Welcome to Jackson, and “Freebird!”

Things were really moving at this point.

We got to meet our second Adventure Guide, Drew, and our fellow travelers at the welcome dinner at the Wort Hotel. I don’t know the entire process about picking who gets hired as Adventure Guides, but it must be quite thorough. Drew, like Tiffany, is a perfect choice. Each of them brings excellent qualities to the experience. Drew seems to be great with kids, in particular.

Just off the lobby at the Wort Hotel.

As for our fellow adventurers – I knew one of them from a previous press trip and I knew of another from her affiliation with Mouseplanet.com. In fact, said Mouseplaneteer, Adrienne and her family arrived midway through dinner thanks to some hellish airport delays. But it was great to have everyone there.

Dinner was a buffet with a choice of beef or fish – all good – and we were entertained with a cowboy/western singer. He said he’d take requests, even if they weren’t cowboy songs. Naturally, Katie immediately shouted “Freebird!”

I could not have been more proud of my child.

Settin' a spell in the Wort Hotel before our welcome dinner.

Our guides talked to us a bit about what would be coming, what to expect and what was expected of us. (Be on time for the bus, etc.) Then they went around each table to ask where each family was from and what they looked forward to most. Katie was our elected spokesperson, and she told everyone we were from New Hampshire, and she most looked forward to whitewater rafting.

At one point, each of us was handed a small card which designated our dinner choice: “beef” or “fish.” Katie took her “beef” card and put it in her lanyard so it covered her name. Drew saw it and said, “I’m going to call you Beef for the rest of this trip!” Katie thought it was a riot. And he did call her Beef – but only a couple times. Still, I think he had her from that point on. She loved both Tiffany and Drew. To be honest, it was hard not to.

After some good conversation with a few people at our table, particularly a couple named Kitty and Kent, and a funny singalong that the kids participated in, it was time to head up to bed for an early start the next day.

Missing from this image: the turndown service chocolates. Yes. Good.