Opry Mills/Rainforest Cafe

I guess I should mention that this was our first trip to Opry Mills since they reopened following the flood, and it was also Anna Claire's first time to the Rainforest Cafe.

We really had no intention of going this weekend until we received some Skecher's Twinkle Toes in the mail that I'd ordered online last week that were too small. I read there was a Skecher's outlet at Opry Mills, and in my desperation to get my child some shoes that don't have a hole in the toe, off we went.

We started out at Bass Pro Shop. I think we could have ended the trip here as well. Anna Claire was absolutely delighted with Bass Pro. She loved the waterfall, aquariums, and animals throughout the store.

We didn't stay too long though. To get from Bass Pro to Skechers, we would have to pass Rainforest Cafe. In other words, we would have to go IN Rainforest Cafe. So there, it was decided where we would eat.

We wanted to go to the Rainforest Cafe before it got to busy. We rolled in at about 10:45. No wait. By 11:00, the waiter told us there was a 30 minute wait and it only got worse from there, so good call!

When we first spotted Rainforest Cafe, Anna Claire loved seeing the big red mushroom. Then she saw Cha Cha the frog. My hands honestly got clammy upon seeing him...the past two encounters where we've had to engage with people in costume: the Easter Bunny and the Chick-Fil-A cow, both resulted in tears. But I worried for nothing! She run up to him, gave him "five" and then a big hug. Whew! She would spend the rest of our time in the restaurant looking for him or watching him.

We were super-impressed with the food and the atmosphere! We were seated by the tigers, who had fog machines all around them and really moved and roared. On the other side of us was a giant butterfly whose wings flapped and overhead, constellations that twinkled away. The food? My quesadillas were everyone's favorite. Will definitely get those again. 

After we left the the restaurant, we went to the children's play area in the mall, but Anna Claire was not interested. She wanted to go in the toy store next door which had already caught her eye...and so we did.

Afterward was really not much to report about...went in several children's stores. Love that they are all grouped together.

We did get her two pairs of shoes...not Skechers though. Not for $44.95. We both agreed that was high for kids' shoes. For the same amount we got her some polka-dotted Tom's and a pair of gladiator sandals at Journeys Kidz. :)