, of course).

–Try renting wheels of a different kind: a bike!

–Be sure to check out Napa Valley Car-Free, which has contact information for cab companies, shuttle services, limosine companies, and other forms of transportation.

Whatever you decide to do, make sure you research your options carefully. The last thing you want to do on your vacation is worry about the logistics of getting from one place to another.

1 Comment

Posted in California, car, Napa, travel, wine and tagged , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Napa Valley Marriott Hotel: Friendly Service and Quiet Rooms? Yes, Please!

Posted on July 25, 2010 by Sarah Vernetti

I’ll admit that I’m a little crazy when it comes to customer service. I try my best to be nice to others, especially those who work with the general public since I know it isn’t easy. I expect the same politeness in return. I’m pleased to say that the Napa Valley Marriott went above and beyond in terms of making us feel welcome and helping us when we had questions.

Even though our stay was fairly short (2 nights), I could give a dozen examples of their hospitality: the friendly smiles at the registration desk, the quick service of the hotel’s courtesy shuttle, the helpful late-night Twitter message from the hotel when my friend and I were stuck without a cab in downtown Napa. (Speaking of cabs, just know that if you call for a cab or a Friday or Saturday night, you’ll be waiting 60-90 minutes. We had no clue!)

So, how was the hotel itself? The location was convenient–not far from downtown Napa and an easy drive north to St. Helena. This isn’t the place to stay if you’re envisioning your Napa trip filled with scenic vistas right outside your window. But it is located near restaurants and shops, and allows easy access to Highway 29.

Room, Napa Valley Marriott

The room reminded me of other Marriott rooms: two comfortable beds, refrigerator, clean bathroom, flatscreen TV.

One of the things I enjoyed most about this hotel was that it was absolutely silent at night. I didn’t hear so much as a door slam or voices in the hallway during either night of our 2-night stay. My friend and I are both moms, so part of the purpose of our trip was to relax and get some sleep without midnight requests for another glass of water or a special stuffed animal! Mission accomplished in our quiet hotel room!

Although we didn’t go swimming, the hotel does have a nice pool with lots of comfy-looking lounge chairs.

I would absolutely recommend the Napa Valley Marriott Hotel to any traveler who is looking for convenience and good customer service. (And you should follow them on Twitter, too.)

Disclaimer: I received a discounted rate from the hotel. I also follow the hotel on Twitter and have communicated with them in the past. However, all opinions expressed here are my own, and I was not asked to write this review.

Pretty flower at the Marriott

Leave a comment

Posted in California, hotel, Napa, travel, Twitter and tagged , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Platypus Wine Tours: The Perfect Day in Napa?

Posted on July 22, 2010 by Sarah Vernetti

What could be better? Driving through beautiful Napa Valley without having to worry about directions (or your sobriety), led by a knowledgable guide who takes you to vineyards where you learn all about the wines of the region. After a delicious lunch, it’s off to more wineries until the shuttle delivers you back to your hotel.

Sounds pretty good, right? This is exactly what it was like to join one of the Platypus Wine Tours.

We visited four wineries: Biale, Tudal, Arger-Martucci, and Robinson Family, all of which are smaller than the “big name” places and have reasonable tasting fees. Since Napa Valley is known or its reds, we tried several syrahs and pinot noirs, with a few whites along the way. In terms of the wine, I really liked Arger-Martucci. As for the beauty of the surroundings, Robinson Family Vineyards was absolutely stunning.

I’m certainly no wine expert. However, I had a wonerful time on the tour and enjoyed meeting our tour guide, Shawnda, who was truly a breath of fresh air! Knowledgable, yet down-to-earth, she made this wine-newbie feel right at home.

.
Poolside wine-tasting at Arger-Martucci

.
A beautiful view at Robert Biale Vineyards

.
Where it all begins

For more information on Platypus Wine Tours, visit their website.

All opinions are my own. I paid for my wine tour and tasting fees at each winery.

3 Comments

Posted in California, food, Napa, travel, wine and tagged , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Home From Napa Valley

Posted on July 19, 2010 by Sarah Vernetti

A pretty view in Napa

I just arrived home today after a wine-filled weekend in Napa Valley. Not only did I enjoy spending time with one of my good friends, I also learned a lot about wine, enjoyed beautiful views like the one pictured above, and visited California for the first time!

Stay tuned…I’ll be posting about our dinner at Ubuntu restaurant in downtown Napa, the Platypus wine tour, and our stay at the Napa Valley Marriott Resort and Spa. I’ll also share some tips on exploring Napa Valley without renting a car.

For now, I better go. Real life, with all of its responsibilities, is waiting!

2 Comments

Posted in California, food, Napa, travel, wine and tagged , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 82 other followers