November 19, 2024 • 27 mins
Hop aboard the ultimate luxury bus experience with our guest, Jay Lawrence, as we journey from central Florida to the breathtaking Great Smoky Mountains. Picture yourself on a Prevost bus with expansive windows capturing the scenic beauty while Jay transports you to Valdosta, Georgia, for a memorable meal and a delightful stop at Ellis Brothers Pecans. Get ready for some friendly chaos and a surprising ice cream mishap before we continue our journey to the comforts of the Drury Inn in Atlanta. It's all about savoring the joy of unexpected travel pleasures and embracing the laughter along the way.
As the adventure continues, immerse yourself in the vibrant world of moonshine tasting at the Old Smoky Moonshine Distillery in Tennessee, where intriguing flavors like butter pecan await. Join us on a spirited exploration of Sevierville's Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant and the bustling tourist attractions of Pigeon Forge, reminiscent of Orlando's International Drive. From the captivating "Country Today" show to the entertaining Hatfield and McCoy Dinner Feud, complete with an aquatic twist, this journey through the Great Smoky Mountains offers endless entertainment. With cultural visits to a Cherokee heritage site and a quirky Moonshine Museum, we wrap up our exciting tour organized by Tours by Nona, leaving you with cherished memories and a deeper appreciation for cultural adventures.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Hi and welcome to the new and improved the Michelson
Travel Podcast.
I will be speaking with moreguests and more travelers and
will bring you great insightsand, I hope, to inspire your
sense of curiosity.
As you may or may not know, myconcierge of podcast travel has
retired, or so he thinks.
(00:22):
Jay Lawrence has decided toactively travel more, so he will
be one of my many guests as weexplore this great world we live
in, along with rediscoveringAmerica.
Well, Jay, you went on a bustour to the Great Smoky
Mountains.
Wow, that must have been great.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Yeah, it was very nice, it was beautiful and we
had a great time.
You want to talk about it?
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Yeah, I'd really like to talk about it.
So where did you start thisjourney?
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Well, we're on a bus tour.
I've never done a bus tourbefore.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
I've been on a bus tour.
I don't do buses very well.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Well, yeah, I know, yeah, but you know, we all meet
up on a Sunday morning, Right?
And and uh, the bus gets there.
Actually, the bus had to comefrom the uh, East coast, because
half the bus was full from theEast coast and then the West.
Whatever, we filled the busOkay.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
So the bus was full and you were heading out from
central Florida central Florida.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
Yeah, oh, and we had a brand new prevost bus oh, what
is a, what is a prevost?
Oh, you know, it's a threemillion dollar pieces, you know
oh oh yeah, and it had seatsthat are brand new brand.
The only thing the driver wouldlet us do was drink water on
the bus so tell me a little bitmore about this bus.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
I mean, sometimes you go on a bus and the windows are
really tiny, so tell me aboutthis bus.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
You know, it felt like we had talked about the
mountaineer trains in Coloradogoing through the mountains.
Right, I felt like we were on amountaineer train actually,
because the windows on the buswere so large.
And the amazing thing is, inthese buses, these tour buses,
you're sitting like second levelup.
You're not sitting down on the,where the driver is but it's not
(02:11):
a double decker bus it's not adouble decker, but you're
actually on the second level,because the first level is where
they put all the luggageunderneath oh, so you're just a
little higher than normal butthe the amazing thing was I got
to see much more than I've everseen before trying to drive out
of the state of Florida, becauseyou can see beyond the shoulder
of the highway.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
That's nice.
Yeah, yeah, that's nice.
So it had big windows.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
That's pretty cool.
That's pretty cool.
Yeah, Now does it make stopsalong the way?
Speaker 2 (02:39):
Well, yeah, Bus needs to stop about every two hours,
but we first stop was ValdostaGeorgia.
Valdosta Georgia.
Valdosta we had lunch anddinner at lunch in Valdosta and
then a couple hours later, we'recloser to Miami.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
Boy, that's a big jump for me.
Boy, am I going to the wrongway?
Speaker 2 (03:01):
And we arrived at a place called.
They sold nuts.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
They sold nuts and we were mine.
You can bring me back anything.
I didn't even get a littlesouvenir.
I didn't even get a shirt thatsays I went to Valdosta, and all
I got was this shirt.
Right.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Well, we were, oh my, the bus split up.
It was like everybody on theirown.
So there were like severalrestaurants around there, right?
So we went to one restaurantand it was early sunday morning
and I'm going there'sunderstaffed.
They're never going to get usout of here on time, right?
Fact is we were the last twoback on the bus, but we were
(03:38):
okay you were taking your time,I can tell so when we went
further north.
We've got the ellis brotherspecans uh off of interstate 75,
which is uh off of uh vienna,the vienna exit on i-75.
Okay, and they are the peoplethat do probably seen this
online.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
We're nuts oh yeah, we're, yes, we're nuts, we're
nuts for our nuts, yes, so thatwas ellis brothers yeah, it's
family store.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
It's been there since 1944.
They specialize in pecans and awide variety of other nuts.
But the amazing thing was Iwent in for the ice cream.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
Oh, you love pecan, ice cream, oh, ice cream.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
And I tell you, I got to tell the Ellis Brothers they
need to find someone else towork the counter.
Why Well, the poor gal.
I said I want two scoops for mywife on a cone.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
Right.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
No, I wanted one scoop for my wife on a cone.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
Right.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
And I wanted two scoops and a cup.
Right, she puts the cone out,puts two scoops on the cone.
Right, I got a cup.
It wasn't a cup, it was abarrel, I mean a pint.
I mean it was like four or fivescoops, nice, yeah, and all for
five dollars, I mean it wasincredible price too.
(04:53):
So the amazing thing iseverybody Well, not everybody,
but a large percentage of thepeople had ice cream and we
couldn't get back on the bus.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
We had to eat all that ice cream.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
That was one of the best things.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
And again, you still didn't bring me anything.
I didn't even get a nut.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
The ice cream would have been melted okay.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
Okay, I'll give you a pass on the ice cream.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
We were headed towards.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
Atlanta.
So you were heading towardsAtlanta because naturally you
were over by Valdosta and thenVienna, so you were heading
towards Atlanta.
Now did you stop there?
Speaker 2 (05:25):
For our first stop.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
Oh cool.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
Okay, and we stayed at a Drury Inn.
Have you ever been to a DruryInn?
They're very nice, very nice.
By golly, they offered a 530kickback happy hour basically
yes, they do.
Plus, what do you call it?
Snacks?
Speaker 1 (05:46):
Right, they do have snacks and booze too.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
They share booze, alcohol?
Yes, yeah, that's why.
And then?
Speaker 1 (05:54):
But the snacks are not just peanuts, oh no, they
give you like the wholecharcuterie board type of thing.
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
And these are better than that.
Wow, I can't really rememberwhat was on it, but it was
certainly enough.
You didn't need to go out fordinner.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
And this was in Marietta, georgia, marietta.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
Yeah, so it's outside of Atlanta, okay, and then in
the morning, their breakfast isthe best hotel breakfast that
I've seen.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
Right.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
That you know that you go down and you serve
yourself.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
And this is all off of I-75?
.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
Right off of 75.
And you know, if you'retraveling, come on if you're
traveling by road.
I'm saying I'm looking up whereDrury Inns are across the
country.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
Oh yeah, there's quite a few.
From now on, I've actuallyjoined their club.
Oh, you have the club card now.
How nice.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
So I want to be in it , because you can't beat the
price.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
No, it's not bad, you pay for the room.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
You get dinner basically, and you get a great
breakfast in the morningBreakfasts are nice as well.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
It's not just a muffin.
Right yeah, yeah.
Now I have to ask you aquestion.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (07:01):
When you're going in and out of these hotels, are you
responsible for your ownluggage or somebody else putting
them?
Speaker 2 (07:07):
well, actually we were responsible for our luggage
okay on this.
Speaker 1 (07:13):
They took it out of the x they took it out from
under the bus and then we tookit.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
Yeah, I mean it wasn't any big deal at that.
Oh, and for the first night we,they said, just pack an
overnight, don't pack the big.
The big suitcase stayed in theback, right.
So they pulled out anovernighter, right.
So it would be much easier.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
So that's, that's how I pack my car.
Oh yeah, I have what I'm goingto have my arrival, where I'm
going to be there for a week.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
That's in the back Good bag.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
And then my little overnight bag is closer to the
front of my back so I can justpull it out yeah, that's how I
do it, that's what uh, yeah, sowe did that so where did you go
from there?
Speaker 2 (07:49):
well, we were heading to pigeon forge.
Tennessee, tennessee, yeah.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
Now I have to ask yeah um, how were the road
situation?
Speaker 2 (07:57):
because you went shortly after one of the major
hurricanes right well, um, wehit 75, and then, I think, we
hit well 75, and then we hit 441into Pigeon 4.
Now, if you'd go further, we'dhit Interstate I-40, which would
take you into Asheville, andthat's where that road is still
(08:18):
under construction.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
Yeah, that's a mess.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
I just heard on the internet that they're possibly
going to have one lane open onthe thing shortly.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
Yeah, so that took a big hit.
So I was wondering.
When you said you were going onthis little road trip, I
thought how are you going to getthere?
Speaker 2 (08:35):
Right and Pigeon Forge in that area only had a
large amount of rain, but theywere okay.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
They were okay For Asheville, so the drive from.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
Atlanta to P to pigeon forge, is what about 200
miles?
Yeah, yeah, it's about two,three, four hours, four hours
yeah, so what?
Speaker 1 (08:52):
how did you know what was next?
Speaker 2 (08:54):
you went to well where we passed chattanooga oh,
chattanooga, tennessee, you knowi-75 right.
I've driven that and thenusually in chanooga I veer to
the left and go on I-4 and go upI-24 and go up north.
Speaker 1 (09:09):
Right.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
But no, we stayed on I-75 and went on north.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
Oh, so you didn't know the I-24 cutoff then no.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
Well, but we went past it.
I mean, it felt right.
This is the first time I'veseen that cutoff without a major
backup.
Really, yeah, coming back, itwas different.
Speaker 1 (09:27):
Sometimes the bus drivers just do know how to get
there.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
Right right.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
So now, once you're near Pigeon Forge, you went to
Chattanooga.
You had Lookout Mountain, allof these on your trip.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
Well, yeah, but Lookout Mountain's on the other
side of Chattanooga, so we'renot going to go there, right?
Yeah, the other side, yeah, sowe're not going to go there,
right?
Yeah, so what about you know?
What did you do, nick?
Speaker 1 (09:48):
well, it didn't take all day to get to pigeon fort.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
Okay, so, um, they had us lined up for a tour of
the smoky mountain.
What was it?
Speaker 1 (09:56):
pigeon fort, no, pigeon fort, the island in
pigeon fort right, I didn't evenknow there was an island in
Pigeon Forge.
Is that where you stayed?
The next night was over byPigeon Forge we were in Pigeon
Forge.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
Yes, Okay.
Day number two Okay, so thenyou went to Pigeon Forge, which
is in the mountains yes, we werethere, and on the island in
Pigeon Forge, okay, and and thisoffered dining and shopping and
attractions and a giant Ferriswheel.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
Oh, and you know, I'm petrified of Ferris wheels.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
Well, my wife and I, we took the Great Smoky Mountain
wheels, what it was called.
Speaker 1 (10:35):
Now, is it a basket or is it encased?
Speaker 2 (10:38):
We were hanging on by our hands.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
Oh, hanging yeah, or is it like the Orlando Eye?
Speaker 2 (10:44):
It's kind of like it's what?
Oh, it's like the orlando eye,okay, the question is, which
one's taller?
You know which one's bigger?
I don't know, but it was you'regonna.
I wouldn't want to say a cage,but you were in, uh, a gondola
car right with windows on allaround and we got a great view
of the mountains.
Speaker 1 (11:03):
That's nice, and it took its time going around.
How about?
How long did it take to goaround about?
Speaker 2 (11:09):
Well, the fun thing was when we first got in and
then went wait, we're at the topand they would stop letting
other people on.
You know I mean, but lookingaround it was just beautiful.
Speaker 1 (11:22):
I think we've got four, four trips, oh cool, but
they're slow they're slow, yes,so you can really get a good
look at the mountains andeverything else.
Now I have to ask I mean,you're doing all these little
stops along the way, now, theseattractions that you're stopping
at and going to, are theseincluded in the tours or are
these extra?
Speaker 2 (11:41):
this the island was was included the island was
included but, not the dinnerright you know, get your own
lunch.
Uh, the wheel right, but whatwas included right was the old
smoky mountain moonshine oh wellyou know, I love that show it's
a distillery right there inpigeon fort right and and that
(12:05):
was included and where is mymoonshine?
Speaker 1 (12:07):
you didn't bring that either it's still in the.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
It's still the distillery right there in Pigeon
Fort Right, and that wasincluded.
And where is my moonshine?
You?
Speaker 1 (12:15):
didn't bring that either it's still at the bar
because, okay, so they gave us atour of how you make moonshine,
right what?
Speaker 2 (12:20):
are you taking notes for me, so I can do?
Speaker 1 (12:22):
it in my backyard.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
You need a still I can build one, you might have
some friends come visit you.
Speaker 1 (12:27):
Right, they'll see me doing something.
A brew, yeah.
So now when you went to thisdistillery it's called the Old
Smoky Moonshine- Distillery yes.
And of course, you have to beover 21 to taste.
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (12:42):
But okay, so they start.
Oh, they give you a shot glass.
Now, sorry, it's a glass.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
It looks like a communion cup okay, right know
what size that yeah those arethe shot glass, so they start
with moonshine right, I mean thereal stuff.
Speaker 2 (12:56):
It's white, it's good .
The guy says there's no need totake covid shots when you take
this because this will cure all.
Speaker 1 (13:03):
That's the original white lightning.
Speaker 2 (13:05):
White lightning and I took a.
I didn't take a sip, I didn'ttake a tape.
I mean, you know, it was likeit hit my mouth and I went.
Oh my goodness.
Speaker 1 (13:15):
You just put your tongue in.
It's not for me.
Yeah, now you remember I didthat one year.
I made grandma's apple pie,aloe vera moonshine for
everybody there you go, you weremaking apple pie.
Right, did they have one ofthose?
Speaker 2 (13:28):
Well, I think they did.
They had many varieties, oh wow.
Speaker 1 (13:32):
Did you get a taste of all of them?
Speaker 2 (13:33):
Yeah, they're like apple pie, blackberry, orange
butter, pecan.
Speaker 1 (13:43):
Did you like the butter pecan.
Speaker 2 (13:44):
Are you better?
It went along with the icecream, so it was a great place.
It was a good thing.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
And of course I'm assuming that there was, you
know, places to shop and you canbuy the moonshine.
Speaker 2 (13:57):
Yeah, the moonshine that you buy would be purchased
in jars.
Speaker 1 (14:00):
Or is it just called moon?
Well, I don't think they callit shine, they call it moon, or?
Speaker 2 (14:08):
they shine one of the two, but it's also branded
merchandise now, because 2013,the state of tennessee said it
was legal to create moonshineand sell it, sell it so it's,
you can buy it.
I don't know if we can buy ithere in I don't know florida
area, but if you go to theliquor store you might be able
to right, might find it in theliquor stores.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
If they make it legal right now, what?
What was your favorite?
Was it the butter pecan?
Speaker 2 (14:29):
oh yeah, oh yeah, I could taste that.
Speaker 1 (14:32):
I mean, that was okay so now I hear that you went to
seva ville, tennessee, as well.
Speaker 2 (14:36):
Yeah, and there's a place called applewood farms
applewood farmhouse restaurantand they southern comfort.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
Now this was included on the tour oh, so the right,
so the meal was included oh yeahnice and it had apple fritters
apple fritters you don't everhad apple fritter back home when
I grew up.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
We had corn fritters but not apple, but apple
fritters.
And the tour guides kept sayingonly eat one.
Only eat one, because they'llfill you up.
Speaker 1 (15:09):
Yeah, I believe it would.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
Because we've got.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
Jay, how many did you have?
Speaker 2 (15:13):
I had four and I could have eaten more, and so
the dinner.
You know it's family style.
Speaker 1 (15:20):
So they do it family style.
So you're passing the potatoes.
Speaker 2 (15:23):
Fried chicken meatloaf pot roast.
Speaker 1 (15:25):
It's all there, was it all you can eat, so like if
your meatloaf ran out you couldjust say well, meatloaf please.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
Oh, that's pretty cool, oh yeah.
Speaker 1 (15:33):
And then the restaurant is part of a village.
I understand.
Speaker 2 (15:36):
Which is Apple Barn Village.
Yeah, and in that area, what dothey do?
They raise apples there.
Oh, so then did they have, uhlike apple wine, uh I think they
did.
It didn't get there, you didn'tget there.
Speaker 1 (15:51):
The set of there was a one still recuperating from
the the shine yeah, there was awinery in the village and I
never got there.
Speaker 2 (15:59):
I never, I never got there.
It's amazing my wife didn't getthere, but right, she loves her
she likes the wine?
Speaker 1 (16:04):
yes, she does and, you know, with an apple orchard,
I would imagine that they woulddo some apple wine, which is
really good, absolutely now.
So I hear you went to some liveshows.
Where did you see the liveshows?
Speaker 2 (16:15):
uh, right there in pigeon forge.
Pigeon forge is like i-90, 192or or international drive
international drive in orlando Imean it is wall-to-wall.
Speaker 1 (16:25):
Tourist trap.
Yeah, tourist trap.
So it's basically shops andsouvenirs and things like that,
but they have these theaters andhave some good shows.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
The first show we saw was called Country Today in the
Country Today Theater.
Okay, and it was a moderncountry.
It was good upbeat country,upbeat country music, a good
show and that was a moderncountry.
Speaker 1 (16:45):
It was good, upbeat country, upbeat country music, a
good show.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
And that was included in the tour Right.
And then one night we went tothe Hatfield and McCoy Dinner
Feud.
Speaker 1 (16:55):
So they actually have a dinner theater replicating
the Hatfield and McCoy Feud.
Speaker 2 (17:00):
Yes, that's interesting, this was one of
those big dinner theaters whereyou know they stack everybody up
Right.
Speaker 1 (17:06):
You know too that's interesting.
This was one of those bigdinner theaters where you know
they sack everybody up and right.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
You know to right.
Okay, you can't see my armsgoing up the air, but they just
keep.
Speaker 1 (17:13):
You know we're weird.
A tiered, a tiered theater,tiered restaurant.
And now was it?
Was it a musical, was it acomedy?
Yes, yes yes and Okay, that'scool.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
The amazing thing was the stage actually opened up
and in the stage was a swimmingpool.
Speaker 1 (17:32):
A swimming pool.
Speaker 2 (17:33):
And the actors did acrobats into the swimming, into
the pool.
Speaker 1 (17:37):
So the Hatfields and McCoys were swimming as well.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
As well.
They shot each other and thenthey did flips and dives.
Speaker 1 (17:43):
Wow, Wow Well that makes it unique and interesting.
And you said this is all inPigeon Forge.
Speaker 2 (17:48):
Yes, and all in that theater.
And so then, when they closedit back up, the floor was wet.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
Naturally you know Right, because it was splashing.
Speaker 2 (17:58):
So they did a musical number with booms and mops
mopping up the floor.
Oh, how cute To get the floorback now was that also included,
included nice.
Included nice the only thingthat wasn't included there was,
uh, alcohol.
Alcohol, you know you had tobuy the alcohol separate now
wasn't, it was a dinner showright dinner show.
Speaker 1 (18:18):
Oh cool so you've been, you were doing a lot of
eating and a lot of drinking yes, actually that was the dinner
show, and it was.
Speaker 2 (18:26):
We got there.
The show was at five o'clock.
Speaker 1 (18:28):
Oh, okay, that's not too bad.
Now you know you were over inthat area.
Did you go to Dollywood?
Speaker 2 (18:35):
I think that was the well.
This was a Great Smoky Mountaintour.
Speaker 1 (18:39):
Right.
Speaker 2 (18:40):
So Dollywood was included.
Speaker 1 (18:42):
Dollywood was included.
Speaker 2 (18:43):
Yeah, Okay, and there again it was included.
The only thing is, if you go toDollywood right, watch out for
the cinnamon bread why is it sobig?
Speaker 1 (18:55):
oh?
Speaker 2 (18:56):
you buy a loaf.
It is so good it tastes likegrandma's cinnamon rolls okay,
and again, where's mine you?
Still didn't bring me back acinnamon bread you didn't bring
me back a slice, it would havebeen.
It would have been melded bynow so you had the cinnamon
bread apparently dollywood wasphenomenal you know, oh, back
(19:18):
country stuff.
Saw some good shows there rightdolly has a museum there, a
couple of other dolly featuresright but?
but of course I love to do whatI like to do ride the train oh
yeah, so you rode a train andthey have a big train there,
that that's really good and doesit take you all around dolly
dollywood well, it took youaround the mountain oh, okay
(19:42):
because dollywood is reallybuilt on a mountain right and so
I thought you know how indisney you go around the magic
kingdom right, you go around thekingdom.
I want to go around dollywoodto see what it's see what you
want to see.
I went up the mountain and downthe mountain around but that
makes it nice.
Speaker 1 (19:59):
Yeah, now was there a place to stay around there well
, dolly has a couple of extraresorts oh, okay, built beside
so if somebody wanted to just goto Dollywood, they can go to
Dollywood and say one of herresorts, righthmm.
Speaker 2 (20:14):
Right, we were not included in those resorts.
We were on the budget tour.
Speaker 1 (20:20):
Okay, that would make sense.
Now you keep saying tour, whoput this tour together?
Speaker 2 (20:25):
It was called Tours by Nona.
Speaker 1 (20:27):
Tours by Nona.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
Yeah, okay, that's who put it together.
Speaker 1 (20:31):
Okay, cheap, shameless plug.
So Nona can be contacted.
You have her contactinformation or can they?
Find her on the web.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
I think you can find her on the web.
Speaker 1 (20:39):
Fabulous.
So if you want to do somethinglike that, tours by Nona.
Yeah, Now what else you got?
Speaker 2 (20:45):
Well, the reason the whole tour was called the Great
Smoky Mountains.
Speaker 1 (20:49):
Right.
Speaker 2 (20:49):
And the time was the fall, so will the leaves be
changing, you know, will thecolors be there.
Speaker 1 (20:56):
Right, be changing, you know, okay, will the colors
be there, right?
That was the question.
That's always a question, evenwhen you go to new york is it
the right time, becausesometimes timing is off.
We got there, perfect timing oh, so you had a lot of orange and
beautiful, pretty beautifulwhat was the temperature like?
Speaker 2 (21:11):
oh, probably no higher than 70 degrees oh nice
and, of course, lack of humidityoh wow, oh yeah oh, it was
phenomenal yeah and then themornings got up, it was 45 right
but you know you get on the busand by the time you get out of
the bus it's like 65 you know,it's very, very, very
comfortable we had very goodtime.
Speaker 1 (21:33):
So now, what about this scenic drive?
You know the views and stuffwell, that's what you.
Speaker 2 (21:37):
they drive you through the mountain up to the
top and I can't remember whereyou, what, what it's called,
where you go.
Speaker 1 (21:44):
Right.
Speaker 2 (21:45):
And at the top where we were was a part of the
Appalachian Trail.
Speaker 1 (21:52):
Oh, so you actually got to stand on the Appalachian
Trail.
Speaker 2 (21:56):
Oh, I walked.
I walked a half a block on theAppalachian Trail.
Oh, I walked a half a block onthe Appalachian Trail.
Speaker 1 (22:01):
So you actually can say I walked the.
Speaker 2 (22:02):
Appalachian Trail.
Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (22:04):
Now I know the Appalachian Trail goes all the
way from there, all the way upto Maine.
Speaker 2 (22:08):
Right right.
Speaker 1 (22:09):
And people can walk it and it takes weeks to do it.
Speaker 2 (22:13):
It takes six months, I think Weeks and weeks yeah.
Speaker 1 (22:19):
There are week takes six months, and weeks and weeks.
Yeah, um, there are placeswhere you can get off the trail
and stay in hotels along the wayor some people like to camp.
They do that as well.
Yeah, okay, uh, but you just,you just did a little.
I'm on the trail, I'm walking afew steps and now I'm going
back on the bus yes, and backdown to gatlinburg oh, so you
went to Gatlinburg.
Speaker 2 (22:36):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (22:37):
What was that like?
Speaker 2 (22:39):
If Pigeon Ford looked like I drive, Gatlinburg looked
like 192.
Speaker 1 (22:49):
I mean there were more tourist traps than I've
ever seen.
Well, yeah, it's a verytouristy area, but it sounds
like you know you also went toan educational area for the
Cherokee heritage.
Speaker 2 (22:58):
Well, the Did.
Speaker 1 (23:02):
I throw you on the net.
Speaker 2 (23:05):
What do you call visitor centers?
Visitor centers when they talkabout that.
Yeah, and our tour guide wastalking more about the Cherokee
Nation that lived in that area.
Speaker 1 (23:15):
It's amazing, isn't it?
I don't understand how any ofour indigenous people lived in
any of these places, but thenour government back then decided
that they needed to move toOklahoma.
Right.
So that was the Trail of Tears.
Speaker 2 (23:30):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (23:31):
So that was just kind of crazy, but at least you get
the history lesson, so that'skind of a good thing for like
kids learning about the historyof our nation.
Speaker 2 (23:38):
Well, at least there were no kids on the bus.
Speaker 1 (23:41):
No, I mean, you know where you were going.
They wouldn't have been able to.
There was a lot of drinking.
Speaker 2 (23:45):
Hey, hey, we were not drinking in there.
Speaker 1 (23:48):
Except when you went to the Moonshine Museum Right
right Now Gatlinburg.
Speaker 2 (23:52):
I did get a T-shirt from Bubba Gump.
Speaker 1 (23:55):
Oh, but Bubba Gump's is all around.
Speaker 2 (23:56):
Well, yeah.
Speaker 1 (23:57):
Did you eat at Bubba Gump's?
Speaker 2 (23:58):
I ate at a Bubba Gump's.
And what did I have?
Speaker 1 (24:01):
What'd you?
Speaker 2 (24:01):
have Clam chowder.
Speaker 1 (24:02):
Oh, Bubba Gump's has really good food.
I've been to a couple of BubbaGump's and they are pretty tasty
, it was a half-scale model ofthe famous ship, with artifacts
and interactive exhibits.
Speaker 2 (24:27):
We were driving towards the hotel and I look up
and there's a ship.
Speaker 1 (24:32):
It looks like the Titanic Watch out.
Speaker 2 (24:34):
And on the side of it there's an iceberg Iceberg
right, so watch out.
Speaker 1 (24:41):
Also there's.
Speaker 2 (24:42):
Wonder Works.
Speaker 1 (24:44):
Oh, right, we have that here, florida and.
Speaker 2 (24:45):
Orlando Right.
Speaker 1 (24:49):
So there's other things to do on this, and were
these items included in the touror you just seen?
Speaker 2 (24:54):
it?
No, I saw them, you just sawthem yeah.
Speaker 1 (24:56):
Okay, Now how long did this bus tour take?
Speaker 2 (24:58):
It was a?
Uh well, we left on Sunday andcame back on Friday, so it was
about six days.
Speaker 1 (25:03):
Yeah, about six days, so that's pretty cool.
Now I understand.
You also went to a place that Ihave heard of but have not been
called a Bucky's.
Yeah, On the bus tour cominghome we decided the bus needed
gas and bucky's has over ahundred gas pumps.
Speaker 2 (25:21):
That that just is amazing.
Yeah, a hundred gas pumps and I, the bus pulled up to a gas
pump and I don't know if, what,what kind of fuel it needed?
Well, probably diesel, I don'tknow.
But, um, so the weird thingabout a bucky's which you
haven't been to right they sella sell a lot of great food,
barbecue and stuff like thatRight, phenomenal Right.
Except there's no place to eatit inside the store.
Speaker 1 (25:44):
So you had to eat it on the corner because you
weren't allowed on the bus withthe food Right.
Speaker 2 (25:50):
So what was suggested was get a lunch bucket,
basically.
Speaker 1 (25:53):
Uh-huh.
Speaker 2 (26:00):
And then so when?
Speaker 1 (26:00):
we hit the first, uh second rest area in florida.
Right, we stopped.
Oh, it had a little picnic.
Speaker 2 (26:02):
Yeah, nice, that's nice and so after our picnic, we
got home about three o'clockand it was a phenomenal bus tour
so your overall impressionoverall, uh bus tour is
convenient and comfortable andit's a great way to see the
Great Smoky Mountains.
Speaker 1 (26:21):
I'm going to have to go look at the Smoky Mountains.
I've been there several times,but this is definitely a fun way
to go.
And again it's tours by Nona,and Nona she put on a nice tour
for you.
So, jay, when you go again,you're going to have to let me
know and bring me back a t-shirt.
I would like to thank my gueststoday for sharing their travel
experiences.
If any of these adventuresexcite you, feel free to contact
(26:43):
me z at zmichelsontravelcom.
You can check out my website,zmichelsontravelcom, or you can
call your local travel advisorand just say you heard it on Z
Michelson Travels podcast.
Remember, travel really opensup the world to you with food,
(27:03):
culture, exploration andexcitement, and we find out we
truly are all the same.
Travel safe and shoot for thestars, and if you only get to
the moon, at least you made thetrip.
This is Zee Michelson.
Remember, all my podcasts canbe heard on any of your
preferred podcast providers.
And don't forget Zee is speltZ-E-E.
(27:26):
Thanks for tuning in and have agreat day.
Hi and welcome to the new and improved the Michelson
Travel Podcast.
I will be speaking with moreguests and more travelers and
will bring you great insightsand, I hope, to inspire your
sense of curiosity.
As you may or may not know, myconcierge of podcast travel has
retired, or so he thinks.
(00:22):
Jay Lawrence has decided toactively travel more, so he will
be one of my many guests as weexplore this great world we live
in, along with rediscoveringAmerica.
Well, Jay, you went on a bustour to the Great Smoky
Mountains.
Wow, that must have been great.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Yeah, it was very nice, it was beautiful and we
had a great time.
You want to talk about it?
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Yeah, I'd really like to talk about it.
So where did you start thisjourney?
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Well, we're on a bus tour.
I've never done a bus tourbefore.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
I've been on a bus tour.
I don't do buses very well.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Well, yeah, I know, yeah, but you know, we all meet
up on a Sunday morning, Right?
And and uh, the bus gets there.
Actually, the bus had to comefrom the uh, East coast, because
half the bus was full from theEast coast and then the West.
Whatever, we filled the busOkay.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
So the bus was full and you were heading out from
central Florida central Florida.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
Yeah, oh, and we had a brand new prevost bus oh, what
is a, what is a prevost?
Oh, you know, it's a threemillion dollar pieces, you know
oh oh yeah, and it had seatsthat are brand new brand.
The only thing the driver wouldlet us do was drink water on
the bus so tell me a little bitmore about this bus.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
I mean, sometimes you go on a bus and the windows are
really tiny, so tell me aboutthis bus.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
You know, it felt like we had talked about the
mountaineer trains in Coloradogoing through the mountains.
Right, I felt like we were on amountaineer train actually,
because the windows on the buswere so large.
And the amazing thing is, inthese buses, these tour buses,
you're sitting like second levelup.
You're not sitting down on the,where the driver is but it's not
(02:11):
a double decker bus it's not adouble decker, but you're
actually on the second level,because the first level is where
they put all the luggageunderneath oh, so you're just a
little higher than normal butthe the amazing thing was I got
to see much more than I've everseen before trying to drive out
of the state of Florida, becauseyou can see beyond the shoulder
of the highway.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
That's nice.
Yeah, yeah, that's nice.
So it had big windows.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
That's pretty cool.
That's pretty cool.
Yeah, Now does it make stopsalong the way?
Speaker 2 (02:39):
Well, yeah, Bus needs to stop about every two hours,
but we first stop was ValdostaGeorgia.
Valdosta Georgia.
Valdosta we had lunch anddinner at lunch in Valdosta and
then a couple hours later, we'recloser to Miami.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
Boy, that's a big jump for me.
Boy, am I going to the wrongway?
Speaker 2 (03:01):
And we arrived at a place called.
They sold nuts.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
They sold nuts and we were mine.
You can bring me back anything.
I didn't even get a littlesouvenir.
I didn't even get a shirt thatsays I went to Valdosta, and all
I got was this shirt.
Right.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Well, we were, oh my, the bus split up.
It was like everybody on theirown.
So there were like severalrestaurants around there, right?
So we went to one restaurantand it was early sunday morning
and I'm going there'sunderstaffed.
They're never going to get usout of here on time, right?
Fact is we were the last twoback on the bus, but we were
(03:38):
okay you were taking your time,I can tell so when we went
further north.
We've got the ellis brotherspecans uh off of interstate 75,
which is uh off of uh vienna,the vienna exit on i-75.
Okay, and they are the peoplethat do probably seen this
online.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
We're nuts oh yeah, we're, yes, we're nuts, we're
nuts for our nuts, yes, so thatwas ellis brothers yeah, it's
family store.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
It's been there since 1944.
They specialize in pecans and awide variety of other nuts.
But the amazing thing was Iwent in for the ice cream.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
Oh, you love pecan, ice cream, oh, ice cream.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
And I tell you, I got to tell the Ellis Brothers they
need to find someone else towork the counter.
Why Well, the poor gal.
I said I want two scoops for mywife on a cone.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
Right.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
No, I wanted one scoop for my wife on a cone.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
Right.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
And I wanted two scoops and a cup.
Right, she puts the cone out,puts two scoops on the cone.
Right, I got a cup.
It wasn't a cup, it was abarrel, I mean a pint.
I mean it was like four or fivescoops, nice, yeah, and all for
five dollars, I mean it wasincredible price too.
(04:53):
So the amazing thing iseverybody Well, not everybody,
but a large percentage of thepeople had ice cream and we
couldn't get back on the bus.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
We had to eat all that ice cream.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
That was one of the best things.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
And again, you still didn't bring me anything.
I didn't even get a nut.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
The ice cream would have been melted okay.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
Okay, I'll give you a pass on the ice cream.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
We were headed towards.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
Atlanta.
So you were heading towardsAtlanta because naturally you
were over by Valdosta and thenVienna, so you were heading
towards Atlanta.
Now did you stop there?
Speaker 2 (05:25):
For our first stop.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
Oh cool.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
Okay, and we stayed at a Drury Inn.
Have you ever been to a DruryInn?
They're very nice, very nice.
By golly, they offered a 530kickback happy hour basically
yes, they do.
Plus, what do you call it?
Snacks?
Speaker 1 (05:46):
Right, they do have snacks and booze too.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
They share booze, alcohol?
Yes, yeah, that's why.
And then?
Speaker 1 (05:54):
But the snacks are not just peanuts, oh no, they
give you like the wholecharcuterie board type of thing.
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
And these are better than that.
Wow, I can't really rememberwhat was on it, but it was
certainly enough.
You didn't need to go out fordinner.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
And this was in Marietta, georgia, marietta.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
Yeah, so it's outside of Atlanta, okay, and then in
the morning, their breakfast isthe best hotel breakfast that
I've seen.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
Right.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
That you know that you go down and you serve
yourself.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
And this is all off of I-75?
.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
Right off of 75.
And you know, if you'retraveling, come on if you're
traveling by road.
I'm saying I'm looking up whereDrury Inns are across the
country.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
Oh yeah, there's quite a few.
From now on, I've actuallyjoined their club.
Oh, you have the club card now.
How nice.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
So I want to be in it , because you can't beat the
price.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
No, it's not bad, you pay for the room.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
You get dinner basically, and you get a great
breakfast in the morningBreakfasts are nice as well.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
It's not just a muffin.
Right yeah, yeah.
Now I have to ask you aquestion.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (07:01):
When you're going in and out of these hotels, are you
responsible for your ownluggage or somebody else putting
them?
Speaker 2 (07:07):
well, actually we were responsible for our luggage
okay on this.
Speaker 1 (07:13):
They took it out of the x they took it out from
under the bus and then we tookit.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
Yeah, I mean it wasn't any big deal at that.
Oh, and for the first night we,they said, just pack an
overnight, don't pack the big.
The big suitcase stayed in theback, right.
So they pulled out anovernighter, right.
So it would be much easier.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
So that's, that's how I pack my car.
Oh yeah, I have what I'm goingto have my arrival, where I'm
going to be there for a week.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
That's in the back Good bag.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
And then my little overnight bag is closer to the
front of my back so I can justpull it out yeah, that's how I
do it, that's what uh, yeah, sowe did that so where did you go
from there?
Speaker 2 (07:49):
well, we were heading to pigeon forge.
Tennessee, tennessee, yeah.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
Now I have to ask yeah um, how were the road
situation?
Speaker 2 (07:57):
because you went shortly after one of the major
hurricanes right well, um, wehit 75, and then, I think, we
hit well 75, and then we hit 441into Pigeon 4.
Now, if you'd go further, we'dhit Interstate I-40, which would
take you into Asheville, andthat's where that road is still
(08:18):
under construction.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
Yeah, that's a mess.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
I just heard on the internet that they're possibly
going to have one lane open onthe thing shortly.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
Yeah, so that took a big hit.
So I was wondering.
When you said you were going onthis little road trip, I
thought how are you going to getthere?
Speaker 2 (08:35):
Right and Pigeon Forge in that area only had a
large amount of rain, but theywere okay.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
They were okay For Asheville, so the drive from.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
Atlanta to P to pigeon forge, is what about 200
miles?
Yeah, yeah, it's about two,three, four hours, four hours
yeah, so what?
Speaker 1 (08:52):
how did you know what was next?
Speaker 2 (08:54):
you went to well where we passed chattanooga oh,
chattanooga, tennessee, you knowi-75 right.
I've driven that and thenusually in chanooga I veer to
the left and go on I-4 and go upI-24 and go up north.
Speaker 1 (09:09):
Right.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
But no, we stayed on I-75 and went on north.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
Oh, so you didn't know the I-24 cutoff then no.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
Well, but we went past it.
I mean, it felt right.
This is the first time I'veseen that cutoff without a major
backup.
Really, yeah, coming back, itwas different.
Speaker 1 (09:27):
Sometimes the bus drivers just do know how to get
there.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
Right right.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
So now, once you're near Pigeon Forge, you went to
Chattanooga.
You had Lookout Mountain, allof these on your trip.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
Well, yeah, but Lookout Mountain's on the other
side of Chattanooga, so we'renot going to go there, right?
Yeah, the other side, yeah, sowe're not going to go there,
right?
Yeah, so what about you know?
What did you do, nick?
Speaker 1 (09:48):
well, it didn't take all day to get to pigeon fort.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
Okay, so, um, they had us lined up for a tour of
the smoky mountain.
What was it?
Speaker 1 (09:56):
pigeon fort, no, pigeon fort, the island in
pigeon fort right, I didn't evenknow there was an island in
Pigeon Forge.
Is that where you stayed?
The next night was over byPigeon Forge we were in Pigeon
Forge.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
Yes, Okay.
Day number two Okay, so thenyou went to Pigeon Forge, which
is in the mountains yes, we werethere, and on the island in
Pigeon Forge, okay, and and thisoffered dining and shopping and
attractions and a giant Ferriswheel.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
Oh, and you know, I'm petrified of Ferris wheels.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
Well, my wife and I, we took the Great Smoky Mountain
wheels, what it was called.
Speaker 1 (10:35):
Now, is it a basket or is it encased?
Speaker 2 (10:38):
We were hanging on by our hands.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
Oh, hanging yeah, or is it like the Orlando Eye?
Speaker 2 (10:44):
It's kind of like it's what?
Oh, it's like the orlando eye,okay, the question is, which
one's taller?
You know which one's bigger?
I don't know, but it was you'regonna.
I wouldn't want to say a cage,but you were in, uh, a gondola
car right with windows on allaround and we got a great view
of the mountains.
Speaker 1 (11:03):
That's nice, and it took its time going around.
How about?
How long did it take to goaround about?
Speaker 2 (11:09):
Well, the fun thing was when we first got in and
then went wait, we're at the topand they would stop letting
other people on.
You know I mean, but lookingaround it was just beautiful.
Speaker 1 (11:22):
I think we've got four, four trips, oh cool, but
they're slow they're slow, yes,so you can really get a good
look at the mountains andeverything else.
Now I have to ask I mean,you're doing all these little
stops along the way, now, theseattractions that you're stopping
at and going to, are theseincluded in the tours or are
these extra?
Speaker 2 (11:41):
this the island was was included the island was
included but, not the dinnerright you know, get your own
lunch.
Uh, the wheel right, but whatwas included right was the old
smoky mountain moonshine oh wellyou know, I love that show it's
a distillery right there inpigeon fort right and and that
(12:05):
was included and where is mymoonshine?
Speaker 1 (12:07):
you didn't bring that either it's still in the.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
It's still the distillery right there in Pigeon
Fort Right, and that wasincluded.
And where is my moonshine?
You?
Speaker 1 (12:15):
didn't bring that either it's still at the bar
because, okay, so they gave us atour of how you make moonshine,
right what?
Speaker 2 (12:20):
are you taking notes for me, so I can do?
Speaker 1 (12:22):
it in my backyard.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
You need a still I can build one, you might have
some friends come visit you.
Speaker 1 (12:27):
Right, they'll see me doing something.
A brew, yeah.
So now when you went to thisdistillery it's called the Old
Smoky Moonshine- Distillery yes.
And of course, you have to beover 21 to taste.
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (12:42):
But okay, so they start.
Oh, they give you a shot glass.
Now, sorry, it's a glass.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
It looks like a communion cup okay, right know
what size that yeah those arethe shot glass, so they start
with moonshine right, I mean thereal stuff.
Speaker 2 (12:56):
It's white, it's good .
The guy says there's no need totake covid shots when you take
this because this will cure all.
Speaker 1 (13:03):
That's the original white lightning.
Speaker 2 (13:05):
White lightning and I took a.
I didn't take a sip, I didn'ttake a tape.
I mean, you know, it was likeit hit my mouth and I went.
Oh my goodness.
Speaker 1 (13:15):
You just put your tongue in.
It's not for me.
Yeah, now you remember I didthat one year.
I made grandma's apple pie,aloe vera moonshine for
everybody there you go, you weremaking apple pie.
Right, did they have one ofthose?
Speaker 2 (13:28):
Well, I think they did.
They had many varieties, oh wow.
Speaker 1 (13:32):
Did you get a taste of all of them?
Speaker 2 (13:33):
Yeah, they're like apple pie, blackberry, orange
butter, pecan.
Speaker 1 (13:43):
Did you like the butter pecan.
Speaker 2 (13:44):
Are you better?
It went along with the icecream, so it was a great place.
It was a good thing.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
And of course I'm assuming that there was, you
know, places to shop and you canbuy the moonshine.
Speaker 2 (13:57):
Yeah, the moonshine that you buy would be purchased
in jars.
Speaker 1 (14:00):
Or is it just called moon?
Well, I don't think they callit shine, they call it moon, or?
Speaker 2 (14:08):
they shine one of the two, but it's also branded
merchandise now, because 2013,the state of tennessee said it
was legal to create moonshineand sell it, sell it so it's,
you can buy it.
I don't know if we can buy ithere in I don't know florida
area, but if you go to theliquor store you might be able
to right, might find it in theliquor stores.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
If they make it legal right now, what?
What was your favorite?
Was it the butter pecan?
Speaker 2 (14:29):
oh yeah, oh yeah, I could taste that.
Speaker 1 (14:32):
I mean, that was okay so now I hear that you went to
seva ville, tennessee, as well.
Speaker 2 (14:36):
Yeah, and there's a place called applewood farms
applewood farmhouse restaurantand they southern comfort.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
Now this was included on the tour oh, so the right,
so the meal was included oh yeahnice and it had apple fritters
apple fritters you don't everhad apple fritter back home when
I grew up.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
We had corn fritters but not apple, but apple
fritters.
And the tour guides kept sayingonly eat one.
Only eat one, because they'llfill you up.
Speaker 1 (15:09):
Yeah, I believe it would.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
Because we've got.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
Jay, how many did you have?
Speaker 2 (15:13):
I had four and I could have eaten more, and so
the dinner.
You know it's family style.
Speaker 1 (15:20):
So they do it family style.
So you're passing the potatoes.
Speaker 2 (15:23):
Fried chicken meatloaf pot roast.
Speaker 1 (15:25):
It's all there, was it all you can eat, so like if
your meatloaf ran out you couldjust say well, meatloaf please.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
Oh, that's pretty cool, oh yeah.
Speaker 1 (15:33):
And then the restaurant is part of a village.
I understand.
Speaker 2 (15:36):
Which is Apple Barn Village.
Yeah, and in that area, what dothey do?
They raise apples there.
Oh, so then did they have, uhlike apple wine, uh I think they
did.
It didn't get there, you didn'tget there.
Speaker 1 (15:51):
The set of there was a one still recuperating from
the the shine yeah, there was awinery in the village and I
never got there.
Speaker 2 (15:59):
I never, I never got there.
It's amazing my wife didn't getthere, but right, she loves her
she likes the wine?
Speaker 1 (16:04):
yes, she does and, you know, with an apple orchard,
I would imagine that they woulddo some apple wine, which is
really good, absolutely now.
So I hear you went to some liveshows.
Where did you see the liveshows?
Speaker 2 (16:15):
uh, right there in pigeon forge.
Pigeon forge is like i-90, 192or or international drive
international drive in orlando Imean it is wall-to-wall.
Speaker 1 (16:25):
Tourist trap.
Yeah, tourist trap.
So it's basically shops andsouvenirs and things like that,
but they have these theaters andhave some good shows.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
The first show we saw was called Country Today in the
Country Today Theater.
Okay, and it was a moderncountry.
It was good upbeat country,upbeat country music, a good
show and that was a moderncountry.
Speaker 1 (16:45):
It was good, upbeat country, upbeat country music, a
good show.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
And that was included in the tour Right.
And then one night we went tothe Hatfield and McCoy Dinner
Feud.
Speaker 1 (16:55):
So they actually have a dinner theater replicating
the Hatfield and McCoy Feud.
Speaker 2 (17:00):
Yes, that's interesting, this was one of
those big dinner theaters whereyou know they stack everybody up
Right.
Speaker 1 (17:06):
You know too that's interesting.
This was one of those bigdinner theaters where you know
they sack everybody up and right.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
You know to right.
Okay, you can't see my armsgoing up the air, but they just
keep.
Speaker 1 (17:13):
You know we're weird.
A tiered, a tiered theater,tiered restaurant.
And now was it?
Was it a musical, was it acomedy?
Yes, yes yes and Okay, that'scool.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
The amazing thing was the stage actually opened up
and in the stage was a swimmingpool.
Speaker 1 (17:32):
A swimming pool.
Speaker 2 (17:33):
And the actors did acrobats into the swimming, into
the pool.
Speaker 1 (17:37):
So the Hatfields and McCoys were swimming as well.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
As well.
They shot each other and thenthey did flips and dives.
Speaker 1 (17:43):
Wow, Wow Well that makes it unique and interesting.
And you said this is all inPigeon Forge.
Speaker 2 (17:48):
Yes, and all in that theater.
And so then, when they closedit back up, the floor was wet.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
Naturally you know Right, because it was splashing.
Speaker 2 (17:58):
So they did a musical number with booms and mops
mopping up the floor.
Oh, how cute To get the floorback now was that also included,
included nice.
Included nice the only thingthat wasn't included there was,
uh, alcohol.
Alcohol, you know you had tobuy the alcohol separate now
wasn't, it was a dinner showright dinner show.
Speaker 1 (18:18):
Oh cool so you've been, you were doing a lot of
eating and a lot of drinking yes, actually that was the dinner
show, and it was.
Speaker 2 (18:26):
We got there.
The show was at five o'clock.
Speaker 1 (18:28):
Oh, okay, that's not too bad.
Now you know you were over inthat area.
Did you go to Dollywood?
Speaker 2 (18:35):
I think that was the well.
This was a Great Smoky Mountaintour.
Speaker 1 (18:39):
Right.
Speaker 2 (18:40):
So Dollywood was included.
Speaker 1 (18:42):
Dollywood was included.
Speaker 2 (18:43):
Yeah, Okay, and there again it was included.
The only thing is, if you go toDollywood right, watch out for
the cinnamon bread why is it sobig?
Speaker 1 (18:55):
oh?
Speaker 2 (18:56):
you buy a loaf.
It is so good it tastes likegrandma's cinnamon rolls okay,
and again, where's mine you?
Still didn't bring me back acinnamon bread you didn't bring
me back a slice, it would havebeen.
It would have been melded bynow so you had the cinnamon
bread apparently dollywood wasphenomenal you know, oh, back
(19:18):
country stuff.
Saw some good shows there rightdolly has a museum there, a
couple of other dolly featuresright but?
but of course I love to do whatI like to do ride the train oh
yeah, so you rode a train andthey have a big train there,
that that's really good and doesit take you all around dolly
dollywood well, it took youaround the mountain oh, okay
(19:42):
because dollywood is reallybuilt on a mountain right and so
I thought you know how indisney you go around the magic
kingdom right, you go around thekingdom.
I want to go around dollywoodto see what it's see what you
want to see.
I went up the mountain and downthe mountain around but that
makes it nice.
Speaker 1 (19:59):
Yeah, now was there a place to stay around there well
, dolly has a couple of extraresorts oh, okay, built beside
so if somebody wanted to just goto Dollywood, they can go to
Dollywood and say one of herresorts, righthmm.
Speaker 2 (20:14):
Right, we were not included in those resorts.
We were on the budget tour.
Speaker 1 (20:20):
Okay, that would make sense.
Now you keep saying tour, whoput this tour together?
Speaker 2 (20:25):
It was called Tours by Nona.
Speaker 1 (20:27):
Tours by Nona.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
Yeah, okay, that's who put it together.
Speaker 1 (20:31):
Okay, cheap, shameless plug.
So Nona can be contacted.
You have her contactinformation or can they?
Find her on the web.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
I think you can find her on the web.
Speaker 1 (20:39):
Fabulous.
So if you want to do somethinglike that, tours by Nona.
Yeah, Now what else you got?
Speaker 2 (20:45):
Well, the reason the whole tour was called the Great
Smoky Mountains.
Speaker 1 (20:49):
Right.
Speaker 2 (20:49):
And the time was the fall, so will the leaves be
changing, you know, will thecolors be there.
Speaker 1 (20:56):
Right, be changing, you know, okay, will the colors
be there, right?
That was the question.
That's always a question, evenwhen you go to new york is it
the right time, becausesometimes timing is off.
We got there, perfect timing oh, so you had a lot of orange and
beautiful, pretty beautifulwhat was the temperature like?
Speaker 2 (21:11):
oh, probably no higher than 70 degrees oh nice
and, of course, lack of humidityoh wow, oh yeah oh, it was
phenomenal yeah and then themornings got up, it was 45 right
but you know you get on the busand by the time you get out of
the bus it's like 65 you know,it's very, very, very
comfortable we had very goodtime.
Speaker 1 (21:33):
So now, what about this scenic drive?
You know the views and stuffwell, that's what you.
Speaker 2 (21:37):
they drive you through the mountain up to the
top and I can't remember whereyou, what, what it's called,
where you go.
Speaker 1 (21:44):
Right.
Speaker 2 (21:45):
And at the top where we were was a part of the
Appalachian Trail.
Speaker 1 (21:52):
Oh, so you actually got to stand on the Appalachian
Trail.
Speaker 2 (21:56):
Oh, I walked.
I walked a half a block on theAppalachian Trail.
Oh, I walked a half a block onthe Appalachian Trail.
Speaker 1 (22:01):
So you actually can say I walked the.
Speaker 2 (22:02):
Appalachian Trail.
Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (22:04):
Now I know the Appalachian Trail goes all the
way from there, all the way upto Maine.
Speaker 2 (22:08):
Right right.
Speaker 1 (22:09):
And people can walk it and it takes weeks to do it.
Speaker 2 (22:13):
It takes six months, I think Weeks and weeks yeah.
Speaker 1 (22:19):
There are week takes six months, and weeks and weeks.
Yeah, um, there are placeswhere you can get off the trail
and stay in hotels along the wayor some people like to camp.
They do that as well.
Yeah, okay, uh, but you just,you just did a little.
I'm on the trail, I'm walking afew steps and now I'm going
back on the bus yes, and backdown to gatlinburg oh, so you
went to Gatlinburg.
Speaker 2 (22:36):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (22:37):
What was that like?
Speaker 2 (22:39):
If Pigeon Ford looked like I drive, Gatlinburg looked
like 192.
Speaker 1 (22:49):
I mean there were more tourist traps than I've
ever seen.
Well, yeah, it's a verytouristy area, but it sounds
like you know you also went toan educational area for the
Cherokee heritage.
Speaker 2 (22:58):
Well, the Did.
Speaker 1 (23:02):
I throw you on the net.
Speaker 2 (23:05):
What do you call visitor centers?
Visitor centers when they talkabout that.
Yeah, and our tour guide wastalking more about the Cherokee
Nation that lived in that area.
Speaker 1 (23:15):
It's amazing, isn't it?
I don't understand how any ofour indigenous people lived in
any of these places, but thenour government back then decided
that they needed to move toOklahoma.
Right.
So that was the Trail of Tears.
Speaker 2 (23:30):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (23:31):
So that was just kind of crazy, but at least you get
the history lesson, so that'skind of a good thing for like
kids learning about the historyof our nation.
Speaker 2 (23:38):
Well, at least there were no kids on the bus.
Speaker 1 (23:41):
No, I mean, you know where you were going.
They wouldn't have been able to.
There was a lot of drinking.
Speaker 2 (23:45):
Hey, hey, we were not drinking in there.
Speaker 1 (23:48):
Except when you went to the Moonshine Museum Right
right Now Gatlinburg.
Speaker 2 (23:52):
I did get a T-shirt from Bubba Gump.
Speaker 1 (23:55):
Oh, but Bubba Gump's is all around.
Speaker 2 (23:56):
Well, yeah.
Speaker 1 (23:57):
Did you eat at Bubba Gump's?
Speaker 2 (23:58):
I ate at a Bubba Gump's.
And what did I have?
Speaker 1 (24:01):
What'd you?
Speaker 2 (24:01):
have Clam chowder.
Speaker 1 (24:02):
Oh, Bubba Gump's has really good food.
I've been to a couple of BubbaGump's and they are pretty tasty
, it was a half-scale model ofthe famous ship, with artifacts
and interactive exhibits.
Speaker 2 (24:27):
We were driving towards the hotel and I look up
and there's a ship.
Speaker 1 (24:32):
It looks like the Titanic Watch out.
Speaker 2 (24:34):
And on the side of it there's an iceberg Iceberg
right, so watch out.
Speaker 1 (24:41):
Also there's.
Speaker 2 (24:42):
Wonder Works.
Speaker 1 (24:44):
Oh, right, we have that here, florida and.
Speaker 2 (24:45):
Orlando Right.
Speaker 1 (24:49):
So there's other things to do on this, and were
these items included in the touror you just seen?
Speaker 2 (24:54):
it?
No, I saw them, you just sawthem yeah.
Speaker 1 (24:56):
Okay, Now how long did this bus tour take?
Speaker 2 (24:58):
It was a?
Uh well, we left on Sunday andcame back on Friday, so it was
about six days.
Speaker 1 (25:03):
Yeah, about six days, so that's pretty cool.
Now I understand.
You also went to a place that Ihave heard of but have not been
called a Bucky's.
Yeah, On the bus tour cominghome we decided the bus needed
gas and bucky's has over ahundred gas pumps.
Speaker 2 (25:21):
That that just is amazing.
Yeah, a hundred gas pumps and I, the bus pulled up to a gas
pump and I don't know if, what,what kind of fuel it needed?
Well, probably diesel, I don'tknow.
But, um, so the weird thingabout a bucky's which you
haven't been to right they sella sell a lot of great food,
barbecue and stuff like thatRight, phenomenal Right.
Except there's no place to eatit inside the store.
Speaker 1 (25:44):
So you had to eat it on the corner because you
weren't allowed on the bus withthe food Right.
Speaker 2 (25:50):
So what was suggested was get a lunch bucket,
basically.
Speaker 1 (25:53):
Uh-huh.
Speaker 2 (26:00):
And then so when?
Speaker 1 (26:00):
we hit the first, uh second rest area in florida.
Right, we stopped.
Oh, it had a little picnic.
Speaker 2 (26:02):
Yeah, nice, that's nice and so after our picnic, we
got home about three o'clockand it was a phenomenal bus tour
so your overall impressionoverall, uh bus tour is
convenient and comfortable andit's a great way to see the
Great Smoky Mountains.
Speaker 1 (26:21):
I'm going to have to go look at the Smoky Mountains.
I've been there several times,but this is definitely a fun way
to go.
And again it's tours by Nona,and Nona she put on a nice tour
for you.
So, jay, when you go again,you're going to have to let me
know and bring me back a t-shirt.
I would like to thank my gueststoday for sharing their travel
experiences.
If any of these adventuresexcite you, feel free to contact
(26:43):
me z at zmichelsontravelcom.
You can check out my website,zmichelsontravelcom, or you can
call your local travel advisorand just say you heard it on Z
Michelson Travels podcast.
Remember, travel really opensup the world to you with food,
(27:03):
culture, exploration andexcitement, and we find out we
truly are all the same.
Travel safe and shoot for thestars, and if you only get to
the moon, at least you made thetrip.
This is Zee Michelson.
Remember, all my podcasts canbe heard on any of your
preferred podcast providers.
And don't forget Zee is speltZ-E-E.
(27:26):
Thanks for tuning in and have agreat day.
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