When the summer sun is sizzling, Tennesseans start looking for ways to beat the heat. Cooling off at a water park, with slides, sprinklers, and pools, is one of the most fun ways to make the most of roasting temperatures. There are many water parks and resorts in Tennessee; Dollywood’s Splash Country in Pigeon Forge is one of the best and biggest, with attractions for the whole family. On a scorching summer day, I visited Dollywood’s Splash Country with my family for the first time.

We bought tickets for Dollywood's Splash Country online before arriving through AAA, which reduced the ticket price.

We arrived at about 11:30 a.m., and the water park was already bustling. We paid $25 to park, grabbed our sunscreen and towels, and headed in.

Our first stop was the lazy river, called the Downbound Float Trip, which was refreshingly cool.

Guests can float with or without tube floats through the river, which is quite long and features a large waterfall at its beginning. The kids loved walking underneath the waterfall!

Next, we visited a family water slide called the Raging River Rapids.

We waited about 15 minutes to ride and then enjoyed a twisty and soaking slide to the bottom. The entire family loved it, ending the ride with smiles and laughs.

After the slide, we decided to go to the wave pool.

On a stage at one end of the pool, a DJ mixed songs. He played Dolly Pardon's "9 to 5," which fit the park's high-energy and joyful atmosphere.

After a few more attractions, the whole family was hungry.

We ordered warm and toasty Bavarian pretzel sticks and queso dip from the Campsite Grill. The grill also served pizza, sandwiches, wraps, chicken tenders, and more.

After refueling, we decided to visit the splash playground, Bear Mountain Fire Tower.

The playground had small slides, sprinklers, and water guns. Its centerpiece was a huge refillable bucket that dumped a deluge of water every few minutes.

The day we visited was scorching, with sunny skies and temps in the '90s.

The paths between slides and attractions were hot, and I recommend wearing water shoes to protect your feet. Drinking plenty of water and applying sunscreen were also necessary.

After five hours of fun in the water, we headed home.

Unfortunately, there wasn't enough time to visit every attraction, but we plan to come back to enjoy the rest of the park's slides soon!

Have you ever visited Dollywood's Splash Country in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee? What is your family's favorite water park?

Visit Dollywood's Splash Country website for more information.

Pigeon Forge is a tourist destination with dozens of restaurants, hikes, and attractions. The Timberwood Grill and Ember and Elm are fantastic restaurants.

Visitors who love to camp can stay at the Pigeon Forge Gatlinburg Koa campground. Those who prefer to rent a house can stay in this two-bedroom cabin Airbnb with stunning mountain views.