One of the biggest attractions in Pigeon Forge is Pirates Voyage, Dolly Parton’s pirate-themed dinner show that combines live stunts, comedy, music and a full meal into a huge indoor theatrical production. The show takes place in a massive lagoon arena where two pirate crews — Crimson and Sapphire — battle on full-sized ships with sword fights, diving stunts, pyrotechnics and aerial acrobatics happening all around the audience. We started with the Voyager Creamy Vegetable Soup and Buccaneer Biscuit. Super thick & creamy. Dinner was: Cracklin’ Pan-Fried Chicken, Swashbucklin’ Sugar-Cured Ham, Cob-O’ Buttery Corn and Pirate Herb-Basted Potato. Rum Runner - light rum, dark rum, banana liqueur, banana liqueur, pineapple juice, lime juice and grenadine. The classic dessert is essentially a warm apple turnover called the “Apple O’ Me Eye Pie." It’s a flaky handheld pastry filled with spiced apples (or peach in some versions) and served warm. The meal was fine, but certainly played second fiddle to the over-the-top pirate adventure, with actors interacting with the crowd, cannons firing and performers swinging high above the water. Grade: B

Dollywood is a theme park in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains that blends roller coasters, Appalachian culture, live music, crafts and Southern food into one of the South’s biggest tourist attractions. Co-owned by Dolly Parton, the park opened as Dollywood in 1986, though the site itself dates back to 1961 when it operated as Rebel Railroad. Spotlight Bakery is one of the park’s signature sweet shops, located near the front of the park in the Showstreet section. It’s known for oversized desserts, pastries and classic theme park bakery treats, and there’s often a line stretching out the door during busy days. The cinnamon bread a warm, pull-apart loaf drenched in butter, cinnamon and sugar. The bread lands somewhere between a cinnamon roll and monkey bread. Before baking, deep cuts are sliced into the dough so the butter and cinnamon-sugar mixture seeps into every layer. The outside gets slightly crisp and caramelized, while the inside stays soft, fluffy and gooey enough to pull apart piece by piece. Aunt Granny's is Dollywood’s large family-style restaurant known for Southern comfort food served in big shareable portions. Named after Dolly Parton’s real-life Aunt Granny, the restaurant leans heavily into the idea of a big Appalachian family meal, with servers constantly bringing bowls and platters of food to the table. Inside, the restaurant has a warm, farmhouse-style feel with wood accents, quilts, family photos and mountain décor that matches the nostalgic Smoky Mountain atmosphere throughout the park. Platters of fried chicken, pot roast, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese and other classic sides are brought out continuously, giving it more of a Sunday dinner feel than a typical theme park restaurant. My group opted for hand-breaded fried chicken, herb-baked chicken and pot roasted with vegetables and gravy. For sides, we tried corn pudding, mac & cheese, braised cabbage and mashed potatoes with gravy. Dessert was a strawberry shortcake. Splinters Trail Side Snacks is a grab-and-go snack stand in the Wilderness Pass section of the park. It's known for over-the-top funnel cakes and portable versions of Dollywood’s famous cinnamon bread. Funnel cakes are the main draw, especially customizable versions topped with strawberries, apple pie filling, whipped cream, Oreos, hot fudge or ice cream. The butterfly-shaped funnel cake ties into the park’s Flower & Food Festival and Dolly Parton’s longtime butterfly imagery. Instead of the traditional tangled-circle funnel cake shape, the batter is poured into wide wings, making a butterfly shape. It’s topped with powdered sugar.

Dollywood’s Splash Country is Dollywood’s seasonal water park in Pigeon Forge, located right next to the main Dollywood theme park in the Smoky Mountains. The park opened in 2001 and signature rides include the Big Bear Plunge whitewater raft ride, Fire Tower Falls drop slides, TailSpin Racer mat slides and the Downbound Float Trip lazy river. Campsite Grill — the main meal spot with burgers, chicken tenders, fries, pizza, hot dogs and sandwiches. Ned’s Bear Paws is one of the signature snack spots at Dollywood’s Splash Country, and it’s best known for its giant “Mountain Fried Dough” treats. These are basically oversized funnel cake fried dough desserts with fruit toppings. Mountain Waves Creamery - soft serve ice cream, sundaes and frozen treats near the wave pool. I ordered the Toffee Turtle Churn - Mayfield soft churned ice cream mixed with toffee pieces, caramel, and candied pecans. Dogs N Taters — hot dogs, loaded fries and other quick snack foods. Can't go wrong with a good ol' hot dog.

Margaritaville in Pigeon Forge is a small world dedicated to Jimmy Buffett, and at the center is a full-service restaurant with: seafood, burgers, sandwiches, and tropical cocktails; a big outdoor deck overlooking the Little Pigeon River; and live music and a lively bar scene. Margaritaville is an escapism lifestyle built around the laidback, beachy world created by Jimmy Buffett. It takes its name from his 1977 hit song Margaritaville, which romanticized an easygoing life of tropical drinks, sandy beaches and not taking things too seriously. Bright tropical decor, neon signage and a steady soundtrack of Jimmy Buffett blares through the space. It’s casual, with guests in flip-flops, drinks front and center, and the experience driven more by atmosphere than the food itself. I ordered the Teriyaki Chicken & Shrimp - Grilled & basted, seasonal vegetables, basmati rice, grilled pineapple, sesame seeds. It may have been a mistake not getting the Cheeseburger in Paradise. The dish was OK. Something crunchy or creamy would have made the dish more well-rounded and exciting. But it is more of a healthier option that still had some flavor - so kudos for that. Grade: C

Downtown Flavortown is one of Guy Fieri's restaurant, named after his signature catchphrase. Located in Pigeon Forge, the restaurant is more like an entertainment complex, which includes a gaming area, gift shop and huge bar. The menu keeps things big and bold with loaded nachos, wings and fries. Plus, plenty of milkshakes and desserts follow suit. I knew I wanted the trash can nachos, because I've seen viral videos of tbe presentation. They’re built and served inside a metal cylinder, which is lifted at the table so the nachos spill out in a stacked tower. What’s underneath is a layered mix — tortilla chips, queso, seasoned meat, beans, crema and jalapeños. It’s messy, heavy and meant for sharing. I did the BBQ pork version, which lends itself to a nice sweet and savory profile. My favorite part, really, is picking around through crunchy bites, sweet notes, refreshing crema and making the perfect mix of flavors. But the draw here is the larger-than-life experience. The food is fine - it's fun - but it's a background character. Have you been? Grade: B