1. Dollywood: Country Music Celebration
Owned by country legend Dolly Parton, Dollywood, a theme park in the Smoky Mountains, is Tennessee's biggest tourist attraction. Built on 295 acres, the resort is divided into ten themes, which showcase the history and culture of Southern Appalachia. Attractions include the Showstreet Palace Theater, the Southern Gospel Museum and Hall of Fame, and the Smoky Mountain River Rampage whitewater rafting thrill ride. Visitors can also enjoy the Tennessee Tornado and Blazing Fury roller coasters, as well as the Daredevil Falls flume ride, among many others. The park features a variety of dining options that include regional delicacies, as well as four-course dinner shows with horse-riding stunts and musical performances.
2. Hollywood Wax Museum: Rub Shoulders with Celebs
Open 365 days a year, the two-story Hollywood Wax Museum showcases replicas of film, television, and music stars. The largest wax museum in the U.S. also includes a Hollywood Mount Rushmore and a six-story-high reproduction of the Empire State Building, complete with its own King Kong. Among the other attractions found in the museum, visitors can enjoy Hannah's Maze of Mirrors, Outbreak - Dread the Undead, and the Castle of Chaos. The gallery also features a gift shop, which sells celebrity memorabilia and souvenirs.
3. Titanic Museum: Experience the Maiden Voyage
Established in 2010, the Titanic Museum, a two-story structure shaped like the RMS Titanic, is a half-scale model of the original ship. With over 400 artifacts in twenty galleries, the museum is the largest permanent Titanic exhibit in the world. Constructed in a pool to enhance the ocean-travel experience, the museum offers a two-hour tour that recreates the 1912 maiden voyage of the legendary ship. Upon arrival, passengers receive a boarding pass and are allocated a travel class. After a presentation, which relates the experiences of several of the original passengers, guests are escorted to the Titanic Memorial Room, where they will discover the identity of the original passenger assigned their ticket number.
4. Elvis & Hollywood Legends Museum: Enter Elvis' Kingdom
The Elvis & Hollywood Legends Museum revisits the life of the King of Rock and Roll: Elvis Presley. The collection includes many of Elvis' personal belongings, including a 1954 Cadillac Coupe de Ville, jewelry, clothing, and firearms, among many others. An audio tour, guided by Elvis' close friends Donnie Sumner and Ed Hill, offers intimate insight into the King's life. The gallery also includes items owned by Hollywood legends, such as Burt Reynolds, Marilyn Monroe, and Hugh Hefner, as well as props from classic Hollywood films. The museum features a gift shop that sells Elvis memorabilia and music.
5. The Island in Pigeon Forge: All-Inclusive Family Fun
A 23-acre shopping and entertainment complex, The Island in Pigeon Forge provides family fun all day and night. With over sixty unique retail shops, numerous restaurants such as Margaritaville and Paula Deen's Family Kitchen, and attractions like The Great Smoky Mountain Wheel, the Alcatraz East Crime Museum, and Thunderdome, the destination ensures fun for all ages. Guests are encouraged to stay at the Margaritaville Island Hotel, a four-star resort that offers amenities such private balconies, fiINSERT IGNOREs, and "frozen concoction makers" in every room.
