Our first visit to Anakeesta

Our First Visit to Anakeesta

Our First Visit to Anakeesta was with mixed feelings. To get to Anakeesta you buy tickets at booth on Gatlinburg’s main street. The lady we dealt with must have been having an unpleasant day. After purchasing our ticket, which is about twenty dollars per person, we rode a chair lift to the top of the mountain.  We could have waited in line for enclosed seating but chose the chair over waiting.

When we reached the top, we found a small village with shops, food, activities and great places to just sit and enjoy the views. We walked through the shops and explore the path going up the hill.

our first visit to anakeesta
Gnome or Hobbit homes

Along the way we passed some interesting landscaping and some great views and photo ops.

our first visit to anakeesta

We read the story of the Gatlinburg fire as we walked and looked at the views. One of the really neat thing that we found was the tree houses.

our first visit to Anakeesta
tree house

To get to the tree houses, we had to walk on rope bridges. The bridges which connect the tree houses are safe for children as was proven by me being able to walk on them.

Tree House Bridge

After our success with the tree houses, we decided to tackle the Treetop Skywalk. The Skywalk is “the longest tree-based bridge in North America”. The walk is about eight hundred feet along and is fifty to sixty feet above the ground.

our first visit to anakeesta
Entrance to Skywalk

The skywalk take you through the woods from one tree to another.

our first visit to anakeesta
Skywalk

Anakeesta has lots of other activities such as the Rail Runner and the Zip Lines. Being our first visit to Anakeesta, we had not allowed our selves enough time so we had to pass on them. I do want to come back a try the Zip Lines and maybe work up to rail Runner.  These two activities have additional charge. The Rail Runner is $12.99 per person and the Zip Line is $29.99 for adults and $25.99 for children (4 to 11).

After our Skywalk we decided to sit down and rest with food and drinks. We really enjoyed the Cliff Top Grill and Bar.

our first visit to anakeesta
At the Cliff Top

From the Cliff Top we had a great view of Gatlinburg and the Sky Bridge on the mountain across from us.

Mountain across the road from us

We had a great meal of nacho’s and enjoyed the Cliff Top’s views.

Nacho’s

 

 

Margaritaville Island Hotel

Margaritaville Hotel

We went to Pigeon Forge and stayed at the Margaritaville Island Hotel. My wife and two sisters and their husbands had a great time visiting the section of Pigeon Forge called the Island. While there we looked at several shops and ate at the Margaritaville restaurant. After eating we walked around the fountain then decided to ride The Wheel.
On The Wheel

The giant 200 foot Wheel is a must do. As a result of it’s height, I could see the entire Island area from the top of it.

View from the Wheel

While riding The Wheel, I took the picture above which shows the fountain, Christmas tree, and the Margaritaville Island Hotel.

Margaritaville Island Hotel
another view

Margaritaville Island Hotel

 The Island area has lots of good food with a wide range of prices as well as lots of activities for children of different ages.

Margaritaville Island Hotel
Our room

The Margaritaville Island Hotel was very nice.  We had a fireplace and sitting area to help you relax after shopping and eating to much. We also had a balcony which gave a view of the some of the shops.

Margaritaville Island Hotel
View from balcony

The Margaritaville Island Hotel also we found has a pool on the upper level.

Margaritaville Island Hotel
Pool

After a good night’s sleep we walk to Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen for breakfast. If you have not been to her restaurant, you may find it a little different. First of all the breakfast menu was divided into three sections so you select so many from each section. 

Down Home Dishes

These are French Toast, Pigs in a Blanket, Pancakes, Breakfast Casserole, Chicken Biscuits and Scrambled Eggs. You are to pick three of these for the table.

Breakfast Meats

These are Black Pepper Bacon, Smoked Bacon, Sausage Patties and Country Ham.  We picked one for the table.

Breakfast Treats

In this area you are allowed two selections for the table. The options are Fried Grits, Southwest Grits, Biscuits and Gravy, Fruit, Fried Potatoes or Hash Brown Casserole.

Our meal 

As you can see the size of the servings above are not large. However this is not a problem because they will continue to refill anything for you.

Therefore I think a trip to the Island and and a stay at the Margaritaville Island Hotel could not be Complete without breakfast at Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen.