Dollywood Photos are Most Popular Tennessee Vacation Pics on Instagram

While there are thousands of photo-worthy locations in Tennessee, one spot stands head and shoulders above the rest. According to a recent analysis of photos shared on Instagram, Dollywood photos is the state’s most popular place to take pictures! Beating out famous sights in Nashville and Memphis, Dollywood’s social media supremacy demonstrates just how beloved Pigeon Forge’s award-winning theme park is.

To determine which tourist attractions are generating the most photos, the travel website Busbud tracked hashtags on Instagram for each state in the U.S. The researchers found that #Dollywood had the most Instagram posts of anywhere in Tennessee. The only other theme park to make the national list is Disneyland in California.

As anyone who has visited Dollywood knows, there are seemingly endless rides, shows, shops, and restaurants that warrant a selfie or two. To help you document your trip to the theme park, Visit My Smokies has put together a convenient guide to the best places to take Dollywood photos.

Best Places to Take Dollywood Photos

The Dollywood Sign

At the entrance to the park, the Dollywood sign is the ultimate family photo op! With a unique butterfly-shaped flower display below, the Dollywood sign is one of the most iconic parts of the park. Whether you take your group photo with the sign at the beginning of your Dollywood experience or at the end, the picture is guaranteed to bring back lots of fond memories for years to come.

Dolly’s Closet

Fans of Dolly Parton’s famous sense of style will want to have their cameras ready when they visit Dolly’s Closet. This one-of-a-kind shop sells a variety of Dolly-approved apparel that can be customized with your choice of beads, sequins, and other hallmarks of country fashion. Be sure to take lots of photos as you try on one of Dolly’s signature jackets or shirts!

Daredevil Falls

Daredevil Falls is a thrilling log flume ride that ends with a wet and wild 60-foot drop down a waterfall. If someone in your group doesn’t want to take the plunge, ask him to snap a photo of you when your flume makes its descent. Trust us, the look on your face will be well worth the effort!

The Dollywood Express

One of the best places to take Dollywood photos is the theme park’s popular steam engine ride. The Dollywood Express travels along a five-mile track in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, offering spectacular views of East Tennessee’s gorgeous scenery. If you’re lucky, maybe you can grab a quick selfie with the train’s conductor in his old-fashioned uniform!

Music Shows

Dollywood is home to a number of excellent music shows that you’ll want to remember after you’ve returned home. Some of our favorite shows include:

• Country Crossroads – a half-hour showcase of classic and contemporary country music.
• My People – a moving performance starring Dolly’s siblings and other family members.
• Smoky Mountain String Band – a bluegrass concert with authentic Appalachian flavor.
• The Kingdom Heirs – a gospel review that is guaranteed to lift your spirits.

Visitors to Dollywood will also want to take photos of some of the big-name artists that come to the theme park as part of the National Southern Gospel & Harvest Celebration, the Festival of Nations, and the Barbeque and Bluegrass Festival. For a more in-depth guide to all of the seasonal entertainment at Dollywood, check out our Dollywood festival schedule.

Wonder Wheel

To take some excellent panoramic Dollywood photos, ride to the top of the Wonder Wheel. This 60-foot tall Ferris wheel provides an incredible bird’s eye view of the theme park. Just be sure to hold on tight to your phone as you take your pictures!

The Grist Mill

Dollywood’s Grist Mill is a throwback to a simpler time when Pigeon Forge locals relied on giant water wheels to grind their wheat and corn. Taking a photo of the Grist Mill is a must when you visit the theme park, although the very best souvenir from the mill is Dollywood’s famous cinnamon bread. Baked on-site using freshly ground flour from the Grist Mill, the park’s cinnamon bread deserves its own hashtag on Instagram!

To see more Dollywood photos and other pictures from the Smoky Mountain area follow Visit My Smokies on Instagram!