Thanksgiving 2023
Thanksgiving was a little bit different this year. We decided to take a last minute road trip and see as much as we could Sunday through Friday in some of our favorite Tennessee locations.
Day 1 - Nov 19: Our first stop was Chattanooga to see the Rock City Christmas lights and they did not disappoint! We arrived at 7:00 PM and were able to get right in. Note that you need to buy your tickets online through the website before arriving as they have only so many people allowed per time slot, and they sell out during peak times - which is around sunset.
At 7:00 PM it wasn’t super crowded which was nice. Amelia was a little apprehensive at first, but warmed up to it. The entire setup was pretty amazing to see and I think everyone was enjoying the sights.
We wrapped up around 9:30 and made our way to the Embassy Suites on the East side of Chattanooga for a good night’s rest.
Day 2 - Nov 20: We were able to get out of the hotel around 9:00 AM after a delicious breakfast (one of the best parts about staying at an Embassy Suites). The weather was cloudy and rainy but we needed to stop for gas. Fortunately there was a Buc-ee’s just outside Knoxville that we hit around 11:30. Crazily enough we ran into my buddy Shane from Nashville in the parking lot! What are the odds?
Residence Inn - As we got into Pigeon Forge we made our way to the new Residence Inn. Since the Hilton Embassy Suites was still being built and the Doubletree in Gatlinburg was full, this was a great second option. This hotel is brand new and since every room is a suite, it worked out great for us!
After getting stuff unloaded, we hopped back in the car and headed out to Cades Cove to see what was going on. Amelia had fun on the car ride and there were a ton of people! The drive was slow and we got out and walked around the rest area in the back. I’ve never explored that area before and it was neat seeing all the historic things.
Blue Moose Burgers & Wings - For dinner we decided to try out this place in Pigeon Forge and it did not disappoint! There was a line out the door, but we still got seated in about 20 minutes. The food was good and we got a brownie with ice cream for dessert which Amelia thoroughly enjoyed.
Christmas Place - After dinner, Amanda wanted to go wander around the Christmas shops so we did that before calling it a night.
Day 3 - Nov 21:
Smokey Mountain Pancake House - For breakfast we thought we’d try good ol’ Pancake Pantry- but of course the line was ridiculous. So we ended up at a lesser quality place, but it was still pretty tasty and the service was excellent.
Top Jump - The weather was horrid all day, just pouring down rain. So we looked for something inside that Amelia could do and we ran across this place. She had a blast jumping around for about an hour!
JT Hannah’s Kitchen - After Amelia got to play around we decided to try this place out on the strip. We had about a 30 minute wait. Once inside and seated the food arrived quickly and was delicious! I had ribs and grilled bbq chicken and Amanda had hamburger steak. We also got some kind of carrot cake thing for dessert that they loved, but I wasn’t a fan.
Day 4 - Nov 22:
Sugarlands Visitor Center - Once again the rain was just pouring, but there was a small break so we thought we’d head to the visitor center and check it out that morning. We also decided to walk one of the short trails to a waterfall. And, as were out there the rain came back and we had run all the way back to the visitor center! We got Amelia a stuffed cat that she loves still today!
McAlister’s Deli - Lunch was had here because I had gift cards. We headed back to the hotel to pack up and head out.
Costco - No vacation is complete without a stop at Costco.
Ruby Tuesday - Amanda’s favorite restaurant is this, so we stopped here to grab a bite.
Ingles Shopping Center (Jasper TN) - Made a pit stop to get thanksgiving dinner.
Deer Lick at Water’s Edge - We arrived at our tiny home!
Day 5 - Nov 23:
We spent some time exploring the tiny home community and took Amelia to the playground on site. She had fun!
Fiery Gizzard Trail - We thought this would be fun, but it was pretty long and a little dangerous since it was traversing a cliff side so we turned around.
South Cumberland State Park - We ended up here. Much safer!
For dinner Amanda cooked up the ham and potatoes and all that good stuff and we enjoyed a relaxing evening inside. We had tried to light the fire pit outside but due to all the rain all the wood was wet and we couldn’t get it going.
Day 6 - Nov 24
Home - Our holiday adventure came to an end and we made the trip back to Decatur.
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Kyle Root is a published and award winning photographer based out of Decatur Alabama. Working in the area since 1999 has helped him become one of the most recognized photographers and videographers in North Alabama. His work has been featured both locally and on the national stage. Honesty, Integrity, Quality Products, Amazing Customer Service, and just being a nice guy have helped propel him to the spotlight in the North Alabama area as a photographer. If you're looking for professional photography, you're in the right spot.
