Critic's Corner
Dollywood As a city kid, my first experience of the South was our Dear Lady Dolly Parton’s Appalachian theme park in Tennessee. The park is located in a tiny town called Pigeon Forge, in the middle of the Smoky Mountains. Pigeon Forge is kind of a mess. Driving through the main drag, you’ll see a bunch of competing over-the-top theme parks, mountainside roller coasters, and cracked-out 50s-themed diners targeted at Dollywood-goers. Driving through West Virginia and North Carolina, I saw a much more stereotypical American South, with grassy fields, massive gas stations, rednecks in Ford pickups, and overweight men in overalls. Hunting for a spot to eat with vegetarian options was a fun challenge that usually resulted in a burrito bowl from Chipotle or a gas-station egg sandwich. Not to say these things are bad, but city living has definitely spoiled me. Dolly can do no wrong. Comparing your accomplishments with hers is a losing battle. I’m sure if she wanted to, she could start a …