Nestled in the rolling foothills of the majestic Smoky Mountains, Dolly Parton's 'Dollywood'
theme park stands as a fitting testament to the singer's storied life and career.
This year, the park will open its gates for its 37th season.
To mark this anniversary, the Queen of Country herself has recently shared what she believes
to be are the top things to do at the park that bears her name.
If you and your family are planning a vacation to Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg, Tennessee,
any time soon, then a trip to Dollywood is an absolute must!
Parton's wonderland features an eclectic mix of amusement park staples that are sure to
please everyone in your party.
From high-speed thrill rides to dazzling live shows to a full-featured water park, Dollywood
is one world-class vacation destination that you won't want to ignore if you ever find
yourself in eastern Tennessee
Dollywood first opened its doors back in 1961, although at the time it was called Rebel Railroad.
That was before Parton had become its co-owner - and the park would undergo two more name
changes before Dolly slapped her name on it in 1986.
When Parton first got involved with the park in the 80s, the people closest to her felt
like she was making an enormous mistake.
Her lawyers and accountants were especially opposed to the idea of Parton getting into
the theme park business, but she wasn't about to let them scare her off from pursuing one
of her lifelong dreams.
Dolly says that she knew deep within her gut that she was doing the right thing.
So instead of taking their advice, Parton simply got rid of all of the naysayers that
worked for her and started over with a new set of people that believed in her dreams.
In the end, Dolly's gut instincts were right, as Dollywood has gone on to be one of the
most visited theme parks in the American south.
Dollywood has deservedly earned itself a top spot on our list of Tennessee's best, must-see
attractions – and with a little help from the world-famous 'Nine to Five' singer, your
family can most assuredly have one unforgettable experience on your next visit.
Dollywood's Food Is Top-Notch
Talking to Conde Nast Traveler, Dolly said that the food at the park has always been
exceptionally good.
Her favorite treat at Dollywood happens to be the funnel cakes.
Besides these powder-sugar-coated lumps of fried dough, Dollywood is also well-known
for its authentic down-home Southern cooking.
Another staple that guests have regularly flocked to over the years is the fresh-baked
cinnamon bread over at Grist Mill.
Every loaf is coated in melted butter and a mixture of cinnamon and brown sugar.
It's served with a side of homemade apple butter and a cup of buttercream icing.
Parton Highly Recommends Her Park's Entertainment
Dollywood hosts a variety of live musical performances daily.
Dolly is especially a fan of the Harmonies of the Heart show, which features performances
by two of her nieces, her cousin, and a family friend.
For dinner and show, pay Dolly Parton's Stampede a visit.
While not technically in Dollywood, there you will find a family-friendly dinner show
that features live music, horse riding stuns, and a delicious meal.
With your ticket, you'll receive a four-course dinner featuring veggie soup, pork loin, chicken,
corn on the cob, a baked potato, and a sweet treat for dessert.
You'll also get a beverage like soda, tea, or coffee with unlimited refills.
Fans of Parton won't want to miss a visit to the Dollywood museum.
There you will get a chance to learn all about Dolly's life story through items such as her
high school band uniform and her famed coat of many colors that her mother sewed for her
as a little girl.
Enjoying this video so far?
If so, take a moment to show us a little support by giving it a like and by subscribing to
the Viewcation channel if you haven't already.
And don't go anywhere just yet.
Keep watching to see what else Dolly thinks all visitors to her iconic park absolutely
must check out!
The Lightning Rod
While Dolly isn't much of a thrillseeker herself, she knows full well that many of her park's
visitors are.
This fantastic wooden roller coaster reaches a top speed of 73 miles per hour, which makes
it the fastest wooden roller coaster on the planet.
The Firechaser Express
If you're a huge fan of coasters, then a ride on this wild new ride is a must.
It goes both backward and forward, and since it's a dual launch rollercoaster, you'll get
that gut-flipping shot-out-of-a-cannon sensation more than once.
Not for the faint of heart, we recommend this ride for adults and teenagers.
Dollywood Express
If coasters aren't your thing but you still want to experience an unforgettable rail ride,
hop aboard this 110-ton coal-fired steam engine.
The Dollywood Express takes riders on a scenic 5-mile journey through the Great Smoky mountains
while offering up some of the most beautiful views of Tennessee.
Make sure you bring your camera along for the ride!
Smokey Mountain River Rampage
If you're visiting Dollywood during the hot summer months, you can always cool off by
hopping on this thrilling whitewater rafting adventure ride.
While the ride is technically on a track, you'll feel as if you are actually careening
down a rushing river.
Be prepared for a few bumps and splashes, so make sure all of your valuables and electronics
are out of harm's way.
Aunt Granny's All You Can Care To Eat Buffet
After spending the day riding coasters, getting soaked on water rides, and enjoying high-quality
live entertainment, you probably will have worked up quite the appetite.
If you're craving that classic all-you-can-eat buffet experience, Aunt Granny's is always
serving up all of your favorite Southern comfort foods like fried chicken, mac 'n cheese, mashed
potatoes, and buttery biscuits.
If you're looking for something a little more on the light side, don't worry you'll also
find options like salads and soups.
Most importantly, however, Aunt Granny's has a huge variety of scrumptious desserts to
top off your meal.
Mountain Laurel Home
If you're a big fan of décor, you'll find everything you need to deck out a cozy mountain
cabin or quaint country-inspired home over here.
Drawing upon the aesthetic of the surrounding Smokey mountains, this shop offers items like
wood carvings, wall art, pillows, blankets, and more.
Plus, the shop itself has some seriously comforting vibes with its wood and stone interior.
Ashley's Antique Tintype & Photo
Have you always wanted to have one of those old-fashioned sienna-tinted photos taken with
your family all dressed up in traditional attire?
Well, now you can do just that at this novelty photo shop.
Deck the kids up in authentic 19th-century dresses and take home a memento that you'll
treasure for a lifetime.
Custom Glassworks
For everyone paying a visit to Dollywood, a stop at the Craftsman's Valley is an absolute
must!
While checking out all of the different arts and crafts in this lovely little region of
the park, we recommend you stop by the Custom Glassworks to watch talented artisans at work
while creating stunning hand-blown creations.
Splash Country Water Park
The design of this family-friendly water park incorporates elements of the surrounding beauty
of the Smokies with man-made waterfalls and slides tucked away within the towering trees.
There are slides, rides, and aquatic attractions for visitors of all ages.
Younger children, however, will especially enjoy themselves at The Cascades play pool.
Older children can put their bravery to the test on Fire Tower Falls, Dollywood's fastest
and tallest water slide.
For a splashing good time that the whole family will enjoy, Big Bear Plunge is a whitewater
raft ride that is suitable for riders 36" and up.
Wildwood Grove
For families with younger children, Wildwood Grove features rides intended for kids modeled
after Dolly's childhood daydreams.
When developing this region of the park, Dolly told her designers that she used to dream
of going out in the woods with a bear family.
She also fantasized about riding high in the sky upon the wings of a giant dragonfly.
Well, her engineers did their best to make these dreams come alive, and now guests can
do all of these incredible things and more
Dolly Say's Leave Your Phone At The Hotel
Dolly Parton wants Dollywood to be a place where families can make memories together.
She poured her heart and soul into the park and considers family to be one of – if not
the most – important thing in life.
It's hard to make memories with your family that are going to last a lifetime, however,
if you're constantly glued to your mobile device.
As such, Dolly recommends that anyone visiting her park make it a point to remain in the
moment while enjoying their time.
To achieve this, Parton suggests that guests leave their cell phones back at the hotel.
She wants Dollywood to be a place where you can go and forget about everything else.
So, leave your phone in your room – that way it's not going to get soaked when you
ride Smokey Mountain River Rampage, and you won't miss out any of those precious little
moments that make life so magical.
That just about wraps up this video, but now we'd love to hear from you.
Have you had the pleasure of visiting Dollywood before?
If so, what are some of your favorite things to see, eat, or do at the park?
Let us know in the comments.
Before you go, take a moment to show us a little support by giving this video a like
and by subscribing to the Viewcation channel.
While you're at it, tap the bell to turn on notifications.
That way, you can keep up with all of our latest and upcoming content without missing
a beat.
As always, thanks for watching!
We'll see you soon with more videos covering some of our favorite travel destinations throughout
the world!
Happy Travels!