Coasting For Kids

Caring for a child with a life-threatening illness is a draining, both physically, mentally, and financially.  Thankfully there are non-profit organizations like Give Kids The World (GKTW) who are there to help.  GKTW is a magical resort located in central Florida and gives thousands of free week-long fantasy vacations to those kids and their families. 

This year, not only have I donated so I can help them bring this magical experience to more families who need a chance to get away and make special memories for their child, I have teamed up with Coasting For Kids and given up one day to help raise money for them and bring awareness to the great work that they do.

While you don't have to give up any of your time, you too can help!  Go to my page where you can find out more about Give Kids The World and also donate.  Help me reach my goal and make a difference for a child with a life-threatening illness.  All money that you donate goes directly to Give Kids The World.  The participating parks have donated their resources and those of us participating have paid additional fees to cover the administrative costs.

Thank you for your support!

A Lone Star Spring Break

We looked for somewhere new to explore during Spring Break this year.  Since we are amusement park aficionados, it needed to include something fun and exciting.  Most places up north are still in Winter hibernation mode so a natural course of action was to look out west, with Texas being our final choice.

We left early afternoon on Thursday for the short 1,075 mile drive from Charlotte, North Carolina to Dallas, Texas.  After a short rest stop for a few hours in western Georgia, we continued west on I-20.  In the early morning hours of Friday as we crossed into Mississippi, some good Samaritans flagged us down and let us know there was a problem with our car that we tow behind the motor home.

I pulled over and sure enough we had a blow-out and ended up losing the entire tire.  I was able to put the donut spare on and limp to a tire store.  All in all, we only lost about an hour which isn't bad.  This is our first problem in over 30,000 miles of towing our car but we will be sure to start carrying a full size spare in the future.

Speaking of Mississippi, here's us crossing the Mississippi River that borders Mississippi and Louisiana.

In late afternoon on Friday, we made it to our base camp for the first couple of days, the Dallas Metro KOA located in Arlington, Texas.  This is a nice KOA located in the metropolis area.  You can check out more pictures of the campground here.

Our primary stop in Dallas was Six Flags Over Texas, an amusement park themed around all things Texas.  This is a nice amusement park with lots to do although we did find the layout of the park quite confusing.  We were often stuck at the end of a walkway 'spur' and had to figure out how to get to the next area we wanted to.  For those of you who like trivia, Six Flags Over Texas is the first Six Flags park.

Our favorite roller coaster here was the New Texas Giant, the first of its kind hybrid coaster in the world.  It packs a great combination of positive, negative, and lateral G-forces that keep pace through the entire ride.  Even our special needs son, Jeffrey, really enjoyed this ride as it wasn't overly aggressive.   Titan is also an impressive coaster although it was more aggressive than Texas Giant and I'm the only one who seemed to truly appreciate it.

In our travels we tend to come across a lot of the same kinds of roller coasters.  We appreciated the nice mix that Six Flags Over Texas has including the reverse launched coaster, Mr. Freeze Reverse Blast.  I was pleasantly surprised with how much I liked this coaster since I was originally not looking forward to riding it.

Although I don't consider Six Flags Over Texas to be a theme park, it is by far the most themed of any of the Six Flags parks we have visited to date.  There are  lots of nice touches throughout the park that remind you of Texas.

For the most part, Six Flags Over Texas is a clean, family friendly park although there are a few areas that could use some TLC.  For more pictures and comments about Six Flags Over Texas, click here.

Early Easter morning, we packed up and headed south for a short five hour drive to San Antonio, Texas, our next stop on this adventure-filled trip.  Our base camp for this stop was at Admiralty RV Resort.  Reviews prior to our trip were quite negative noting management was strict with their rules.  We didn't have any issues with the campground management and found it to be a well maintained campground.

After checking in and setting up camp, we loaded up and headed over to Six Flags Fiesta Texas.  This park has a predominant southwest theme with a layout that is much easier to navigate than Six Flags Over Texas.  Another point of trivia:  this is a newer park having only been around since 1990.

I've ridden the indoor launched Flight of Fear coasters built by Premier Rides and haven't been overly impressed with them.  I must say that I did like Poltergeist, an apparent cousin to those coasters.  It is very similar except it is outside instead of inside.  That enables me to see what's coming up and brace accordingly.  You can see what looks like a mess of intertwined track and can imagine how easy this is to fit into a large building.

We liked the nice touch of a boardwalk area at the back of the park although it was difficult to navigate a wheel chair through with the uneven footing of the wood deck. 

I don't know if it was because it was Easter Sunday or what, but other than one instance of a ride supervisor being extremely helpful to us, most of the staff was subdued.  My daughter noticed that for two rides we experienced, the operators didn't say a single word, not even any safety warnings.  Adding to that, our family was yelled out on Pandemonium when trying to exit towards the entrance to get my son's wheelchair. 

In my opinion, the premier roller coaster at Six Flags Fiesta Texas is Superman, a floorless coaster.  While my son isn't keen to loops, this was gentle enough that he enjoyed the ride.  I took the chance and took him on the coaster with the knowledge that floorless coasters tend to be less aggressive than many other steel coasters.  It paid off as that was the case with this coaster.

Iron Rattler is sure to be the premier roller coaster when it debuts this spring.  It is the second hybrid coaster in the world with more impressive stats than the New Texas Giant that we rode the previous day.  Unfortunately it wasn't open during our trip which we knew beforehand.  I was surprised to see workers working on the landscape around it and I also saw one walking the track.

All in all, our day was pleasant for the entire family and we found the park to be well maintained and clean.  Our time schedule prevented us from seeing any of the shows which I have heard are quite good.  We'll be sure to check some out when we come back for Iron Rattler.  Please click here for more pictures and comments of our trip to Six Flags Fiesta Texas.

I've heard some of my friends talk about In-N-Out burger.  We saw one in Dallas but the minimal menu didn't pique any of our interests so we passed on it.

We had a hard time passing on Whataburger, though, with a broad menu selection.  We weren't disappointed and enjoyed this for our Easter Dinner.  It's not quite our traditional ham dinner but hamburger is almost ham, right?  Maybe not...

Next we headed to downtown San Antonio to see the Alamo and pay our respects to all the people who lost their lives there in the early 1800s.  Here's our collection of photos from the area including the beautiful gardens that are well maintained inside the complex.

After a good night's sleep that came quick and easy, we awoke to a warm and beautiful Monday.  Our next stop was SeaWorld San Antonio, a short 1 mile drive from our campground. 

SeaWorld has evolved over the years to include some great shows with their marine life as well as a small collection of thrill rides, providing something for everybody.

You can't mention SeaWorld with thinking of the iconic Shamu.

Did I mention thrill rides?  They have some thrill rides to keep your blood pumping between shows.

While we were there, we took the opportunity to feed the dolphins as Sherri loves seeing the dolphins.  This enabled us to get up close to them and was an iconic moment for the entire family.  We had a great day at SeaWorld.  Be sure to check out the rest of our pictures and comments here. 

Our trip was coming to a close with 1,200 miles until we were back home.  We pulled out late afternoon on Monday and headed towards the Texas border for some rest before continuing on our journey.  This is also where we experienced our second casualty of the trip when I left the locking gas cap to our motor home at the fuel pump.  After taking off the next morning we got to enjoy a beautiful sunrise over Louisiana. 

Our next stop was scheduled to be a quick one at Waterville USA in Gulf Shores, AL.  However we arrived to find the Cannonball Run wooden coaster down.  Fortunately they had the part on order and expected it in that afternoon so the coaster could be fixed and running by that evening.  So, our short 2 hour stop turned into an overnight stop.

We got a campsite at the nearby Gulf Shores State Park close to the beautiful white sandy beaches of the Gulf of Mexico.  After a filling dinner, we headed back to Waterville USA and were pleased to see that the Cannonball Run was indeed running.

After a couple of laps on this CCI woody, we headed back to our campsite for more rest before our final 620 mile trek home. Here are more pictures of our short stay in Gulf Shores, Alabama.

Our power road trip was over after nearly 2,900 miles covering 7 states in 6 days.  We had a great time and hope you enjoy reading about our trip and checking out some of our pictures.

Happy camping!

Getting the most from Dollywood's Smoky Mountain Christmas

When the mercury starts dropping the lights start going up at Dollywood and you know it's time for Smoky Mountain Christmas.

We live within an easy four hour drive of Dollywood and it continues to be one of our favorite amusement parks.  We're not alone as they won numerous Amusement Today Golden Ticket awards this year including Friendliest Park, Best Shows, Best Food, and Best Christmas Event.  One thing we like about the park is that there is always something for everybody in our party to enjoy whether they are 2 or 102.

Speaking of Best Christmas Event, even the general public seems to agree as the park is very busy during November and December.  Keep reading to find ways to get the most from your visit to Smoky Mountain Christmas.

Dollywood is a perfect place to bring your motorhome.  While there are no hookups and no overnight parking, there is a parking lot area reserved exclusively for RVs.  Like all parking areas at Dollywood, it is conveniently located near a tram stop that will take you to the main entrance.  You should be aware that the parking lot access road can get narrow in a few places which is exacerbated by the flow of traffic into the park.  You'll want to arrive early to beat some of the traffic.

While we're on the topic of arriving early, you'll want to plan to enter the park close to opening time and also be there at the end of the day near closing time.  Those times tend to have the least amount of people in the park.  Since one of the allures of Smoky Mountain Christmas is the millions of lights that adorn nearly everything, the crowds really pick up as daylight turns to night.  The most popular attractions are best to hit early in the day before the crowds hit their peak.

There is too much to see and do at the park to take it all in over the course of a single day.  Smoky Mountain Christmas is a great time to purchase season passes.  By purchasing season passes now, you can visit the park for the remainder of this year as well as all next year.  One of your family members should also purchase a gold pass.  It comes with free parking, a 20% discount at most shops and restaurants, and more!  A gold pass quickly pays for itself.

If you are trying to cram everything into a single day, you will want to consider renting a Q-bot for the day.  It is a line management system that will hold your place in line allowing you to get the most from your day at Dollywood.

The park is nestled in the Smoky Mountains of Eastern Tennessee.  While the setting adds to the character of the park, it can also be a challenge for mobility impaired individuals.  Dollywood does a great job of making itself accessible to all guests regardless of their ability.  You will want to pay close attention to the park map, however, as there are a few areas that are tough to navigate if you are in a wheelchair.  Alternate paths are available to most areas you can still enjoy everything the park has to offer.

The shows are extremely popular, especially during Smoky Mountain Christmas.  Be sure to pick up the show schedule as you enter the main gate and decide which shows are a must see as they fill up quickly.  Arrive early to the corresponding theater - there will surely be a line started.

While there is lots that we love to see and do, here are some things that you won't want to miss at Dollywood's Smoky Mountain Christmas:

Wild Eagle - This is Dollywood's newest roller coaster and the first wing-rider coaster in the United States.  It is tame enough for most members of your party to enjoy yet wild enough for even the biggest thrill seekers in your party to have a great time riding.  Our special needs son doesn't particularly like roller coasters that go upside down but he loved riding Wild Eagle.

Dollywood's Christmas on Ice - As the name implies, this is a Christmas themed ice skating show inside one of their great theaters.  Everybody in our party truly enjoyed this show.  Back to the topic on lines, while there may be an extremely long line to get into this show, the theater is large so chances are if you are in line there will be a seat for you.

O' Holy Night - This is a modern take on the traditional Christmas story.  No Christmas celebration is complete without touching on the true meaning of Christmas.

Aunt Granny's All-You-Care-To-Eat Buffet - Breaking from tradition is not always a bad thing.  One thing you'll be hard pressed to find at Dollywood is traditional prepared amusement park food.  Aunt Granny's has a quality buffet with reasonable prices.  One of the reasons that you'll want to check out this restaurant is that Saint Nick himself comes around and spends some time with each table.  This adds a nice personal touch and is more than the traditional sitting on his lap, although if you ask he'll be happy to have his picture taken with you.  From our dinner here we learned that Santa was once a coaster enthusiast.  Perhaps that will help me stay off of his naughty list.

Craftsman's Valley - Many parks have gone away from the traditional craftsmen that create their wares on site.  Dollywood has kept this traditional fare and you can experience expert craftsman make their wares in front of your eyes.

Dollywood Grist Mill - This is a functioning Grist Mill but their real special treat is the home made cinnamon bread.  We always have to pick up a loaf when we are at the park.

Amusement Today calls Dollywood the Friendliest Park.  We have traveled to many amusement/theme parks and have had good experiences with most.  Dollywood takes it a step further with their staff going out of their way to ensure that you have the best experience possible.  They truly are glad that you're here.

If you can't make it to Smoky Mountain Christmas this year, be sure to put it on your wish list to experience some time in the near future.  You won't be disappointed!

For more pictures, be sure to check out our Facebook page.

Happy camping!

Stone Mountain Park Campground

Georgia, Georgia,

The whole day through

Just an old sweet song

Keeps Georgia on my mind

- Ray Charles

With the beautiful fall weather in full swing, a great place to head to is Atlanta, Georgia.  We made our base camp at Stone Mountain Park Campground, ranked as Georgia's #1 campground by Woodall's.

While it is not centrally located, it does provide easy access to all that Atlanta has to offer.  Better yet, your stay at the campground gives you access to the free attractions at Stone Mountain Park since you are inside the facility.  You can read more about Stone Mountain Park through our post here.

Boasting over 400 sites, this is a large campground.  The sites range from basic tent sites all the way to premium sites that include cable, wireless Internet, a private deck, and a gas grill (pictured above).  We did find the cable signal somewhat weak and the wireless Internet oversubscribed.  If you need to use Internet during your trip I would recommend that you bring your own and not rely on the park's Internet.  Perhaps our family is just too connected.

On a more positive note, the campsites are not crammed on top of each other leaving you some room to stretch out.

There are plenty of activities in season that take place in the Lewallen Pavilion.  When activities aren't going on there is a nice fire pit in the center that you can enjoy.

You can also make new friends in the sitting area complete with a big screen TV and timeless rocking chairs.  Most campers are friendly no matter where you travel.

The campground was nicely decorated and festive for the fall.

For a reasonable fee you can rent rowboats or pedal boats in the general store for use on Stone Mountain Lake.  The hours of the campground general store are convenient and the staff is very helpful and friendly. 

To illustrate this point, we usually keep wooden clothespins stocked to help seal out air from food bags.  After finding out the general store didn't have any, they surprised us by providing some rubber bands at no charge.  This makeshift solution worked remarkably and the extra effort provided by the staff was greatly appreciated.

Despite a few short comings in the services provided, we enjoyed our stay and will be back again in the near future.  We give Stone Mountain Park Campground 4 out of 5 stars.  Be sure to consider this campground the next time you are in the Atlanta area.

Happy Camping!