Whew, I’m ready for this year to wrap up. Are you? Most days have felt like a trudge through quick sand. Cognitively, I’ve tried to be grateful for the good in my life, but that’s sometimes easier said than done. There’s something about the beginning of a new year that brings hope and brightness, so even though it’s only November 17, I’m ready to blow a horn and sing Auld Lang Syne.
Here’s a little throwback to last year’s New Year’s Eve and my favorite NYE photo ever. While the parents were ringing in 2016, these little superheroes were slaying bad guys.
Last Friday, we went to Dollywood, an amusement park in nearby Tennessee. My seven-year old is now tall enough to ride every roller coaster in the park and let me tell you, Dollywood has some awesome roller coasters. The fact that he can ride monstrous roller coasters is a little scary, considering it feels like he was an infant just days go. “Time flies” isn’t just an adage; it’s reality, especially when it comes to watching your kids grow up right before your eyes. So once I calmed my anxiety and adjusted to the fact that my child can ride anything he wants, I was ready to rock and roll.
I’m a fan of old school wooden roller coasters. My sister and I have always been that way. There’s a classic oceanfront wooden roller coaster at the Family Kingdom in Myrtle Beach, SC that she and I would ride over and over and over during our childhood summers. There’s something about the rumbling sound and the big drops and that offer a huge adrenaline rush.
Last Friday at Dollywood, my big boy and I rode a new wooden roller coaster called Lightning Rod. In two simple words. It’s amazing. There’s a 165-foot drop and at 73 mph, it’s the fastest wooden roller coaster in the world. Riding that coaster last week felt very freeing, exhilarating.
A bit later, he and I rode the Wild Eagle which is also a crazy roller coaster where your feet are hanging down so it feels like your flying. The design of this roller coaster is genius. At the first drop, you truly feel like you’re free falling, but you also feel safe because your strapped in. I closed my eyes and tried to let all of my worries and stress release from my body. It felt extraordinary.
When we got off, I looked at my little boy and said, “That was sensational. I need to go skydiving or something.” That feeling of exhilaration was very healing and relaxing, like an antidote to my internal struggles and tension.
Ironically, a couple days after visiting Dollywood I received an email from US Family Guide asking me to try out Flyaway Indoor Skydiving in Pigeon Forge. It was a perfect offer because I’m not sure I’m ready to try outdoor skydiving but think I can handle the indoor version.
Flyaway is the first and longest running vertical wind tunnel open to the public. According to their website, after a quick classroom briefing, they will assist flyers with flight gear and then teach the basics of human flight in the vertical wind tunnel. No experience is necessary, and the instructors are available to help and guide. Here’s a video to give you an idea.
If you’re interested in trying out Flyaway yourself, US Family Guide offers a unique coupon and the Flyaway website has additional coupons. Sometime in the next couple of months, I’ll be trying out Flyaway and will let you know how the experience goes.
I know one thing. If it brings about any feelings close to those from the roller coasters, I’ll be one happy girl. Here’s to needing some exhilaration!
In exchange for providing this initial information about Flyaway and writing a review post after my experience, I will be provided with free tickets to try out the venue. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.
Allison Barrett Carter says
This is so great! My oldest is not an adrenaline seeker so I am waiting for my youngest to grow to size!!