Travel Tips Archives - Laughing Lindsay

Land of Oz Tea with Dorothy Review

June 17, 2026 By Lindsay Leave a Comment

I recently had the pleasure of attending the Land of Oz Tea with Dorothy in North Carolina! So, I thought I would provide a little review of the experience for other folks planning on attending.

Land of Oz Tea

For those who don’t know, Land of Oz is a Wizard of Oz theme park located in Beech Mountain, North Carolina. It originally opened in 1970 and continued operations until 1980. Beginning in 1993, the owners started hosting an annual fall event at the theme park. You can only visit the park during that event or another special event, such as this one. I’ve been wanting to visit this theme park for several years now, but couldn’t fit it in my schedule for 2023 or 2024. Then, it was closed in 2025. So, I was excited when this new summer event was announced.

I have been going to teas since I was a little girl. My mom took me to my first one and we’ve enjoyed going to them ever since. So, it seemed like the perfect event for us. A smaller event with tea and access to the park? Count us in!

Tea with Dorothy

We arrived at 1:15 for the 2 o’clock show and there was already a line! They allowed folks to enter the event space to pick seats around 1:30 PM. We chose our seats and then got a picture with Dorothy! We were delighted to see Aunt Em and the boys serving tea and greeting everyone in to the space.

The park never released a menu for the tea, so we weren’t expecting much. We were pleased with the variety of treats available. First, there was a plate with a berry scone and three sandwich wedges: chicken salad, pimento cheese, and cucumber salad. The scone was good albeit a touch dry, but that’s scones! The chicken salad was good, a little basic. The cucumber sandwich was good. My mom doesn’t care for cucumbers, but she still liked this one. My mom refused to even try the pimento cheese, so I ate them both. Haha! I thought it was pretty good.

As for the sweet treats – there was a macaron, mini cupcake, chocolate chip/candy pieces cookie, and a lemon bar. There was some variation for the sweets. We both got chocolate cupcakes, but some folks had vanilla. There were two types of macarons. My mom got chocolate and I gave her my orange one. I ate both of the lemon bar slices. We both liked the cookie.

There was three types of tea to try, all from Twinings. I tried English Breakfast and Lady Grey. The third type wasn’t available near me, so I didn’t get it. Since the performers were the ones serving water for the tea, we didn’t get any more tea once the show started. So, be sure to get your fill before the performance. Although, there aren’t real bathrooms at the park. So, don’t drink too much!

Wizard of Oz Theme Park

Following the tea and show, we rode a literal school bus over to the historic theme park for a guided tour along the Yellow Brick Road! I enjoyed learning about the park from the banners displayed and our tour guide. The park itself is wonderful! The ability to immerse yourself into the Wizard of Oz story is so fun! The house was interesting, especially with the twister and the after effects!

In the park, we were able to meet and take photos with the Good Witch and the Wicked Witch! The Wicked Witch really hammed it up for our photos and I love them! I think it may have been some of my favorite character interactions ever – it reminded me of The Grinch at Universal Orlando.

This event also included access to the Overlook, which they charge extra for during Autumn at Oz. Given that it’s 90+ steps, my mom didn’t go up. However, I went up and enjoyed the view of 5 states. I don’t think I will ever pay extra for that view though. It was nice it was included in this event.

I wish the Lion, Tin Man, and Scarecrow were at this event. However, I guess that’s what the Autumn at Oz event is for!

Tip for Visiting

Sign up for the pre-sale emails – I received a link and code to purchase tickets 24 hours before the general public by signing up for the pre-sale emails! That meant that there was plenty of availability when I went to get tickets.
Have dates/times in mind – After waiting in a brief online line, I was able to purchase tickets. There was a choice of two time slots: 10 AM or 2 PM. We didn’t know about the different times, but I had a few dates in mind already. So, be sure to have dates and times in mind when you try to get tickets.
Arrive early – They allow you to pick your seat when you arrive. The show takes place in the same space and the actors move around. So, there’s not really a bad seat. However, some of the treats had flavor variations you may prefer. We picked two plates with chocolate cupcakes versus the vanilla. There’s also some Land of Oz merchandise that you can purchase at this time. It’s also a good time to use the restroom.
Wear comfortable clothes and shoes – I know that everyone wants to walk the Yellow Brick Road dressed as Dorothy. However, I noticed that some folks had to continually adjust their outfits during our tour. So, I recommend dressing for a day in a theme park. Red tennis shoes perhaps? I wore a simple “There’s no place like home” necklace with red slippers on it.
Visit the gift shop – The official Land of Oz gift ship is located down the mountain from the event space/theme park. We visited it after the event to get a couple things. So, don’t feel bad if you don’t have time to look at merch during tea. The gift shop also has a restroom that you can use prior to leaving the mountain.

Is the Land of Oz Tea with Dorothy worth it?

This experience cost $231.42 including taxes and fees for my mom and I to do. So, it’s not a cheap experience. However, my mom and I had a blast! It was a great experience with fabulous character interactions. The park itself is amazing and immersive. The tea was pretty good and the show was fun. This experience is great for people who prefer smaller events. We were told that we were touring the park in groups of ~30 people while the Autumn at Oz welcomes 3,000 guests per weekend! This is a great event for folks who enjoy tea or want a slower pace of visiting. Overall, we enjoyed it immensely and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it for people with the budget who want to visit the park and enjoy tea.

The Best Things in Epic Universe

June 10, 2026 By Lindsay Leave a Comment

Today, I want to wrap up my series on the best of Universal Orlando Resort with a look at the Best Things in Epic Universe!

The Best Things in Epic Universe

At the beginning of 2026, I started a series looking at the best things at Universal Orlando with The Best Things in Universal Studios Florida. A few months later, I shared The Best Things in Islands of Adventure. Today, I want to wrap up this series with a look at the newest theme park at Universal Orlando Resort – Epic Universe!

The Best Land

I was most hyped for the Harry Potter Ministry of Magic land heading into my visit to Epic Universe. However, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk really impressed me. I loved everything about this land! It feels so immersive. Plus, there’s dragons! Also, I really enjoyed the food here. While it did feel like the hottest land at Epic, it was my favorite.

The Best Meal

My favorite meal at Epic Universe was at Cafe L’Air De La Sirene. For starters, it feels like a nice little restaurant in Paris. The ambiance is on point. Then, the food was really good. I enjoyed the Quiche Lorraine with Frozen Butterbeer for a drink! Plus, it meant that I didn’t have to wait in line for Butterbeer! I’d like to return to try a sandwich next time or breakfast! Also, I loved the Bieraubeurre/Butterbeer Crepe!

I want to give a shoutout to the tasty BBQ I had at The Oak & Star Tavern! I enjoyed the beautiful stained glass window tree and the general vibes of this restaurant. I also appreciated the variety of sauces available.

The Best Snack Location

I had an amazing chocolate/brownie cake pop from How to Treat Your Dragon in Isle of Berk. It was an unassuming little treat on a stick that I grabbed on my way back to the room for a break. However, it was rich and delicious! I can’t tell if they still have it on the menu or not, but I highly recommend it for a little sweet treat! You can see photos of it towards the end of the Instagram Carousel below.

The Best Ride

Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to ride the popular Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry when I visited. However, it looks amazing! I was impressed with Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment though. I enjoyed the attention to detail here and the monsters, of course!

The Best Show

While I really enjoyed both shows available in the park, I think Le Cirque Arcanus was my favorite. I just enjoyed seeing the different magical creatures being brought to life. However, I also liked The Untrainable Dragon show. I just have more of a connection with the Harry Potter world. I recommend watching both.

The Best Stuff at Epic Universe

While I’ve only spent two days at Epic Universe prior to its official opening, I really enjoyed my time there. So, what are your favorite things in this park?

Biltmore Estate Tips for Visiting

June 3, 2026 By Lindsay Leave a Comment

Having just visited for the first time, I thought I would share some Biltmore Estate tips for anyone else planning a trip.

Biltmore Estate Tips

For those who don’t know, the Biltmore Estate is the largest privately-owned residence in the United States! It’s located in the Blue Ride Mountains of North Carolina in Asheville! The estate actually consists of the 100,000+ square foot mansion in addition to the grounds and gardens. There’s so much to see and do that you can easily spend several days here without leaving the estate. That being said, there were a few things I wish we had known before arriving. So, here are a few tips to help make your trip better!

Tips for Visiting the Biltmore Estate

Pay attention to the hours – We arrived around 9 AM on our full house day because the site’s hours of operations said that’s when the admission gate opened. However, we realized upon arrival that meant just the gate and gardens were open. The house and shops didn’t open until 10 AM. So, if you want to know when the house opens, look at the shop hours.
You can walk around the gardens before and after a house tour – Since we arrived an hour early, we roamed the Italian Gardens, which were mostly empty. The gardens are also open later than the house and shops. So, you can view them at your leisure.
Pre-purchase tickets – We actually had a hotel package that included breakfast and tickets that didn’t require house reservations. However, if you buy a one day ticket, then you will need to make a reservation for the time you plan to enter the home. Those reservations can sell out. So, buy your tickets and reserve your time as soon as you know what works best for your schedule.
You can’t carry much inside the house – They have free storage lockers outside the home. However, I left my hat in the car when we were touring the home. Also, pay attention to the bag size allowance of 19″ x 14″ x 9″. It’s best to just leave most things at home, in a locker, or in the car.
Bring a hat for the gardens – I strongly recommend having a hat to wear while roaming the gardens. There’s very little shade available, so you will be happy to have a hat.
Visit the house when it’s cooler – The house does NOT have air conditioning. So, plan to visit the house early in the morning before it gets too hot.
The estate is cashless – The front desk at the hotels are about the only places that will accept cash on property.
Stay for a few days – We spent two nights here and still didn’t see everything. Although, it was in spring with plenty of plants to see. I’m not sure that the colder times of the year would offer as much to see. However, I can see staying for several days during the warmer months.

Visiting the Estate

So, have you ever visited the Biltmore Estate? Do you have any tips that I didn’t mention?

Are Dollywood Guided Tours Worth It?

May 13, 2026 By Lindsay Leave a Comment

Today, I want to examine if the seasonal Dollywood Guided Tours are worth your money and time.

Dollywood Guided Tours

Last year, I was lucky to take several guided tours while visiting Dollywood. I already posted my I Will Always Love You Tour at Dollywood Review, Dollywood Summer Festival Tour Review, and Dollywood Christmas Guided Tour Review. Today, I want to talk about those experience more generally and to help others decide if they should book a guided tour.

What the Tours Include

You can see which tours are available during your trip and what they include on the Special Experiences page on the website. However, in general, the tours attempt to include some festival entertainment (like reserved seating for a show during IWALY or reserved standing viewing of the drones/fireworks during the summer) along with a snack and/or beverage. They also sometimes include rides where you can skip the lines. All of them come with a tour guide or two that tells you about the park and the offerings you get.

I will say these are best for people without mobility issues. They tend to involve a good bit of walking and Dollywood has a few good hills. I also don’t know that I would recommend them for children as there can be lots of listening.

Pros

You get a brief guided tour of the park – It can be helpful for people who don’t know much about the park or its offerings to learn from a park employee.
Skip some lines – It was awesome to ride the train during the Christmas tour without waiting in line. You have to read the fine print though as not all tours offer rides and it seems like the rides offered can differ from year to year.
Some reserved seating – Again, you have to read the fine print to see what the tour includes. However, you sometimes get a reserved (near the front) seat for shows that you don’t have to stand in line for.
Snack and a drink – Often, it’s a festival goodie. However, at Christmas we received a mini cinnamon bread and hot chocolate. I’d consider it an added bonus, not exactly a selling point.
Adds something for experienced visitors – It can be a fun way to do something different if you have visited the park before.
Can be good for solo trips – If you are visiting the park alone and feel more comfortable in a group, this is the perfect opportunity to join a group.

Cons

Added expense – These tours are an added expense on top of a park ticket. Plus, they went up $10 from 2025 to 2026. Currently, they are $89/person with a small discount available for some passholders. So, not exactly a budget friendly event.
Takes up time – If you want to visit the park at your own pace, this isn’t for you. You don’t really have much time to stop and enjoy the scenery or take pictures. I don’t recommend this for people who are visiting for the first time on the first day. Maybe the second day or return trip.
Limited offerings – The specific rides/shows offered varies from festival to festival and even year to year. So, read the site carefully to see if you are interested in most of the things listed before spending the money.
You can do most of the things on your own – Most of the tour experiences can be had on your own. The real perk of these tours is the guide and the ability to skip the line or have reserved seating.

Are Dollywood Guided Tours Worth It?

I think the value of any purchase is subjective. However, if you have children, are a first time visitor, have mobility issues, or on a tight budget, then I don’t think it’s worth it. If you are a return guest who navigates the park easily with room in the budget, then go for it! So, have you ever taken a tour at Dollywood? Did you think it was worth it?

Biltmore Luminere Guide

April 29, 2026 By Lindsay Leave a Comment

Having just experienced the Biltmore Luminere nighttime event, I thought I would post a guide to help others plan their trip.

Biltmore Luminere

For those who don’t know the Biltmore Luminere is the Estate’s newest add-on experience. Unlike other events, this is a nighttime lights and projections experience. It includes a projection show on the house and additional lighting/projections in the gardens. They advertise the event starting at $60, but most nights are a good bit more expensive. A ticket to the event allows you entry to the grounds and shops starting at 4:30 PM too.

Special Foods

You have the option to order a picnic to enjoy on the lawn. However, the Stable Cafe also has a special menu for the event. We opted to eat at the Stable Cafe. Not knowing what to expect, I made a dining reservation for 6 PM. We were seated promptly and we probably didn’t even need the reservation. However, I could see it being useful on a busier night.

We explored the gardens and conservatory prior to dinner. Unfortunately, it was a hot April day (mid/upper 80’s) and we didn’t want anything too heavy to eat. So, we ordered salads with the dressing on the side and added some chicken. They were good, fresh salads. They were perfect for the heat we had just endured. The cornbread croutons were especially good in my salad. I also enjoyed a few candied walnuts from my husband’s salad. I also ordered the event special mocktail – the Nightfall. It was a great mix of flavors, but the ginger was definitely noticeable. So, if you don’t like ginger, it might not be for you.

Then, we ordered some desserts. My husband got the Blueberry Mousse Cake. It was a light, airy dessert that was the perfect combination of blueberries and passionfruit. We both really enjoyed it. I got the Raspberry Praline Profiterole. I loved the combination of hazelnut, chocolate, and raspberry. It was a great way to kick off the event.

Biltmore House Show

Typically, the house projection show is shown three times a night. The exact times can be found on the site. On the night we went, it was shown at 8:45, 9:15, and 9:45. Lasting 15 minutes, the show is a look at the history of the estate and the Vanderbilt family who owns it. It was a touching tribute honoring the history of the location. I particularly enjoyed the projections depicting life in the home. Overall, it was entertaining and informative. Although, I don’t know that children would enjoy this show as it’s a little dry with all of its facts.

Garden Illuminations

In addition to the house projection show, you can walk around the gardens to see some beautiful lighting effects! I highly recommend walking around the gardens beforehand in the daylight to understand the layout of the land and to appreciate it more. I loved the projection show on the trees the most. Also, don’t miss the lighting in the conservatory either. It was beautiful! We really enjoyed walking around and looking at the different projections. It helped that it was a nice night out as well.

Tips

Purchase tickets early – We waited to purchase tickets until we knew the weather forecast. Unfortunately, they raised the prices $15-20 per person per night at the end of the month prior (end of March for April)!
Bring a blanket or chairs – You watch the house projection show on the front lawn. We enjoyed sitting on a picnic blanket as it allowed to us watch the sun go down and then watch the show. Also, sitting on the ground was more comfortable than sitting on hard concrete for a parade or standing for fireworks at the theme parks!
Arrive early – We arrived around 4:30 and enjoyed walking around before it got crowded. In fact, we were able to browse mostly empty stores prior to dinner. It was so nice to look at stuff without crowds for once.
Watch a later projection show – If you want to view the house show without any crowds, go for one of the later shows. We walked by during the last showing and it was practically empty! There was a chance of a rain that night, so we watched the first showing. However, if I ever go back, I will probably watch a later showing and walk the gardens first.
Take your time – If you are lucky enough to visit on a night with good weather, it’s so nice to just walk around in nature. It’s definitely one of the more relaxing nighttime projection events I’ve attended.
See the grounds in the daytime – They have done a great job with the lighting and I think knowing what the area looks like normally makes you appreciate it that much more.

Is the Biltmore Luminere worth it?

Again, I think value is subjective. However, I thought the price charged was worth the experience. From low crowds for the stores and gardens prior to the projection show, to the lighting and show itself, it made for a great date night. I wouldn’t hesitate to go again. So, have you experienced the Biltmore Luminere?