Have you been to the Smokey Mountains? I haven’t been to Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg since I was a teenager. I went on a road trip last week for a hosted stay at Margaritaville Island Hotel. It had snowed a few days before, but ended up being pretty nice while we were there. I would say you can’t go wrong on when you visit. I def want to go back in the summer to experience the pool and be able to enjoy patios without heaters.
The Margaritaville Island Hotel is located on The Island Pigeon Forge. It’s a place that is great for families with young kids or groups looking for some activities. As soon as pull into the drive of the hotel, the vibe for your trip is set. They even have a live bird in the lobby to greet you.
We arrived on an early Monday afternoon and checked in. You can choose which view of the Island you want. We went with the Fountain View room. That view let’s you see all of the main attractions from your own balcony. We were on the 2nd floor where the rooftop pool and bar are also located. The bar was closed since it was winter, but still explored the roof. The fountains in the center of the island light up at night and the water plays in sequence with fun music throughout the day. Be warned, the music goes from 10A-10PM just in case you want to sleep in or go to bed early. We stayed up late so it worked out well.
I love that the rooms come with a fireplace. Since we traveled in January, it was perfect to sit and sip by the fire. We had a King room and it came with a pullout couch. Each room also has a kitchen area. And of course it wouldn’t be Margaritaville without a Margarita machine on each room. Everything you need is right there for a good time.
After changing to explore we grabbed lunch at Timberwood Grill. It’s mainly American and bar food. Good for a quick meal. We also went to Old Smokey Moonshine for a tasting followed by some frozen drinks at Dude’s Daiquiris. The Daiquiri spot is connected to Mellow Mushroom pizza. Old Smokey and Yeehaw Brewery also have joint locations in Nashville which are really fun as well. That’s why we decided to stop in as the tasting are high energy. They have a barrier and section for each group for safety.
There is probably more stuff to do for the kids, but still plenty for the adults if you want to eat, drink and hop around. There a lot of quick grab and go places. Tuesday afternoon, we did a family style Southern lunch followed by drinks at Margaritaville. The Margaritaville restaurant is right next to the hotel.
On Tuesday, I went down to the hotel spa for some self-care. The St. Somewhere Spa is a cute little shop and oasis. I got a much needed 60 minute masses that included hot stones. It was my first hot stone treatment and she walked me through everything. I certainly felt relaxed and more lumber. We both kept on our masks for safety and I drifted in and out of sleep. They say, “island style relaxation” and that’s what I got.
Wednesday morning, we got some coffee from the MargaritaVille Coffee shop then got on the road back to Nashville. It’s about a 3.5 hours drive. Very easy to get to for a quick weekend getaway.
Thank you to Margaritaville Island Hotel for hosting me. I encourage everyone to check out your nearest Margaritaville property. The vibes are so fun. You’ll love your stay. Let me know in the comments if you have been or are planning a trip to Pigeon Forge. Leave any questions or recommendations you’re looking for.
love,
Leigh Love
