On our visit to Tennessee, we were able to visit the Titanic Museum for the first time. I personally have always been intrigued by this historic event!
It was a kid-friendly experience; my girls are seven and eleven years old. I was very happy that they enjoyed it and really learned a lot.
When we entered the museum, they gave us a handset that we could use throughout the museum to hear pre-recorded information by holding it to our ear and entering the number at the display. There was an adult version and a separate children's version, which focused on stories like a little boy's lost teddy bear.
Upon entering we were assigned a name and identity of someone who was actually on the ship, which made the experience so real. We were all different classes and ages. It was interesting to read about the backgrounds of each family we represented, and to see their fate in the end.
There was so much interesting information to take in that there is no way to remember each detail. However, what we WILL remember is the feelings we all felt while looking at the artifacts and imagining how horrible it must have been to experience this tragic event. It was truly humbling!
My daughter's favorite part was being in a replica of the captain's steering room and seeing the iceberg ahead, knowing they only had seconds until it would hit the ship. Then moving into the cold room and feeling the actual water temperature that those people experience was incredible.
Another favorite was an area where we sat in a lifeboat and listened to heroic stories that took place. Then the kids were able to experience and climb the sloped deck of the Titanic as it went from a small slope to a huge incline. They could try their hand at learning morse code and sending an SOS. This museum has lots to see, lots to learn, and I highly recommend it! This Macaroni family gave it a thumbs up!
NEW FOR 2016 will be the first public display of the Bandmaster Wallace Hartley’s RMS Titanic Violin. Since it's private sale to unknown private European collector...going, going, gone for $1.7 million dollars. Titanic violin limited engagement will be on display at these museums: Branson, MO – March 7 – May 29, 2016 and Pigeon Forge, TN – June 5 – August 14, 2016.
And keeping on with Thanksgiving Tradition, there will be a Fireworks Display you won't want to miss! Thanksgiving Evening, November 26th at 7:00pm. Get your tickets early!
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The Dixie Stampede Dinner Theater was a Macaroni favorite! We thoroughly enjoyed this show from start to finish! It was a stomping, clapping interactive show of North vs. South with amazing stunts, comedy, interactive audience competitions, and all around awesome (and filling) good southern food!
We had pre-purchased our tickets, but in checking with our resort could have gotten discount tickets. I would suggest this as it can add up fast depending on how many are in your party! We got there when the doors opened and we quickly moved through the line, they took our family picture (for later optional purchase), and then showed us where to sit in the saloon style room while we waited for the preshow. Here you can order and be served popcorn and non-alcoholic drinks in a special boot-cup, which is not included in your ticket.
The talented band is fun and high-energy with added comedy and plays a little bit gospel, a little bit blue grass and a little bit country combined. They did, however, threw me for a loop when they starting singing songs like “Money for Nothing” by Dire Straights. My 7 and 11 year old were singing and clapping along with all the songs they knew like the “YMCA” and “He’s Got The Whole World In His Hands”.
Then it came time to move upstairs and enter the theater. The staff was very helpful in finding (and sliding) into our seats, which is something unique. There are long table rows all around the arena. As soon as we sat, our waiter Greg, was very courteous and fun. He took our drink order and quickly started bringing everything out, one course at a time, starting with soup and a cheddar biscuit. It was a four-course meal that came and went in such a quick and organized manner among the staff, I was impressed. With that said, he never rushed in taking our plates unless we were truly done. My daughters only ate about half of the enormous amount of food they received, for one, because they were pretty involved in the show, and two, they weren’t really sure WHAT to do with this whole cornish hen that appeared on their plates. I wish I had been able to capture the look on my 7 year old’s face. Next came a slice of pork, corn on the cob, a half-seasoned tater and then ended with an awesome flaky apple pastry! It all tasted so good from start to finish. They end up providing coffee, a doggie bag, and some wet wipes before you leave the theater.
The show was also great! It was a North vs. South kind of theme (we were the North), filled with lots audience interaction. There were professional stunts on horses, some pyrotechnics (which gave my daughters a little jump at first), a beautiful digital background to compliment the set, a bit of comedy from “Skeeter” which had us adults laughing, and audience competitions like the water bucket race, kids racing the chickens, and “horseshoe” competition.
My favorite comedy was the “dancing chicken”….. think Crazy Hotdog Vender from the Reading Phils. Also included in the show was a bit of history of the land and lots of patriotism with a beautiful display of red, white and blue at the end where the north and south truly become one! By the way, the north lost by one. BOOO!
We ended by filling out a survey card, tipping our awesome waiter, and getting to go down to the front row and pet the horses and get an autograph by one of the female riders. The exit led to the gift shop where we wanted to get a souvenir. And after we left, we were able to go to the stalls where all the horses are cared for.
Overall, very unique show and enjoyable evening! This one gets a Macaroni Thumbs Up!!! Follow them on Facebook, Twitter , and Instagram. Media passes were provided in exchange for our review.
More review continues in the next article: Part II of this newsletter!
