This past year my husband and I decided to take a trip to Tennessee to return to a place where we have stayed before, at Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville Island Hotel on The Island in Pigeon Forge.
We have visited here with the children before, and I have been here for a girlfriends’ getaway to celebrate some special birthdays; but I really enjoyed it when it was just the two of us.
Here are some cool features we enjoy when we stay at the Margaritaville Island Hotel. Every room has a ‘Margarita Concoction Maker.’ You can bring your own liquor, salt, and Margarita mix, or you can purchase it at the front desk.
The hotel has standard rooms, luxury suites, and celebrity suites. My family and I have only stayed in the standard rooms. They all have a gas fireplace that we use during our visits in the winter.
We have always had a room with a balcony situated over the shops on The Island; other rooms overlook the Little Pigeon River. The rooms are spotless and roomy.
They all have a wet bar with a sink, a mini-refrigerator, a coffee maker, and a microwave, as well as complimentary Wi-Fi.
Bites and Margaritas at the Island Margaritaville Hotel
The Hotel has a rooftop pool where you can sunbathe, or you can get some shade under one of the cabanas. The rooftop also has the Chill Bar; here you can get sandwiches, burgers, nachos, cold beverages, and of course, Margarita’s. The rooftop bar and pool overlook the fountain and most of the common area on the island.
You can find the Changes in Latitudes Bar on the lobby level. There is inside seating by the stone fireplace and outside seating near the fire pit. You can choose from their limited menu for something light to eat with your cocktail or Margarita.
Looking for a cup of Joe? Well, you can find that at Margaritaville Coffee Shop; it’s a great place to grab a muffin or baked goods, and if you have to work a little bit on your computer, you can do that here.
Just across the way from the hotel you will find Margaritaville Restaurant. This two-story music-filled paradise has a live stage for entertainment and several bars. Grab a seat inside or outside on the patio that overlooks the Little Pigeon River where you will find a fire pit. Here they serve their signature dishes like the Cheeseburger in Paradise, Volcano Nachos, Jimmy’s Jammin Jambalaya. Grab a Somewhere It’s Five O’Clock Rum cocktail or one of their signature Margaritas!
The hotel has the St. Somewhere Spa. It has six luxurious treatment rooms, a full-service hair salon with makeup bar, a nail salon, a spray tanning room, and a retail shop with product lines such as Bare Minerals Make-up, Kevin Murphy, Moroccanoil and more! I have not yet experienced the spa, but I plan to on my next visit!
There is so much to do at The Island: shopping, dining, a little amusement with The Great Smoky Mountain Wheel and a few other rides and games for children and kids at heart. For a full list of the restaurants and places to eat, you can see them here.
My husband and I enjoyed the music which is on stage in front of the Ole Smoky Tennessee Moonshine Barn.
The first night we ate at Timberwood Grill, and the second night we thought we could get away with eating something light. But while we were sitting outside listening to the different bands, I decided to walk over to shop at Paula Deen’s Kitchen.
When I joined my husband, who was sitting in a rocking chair, I said, “I think we need to eat at Paula’s.” I could smell her fried chicken while I was shopping. He said he wasn’t super hungry, but I said, “Then let’s go and get something small. ” Well, you can’t do that when you are at Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen.
They serve dinner family-style, and it’s all for one price per person. You can order either two or three entrees, four side dishes and each of you gets a dessert. They start you off with their cheese biscuits; they are fluffy and big! Our children love them; I only had a bite or two because I was saving room for the main dishes.
We ordered the fried chicken, beef pot roast served over buttered rice; and the sides we had were creamed corn, broccoli casserole, mashed potatoes, and green salad.
The Island has a lot of shopping, but it also has a lot of rocking chairs that surround the vast fountain that is in the middle of the Island so that you can enjoy a time of complete relaxation.
The Island is a great place to visit, even if you live in the area. Many do come from Gatlinburg and Knoxville, which are not far away.
Enjoy some of the picks of the banjos by just watching the video below to get a little taste of the Island in Pigeon Forge. Sorry, I can share the food pickings only in photos! Enjoy!
Let me know if you have been to The Island in Pigeon Forge or to any of Paula Deen’s Family Kitchens.
