Travel changes you. As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life-and travel-leaves marks on you.
----Anthony Bourdain

Sunday, February 2, 2025

Quick Getaway Close to Home

 
It had been a couple of months since I returned from my last adventure, and I was beginning to get itchy to go somewhere. Anywhere. It didn't have to be far from home, I just needed a quick getaway. Plus, I knew I would eventually need to do something alone. 

Ever since Margaritaville Island Resort in Pigeon Forge, TN was built, I've wanted to stay there. I thought mid-week in January would be the perfect time to go. I made the reservation on Monday for a stay that Thursday for a room at the Margaritaville Inn. Not the hotel, but the inn. I thought The Inn was older but it's not. It is, however, described as being the budget-friendly sister location to the 4-star Margaritaville Hotel. For $50 more, I could have stayed at the hotel but since I was already booked at the Inn, I stayed there. Looking at the pictures of the room, the hotel is definitely nicer. Another difference is that there are more amenities at the hotel, such as a rooftop pool and "chill bar". But it was winter, so that wouldn't have made a difference. The hotel is right in the 'thick of things', I had to take a short walk over the bridge to visit the shops at The Island. Parking at the hotel will cost you $10 if you self-park a short walk from the hotel; and $25 if you use valet. That's per night, not for the entire stay. The Inn has free parking behind the hotel. More about the Inn later.

On the Way

I drove about an hour to get to Pigeon Forge. My first stop (which was actually in Sevierville) was The Apple Barn complex. There are 2 restaurants, a winery (with only sweet wines except for 1 dry wine), cider mill, Christmas shop, creamery, candy shop, and a couple of other shops. All of the products they sell are made from local apple orchards. There is an orchard on site, but they have to use apples from locals to keep up with the demand. 

The Desert Wine Shop is a fairly new addition; there is also a Winery
A small orchard in the front of the buildings
Larger orchards are located in the back of the buildings
The Pigeon Forge Trolley makes it easy to get around the town. An all-day pass is only $3 for over 200 stops.
My next stop was Tanger Outlets. Because that's where you go in the Sevierville/Pigeon Forge area to escape all of the tourist traps. Not that there were very many tourists there. In fact, I've never seen the town so dead. The shops were taking inventory of their stock to prepare for the upcoming busy time of year.  The shows are only open on the weekends, so unless you're interested in the tourist traps, there really isn't much to do.

Lodging 

From there I went to the Inn to see if I could check in, even though it was a little early. I drove to the Hotel first since that's where I thought I was staying.
Margaritaville Island Hotel
When I went into the lobby of The Inn, the air freshener was overpowering. I waited a good 10 minutes for someone to come to the desk, and when he did, he was on his phone. There was no acknowledgment that I and a man were waiting, and when we were acknowledged, he thought we were together even though we weren't standing together. I told him I thought I booked a room at the Hotel, so he said I could go over there and see if they had availability (like they wouldn't during a winter week???). If they did, I could book a room there, go back to the Inn, and they would give me my money back for the room. I started to, but then I decided to just stay there. The young man told me to park in the parking lot at the back of the building; however, I found out that I could have parked in front of the hotel. 
View of the back of the Inn from the parking lot

The Room

So, Mistake #1 was that I didn't book a room at the Hotel. Mistake #2 was that I booked a room at the Inn on the Parkway side. Which meant that the outside door was right on the main road. It wasn't a big deal that time of year, but Pigeon Forge has a lot of different car shows. I would hate to have one of those rooms when one of those shows was happening. 
The balcony-Parkway side
The elevator ride to my room was a little frightening. There were sounds and bumps along the way. I went around the corner, to the end of the hallway, and found my room. 
So far, so good. Adorable signs that kept with the whole island theme. When I opened the door, I found a room that reminded me of The Keys, although I didn't find it very inviting. 
View as I walked in the door
When I walked into the room, the air conditioner was on and it was very cold. It was an unseasonably warm winter day but did not necessitate the air being on. I went over to the unit under the window but couldn't do anything to change it over to heat. I called what I thought was Guest Services, but was put through to reservations. The poor guy tried to help me but no one would answer at the front desk. I went down and the young man (not the same one who checked me in) explained to me that the control was on the wall. (See above) They really should tell you that (for those of us who are not very observant) when you check-in.
View from the balcony
This was unique: the desk could be pulled away from the table and moved to another part of the room.
A makeup remover center complete with facial soap
I think this is pretty standard for most hotels these days. Instead of providing the guest with individual soap/shampoo/conditioner, there is a supply of the products attached to the shower wall
The hooks outside of the shower are a very nice touch.
A very interesting closet door that also serves as the bathroom door
Closed closet door opened up the bathroom
More hooks! These are across from the closet; perfect for hanging up jackets and coats
The smell that I mentioned hitting me in the lobby was also in the room. I'm usually not sensitive to scents, but this one left me with a slight headache. I'm not sure why hotels think they have to use air fresheners. Perhaps if they feel they must use them, they need to look at the bigger problem!
Here are a few more views of the hotel:
The Lobby
The Lobby
The outdoor pool
The breakfast dining area
More seating/dining
The Fitness Room
The Indoor Pool
The Fireplace Room
Breakfast is included. The choices were the usual: a waffle area, instant oatmeal, bread, yogurt, fruit, scrambled eggs/bacon/potatoes, etc. The breakfast staff was very attentive and friendly, although one woman's voice was a bit loud. 

The Island

Once I was settled in my room, I walked over the bridge to The Island. It's a cute area with shops and rides. 
The bridge from the Inn to The Island
The main attraction is the Great Smoky Mountain Wheel. I've been on it before so I skipped it this time. It gives you a good view of the area. 
The Great Smoky Mountain Wheel
View of the street shops
Another view of the shops
There are other amusement rides at The Island but I didn't go into that side of the area. There are also attractions in the area (more of what I call "tourist traps"). Visitors have their choice of a few restaurants as well. I narrowed my decision down to 2: Paula Deen's or Margaritaville. Since Paula Deen's is "family style" and I was by myself, I opted for Margaritaville. 
I knew what I wanted before I went in: Mahi Tacos. Here was Mistake #3: I expected it to taste like the ones I had in The Keys. 
Mahi Tacos, rice and beans with habanero cream sauce on the side plus a LandShark draft
My server (who was awesome, by the way....very attentive!) suggested the cream sauce on the side after I asked if it was spicy. My guess is that someone in the kitchen forgot as they were plating. I say this because the last bite of the first taco set my mouth on fire. I suspect that he/she started to put it on, then scraped it off upon the realization it was supposed to be on the side. As I said, it was a mistake to order this. The mahi was scarce and oversalted. My $24 would have been better spent somewhere else. 
And then came Mistake #4: Ordering a slice of Key Lime Pie to go.
I would have been better off going by Publix and getting some pie from there. This had very little Key Lime taste. Definitely go to Publix if you want a good Key Lime Pie!
Overall, my dining experience left something to be desired, but that's okay. I've "been there, done that" and can move on. The atmosphere was good; Jimmy was on the TV, as well as the whole island theme throughout the restaurant.
Outdoor bar

In Conclusion

Overall, I was disappointed with the whole Margaritaville experience. The upside is that since it was off-season and mid-week, I didn't spend the regular amount of money I would have if I had gone either on the weekend or during the high season. I can say I've stayed there. I learned that I need to research a little better before doing this again. If I had realized the Inn was "budget-friendly" I wouldn't have stayed there. I didn't find the room very inviting, so that was a huge disappointment right from the get-go. I mentioned that my room was at the end of the hallway. What I didn't mention is that it was right next to a storage room...that someone went into after 10:00 pm and made an enormous amount of noise. For the positives: the location was excellent, parking was free, and the bed was comfortable. Because of the air freshener, I was ready to leave as soon as I could. 

Would I stay here again if given the chance? I would say without a doubt, no. I might try the Hotel, but it would have to be at a very good rate to even consider it. 

Saturday, January 25, 2025

Ireland 2024: Northern Island Tour Part 2

 

Days 3 & 4 of the Northern Island Tour

Today was the day we crossed over from the Republic of Ireland to Northern Ireland. We had a couple of places to visit before we entered part of Great Britain. Both nights were spent in Northern Ireland.

Where We Went

Our first stop was an impromptu stop at Lough Finn. Tomรกs is a photographer and has an excellent eye for good pictures. This was an absolutely beautiful place for us to stretch our legs and enjoy the beauty of Ireland. Lough Finn is a beautiful lake with green fields at the bottom of the mountain. The gorse blooming alongside a railroad track was a very nice touch.

Lough Finn is named after the nearby town, Fintown. Finngeal, a mythical woman, is said to have drowned in the lake after attempting to rescue her brother who had been wounded.
Always look in the other direction to see what people are missing. At Lough Finn, across the road is a hill and I spotted some sheep.
Still in County Donegal, Glenveagh National Park is the most northern national park in the Republic. We took a shuttle from the car park to the castle, but you can walk the 3.5 km. One of the ladies wanted to walk but was discouraged due to the amount of time we had for our visit. She opted to take a hike on a trail. I may be mistaken, but I believe she took the View Point Trail. There are several different options for trails. 
The castle was completed in 1873, taking 6 years to complete. The owner, John George Adair, evicted over 200 tenants on the property. A murder took place during the evictions, which earned John Adair the nickname "Black Jack Adair". His wife, Cornelia, was an American who upgraded the castle for comfort and planned out the gardens after Jack died suddenly. Following her death in 1921, the castle was occupied by Anti-Treaty as well as Free State Army Forces during the Irish Civil War. The castle then switched hands twice before being sold to the Office of Public Works, which created the National Park. The castle, gardens, and most of the contents were then bestowed on the country in 1983. We opted not to tour the castle; we walked around it and then spent time in the garden. 
Walkway around the castle to the swimming pool area

View of the castle from the area of the swimming pool
View from the dock/swimming pool area
The Garden Trail
Grianรกn of Aileach is an incredibly restored stone fort. I thought the ring fort we visited the previous week was amazing, but this one took my breath away. It may have something to do with the views from the top since this one is on Greenan Mountain. It's possible that the fort was originally built around 800 AD. Following the Vikings plundering the fort, around 1100 AD the fortress was destroyed only to be restored in the 1870's. 
View of Grianรกn of Aileach
We crossed over into Northern Ireland, and we all knew it as soon as it happened. The signs changed, and the buildings were different, as were the license plates. Derry was a very interesting city. We went on a walking tour along the wall. I didn't know much about Derry-Londonderry,  so I had no idea it was a walled city complete with 4 gates that are still in place, built 400 years ago. Derry has seen its share of difficult times: The walls were built to keep out the Irish who were forced to live in the less desirable land called the "Bogside". Londonderry (as it is called by the British) was established in the 1600's through a Charter by King James I. In the Republic of Ireland, the city is called "Derry". The Museum of Free Derry sounds very interesting; I wish we had time to visit it. 
The Derry Girls greeted us as we walked out of the mall (which we had to walk through to get to the wall)
View of the Wall from the mall
On the Wall
Loyalist Mural
St. Columb's Cathedral
Former gaol (jail); this tower was a hanging tower. It houses a WWI museum.
St. Eugene's Cathedral (Catholic) Notice it is outside of the city walls
Cannon overlooking Bogside
"Bernadette": Social activist who was a member of Parliament. She was arrested, convicted, and served jail time for initiating a riot
"Death of Innocence": Annette McGavigan was 14 when she was killed by a British soldier in 1971 as she stood at the side of the road.
St. Augustine's Church, built in 1872. The site is thought to be where St. Columba's monastery was.

Peace Mural
14 Sycamore trees can be found along this part of the wall to commemorate the 13 apprentice boys and James Morrison (their lookout). These boys closed the city gates against James II troops who were advancing on Derry.
Diamond War Memorial dedicated to residents of the city who lost their lives during WWI
Night view of the Peace Bridge
We were at Giant's Causeway fairly early, which was great because the parking lot was getting full when we left. Remember the legend of Finn McCool and Benbulben from the last post? He's a major character in the legend of Giant's Causeway, too. There are a couple of different versions of the story but the ones I read/heard have Benandonner tearing up the stone path. It was amazing to see what time and nature have done. There were so many stone columns...there were just no words when I stood and looked at them.
Photo courtesy of my SIL
Finn McCool's Organ Pipes
The Chimney Stack
There is a path/walkway over to the Chimney Stack, but because of time (and coldness, dampness, and wind) we opted not to walk over to it.
Look at the person for reference as to the size of the wall.
The ruins of Dunseverick Castle were only a couple of stones but the scenery was beautiful. The original castle is believed to have been constructed in the 5th century, or earlier. St. Patrick is said to have visited here and baptized a future Bishop. The site is reported to have been attacked by the Vikings a couple of times; the final blow came from Cromwell in the 1650's.
The next ruin was extremely impressive: Dunluce Castle. It was a massive 1600's town with a lot of walls that are still standing. The castle is on a cliff, which, if you've seen Game of Thrones, you may recognize it as the Seat of House Greyjoy.
We drove along the Causeway Coast Road to Portaneevey. From here we were able to see several islands as well as the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge. 
Close up of bridge from the first picture
Sheep Island is known for its "Sheep cliffs"
We had time when we reached Ballygally to take a stroll along the coast.
Someone took the opportunity to make a white rock into a polar bear

Where We Stayed

In Derry, we stayed at a new hotel. The Ebrington Hotel was very nice and very comfortable. We were treated to a river-view room with complimentary robes and slippers. Our initial plan was to eat dinner, put on our robes & slippers, and kick back and relax. The only downside was that there were no towel warmers in the bathroom, but I don't guess you can have everything.
View from our room
We were impressed with the circle light around the mirror
Very nice shower
The next night was spent at Ballygally Castle Hotel. This is the most interesting place I've ever stayed. There is a lot of history associated with the hotel, including a resident ghost. The opening page to the hotel states that it is a 17th century castle "overlooking the golden sands of  Ballygally Bay with uninterrupted views of the Irish Sea." One site indicates that in discussions about the most haunted places in the north, Ballygally is quite often mentioned. Here's the story as I heard it: Lady Isabella Shaw gave birth to a girl; however, her husband was not happy that the baby wasn't a boy, so he banished her to the tower...without the baby. Distraught, Isabella heard the baby's cries and tried to escape to get her. The end result was that she fell to her death. Supposedly, she wanders through the hotel, knocking on doors to find the baby. 
On the lighter side, Ballygally is the site of one of the ten Game of Thrones Doors. It has the crest of the Houses of Stark and Bolton, as well as Winterfell Castle. 
The grounds around the Castle:
View from our room
Nice, modern bath
Game of Thrones Door leading to the dining area
Original door to the Castle
A "fireback": a cast iron plate of a type used from the 1300s to protect the bricks at the backs of fireplaces and to help radiate heat into the room.
The entrance of the hotel
And now to the Ghost Room:
The turret
I turned as I was coming down the stairs...just in case.
Maybe that's here with her face just above the rail?
One last look as we left...just in case she was watching us!

Where We Ate

When we were in Glenveagh, we ate at the cafeteria-style diner on the campus. The soup and bread were fantastic. The soup in Ireland really hits the spot on those chilly, damp, windy days. 
When we spent the night in Derry, I didn't feel comfortable enough with the area to go out, so we ate at the restaurant in the hotel. There is also a bar but it wasn't clear whether or not we could get food there, so we opted for the restaurant. It was pricey with 2 courses. I had chicken prepared 3 different ways with extremely small portions, but the chocolate dessert was heavenly! We found out the next day from Tomรกs that we could have had pub food in the bar. 
After Giant's Causeway, we stopped at a restaurant in Bushmills. The Tartine at the Distiller Arms was quaint. The restroom was interesting...you had to go into a supply closet which apparently had no heat. The food was good and the coffee with Bushmills hit the spot. 
In Ballygally, we had a group dinner at the hotel. By this time, we were all friends and had great conversation and food. And drinks. Mustn't forget the drinks. 
Breakfast was a real treat. Actually, it was a treat every day we were there, but the morning we left Ballygally, I saw this:
So I did. And it was delicious. The perfect way to start the day!

Some Favorite Pictures from the Causeway Coast Road

Picture courtesy of my SIL
Picture courtesy of my SIL
This sheep couldn't have been more obliging!