Two goodies from Gatlinburg, Tenn.

I recently wrote about our summer trip to Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, Tenn., and the subsequent visit to the house where my grandmother was born and raised. Today it is an antiques store, called Yesterday’s Antiques.

When I visited there in 1999, I bought an inexpensive pitcher that is off-white and has colorful flowers. It’s nothing fancy or pricey, but I love the fact that it came from that shop. On our June 2011 visit, I bought a green Depression glass candlestick, with openings for two candles. I showed both to my parents over the weekend. They stopped in Bristol for a couple days, after having been to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, and before heading home to Norfolk, Va.

My mother liked the colorful pitcher – especially since it was full of cut yellow roses (her favorite flower). My dad was drawn to the green glass candlestick, noting that his parents had similar ones (scalloped pattern, but clear or beige glass) at the farm where he was raised in Sampson County, N.C.

Both these items were reasonably priced and fun trinkets to bring home and keep from our trip. We relive our travels through the wonderful keepsakes!

Family home turned antiques shop

This is the house where my maternal grandmother was raised. It was built in 1896 and is located along Wears Valley Road in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. The house and the surrounding property were then known as Twin Bridges Farm.

Today it is an antiques shop: Yesterday's Antiques. It seems odd to visit what once was a family home and now is a store. But considering all the demolition and development in Pigeon Forge/Sevierville/Gatlinburg, Tenn., I am grateful the building still stands and that I have a chance to see it at all.

My grandmother, Grace Clabough Fakler (1903-1996), was one of six children raised here. Yes, six children were raised in a two bedroom house that did not have a bathroom at all. The bedrooms were upstairs and the three boys were in one; the three girls in another. The parents slept downstairs. My great-grandmother, Priscilla Roberts Clabough, lived here until her death in the 1950s and in her memory the two adjoining streets bear her name:

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit earlier this month. It was like stepping back in time to browse antiques and collectibles in a house that has such importance to my family. My mother and aunt spent summers there, visiting their grandmother.

Today, visitors can see beautiful linens and vintage clothes:

There are two rooms that are full of books:

And a room full of kitchen wares, gadgets, cutting boards, an old stove and everyday dishes:

I was particularly drawn to glassware on display, including milk glass and Depression glass in pink, beige and green.

It was a treat to visit this shop and share some of these memories with my husband. My parents, brother, neice and nephew will head to this part of the world later this summer. A stop to this shop is sure to be on their itenerary.

Something funny for a Friday

Had to post a link to the "off road" Red Robin burger ad in honor of my husband. He was similarly inclined when I pointed out the Mexican buffet sign at El Mesquite in Sevierville, Tenn. Read my post about that restaurant here.

Happy Friday, friends!

In love with El Mesquite

This is the real reason my husband wants to go back to Sevierville, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, Tenn. He quickly fell in love with the food at El Mesquite, located on the Parkway in Sevierville, Tenn. Have you seen the new Red Robin commercial with the two guys driving/riding in a car? The passenger spies a Red Robin restaurant and the driver loses his mind, floors it like a maniac and basically crashes into the parking lot of the Red Robin.

That is nearly what my husband did last week, as we were following our noses and looking for a place to eat lunch. Me: “Hey, there is a Mexican place that says buffet.” My husband: “Seriously?!” (EEERrrrkk! Squealing tires and brake slamming.) My husband is a fiend for Mexican food and often asks why Mexican restaurants don’t offer buffet service (like Chinese, Indian and American restaurants often do.) Years ago, there was a Mexican place in Norfolk we loved that offered a lunch buffet on weekdays. It closed and was replaced by a Gold’s Gym (perhaps appropriate, considering how high in fat and calories Mexican food can be).

El Mesquite was casual, had friendly staff and plenty of parking. The buffet featured all kinds of Mexican selections -- tacos, burritos, nachos, salsa and more. Even the locals love it. We are already talking about making a trip there on our next visit to that part of the world.

A few days of fun in Gatlinburg, Tenn.

We spent a few days last week in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, Tenn. It was a great opportunity to reconnect with some family members and to have plenty of vacation fun. I needed a reminder that Gatlinburg is less than two hours from Bristol. We had so much fun we are already looking forward to our next extended trip, or even a day excursion.

It had been more than 10 years since I had been to Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, so plenty of offerings were new to me. But here are some things we did during our visit and truly enjoyed.

SPACE NEEDLE: The Gatlinburg Space Needle is located just off the Parkway and about a block from the Gatlinburg Convention Center. It is an all steel observation tower that is more than 400 feet tall. Visitors ride a glass elevator to the observation deck, which offers 360-degree views of the city (what a great photo my husband took of the city!). I must admit I had a bit of vertigo on the observation deck. As in, I did not come within about 10 feet of the railing and was more than happy when the others wanted to go down. There is a large, printed history of Gatlinburg on the tower and I entertained myself reading it, while glimpsing at the spectacular views from a safe distance away from the edge. The cost for this event is $8 per person, but you can go a second time for free, within 24 hours. The Space Needle is housed in a massive arcade (warning to cash-strapped parents!) and you must walk through it upon exiting the elevator to depart. This attraction is open 365 days per year.

RIPLEYS AQUARIUM OF THE SMOKIES: The aquarium is a must-see attraction that features a clear tunnel where visitors can view various types of fish, sharks, sea turtles and other marine life. It also features a stingray exhibit where visitors can don wet suits and swim with the rays, and an elaborate penguin habitat (sure to be even more popular with the summer release of the movie Mr. Popper’s Penguins.) This was a spectacular family outing and there is an enormous city parking lot behind the aquarium. Visitors can park, tour the museum, then hit Gatlinburg on foot or by trolley. (Cash only to pay for parking in the lot.)

BUBBA GUMP SHRIMP CO.: Yes, this is one of a chain of restaurants themed around the 1994 movie Forrest Gump, and his friendship with Bubba, who loved to eat shrimp prepared every imaginable way. The gift shop is full of movie-themed items (T-shirts and stickers that say: Run Forrest Run; Stop Forrest Stop; Bubba is my good best friend, etc.) It was a fun place to stop for lunch and we enjoyed excellent seating and a charming, funny waiter.

My youngest son dug in to the Shrimper’s Heaven – a combination on coconut shrimp, chilled shrimp, fried shrimp and Japanese-style tempura shrimp. One of the funniest elements? The food is served on fake newspaper pages from Greenbow, Ala., with stories based on scenes from the movie. We all raved over the “hush pups” – which are hushpuppies with added fish, shrimp and corn, and served with a spicy remoulade sauce. Super delicious! See the menu here.

I ordered the shrimp and grits – it was spicy, creamy and downright delicious. If you want to try this dish at home, here is a very similar version from the Food Network. Yum!

CHILLIN’ BY THE POOL: Most days, we visited some attraction in the morning, then spent the afternoon and evening at the pool. We stayed in a cabin at Clabough’s Campground, which is owned by my mother’s cousin. It was relaxing and quiet and located on Wears Valley Road, about a half mile from all the action in Pigeon Forge.

One of the favorite things I saw during our stay was a mother duck and her seven ducklings. She herded them around the camp, warning anyone who got too close. I looked for them every day, thinking of this wonderful book from childhood: Make Way for Ducklings.

We ventured briefly into the Great Smoky Mountains Park, visited a variety of restaurants and tourist traps and played plenty of rounds of mini-golf. And we have a list started for the attractions we want to see on our next trip. If you live near Bristol or Knoxville, Tenn., going to Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg could easily be a day trip.