Pigeon Forge, Tennessee: Hollywood Wax Museum

You don't really need to go into the museum for wow factor. The building alone is fantastic, with a mini-Hollywood Rushmore that stands 6-7 stories high, and King Kong hanging off a skyscraper up top. Definitely more than a drive-by moment. The best impact is driving in from the north.

After the Hollywood Wax Museum disappeared from Gatlinburg a few years back I was afraid it had gone forever. I was overjoyed to find out that they have recently reopened with a much bigger facility in Pigeon Forge, TN. The collection is much larger. Like the old incarnation it is the type of Wax Museum where you are encouraged to pose with the figures. You can pose with Forrest Gump on his bench, or pretend to marry George Clooney. One of the more confusing photo ops is posing with abortion doctor Wilbur Larch from Cider House Rules on a hospital bed. We also peeked and found that their Michael Meyers (from Halloween) was actually Colin Ferrell under a mask. What makes it super special is the new building that has a Mount Rushmore with celebrities and the life-sized King Kong climbing on the roof.