Dollywood Offers Memorable Fun and Entertainment For All Seasons

Our friends invited us to the Smoky Mountains, and one of the places to visit on our list was Dollywood. This theme park in Pigeon Forge offers so much, including the cozy Destination Dollywood lodge right next to the park. And, there are a number of exciting festivals and events like the Great Pumpkin LumiNights that kicks off at the end of September during the Harvest Festival that is the biggest Southern gospel festival in the Smokies, and runs through the end of October.

While it was a hot day, Dollywood had plenty of shaded areas, which was really nice. We found one were we could watch the Dollywood Express roll by. Around almost every corner there were places to get refreshments. Many folks we talked to were visiting the Great Smoky Mountains National Park as we were, and a visit to Dollywood is a great way to spend an afternoon. And, if you haven’t eaten when you arrive try some of the delicious BBQ, and fixin’s.

After we stopped to eat, we enjoyed the Wings of America Birds of Prey show. At home we have rescued many animals, and continue to watch out for and care for strays whenever needed. The beautiful birds we saw were the under the care of the American Eagle Foundation, which is permitted to have the birds for educational purposes. Many of the birds were injured and would not survive in the wild. Through the program, which accepts donations, Dollywood is able to help care these birds, and share them we us.

After watching and learning about the birds in the Eagle Mountain Sanctuary we moved on the some thrilling adventures - there are several coasters - including the Thunderhead, Lightning Rod, Tennessee Tornado, and FireChaser Express that is a dual-launch coaster. Wow - what a trip - first forwards, then backwards. Yes, backwards, and it was great - couldn’t stop laughing!

If you’re looking to cool off, then check out Mountain Slidewinder, Daredevil Falls, and the Smoky Mountain River Rampage - my favorite - and yes, you can get soaked.

An interesting thing we experienced on our visit was that a couple rides like the Wild Eagle, which is America's First Wing Coaster was closed due to wasp. It seems at certain times of the year Paper Wasp swarm in the heat and Dollywood closed a few rides to keep guests safe - thanks for that because Leroy had just recently experienced first hand how mean the wasp can be at home.

If a slower speed is more your style, there are a few slower rides, and those designed for younger children, plus there's the Dollywood Express that is perfect a for a relaxing trek about the scenic Great Smoky Mountains. This is an authentic steam engine that is coal-fired, and adds a memorable touch to the experience as the whistle blows and you chugs around the park. - It also makes it easy to get from one side to the other of Dollywood.

What makes a visit to Dollywood memorable is knowing that Dolly Parton cares about the community. You can feel this through the people hired to work at Dollywood, who were all so nice and helpful. They actually seemed like they enjoyed working at the park, which was refreshing to see.

Dolly was also there to help those affected by the fires that burned only a portion of Gatlinburg - Yes, there’s plenty to see and do in this charming community that is the gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. And, Dolly continues to support the people in her community through numerous programs. Did You Know? - Dollywood has grown a lot since it opened in 1986 - they also have a  fun Waterpark - Dollywood's Splash Country.

Whether you stay at Destination Dollywood, or are there just for the day there’s so much to see and do, you’ll have plenty of reasons to return to Dollywood again and again as we plan to do!Plan Your Trip To Dollywood

To explore current ticket specials, festive event schedules, lodging options and advice on planning your visit to Dollywood visit their website or call 1-865-365-1900.