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The Best Breakfast in Pigeon Forge, TN

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There are lots of places to grab a bite to eat in the morning in the Great Smoky Mountains. However, here are my five favorite places for the best breakfast in Pigeon Forge, TN!

Best breakfast in Pigeon Forge

5 Favorite Breakfasts in Pigeon Forge, TN

You can’t drive too far in Pigeon Forge without running into a pancake place. So, there are loads of options for your morning meal here. However, these are my personal favorites that I frequent when I’m in the area. So, in no particular order, here’s my list for the best breakfast in Pigeon Forge.

  1. Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant and Farmhouse Grill – My mom thinks they serve the best breakfast in Pigeon Forge and requests we go here every trip. I also really enjoy eating here. I love their Banana Foster Waffle and get it every time I eat here. We both love that their meals come with apple fritters, apple butter, and apple juleps! There are technically two restaurant buildings here, but they seem to offer very similar menus. We typically go to the second building as it tends to have shorter waits. After a meal here, we like to walk off some of the calories by perusing the barn. Mom always purchases some apple butter to bring home and I sometimes grab some of their baking mixes.
  1. The Old Mill Restaurant – I just enjoy the general atmosphere of The Old Mill and enjoy walking around the shops if the restaurant is busy. I also like that the meals come with orange juice and banana nut muffins! In fact, I think the muffins were the star of the meal when I last ate here! I really enjoyed my Cinnamon Raisin Pecan French Toast and my mom liked her biscuits.
  1. Frizzle Chicken Farmhouse Cafe – This place is an experience! Where else can you enjoy chicken and waffles while surrounded by singing chickens?! I went here with my mom and she still brings up the singing chickens from time to time. It was really neat to watch the animatronics come to life with the music. It certainly made the wait for food seem shorter. My mom enjoyed eating here so much that she even bought one of their t-shirts!
  1. Five Oaks Farm Kitchen – I love the thick “ring-baked” griddle cakes here. I also think the huge cinnamon rolls are amazing! Both of these items are in the photo collage above. Fun fact, the people who own this restaurant also own one of my favorite Gatlinburg breakfast places: Crockett’s Breakfast Camp! They have a very similar menu. So, if you want huge pancakes or cinnamon rolls, you have two good options depending on where you are.
  1. Flapjack’s Pancake Cabin – My last one on this list is another restaurant that has multiple locations! I like the variety of pancakes Flapjack’s offers. Plus, they actually put some flavors in the pancake batter rather than just putting a bunch of stuff on top. I really enjoyed their Reese’s peanut butter cup pancakes as it was like eating candy for breakfast!

As you can probably tell, it would be nearly impossible to crown one restaurant with the title of best breakfast in Pigeon Forge. However, I think a top 5 is a good compromise. So, have you ever eaten at any of these locations? Did I miss your go-to breakfast in the Smokies?

Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort Review

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I have had the pleasure of staying at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa on two prior trips, so you can probably tell what I think of it based on the fact that I made a return trip. However, if you are wondering what it’s like to stay there, keep reading.

DreamMore Resort

DreamMore Resort and Spa

Let me start talking about the DreamMore Resort by stating just how pretty and inspiring the resort is. Dolly Parton dreamed up the theme for this resort and there are little touches everywhere to remind you of her. If you spend anytime walking around, it’s hard to miss the butterflies and other pieces encouraging you to dream more. I enjoy getting some free pink lemonade in the lobby, a loaf of cinnamon bread from the DM Pantry and enjoying it by the fireplace. Then, I follow that up with a walk around the resort to enjoy the beauty of the resort and mountains.

Dollywood’s Resort Rooms

As stated above, I have stayed at the DreamMore Resort twice. I first stayed with my husband in October 2019 and again the second time in August 2021 with my mom. The first trip we booked a king bed with a fun bunk bed. The second time we had two queen beds. So, I can say that this resort offers a variety of room sizes and setups for each family. Both rooms feature the same type of decor and relaxing vibes that make for a great trip. They also have comfortable mattresses. In fact, we even took a nap in the bunk bed once.

Theme Park Perks

Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa is currently and until Fall 2023, the only official Dollywood resort. It being the official resort means that it’s a great option if you are visiting the theme park. For starters, it’s basically next door to the parks. However, a stay at the resort also includes a free park shuttle! So, you don’t have to worry about driving and parking at the parks if you stay here! That’s a huge perk! Additionally, guests of the resort with park tickets receive free Timesaver passes to allow you to skip some lines in the theme parks. Guests also receive early park entry on Saturdays, enabling park goers the chance to ride select ride(s) before the park opens to the general public! You can also read my 5 favorite things to do at Dollywood if you are planning to visit the theme park too.

Food Options

Each time I stay here, I enjoy visiting Song & Hearth: Southern Eatery for breakfast. They have a great buffet with lots of tasty options. It’s also very convenient to just take an elevator down to breakfast instead of driving across town. I have also tried dinner here, but I prefer the breakfast. However, if you go for dinner then you must get Dolly’s stone soup as it’s her family’s recipe! As I mentioned above, I always get a loaf of cinnamon bread from DM Pantry whenever I visit the resort. DM Pantry is a quick service location serving coffee, pizza, and sandwiches all day. They also have a lounge, which I’ve heard good things about but haven’t actually experienced yet.

Admittedly, a stay at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa can be pricey depending on when you go. However, you can get a reasonable deal if you book a package or keep a look out for specials. Plus, I’ve only had good experiences staying here. Granted, I have not visited the spa or pools while staying here but I did pass by both and was impressed with what I saw. So, have you stayed here? What was your experience like?

Pirates Voyage Pigeon Forge Dinner Show Review

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I recently posted a review of the Hatfield and McCoy Dinner Feud Show and today I’m sharing my thoughts on the Pirates Voyage dinner show in Pigeon Forge as well.

Pirates Voyage Pigeon Forge Dinner Show Review

Pirates Voyage Show

Let’s jump right in by stating that the best part of the Pirates Voyage dinner show is the show! Having been to all three dinner shows in Pigeon Forge, I can honestly say this one offers the best show! In fact, it’s the only one I’ve gone to twice now! I went once in May 2022 with my mom and then again with my husband in June 2022. I really enjoyed the show each time as I had a different seat and view with each show. In May, I was on the Sapphire side and in June I was on the Crimson side. It was neat to cheer for a different team each time.

The Pirates Voyage show is very entertaining. The actors are acrobatics in every sense of the word. I can’t even begin to imagine how one learns to do the show. Plus, there’s fire and some animals incorporated into the show. Spoiler alert: my mom loved the addition of the sea lion and the birds were also neat to see.

The Food

While the Pirates Voyage has the best show, the food is just ok, if I’m being completely honest. It certainly wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t the best dinner show food either. If you recall, I prefer the food at the Hatfield and McCoy show. However, both shows serve the same creamy vegetable soup, which you can buy a mix of in the shows’ stores. Beyond that, it’s a completely different meal. It’s actually more similar to the meal served at Dolly Parton’s Stampede with its chicken, biscuit, corn on the cob, potato, ham, and fruit turnover. The difference between the two is that Pirates Voyage comes with some fried chicken and a peach turner. Stampede serves a whole small rotisserie chicken and apple turnover.

Additionally, similar to Dolly Parton’s Stampede and different from Hatfield and McCoys is that the meal is served during the show. So, it can be difficult to watch the show and eat your food at the same time. Plus, it’s not unlimited, like Hatfield and McCoy is. However, they will bring you more to drink if you finish yours. I really enjoyed the lemonade here, as did my husband. The meal certainly wasn’t bad by any means, just know that you are going to Pirates Voyage for the show mainly.

If you are visiting Pigeon Forge and want to experience a dinner show like no other, I can recommend Pirates Voyage with its amazing show and good food. Admittedly, it is pricey so be on the lookout for discounts and coupons. However, I can guarantee it will be a dinner that you won’t quickly forget.

Margaritaville Island Inn Pigeon Forge Review

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Back in December 2019, my mom and I stayed a few nights at the Margaritaville Island Inn in Pigeon Forge, TN. While it’s been a few years since we stayed there, I thought I would give an overview and review of this resort.

Margaritaville Island Inn Pigeon Forge TN

Margaritaville Island Inn Overview

My mom grew up going to the beach in New Jersey, so I know how much she likes a beachy themed resort. That’s one of the primary reasons I suggested the Margaritaville Island Inn for our stay in Pigeon Forge. I also liked that it was located at The Island, which put us walking distance to some great restaurants and entertainment. Pro tip: go see the water fountain show at The Island. We also liked the affordable rates of this place. Plus, our stay here came with a complimentary breakfast! This was our first time staying at a Margaritaville property, but it wasn’t our last. So, you know it left a good impression on us.

Room Review

We booked a double queen standard room at the Margaritaville Island Inn and were very pleased with the accommodations. Everything looked new and had a very relaxing beach vibe. We thought the long desk was neat in case you needed to get some work done. The beds were very comfortable and we slept great. I also found the individual reading lights to be a nice touch since I tend to stay up later than my mom. We also appreciated the in-room microwave and mini-refrigerator for storing leftovers.

Overall, we were very pleased with our stay at the Margaritaville Island Inn in Pigeon Forge, TN. I can recommend a stay here (or other Margaritaville properties) without hesitation. In fact, I have also stayed at the one in Gatlinburg. You can read my Margaritaville Gatlinburg Resort Review here. I also stayed at the Camp Margaritaville RV and Lodge in Pigeon Forge in 2022. You can read that review by clicking that link. So, have you stayed at this Margaritaville resort or at another one? What was your experience like?

The 5 Best Things To Do at Dollywood

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I wanted to do a best things to do at Dollywood post because I have posts detailing what you can expect to encounter during their seasonal festivals. This post will list my favorite things to do, no matter when you go!

Best Things to Do at Dollywood

The Best Things to do at Dollywood

DW is a unique theme park with lots of tasty eats, beautiful scenery, and fun experiences! So, it’s impossible to visit and not enjoy yourself. These are the things I enjoy doing whenever I visit.

  1. Take a train ride. Did you even visit Dollywood if you didn’t ride the train? You will see and hear the train making its way around the park during the day and it’s an integral part of the park. In fact, the park had its early start around the train. You have to ride it at least once! It is a neat way to see the park and the beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains.
  2. Eat cinnamon bread. You have to visit The Grist Mill to try the infamous cinnamon bread. Although, you can also pick up a loaf at the DreamMore Resort, it feels more special when you pick one up at the Mill and eat it in the park. If you are craving a more substantial meal, I recommend trying Aunt Granny’s at least once.
  3. See a show. Dollywood has some of the best theme park entertainment around. There are different shows to see based on the time of the year you go. However, they are known for the Dreamland Drive-in show which you can catch anytime of the year. It has a cute story with music everyone can enjoy. At the very least, it’s a great way to get some air conditioning on a hot day.
  4. Walk around the park and enjoy the sights. Dollywood has to be one of the most beautiful theme parks. The mountains serve as the backdrop and create picture worthy scenes no matter the season. Another fun thing to look at is Dolly’s old tour bus!
  5. Ride a ride. To be honest, I have taken at least one trip to Dollywood and didn’t ride a single ride. However, they do have a good selection of rides. I like the Dragonflier and enjoy riding the Demolition Derby a.k.a. bumper cars with my mom.

So, there you have the 5 best things to do at Dollywood no matter what time of the year you go. If you are wondering about their season events, here are my posts on those: