Dollywood invites each guest to leave the distractions of life behind and reconnect with the family. The 150-acre theme park not only features exhilarating roller coasters such as the Tennessee tornado and thunderhead, it also sports a wealth of entertainment from concerts to special events. The fun doesn't stop there as the park also offers unique experiences from VIP tours to zip line adventures where guests can sail over the park while taking in the views of the Great Smokey Mountains.

Dollywood’s Splash Country, meanwhile, lives up to its name, with more than 23 rides and attractions that draw their inspiration from the water park’s scenic Smoky Mountains setting. Fire Tower Falls—the park’s tallest and fastest slide ever—exaggerates the steepness of the nearby mountains’ slopes with a 70-foot plunge that barely gives riders time to scream. For a leisurely counterpoint to this free-fall thrill, look no further than the 1,500-foot lazy river, which charts its course through the park’s forested hills.

Though a sense of calm pervades the lazy river, a battle rages not far from its banks. Pirates of all ages fight for the title of captain at the popular Bear Mountain Fire Tower, where they commandeer water cannons and wait for an enormous wooden bucket to dump 1,000 gallons of water from above. Those weary from battle can retreat to the lagoon-style pool at The Cascades, where more than 25 interactive elements include a multitiered waterfall and an active geyser that spews water 20 feet in the air. Lifeguards split their duties between this rocky grotto and Mountain Waves, a 25,000-square-foot wave pool filled with the tears of decommissioned sailors.