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

Here is this season's J.Q. Dickinson Appalachian Mercantile subscription box. J.Q. DICKINSON SALT-WORKS
Cooking Salt
Our cooking salt is great for applications where it will dissolve. Use in baking, in soups, stews and sauces. The bright, bold flavor will set your cooking apart!

ALLEGHENY TREENWARE
Salt Cellar
Made in WV from local cherry, this cellar is great to keep salt by the stove or on the dining table. Use for sauces too!

THOMAS WORK
Salt Shovel
This is made from local maple by Matt Thomas in WV. It is a great way to distribute salt over your food.

J.Q. DICKINSON SALT-WORKS
Bath Salts
Ready to relax? Try this amazing blend of our salt, essential oils, and botanicals in your next bath.

AMISH SMOKEHOUSE
Beef Sticks
Made in Ohio,these delicious beef sticks are a great on-the-go healthy snack.

BROWNWOOD FARMS
Dill Pickle Ketchup
Made in OH, this ketchup is great on anything. Try it on fries, burgers, dogs, and top a meatloaf!

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.

West Virginia doesn't have enough soul food restaurants. So when I learned of one opening in Welch -- at the bottom of the state -- I planned a day trip without delay. Rosco’s Soul Food was a locally owned restaurant in downtown Welch that was known for their plates, which included options like ribs, brisket and pulled pork and sides like mac & cheese, fresh collard greens and yams. It was a fairly small operation with only a handful of dining tables indide. I tried the cornbread, ribs, brisket, pulled pork, mac & cheese and potato salad. All delicious and beyond tender. The mac was a bit dry. Have you been? Grade: B

Boat Bites is an updated food truck that primarily sticks to the Trojan Landing area but has recently been expanding to area events. The menu features hot dogs, chicken strips, chicken sandwiches and burgers. But what caught my eye was the fish tacos - crispy fried fish, pico de gallo, slaw and boat sauce. Plus a side of macaroni & cheese. I love a good fish taco, specifically the juxtaposition between the hot crispiness and a cold sauce. The former was good, the latter could use a bit more work. But still a solid rendition. Grade: B