I'm Laken, and it's no secret that I love Dolly Parton (proof here and here). If you're reading this, you probably love her, too. She's the queen of bedazzled jumpsuits and blonde wigs. But did you know that Dolly has her own theme park? While Dolly's music has attracted some well-deserved acclaim, Dollywood is super underrated.
Here are 10 reasons why Dollywood is the best darn amusement park I've ever been to. And I live in Florida, so I know my amusement parks.
1. The weather is temperate
2. The Smoky Mountains are stunning
3. OMG, the desserts!
4. Dolly's music is blasting on loop
5. There's a bird sanctuary!
6. It has lots of rad wooden coasters
7. Dolly pays homage to her own upbringing
8. You can visit cool historical buildings
9. Tickets cost less than many other parks' admission fees
10. You can observe craftspeople like blacksmiths and glassblowers at work
New (to me) handmade game stand at @Dollywood — so cool!
If you're not into coasters, you might enjoy learning about trades like blacksmithing. One of my favorite things to do in the park is to watch the glassblowers at work. Even if you don't have the money to take glassblowing lessons or buy a fancy souvenir to take home, you can still observe these craftspeople to learn more about their skills. Major kudos to the Dollywood team for raising awareness about these traditional arts.