BEST ATTRACTION
I WENT TO Dollywood expecting a typical theme park. My other experiences at attractions like this had involved costumed characters offering hugs and waving from floats, so I figured Dolly Parton’s likeness would be everywhere— life-size cutouts for cheesy photo ops; a constant soundtrack of her greatest hits; and performers wearing big, blond wigs.
My 8-year-old son, Theo, and I were first-timers. Weeks before our trip, we studied the map to determine which attractions we were too short (i.e. scared) to ride and watched YouTube videos about the legendary cinnamon bread from the Grist Mill. When we finally walked through the gates, I felt 8 years old too.
We wandered around, a little bit dazed. Roller coasters looped and twisted above. Exhilarated screams and the scent of cinnamon filled the air. The bluish-gray foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains seemed to wrap us and all of Pigeon Forge in a hug. Most of our fellow guests, from older visitors on scooters to packs of teenagers, sported a Dolly T-shirt of some kind. (My favorite read, “If I die, tell Dolly I love her.”)
Since opening in 1986, Dollywood has evolved with the times as much as the country star herself. What started as a small-scale park with a restaurant, a handful of rides, and a replica of her Tennessee Mountain Home is now the state’s most visited attraction. This spring, look for The Dolly Parton Experience, a revamped area that will include Storyteller, an interactive museum; Behind the Seams, featuring her wardrobe; DreamSong Theater; and a retired tour bus.
Today, Dollywood is divided into 11 themed sections, with coasters being the obvious draw. The newest one, Big Bear Mountain, has the longest track yet and is designed so shorter members of the family can also participate. High on adrenaline, Theo screamed, “This is the most fun ever!” as we staggered off. Even though a park attendant had surely heard that phrase countless times that day, she laughed and said, “So glad you had fun, buddy!”
We were met with smiles and hellos everywhere we went—not just from the employees but from folks in line chatting about which ride is the craziest or how long they waited for cinnamon bread. Through- out the day, Theo and I ran into a few of the same people, and we waved to each other like old friends. Theme parks tend to lure visitors from all over the world, but the warmth we felt was distinctly Southern.
This was also evident in the many features that hark back to a bygone era. At the Back Porch Theater, a crowd nodded along to live bluegrass, while others took in the show in rocking chairs. The Dollywood Express steam engine train chugged by, sounding its earsplitting whistle. Theo and I ducked into a little white chapel (where services are held on Sundays) to find a few people sitting silently in the glow of artificial candles, enjoying a moment of peace amid the happy chaos.
Eventually, we had our fill—going on Thunderhead three times in a row will do that to you—and boarded the shuttle back to our hotel. While waiting, we watched a toddler strike up a conversation with the driver, a grandfatherly looking type. He leaned in and listened intently as she bab- bled away. The mother apologized for her child’s chatter, but the man smiled and waved her off, saying, “I love hearing from the kids. It’s the best part of the job.”
“This is the nicest place on earth,” Theo said with a sigh. I had to agree. Of course, the rides are fun, but what makes the park special is a mix of heart and hospitality that’s pure Dolly. We left feeling full of her spirit.
—Lisa Cericola
COURTESY TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF TOURIST DEVELOPMENT/JOURNAL COMMUNICATIONS/JEFF ADKINS
BEST MUSIC VENUE
“I CAN’T IMAGINE what Uncle Jimmy Thompson, who sat down at the microphone with his fiddle almost 100 years ago, would think if he saw what he helped build,” says Dan Rogers, vice president and executive producer of the Grand Ole Opry. Thompson was the first performer on the radio broadcast that would become the beating hear of country music. Those notes kick-started a legacy that still brings together a passionate community of artists and fans in Nashville. In the 1970s, the Opry moved from the Ryman Auditorium to the Grand Ole Opry House, taking a 6-foot circle of the Ryman stage with it. (Today, it’s still embedded in the platform beneath the performers’ feet.) This new home continued to welcome the greats, singers like Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson, while also introducing audiences to up-and-coming stars. The program will turn 100 years old in 2025, and the Opry House had its 50th anniversary this March. There is a calendar full of special events and backstage tours planned to celebrate these milestones. “Being at the Opry is a dream come true for the artists onstage, but it’s also a dream come true for people in the audience,” says Rogers. During a concert, there is a palpable sense of community— and country music history in the making—as surprise guests drop in for unexpected duets. Everyone agrees: There’s no place like the Opry.
—Caroline Rogers
BEST BBQ JOINT
Down in The Gulch in the heart of Nashville, Peg Leg Porker has become our readers’ perennial pick for the best barbecue in Tennessee. Half and full racks of dry-rubbed ribs anchor the menu, and the Yardbird (half a chicken dusted with the same Memphis-style spices as the ribs) is a standout too. They’re accompanied by a range of tempting treats, like smoked green beans, Kool-Aid pickles, and creamy pimiento cheese made with Miracle Whip. Don’t question owner Carey Bringle about his choice of mayo—he will fight you.
—Robert Moss
2. Charlie Vergos Rendezvous Memphis 3. Ridgewood Barbecue Bluff City 4. Cozy Corner BBQ Memphis 5. Couch’s Bar-B-Que Ooltewah 6. The Bar-B-Q Shop Memphis 7. Payne’s Bar-B-Q Memphis 8. B.E. Scott’s BBQ Lexington 9. Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint Multiple Locations 10. A&R Bar-B-Que Memphis
TOP: ROBBIE CAPONETTO; BOTTOM: COURTESY PEG LEG PORKER/ALYSSA JIOSA COX
