• 1. Where to Stay
• 2. Where to Eat
• 3. What to Do
• 4. Insider’s Tip
• 5. An Oddball Day

(Photo: Courtesy of Dollywood)

It's worth facing civilization for, but Dolly Parton's campy mountain theme park Dollywood has gone from overgrown country fair to Appalachian Disney World in a few short years, and the admission prices—$118 for adults and $100 for kids—reflect its changing status. Since mountain weather is unpredictable, cut the admission by more than half by skipping the Splash Country water park. A gold season pass will run you $103 dollars, and even for a day covers parking fees and automatically grants a 20 percent discount on food. But the best bet is to enter the park after 3 p.m., when you’ll be issued a free pass for the following day. Use the afternoon to plan what jamborees and roller coasters to hit up the next day. Watch what you wear—no profanity on T-shirts allowed.

Published on Apr 16, 2008 as a web exclusive.