The foggy mist of the Great Smokey Mountains really does make them look smokey. Jeremy and I had been to the North Carolina side of the mountains before, but never Tennessee. So a visit to the Museum of Appalachia seemed in order (pronounced “Ap-uh-latch-uh” locally). The many old-timey buildings and artifacts of this living history museum easily engross you…and kinda make you wish for a spell that you were from that era of unique folksy culture. There is a button to push to hear a full-length fiddle band Bluegrass type of song, and so many genuinely inspired homemade instruments, crafted by folks who didn’t have the money to buy new. Spam-can guitar, hub-cap banjo, and dried-gourd anything. They put to use what was available. I saw in it lessons for modern day.
Peacocks and chickens roamed freely on the property. Buildings included blacksmith, cabins, schoolhouse and more. Antique tractors, wagon wheels, and tools were on display, and fortunately many, many stories and tidbits of first-hand information on handwritten signs hung all throughout the museum. Dolly Parton was a theme in this neck of the woods. There was a display about her and other musicians from the area at the museum, and, of course, there’s Dollywood.
Dollywood was a little different than I expected in that it was very much like most amusement parks that I’ve been to. Spendy and commercial. But, also like most amusement parks, it was a fun way to spend a day. At Dollywood I encountered lots of yummy food, great music (if you appreciate country and old-timey tunes), and a lot of thought and care. What I mean by the latter is the cozy theme, fan-misters for the heat, lots of stuff little kids would love, and utmost cleanliness. Great family fun. We didn’t ride the coal train though. Smoke as black as a raven and enough of it to block out the sun shot out of it, and I was advised by a passenger that soot can get on your face and clothes. Dollywood is the first place that I was served a cardboard straw for my drink, which I thought was fantastic! How biodegradable!
