It's no secret at all that my family is totally and completely obsessed with Dollywood. We've been season passholders for years and visit any chance we get. We live just about an hour and a half away which makes it easy to just visit for the day then head home, which is our normal Dollywood routine. But on one of those normal Dollywood routine days, the tram driver happened to mention that the last operating day of the 2019 Dollywood season would be January 3rd. Later, it was extended to the 4th, but for this story's purpose, the 3rd is important as it's my youngest daughter, Moreaya's, birthday! When she heard the driver say that [around 5 months ago probably] her ears perked up, she smiled, and said "Mom can we come to Dollywood on my birthday?!" I said sure, then she decided to take it one step further and say "Mom, can we stay … [Read more...]
The Ultimate List of Things to Do in Pigeon Forge Tennessee
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This post is sponsored by Pigeon Forge. All opinions are my own. Pigeon Forge, Tennessee is well-known for the amazing attractions, dinner shows, and family fun, but did you realize there are literally hundreds of things to do in Pigeon Forge that the whole family will love?! When you're planning your next Smoky Mountain vacation, be sure to check out this list of some of the BEST things to see and do during your My Pigeon Forge vacation! For more information about Pigeon Forge, visit their official website here. My family is no stranger to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. We live just about an hour and a half away from the busy little mountain town and visit multiple times a year, sometimes just for the day and sometimes for the weekend. In fact, when I was a little girl, I often touted to anyone that would listen that my second home was … [Read more...]
Everything to Get You Ready for the Dollywood Christmas Festival: TIPS from an Insider!
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There are big things coming to the Smoky Mountains just in time for the Holidays. Don't miss out on all these great Dollywood Christmas Events! If you live in the Southeast or are planning a trip to the Smoky Mountains in the next couple of months, you're in luck. While I love warmer months, the beautiful decorations, lights, and sounds of the season make November and December one of the best times to visit the area, especially my favorite... Dollywood! Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas presented by Humana, kicks off on November 9th and is one of the world’s premier theme park events. The festival has been nominated as part of USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice travel awards for Best Theme Park Holiday Event. Smoky Mountain Christmas already has won the 2019 Golden Ticket award from Amusement Today for Best … [Read more...]
7 INSIDER TIPS to Make Your Visit to the Dollywood Great Pumpkin LumiNights AMAZING
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One of the best times of year to visit Dollywood is in the Fall. The Harvest Festival is in full swing and it's the 3rd year of the Great Pumpkin LumiNights - an extremely popular, family-friendly display of thousands of glowing pumpkins all throughout the park! Here are 7 INSIDER TIPS to make your visit even better! It's no secret that Dollywood is indeed my happy place. I've been visiting since I was a little girl and in truth, the friendliest theme park in America only gets better every year. One of the newest festivals in the park is the Great Pumpkin LumiNights that runs the same length as the Dollywood Harvest Festival, from September 29 to November 2nd. It's the 3rd year of the Great Pumpkin LumiNights and definitely time for me to share some photos and insider tips on how best to enjoy your visit during October! Great … [Read more...]
5 Reasons The Whole Family Will LOVE the Hatfield and McCoy Dinner Show
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Looking for a dinner show in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee that the whole family will love? You have to visit the Hatfield and McCoy Dinner Show! The show is highly entertaining, hilarious, and offers an amazing Southern dinner that is all you can eat! My family just returned from a fun and full weekend in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. We live just a little over an hour from the foothills of the Smoky Mountains and it's no secret that it's one of our favorite places to vacation... or is it a staycation since we're so close? Either way, it's one of our favorite towns to visit and always has been! We've been Dollywood season pass holders since the girls were little [and I was when I was growing up too], so it's no surprise that when we spend time in Pigeon Forge, we're usually at Dollywood. But this past weekend I made it a goal to visit a few … [Read more...]
That Time My Kids Were in a Dollywood Commercial [and Met Dolly!]
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Ever wonder what it's like to be in a Dollywood commercial or even meet Dolly herself? My girls did BOTH on a rainy Saturday in May and here's what happened! If you know me at all, you know my heart was bursting with pride when I got an email asking if my girls would be interested in being extras in a commercial to be filmed at Dollywood. Believe it or not, I DID ask them if they wanted to do it before I replied "YES YES YES!" You see, I've been a Dollywood super fan since I was a little girl. My family has always grown up going to Dollywood, I've been a Dollywood season passholder since I can remember, and my girls love it as much as I do. In fact, ask any of the 3 of us girls in the family where our favorite place in the world is and you'll likely hear the same response "the beach and Dollywood"! So, when the girls were asked … [Read more...]
Everything You Need to Know About Wildwood Grove – Dollywood’s Biggest Expansion Ever
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Have you visited Dollywood lately? If you have, you've likely seen my new favorite part of the park AND the biggest expansion in Dollywood history... Wildwood Grove! Here I'm breaking down all the rides, things to do, foods to eat, and fun to be had in this amazing, new area of the amusement park! A few weeks ago, I had the amazing experience to see the brand new addition to Dollywood, Wildwood Grove on the day it opened to the public. This area of the park is the biggest expansion in Dollywood history. In fact, the 6 acre 2019 expansion cost more than the original purchase of Dollywood back in 1986! Want to learn more about Dollywood? Visit here to get all the details! Actually, this wasn't my very first time walking around Wildwood Grove. I was there back in mid-March and the area was, well, let's just say a little less colorful … [Read more...]
Dollywood Rides – The Best in the Park and Who Can Ride
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Dollywood has something for everyone in the family and if you are the family thrill seeker, you'll find so many amazing Dollywood rides to satisfy you! Here's a comprehensive list of all the rides at Dollywood and who can ride them. When I say there's something for everyone at Dollywood, I'm not exaggerating at all. It's a great place to visit with the entire family, even multiple generations, because every age will enjoy the sights, sounds, and adventure at the Friendliest Theme Park in America. Whether you enjoy shopping, watching world class entertainment, eating the most delicious cuisine, or riding some amazing theme park rides, you'll find it all there. But today, we're definitely focusing on the 39 rides and attractions at Dollywood... which ones are the BEST [in my humble opinion, of course, after visiting for … [Read more...]
5 Tips to Find the VERY BEST Dollywood Discount Tickets
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Are you looking for the best deal on Dollywood Tickets for your family? Here are your tips for finding the best Dollywood Discount Tickets for your visit to the Smoky Mountains theme park! If you're making a trip to the mountains of Tennessee, you'll definitely want to include spending a few days at Dollywood in your plans since it's on my list of places NOT to miss when you're in the Smoky Mountains. It's a theme park that consistently tops so many "Best Of..." theme park categories and if you're ever been, you know why. If you haven't, the fact that you're researching how to find Dollywood Discount Tickets means you're on the right track because there are so many reasons your family will love a visit to Dollywood! Getting the best deal on Dollywood tickets definitely depends on a couple of factors. Before you head to the website to … [Read more...]
IMPORTANT Dollywood Hours and Dates for 2019!
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Are you ready to visit the Friendliest Theme Park in the US? Dollywood is open for the 2019 season and here you'll find all the details on visiting, including Dollywood hours of operation and important dates to keep on your calendar! If you're a Dollywood season pass holder and fanatic as much as me, you're ecstatic that it's open for another operating year already! Dollywood officially started the 2019 season in March, but things are in full swing now in early Spring. Let's take a look at all the important dates and Dollywood hours of operation that you need to be aware of to start planning your next visit! When does Dollywood open? Dollywood is already officially open and will stay open until January 4th. Dollywood is not open every single day during 2019. There are some days in every month [except June and July] that the … [Read more...]
The Best Rainy Day Activities in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
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Visiting Pigeon Forge, Tennessee and the rain and weather aren't cooperating with your family's outdoor adventure plans? There's no need to worry because the area boasts hundreds of things to do on a rainy day in Pigeon Forge. Check out this list for some of my family's favorite activities Just a few weeks ago on our latest trip to the Smoky Mountains, we were excited to spend the day exploring a few new-to-us attractions. While Wonderworks has been in Pigeon Forge for many years now, the Alcatraz East Crime Museum is a relatively new museum that I’d been excited to see. The weather for our visit wasn’t exactly the best. It was rainy and cold, but it doesn’t matter when you’re visiting these attractions! That’s what got me thinking that I should share a list of places to visit when the weather is rainy in Pigeon … [Read more...]
Want to Stay at Margaritaville Resort in Gatlinburg, TN? You Should!
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There are literally hundreds of hotels and resorts to choose from when you play your Smoky Mountains vacation. If one of them on your list is the Margaritaville Resort in Gatlinburg, book it! You will LOVE your stay at this beach, mountain resort and here's why! A special thanks to the Margaritaville Resort in Gatlinburg for hosting my family for one night. All glorious opinions of the resort are my own. I count myself lucky that we've had the opportunity to travel as a family over the last 10 or so years. We've stayed in different hotels and condos in different cities and states. When I look to book a hotel, there are always a few things I look for first - price, amenities and reviews. One name that is always at the top of amenities and reviews when I search is Margaritaville properties. While it's always been on our … [Read more...]