Laughing Lindsay

Travel Reviews, Giveaways, & More!

Margaritaville Resort Gatlinburg Review

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My mom and I take a trip every year around this time to remember my dad and to experience the holidays somewhere new. Last year, we stayed at the Margaritaville Resort Gatlinburg in Tennessee! Here’s a look at our room and what we thought about it.

Margaritaville Resort Gatlinburg

Margaritaville Resort Gatlinburg

As I said in my Margaritaville Island Inn Pigeon Forge Review, my mom grew up going to the beach. These beach themed resorts are perfect for her! That’s why I’ve made an effort to have us stay at all but one of these places in the Great Smoky Mountains. Plus, having stayed at several now, I know that I can trust these hotels for a great room and restful night’s sleep.

The Margaritaville Resort Gatlinburg is even more unique because of its location. I loved being able to just walk down the street to enjoy everything the town has to offer! The hotel being on the main drag of Gatlinburg is definitely a huge perk of staying here! Plus, it’s towards the beginning of the street, so you don’t have to fight much traffic to arrive here. I will admit that the parking was somewhat limited. However, we were able to find a spot every time we needed one.

The Room

The rooms at the Margaritaville Resort Gatlinburg are really nice! I love the color scheme as it’s really relaxing! In fact, the blue/turquoise reminded me a little bit of my blog’s color. I also enjoyed having a balcony that looked out on main street and Anakeesta! The beds were very comfortable too. One particular aspect of the room that stood out to me was the bathroom. It was the biggest bathroom I’ve ever had in a hotel! I couldn’t believe it had a separate tub and walk-in shower! You can see them in my Instagram post above.

In conclusion, I can easily recommend a stay at Margaritaville Resort Gatlinburg if you are planning to visit the area. Its walking distance to many popular attractions as well as relaxing vibes make it easy choice. Have you ever stayed here or at another Margaritaville Resort?

Christmas in the Great Smoky Mountains

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I’ve been lucky enough to experience Christmas in the Great Smoky Mountains several times. Here are my favorite things to see and do when I visit during that time of the year!

Christmas in the Great Smoky Mountains

Christmas in the Great Smoky Mountains

There is so much to see and do when you visit the Sevierville/Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area! It can be hard to know what is worth your time and money. I think it’s even harder to decide what to do when you are visiting during Christmas in the Great Smoky Mountains. To make it easier to plan your trip, I’m going to break down your options based on the three towns you can visit.

Christmas in Sevierville

If you are visiting Sevierville at Christmastime, then I recommend checking out Shadrack’s Light Show. I experienced the show at the Smokies Stadium in 2020 and found it to be a great way to see some lights while social distancing. This light show is a drive through experience, so you can stay in your car the whole time! 2022 will be the last year it will be held at the Stadium. However, they are starting a new show at Soaky Mountain Waterpark in 2022 as well. I’m sure it will be just as fun!

Christmas in Pigeon Forge

I just did a whole post highlighting Christmas shows in Pigeon Forge. In it I discuss everything from Dolly Parton Stampede Christmas Dinner Show to the Comedy Barn! I also have to mention how amazing Christmas at Dollywood is again! Additionally, the town of Pigeon Forge celebrates the holidays each year with Winterfest! During this time, you can see all kinds of Christmas lights around town for free! Plus, they just opened the Winterfest Wonders of Light Walking Trail! You can definitely plan a few days in Pigeon Forge around the holiday season!

Christmas in Gatlinburg

Lasty but not least is Gatlinburg. Gatlinburg decorates the town with branded snowmen, as seen in the photo collage above! They dot the entire main street and it’s fun to go around to see all of the different ones! You can also visit Anakeesta for Enchanted Winter/Christmas! Anakeesta also offers Breakfast with Santa on select weekends in late November/early December. To get an idea of what to expect at Anakeesta during Christmas in the Great Smoky Mountains, you can scroll through my pictures in the Instagram post below.

There are two additional options for celebrating winter in Gatlinburg that I’ve never experienced: Ober Mountain for skiing and snow tubing as well as Lights Over Gatlinburg at Gatlinburg SkyLift Park. I’ve heard good things about each one, but haven’t had the chance to do them yet. Although, I have visited Ober during the fall and had fun there.

As you can see, there’s lots to do if you visit during Christmas in the Great Smoky Mountains. Is there another must visit on your list?

If you are planning a trip to the area during a different season, here are my other posts to help you plan:

Christmas Shows in Pigeon Forge, TN

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Did you know that several attractions in the Smoky Mountains get a holiday makeover? For instance, there are several special Christmas shows in Pigeon Forge, TN! Here’s a look at the various options and my reviews of the experiences.

Christmas shows in Pigeon Forge

Christmas Shows in Pigeon Forge

All of these places have year round offerings, but they change the performance for the holidays. So, if you are already a fan of the attraction or are just looking for a new way to get in the jolly spirit when visiting, here’s a list of Christmas Shows in Pigeon Forge, TN!

  • Christmas at Dolly Parton’s Stampede – If you click that link, you can actually read my full review of this dinner experience. I’ve actually never gone to the original Dolly Parton Stampede show but I found the holiday North vs South Pole twist to be fun and jovial.
  • Hatfield & McCoy Christmas Disaster Dinner Feud – I reviewed the regular Hatfield and McCoy Dinner Show previously and was lucky enough to attend the holiday version this past weekend! It was fun to see all of the characters add a little bit of red and green to their outfits (minus that one… Haha!). I also enjoyed hearing the festive tunes. You can see pictures from this visit in my Instagram post below.
  • Comedy Barn Christmas – It’s just never worked out for me to visit the Comedy Barn. However, I’ve heard good things about it. There’s no dinner served here, but it’s a variety act. Their holiday version just began on the 19th, so if you visit soon you will get to experience this one.
  • Country Tonite Christmas – I visited this attraction last year. Last year, they performed a good chunk of their regular Country Tonite show, had an intermission, and then switched it up to holiday music. If you are looking for something with lots of religion and patriotism in it, then this is for you. Also, it helps if you are a fan of country music.
  • Dollywood – Lastly, I would include Dollywood as a place to visit with Christmas shows in Pigeon Forge! There are several to choose from and a ticket for the day isn’t much more than a dinner show ticket! You can read my post for tips on visiting Dollywood at Christmas!

So, that’s the list of Christmas shows in Pigeon Forge, TN! Have you been to any of them? Which one is your favorite?

Christmas at Dollywood: What to Expect

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It’s hard to believe it, but it’s already Christmas at Dollywood! So, here’s a look at all of the things you can expect to see, do, and eat at the yearly festival!

Christmas at Dollywood

Christmas at Dollywood

From now until the end of the 2022 season (January 1, 2023), you can experience Smoky Mountain Christmas at Dollywood! This festival includes seasonal foods, millions of lights, a weekend fireworks show and festive shows! It’s easy to make a full day at the park during this time of the year!

The Decorations

You can’t talk about Christmas at Dollywood without talking about the lights, so I will start there. Similar to my recommendations for experiencing fall at Dollywood, I suggest walking around the park at least once during the day and then again at night. This way, you can really experience the gorgeous decor! It’s nice to see all of the trees during the day and then again with the lights on! The same can be said for the other decor as well.

Another neat thing to know about the holiday decorations, is that each part of the park has a different color/theme! Santa’s Village is red and green. Glacier Ridge is blues and white. Craftman’s Valley has clear lights.

Additionally, new this year is the Dollywood Express Light Experience! You will be able to ride the train (something I recommend doing anytime of the year) and see new lights flickering by as seasonal music plays! This sounds like a fun experience for sure! Although, it tends to be cold on the train in the winter. So, make sure you bundle up and grab some hot chocolate!

The Food

Once again, the park is bringing back the tasting pass for the festival. In my opinion, this can be a great way to try several seasonal foods on a budget. However, you have to make sure you choose items that are worth over $6 to get your money’s worth. Otherwise, I recommend just buying items out of pocket. I can’t recommend a stop by the Spotlight Bakery enough. Everything I’ve ever had there is delicious!

Beyond the Gingerbread People Cookies, it appears that most of this year’s Smoky Mountain Christmas at Dollywood menu is new. However, I am looking forward to trying the Chicken Pot Pie Bread Cone and Hot Chocolate Cupcake when I visit later this month! Keep an eye on my Instagram to see what I end up trying.

The Entertainment

One of the things Dollywood is known for is their entertainment. I just love being able to walk around the park and catch a performance. There are always loads of musicians around the park. However, Christmas at Dollywood brings special holiday shows too! I really enjoy “Appalachian Christmas” but I know there are super fans of “Christmas in the Smokies”. Heidi Parton’s show is great too!

Lastly, if you are attending on a Friday or Saturday night after Thanksgiving, then you can catch the holiday fireworks show. I’ve yet to be able watch these thanks to the scheduling of them. So, that’s a huge bummer. That being said, I’m sure they are great fireworks and the perfect way to end the day.

So, there you have it! An overview of everything you can expect to see, hear, and taste at Christmas at Dollywood! Have you ever been? What was your favorite part?

If you are planning a trip to the park during a different season, here are my posts on those seasonal events:

Dolly Parton Stampede Christmas Dinner Show Review

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I’ve been lucky enough to travel to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee several times over the past couple of years. In that time, I’ve been able to enjoy all three of the dinner shows. I’ve previously reviewed the Pirates Voyage Pigeon Forge Dinner Show and the Hatfield and McCoy Dinner Feud Show. Today, I’m highlighting the third and final one, Dolly Parton Stampede!

Dolly Parton Stampede Christmas

Dolly Parton Stampede

The Dolly Parton Stampede dinner show typically features a rivalry between the north and south. Personally, harkening back to the Civil War doesn’t exactly make me hungry. However, beginning in early November, the show gets a Christmas makeover! It then becomes a battle between the North and South Poles! My mom and I enjoyed a showing of the Christmas version last year and thought it was great!

The Dolly Parton Stampede show itself is very good. We were entertained by the fast horse riding and tricks! The injection of Christmas songs and costumes really put us in the Christmas spirit! We also enjoyed some of the friendly competitions between the North and South Poles. Similar to other dinner shows I’ve reviewed, I don’t think it truly matters which side you sit on in the end.

This was actually our first dinner show and we weren’t sure what to expect. While we enjoyed the food, we didn’t like that the meal was served during the show. Attempting to eat while trying to watch the show made me feel like I missed parts of the show. This is a big reason why we prefer the Hatfield and McCoy dinner show as they serve food before the show. I guess this way does add to its repeatability though. Plus, I’m sure different seats provide different views of the show as there is so much to see!

The Food

One of the neat things about eating at Dolly Parton Stampede is that every person is given their own small chicken! It’s probably a Cornish hen, but it’s very tasty nonetheless! I like that you start the meal just like at the other dinner shows with the creamy vegetable soup and a biscuit. The corn on the cob was pretty good too. Admittedly, my potato was really dry, as it was at the Pirates show. The pork was just ok. I enjoyed dessert – a flaky apple turnover! Overall, it was a pretty good meal. I would say it’s second place in terms of food at dinner shows in Pigeon Forge. You can’t beat Hatfield and McCoy’s food!

Overall, a meal at Dolly Parton Stampede is an experience you won’t forget. It’s a great show, especially at Christmas time! However, it is pricey and I recommend looking for a coupon (code) before purchasing tickets to save some money.