Family Travel

Biggest July 4th Fireworks Extravaganza Planned at Tweetsie Railroad

June 26, 2016 by Jennifer Leave a Comment

The most spectacular fireworks show in the High Country will be even better this summer when Tweetsie Railroad celebrates America’s Independence Day and the anniversary of the park’s opening day. On Monday, July 4, 2016, North Carolina’s first theme park will stay open late to put on one of the High Country¹s most popular events, Tweetsie Railroad’s July 4^th Fireworks Extravaganza. The park will stay open until 9:00 p.m., and at 9:30 p.m. over 200 large caliber pyrotechnic mortar shells will light up the sky for all to enjoy. This year, even larger aerial pyrotechnics will be added to the show to make this the biggest-ever July 4th event at the theme park.

For those that want a VIP experience for the show, Tweetsie Railroad offers a premium viewing area that includes an optional dinner. A special chicken and barbeque buffet will be served in the Hacienda. VIP wristbands are available at the ticket office for $20 for adults and $15 for children ages 3 to 12; kids 2 two and under are free.

There’s no better way to prepare the celebration than enjoying all the rides, live shows, and other attractions in the park. Spend the day at Tweetsie Railroad and take a ride on a train pulled by the legendary steam locomotives at Tweetsie Railroad. The unforgettable three-mile Wild West adventure through the Blue Ridge Mountains is fun for the whole family. Visitors can visit the friendly animals at the Deer Park Zoo, see live performances and visit Miner’s Mountain to pan for gold or mine for gems.

Tweetsie Railroad opened to the public on July 4, 1957, with a one-mile train trip to a picnic area. Since then, the ride has evolved into an entire theme park, expanding the train trip to three miles and adding Wild West-themed attractions and activities. The theme park hosts special events throughout the year to the delight of rail fans, children and visitors to the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Parking is available during the Independence Day celebration for $10 per vehicle, with no charge for Golden Rail Season Pass holders. In the event of severe weather, the fireworks show will be rescheduled for July 5^th.

Tweetsie Railroad is located on U.S. Highway 321 between Boone and Blowing Rock, North Carolina. For more information about the 2016 season at Tweetsie Railroad, visit Tweetsie.com or call 877.TWEETSIE(877.893.3874). Find Tweetsie Railroad on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Tweetsie and Twitter and Instagram.

2016 Walt Disney World Haul

June 16, 2016 by Jennifer Leave a Comment

My precious M is a huge Disney lover. She is all about all things Disney. Her face lit up once we stepped foot on Disney property last month. Watch her showcase the big haul that came home with her!

Family Reviews the 2016 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid

June 5, 2016 by Jennifer Leave a Comment

On our most recent road trip to Disney World, we had the pleasure of test driving our very first hybrid vehicle, 2016 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid. Toyota graciously partnered with us on this road trip. All thoughts and opinions are of our own.

Click on the below picture to get a small glimpse into our road trip.

This was a sweet ride. We are a family of four and had plenty of leg room for us all. The only downside was all of our luggage and souvenirs. Since we were gone a total of 8 days and had all the medical things needed for my youngest daughter, we did run out of room in the back. My husband knows how to organize, so he did get us back home with everything.

As you see in the video, the interior is very elegant. The brown and black leather really makes this vehicle feel very upscale without the exhorbiant price. My husband and I both enjoyed the dual zone automatic climate control. I freeze all the time, my husband always gets hot. The dual zone will eliminate any fighting over the temperature. The heated seats were great as well when we were on the road early morning. My husband did like the feel of the leather steering wheel. Again, this gave luxurious feeling without the hefty price.

When you are in a vehicle for a 10 hour road trip, radio sound is a big key to a positive road trip. We enjoyed the Entune^™ Premium Audio with Integrated Navigation during the trip. Our family did our own sing-along to the 70s and 80s music.

The gas mileage was amazing. We averaged 33 mpg the entire trip. The RAV4 Hybrid adds extra thrills with 194 net horsepower and outstanding acceleration.

While my husband was driving, I would check out the apps available as you can see above. It was interesting to see when we were running on battery power. When we were running on battery power, there would be no motor noise. As you are driving, you can leave this screen on so the energy monitor can indicate the operation of the gas engine, electric motor and hybrid battery. It provides real-time information showing how power is being used, and even how the battery is being charged. My husband, the auto geek, loved seeing the real-time information.

This Rav4 is a 2.5L, 4-cylinder. Check out the full specs on the Toyota Hybrid website.

Toyota, you have done an amazing job! A vehicle for the future for sure coupled with great comfort.

Hilarious Jungle Cruise Tour in Disney World’s Magic Kingdom

May 31, 2016 by Jennifer Leave a Comment

We are still talking about our recent Disney trip. All of our daily vlogs are up on our YouTube Channel. You all will enjoy our Day 3. Let’s just say, our jungle tour was a bit crazy! We also tried our first dole whip. Did it live up to the hype?

Family Travel

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