Summer Archives - Laughing Lindsay

My Favorite Summer Activities

May 29, 2024 By Lindsay Leave a Comment

It’s hard to believe that yet another season is upon us. That means it’s time for my favorite summer activities post!

I’ve now shared my favorite activities for each season: fall, winter, and spring! So, it seemed appropriate to kick-off the unofficial beginning of the hottest season with a list of my favorite things to do!

Favorite Summer Activities

Read – While it’s hot outside, I like to stay in the air conditioning with a good book. In fact, I love participating in the local library’s summer reading program for a chance to win prizes! It’s something I’ve done most summers since I was a child! I think most libraries host one.
Eat berries – I love strawberries and this tends to be the best season to enjoy them. Lots of restaurants will have seasonal berry treats this time of the year and I like trying as many as I can.
Sunflower festival – This is a relatively new one for me, but I enjoy visiting a local sunflower festival in the summer. There’s actually a couple here in Virginia. They are fun to photograph. Plus, it’s nice to take the time to appreciate the beauty of each individual flower.

BBQ – Who doesn’t love some BBQ?! I’m lucky enough to have a couple of good BBQ places where I live. We eat it year round but tend to gravitate towards it the most in the warmer months as it’s not heavy.
Ice cream – It’s wonderful to cool off with an ice cream or frozen yogurt with plenty of toppings!
Stay home – Given my propensity for travel, this probably comes as a surprise. However, I’ve taken to intentionally staying home during the hottest months of the year recently. I sweat too much to go too far in the heat.
Do a puzzle – A puzzle is the perfect indoor activity.

S’mores – We bought a firepit a few years back and love to make s’mores on Saturday nights.

Summertime Fun

I know lots of people like to take vacations to the beach or camp during this time of the year. What do you like to do in the heat of the summer?

Grandma’s Rhubarb Pie Recipe

March 21, 2024 By Lindsay Leave a Comment

Now that it’s officially spring, I thought I would share a family recipe! I’m sharing my grandma’s rhubarb pie recipe!

Rhubarb Pie Recipe

For those unfamiliar with rhubarb, it’s a tart vegetable that can be found in spring and early summer. That’s why I mentioned making it in my favorite spring activities post. It can be difficult to find the vegetable for sale. In fact, my grandmother used to grow her own to ensure she had some to make pies with every year! If it wasn’t for wildlife, I would probably grow my own too.

This particular recipe has an extra special meaning to me. After my grandma died, my dad went on and on about this special rhubarb pie. However, no one knew her recipe. So, my dad never got to have this pie after my grandma died. Then, one time I was visiting my grandfather a few years after my dad died and I happened to find a handwritten recipe for rhubarb pie stuffed in an old photo album! I asked my grandpa if it was grandma’s recipe and handwriting. He verified that it was, so it was nice to finally find the recipe after all of those years!

I never had the nerve to try making the pie until last summer. My family had a little get together that I was baking for. We just happened to go to a different Kroger in a different town and I spotted some rhubarb! So, I grabbed several stalks of it and decided to surprise everyone with the pie! I will admit, I was a little embarrassed by how watery this pie turned out. However, my aunt told me that grandma’s was watery too. I think if I ever make it again, I will try adding cornstarch to the mix. Thankfully, it did not make a soggy bottom!

Rhubarb Pie

An easy recipe for rhubarb pie.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 45

Resting Time 1

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 8

Ingredients

1 9'' Deep Dish Pie Shell (Pie Bottom)
1 8 or 9" Regular Pie Shell or Crust Dough (Pie Top)
4 Cups Chopped Rhubarb
1 Egg
1.5 Cups Sugar
2 Teaspoons Flour
1-2 Teaspoons Cornstarch

Instructions

Wash and chop the rhubarb into small pieces.
4 Cups Chopped Rhubarb
Allow the rhubarb to sit and dry for about an hour.
4 Cups Chopped Rhubarb
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Mix egg, sugar, flour, and cornstarch in a mixing bowl. Add in rhubarb. Stir to coat the pieces. Pour into the large (deep dish) pie shell.
1 9'' Deep Dish Pie Shell (Pie Bottom), 4 Cups Chopped Rhubarb, 1 Egg, 1.5 Cups Sugar, 2 Teaspoons Flour, 1-2 Teaspoons Cornstarch
Cover with the smaller pie shell or pie dough. Cut a couple of slits in the top to allow heat to escape.
1 8 or 9" Regular Pie Shell or Crust Dough (Pie Top)
Bake until the crust is well browned. (~45 minutes?)

Keyword Easy, Pie

Tips

My grandmother’s original recipe wasn’t very detailed. No exact amount of rhubarb or baking time was given. So, you can use more or less rhubarb. Also, keep an eye on the pie for browning. I used a pie crust dough for my top as I felt like it was easier to position and mold than a pie shell. However, both are usable.

In the future, I will add a teaspoon or two of cornstarch to thicken up the liquid more. I will also allow the rhubarb to sit and dry for longer before putting it in the pie. Maybe an hour?

Let me know if you try this recipe!

Dollywood Seasonal Events Guide

March 7, 2024 By Lindsay Leave a Comment

Since Dollywood is opening for the 2024 season tomorrow (March 8th), I thought I would do a nice Dollywood Seasonal Events Guide. This post will highlight the various limited time festivals happening at the park this year. I will also link to separate, more in-depth posts on what to expect during each season of the year!

Dollywood Seasonal Events

Over the past several years, the park has really invested in their seasonal festivals. In fact, in 2024 there’s only a few days the park is open without a festival going on. Each of these experiences is unique and fun. However, if you are wanting to see a certain festival then it’s important to plan your trip around the dates of the event and the park operating calendar.

I Will Always Love You Music Festival

The I Will Always Love You Music Festival was new for 2023. However, it’s slated to return in 2024, beginning on Saturday March 9th and going until April 14th! This is the only festival I haven’t experienced at Dollywood. It seems to focus mainly on the music and show productions around the park. They also seem to fully embrace the life and style of Dolly Parton. It looks like a neat addition to the park.

Flower & Food Festival

The Flower and Food Festival is the one most people think of when they consider a spring break trip to the park. I enjoyed my one visit to the park for this event and highlighted it in my Spring at Dollywood post. I loved looking at all of the Mosaicultures around the park. Plus, the food was pretty good! This year, the event kicks-off on April 19th and goes until June 9th.

Smoky Mountain Summer Celebration

My post Summer at Dollywood 2022 was my return to blogging. So, you know it’s must be something good to inspire me to start this blog back up. My husband and I really enjoyed trying the different foods here and the delightful drone show! They also have lots of bright decor around the park. The Summer Celebration is happening from June 15 to August 11th this year.

Harvest Festival

I think fall at Dollywood is one of my favorite times to visit! I love seeing all of the autumnal decor in the daytime and then seeing the park light up for the Great Pumpkin LumiNights. DW embraces the beauty of fall in the Smoky Mountains with their Harvest Festival. It’s not about Halloween here, but rather simple and beautiful fall! I’ve been lucky enough to attend this one several times! In 2024, it will be taking place from September 9 to October 28th!

Smoky Mountain Christmas

Last but certainly not least it’s Christmas at Dollywood! I’ve visited this one a few times as well. Pro tip: check the weather forecast if you are visiting this one as it could be really cold or a little warm, you never really know what to expect. This festival features lots of gorgeous decor and amazing lights! Smoky Mountain Christmas is a great time for all! It will be happening from November 1 to January 5, 2025!

2024 Dollywood Seasonal Events

Well, there you have the full list of special limited time events happening at Dollywood in 2024. Each festival is included with the price of admission. Plus, each event highlights the beauty of the location during that time of the year or embraces the public love for Dolly. So, which of these events have you attended or have you been eyeing?

Summer in Orlando Theme Parks

June 7, 2023 By Lindsay Leave a Comment

Now that school is out in most places, lots of people are going to be spending the summer in Orlando theme parks. Since I did my spring in the theme parks post three months ago, I thought I would do another one for this season! Here’s a look at what you can expect to experience during the hottest months of the year in the Florida theme parks!

Summer in Orlando

Summer in Orlando is hot. So, be sure to plan breaks indoors and stay hydrated if you are heading there during this season. It may also be crowded during your visit, so pack lots of patience and understanding! Aside from those things, it can also be a fun time to visit with lots of special activities to participate in!

Walt Disney World

For the past couple of yeas, Epcot was pretty much a year round festival theme park. However, the Flower and Garden Festival ends on May 27, 2024 and the Food and Wine Festival doesn’t begin until August 29th (goes to November 23, 2024). So, for the first time in several years, there will be a regular festival less Epcot to enjoy this summer.

There will be several After Hours events to enjoy when the sun goes down. You can read my review of the Magic Kingdom After Hours event here. Additionally, there’s a new drone show at Disney Springs this summer! Plus, the newly re-themed Tiana ride will open in June at Magic Kingdom. So, there’s still plenty to do here.

SeaWorld Summer Spectacular

SeaWorld Orlando seems to have cancelled their regular summer event this year. They are celebrating their 60th Anniversary for the rest of the year. Additionally, they will have some special weekend events this summer including Viva la Musica in June and Bands, Brew & BBQ in July and August. So, it should be a good place for food and music this summer.

Universal Orlando Tribute Store

Universal Orlando has announced several special things coming this summer. First up, DreamWorks Land will open on June 14th! Then, a new nighttime spectacular begins the same day. It’s called Cinesational and it should be awesome! Next, there will be a new Hogwarts castle light show premiering on the same night! Then, on July 3rd, a new parade called the Universal Mega Movie Parade will begin!

Lastly, there will be a special seasonal tribute store this summer. If you don’t know, a tribute store is a highly themed limited time pop up merch store that is typically a can’t miss experience. This year’s store has an 80’s mall theme! You can see a preview of last year’s store in UO’s Instagram post below.

Water Parks

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that each of these three parks also has a water park that you can visit to cool off at! Disney actually has two water parks. However, one of them, Blizzard Beach, is currently closed. Disney’s open water park is Typhoon Lagoon. I visited it for a special night time event at Disney’s Social Media Moms event way back in 2016 and it seemed like a nice place. I think the special ticketed nighttime event, H20 Glow After Hours at Typhoon Lagoon looks fun!

Universal has a water park that is highly regarded online. Volcano Bay can be seen from the Cabana Bay and Aventura resorts. Unfortunately, I haven’t yet visited this park. However, I hope to someday.

SeaWorld’s water park is called Aquatica. They will have special daytime entertainment and food for summer. Plus, they are having a new after hours event called AquaGlow that looks fun. Once again, I’ve never visited this one, but I’m sure it’s fun. Technically, SeaWorld also owns Discovery Cove as well. That is an all-inclusive day resort where you can swim with dolphins! I was lucky enough to visit it last year and wrote a Discovery Cove review.

Summer in Orlando Theme Parks

As you can see, there are lots of fun things to do during a summer in Orlando vacation! Did I miss anything your family likes doing?

You can view my other seasonal theme park guides here:

Summer in the Great Smoky Mountains

May 30, 2023 By Lindsay Leave a Comment

Memorial Day is typically seen as the end of spring. So, if you are planning to spend summer in the Great Smoky Mountains, then here are some fun things you can add to your to-do list!

Summer in the Great Smoky Mountains

Some people prefer to spend the warmer months outdoors. Some of us prefer to cool off in the water or indoors. Ha! So, I will try to highlight a few options to suit everyone for their summer in the Great Smoky Mountains vacation in this post.

Summer at Dollywood

My return to blogging last year was all about summer at Dollywood. While that’s a review of last year’s event, I fully expect this year’s event to be roughly the same. This year, the festival kicks-off on June 17th and ends on August 6th. So, you have about 2 months to experience it this year! You can check out the event page on Dollywood’s website for the latest info. However, suffice it to say that my husband and I really enjoyed this festival, particularly the drone show! Plus, this year you can ride the new Big Bear Mountain ride!

Visit a Smoky Mountain Waterpark

What better way to cool off on a hot day then with a water park? Technically, you have two options for a waterpark in the Smokies. First up, you have Dollywood’s Splash Country. I’ve never been there, but I know people on social media seem to like it. If you are staying at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort, it’s especially convenient to visit (although, the resort has its own pool too).

Additionally, there is the Soaky Mountain Waterpark in Sevierville. I haven’t been there in years, but I did visit their indoor slides when I stayed at the Wilderness at the Smokies for a review about a decade ago. If you stay at Wilderness at the Smokies, then admission to the waterpark is included. However, I add caution because I haven’t visited in 10 years and some recent online reviews claim the rooms need some updating. This does look like an economical vacation though.

Head to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Summer

I have to admit, I’m not much of an outdoor activity type of girl. However, I know that the National Park draws lots of visitors every year, particularly during the warmer months. That link will take you to a page listing various things you can do in the park, including fishing, hiking, looking at flowers, and camping!

Be a Pirate

Technically, you can act like a pirate anytime of the year when you visit the Pirates Voyage dinner show. However, I think it’s more fun to act like a pirate during the warmer months! You can read my review of the Pirates dinner show to see what to expect.

Celebrate the 4th of July

If you are looking to spend the holiday weekend in the Smokies, you should know that the area has some exciting annual events. Gatlinburg has the first Independence Day Parade in the country, with it starting at midnight every year! Not to be outdone, Pigeon Forge hosts the Patriot Festival every year with music and fireworks!

Celebrate Christmas in July

If, like me, you prefer the chill of Christmas to the heat of summer, might I suggest celebrating Christmas in July with a stay at the Inn at Christmas Place? They have special activities all month long to celebrate Christmas in July! You can read my The Inn at Christmas Place Review to see what it’s like to stay here. I’ve been fortunate enough to stay here twice and loved it both times! According to their social media, they did some updating at the beginning of 2023, so it should be even nicer there now!

So Much to See and Do in the Great Smoky Mountains

As you can see, there’s lots to do during summer in the Great Smoky Mountains. Did I miss your favorite thing? This concludes my seasonal look at the area series. You can view my other posts with seasonal suggestions here: