Laughing Lindsay

Travel Reviews, Giveaways, & More!

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:

Hatfield and McCoy Dinner Feud Show Review

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If you’ve gone anywhere near Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, then you’ve probably seen the advertisements for the Hatfield and McCoy Dinner Feud. I saw them for over a decade before I finally attended the show in May 2022 because I didn’t understand the appeal from the ads. However, I’m here to review it and tell you why it’s now one of my favorite meal experiences in the area.

Hatfield and McCoy Dinner Show

Hatfield and McCoy Dinner Show

Being from far southwestern Virginia, I loathe the stereotype of Appalachian people being dumb folks. So, I will admit that some of the advertising (in addition to the price) kept me from trying the Hatfield and McCoy Dinner Show for several years. I honestly expected to witness some depiction of dumb rednecks feuding and didn’t have any desire to see that. However, when I watched the show I was happy to discover that it’s not that. While it doesn’t follow the true history of the family feuds, it also doesn’t necessarily mock fun of the people either. In fact, I really enjoyed the addition of the music and clogging in the show as they are true to the area.

I heard that they recently added a new part to the show. They are calling the new high-flying contraption a Billy-copter. I’m sure the new addition brings even more fun to the show and I’ll have to head back to check it out.

The Food

This is my first dinner show review on the blog, but it was my third dinner show experience in Pigeon Forge. So, I can safely say that the Hatfield and McCoy Dinner Feud has the best food of all of the dinner shows in the area! Everything here tastes amazing! You get fried chicken, bbq pork, the creamy soup that is found at all of the dinner shows in the area, corn on the cob, mashed potatoes, rolls, and pudding for dessert!

Plus, it’s all you care to enjoy. So, if you want more of something, your waiter will bring it to you! That great hospitality seems fitting for this show set in the Appalachian mountains. My mom and I asked for more dinner rolls and pulled pork as they make great little sandwiches! Another thing that sets the Hatfield and McCoy Dinner Show apart from the other two shows is that you eat your meal before the show. We preferred being able to enjoy the meal prior to the show as we didn’t feel distracted. I recommend arriving early to give yourselves time to eat and ask for seconds before the show begins.

While I realize that a dinner show is expensive and not something many people can afford to do often, the food is really good here. Plus, you are paying for the experience of a show and a meal. So, to me it’s worth it. Plus, you can usually find a coupon if you look around online or find one of those coupon books around town.

The Inn at Christmas Place Review

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I figured a good way to celebrate Christmas in July was to share my thoughts on my recent stay at The Inn at Christmas Place in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Spoiler alert: It’s amazing!

The Inn at Christmas Place

I have been traveling to Pigeon Forge ever since I was in high school and have rode by the beautifully themed The Inn at Christmas Place countless times. However, it wasn’t until May of this year that I finally got to stay there! My mom and I booked a standard two queen room for two nights and it was everything I dreamed of!

The Grounds of The Inn at Christmas Place

There’s so much to say about The Inn at Christmas Place, so it’s hard to know where to begin. So, I’ll start from the outside by gushing about the beauty of the outside of the hotel and the grounds. Immediately upon arrival, you will see their amazing double doors with wreaths made into the glass windows! It’s simply gorgeous and sets the tone for the entire stay. Plus, they have a courtyard with pond so that you can walk around outside and relax. They also have an outdoor pool in addition to an indoor pool, but we didn’t get a chance to experience those on our trip. You can view pictures of the outside and some of the indoor public spaces in my Instagram post below.

Inside the Inn at Christmas Place

Once you head inside the hotel, you can really enjoy the holiday spirit. There’s so much décor around every corner! In fact, at the end of each hallway is an uniquely themed holiday display! My mom and I enjoyed taking the elevator and getting off at each floor just to view the different displays. I highly recommend it. Warning: It may put you in the mood to walk across the street to The Incredible Christmas Place store to purchase everything you see! Take a look at some of the absolutely stunning decor!

Inside a Double Queen Room

I just loved all of the little touches inside our room at The Inn at Christmas Place! For starters, take a look at the adorable “Silent Night” pillows on the bed! I thought that was a fantastic way to decorate! Plus, the small tree on top of the tv stand added even more festivity to the room! The bathroom also had some holiday touches! You can see all of these things, including the view from our room in my Instagram post below! Also, I can honestly say that I slept great in this bed! The mattress was very comfortable and the shower actually had a pretty good water pressure. Those are both things I look for in a good quality hotel room.

I think it’s obvious why The Inn at Christmas Place became one of my favorite places to stay in just one visit. I love that I can experience the holidays anytime of the year with the wonderful decorations. Plus, the hotel itself is great quality, with a comfortable bed and delicious breakfast buffet included! So, I’ll end this post by including some tips for making the most of your stay!

Tips for Staying at The Inn at Christmas Place

  • Check out the special hotel run channels on the television to really set the mood (think fun holiday music and stories).
  • Look out for the special events taking place by looking at the event calendar in the elevator. You don’t want to miss your chance to see Santa!
  • Grab some cookies in the lobby every night for a fun way to end the day!
  • Enjoy a scrumptious breakfast with a great selection of food and a fun breakfast room! I also recommend trying their special Christmas blend of coffee.
  • Take the time to roam around the hotel and see all of the Christmas decorations, you won’t be disappointed.

You can celebrate the spirit of the holiday season all year long with a stay at The Inn at Christmas Place!

Summer at Dollywood 2022

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If you are planning a summer vacation and are wondering what all there is to experience during the summer at Dollywood, then I’ve got you covered! From the new Roadside Attractions around the park to the delicious foods and awesome drone show, there is lots to do during Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Summer Celebration!

Summer at Dollywood

Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Summer Celebration

During the 2022 summer at Dollywood, Dollywood has Roadside Attractions around the park to fit the theme of a summer road trip! These attractions include a Bubble Foam Zone (one for children and one for adults), Lazy Loungers (chairs to lounge in), Giant Spinning Tops (to sit on and/or spin), the Largest Bean Can, Noodle Takeover (a beautiful rainbow of hanging pool noodles), and the gorgeous Kite Sky (to replace spring’s Umbrella Sky)! It’s lots of fun to simply wander around the park to look and play with these things.

Summer at Dollywood Food

Another wonderful part of the fun of summer at Dollywood is the food! I personally recommend trying the Mountain Berry Lemonade, BBQ Burger, and Cookies and Cream Liege Waffle! My husband really enjoyed the Melon Delight, which is a great dairy-free way to cool down on a hot day! We both purchased a Tasting Pass and enjoyed walking around the park selecting different foods to try throughout the day. You can see most of the things we enjoyed in my Instagram post above. Although, be warned that some of the locations sold out of items before we got to try them around dinner time. Also, note that most dining locations close before the park does so get snacks for the drone show early.

Summer at Dollywood Entertainment

Dollywood is known for having some great entertainment, so it should come as no surprise that summer at Dollywood is no different! For instance, they have the Gazillion Bubbles Show Aurora returning this summer and it is definitely worth seeing! It’s hard to explain, but it’s a neat bubbles/laser show that allows you to sit in air conditioning for 40 minutes! You can also catch the Smoky Mountain Summer Celebration shows Hydro Jive Junction and Liquid Beats.

Lastly, you can’t miss the amazing Dollywood’s Sweet Summer Nights 3D Drone and Fireworks Show, shown in my Instagram post above! It was our first drone show and it won’t be our last. It was neat to see all of the drones in the sky coming together along with the music. Plus, there’s a fun Summer Nights Dance Party prior to the drone show that gets you in the mood. It’s a wonderful way to end a summer day in the Smoky Mountains!

You can enjoy Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Summer Celebration until August 7th!

If you are planning a visit to the park during another season, here are my posts to help you: