Stay Oceanfront in Historic Lahaina at Lahaina Shores Resort

Lahaina Shores Beach Resort in Maui is the only oceanfront condominium resort in historic Lahaina town, making it a unique and popular place to stay in Maui.  The resort, located in West Maui along historic Front Street, is within walking distance to all of Lahaina’s shopping, restaurants and art galleries.  Plus, the oceanfront location gives prime access to Lahaina’s beaches and the perfect spot to watch the gorgeous sunrises and sunsets only Maui creates. 

The plantation style design of Lahaina Shores Resort features an open air lobby with direct access to the beach, pool, and lounge chairs.  One of the things I loved about the resort was how relaxed it was.  Time seemed to move a bit slower, and the hustle and bustle of the world seemed to melt away. 

199-rooms are available at Lahaina Shores Maui, with oceanfront and mountain view options available.  During my Maui vacation, I stayed in an oceanfront studio.  Offering unobstructed views of the ocean and a large, private lanai, the condo exceeded my expectations.  With over 540 square feet of living space, the unit felt spacious, the queen bed was comfortable and made with crisp, clean linens, and you can really save money on food by utilizing the full kitchen.  Furnished with granite counters and modern appliances, the kitchen, as well as the rest of the furniture and case goods were in excellent condition and created an inviting place to stay. 

Lahaina Shores is also equipped with air conditioning.  This might be standard within mainland hotels, but in Hawaii many properties are open-air, so make note of this amenity. 

For my money, Lahaina Shores Maui is well worth every penny.  The location, accommodations and amenities combine to create one of the best values in Lahaina. 

Drums of the Pacific One of the Best Maui Luaus

Located on the grounds of the Hyatt Regency Maui on the Sunset Terrace, Drums of the Pacific combines a beautiful location with an entertaining Polynesian luau.  The shores of Ka'anapali Beach create a spectacular backdrop for the luau, especially as the sun sets and the sky turns stunning shades of golds and pinks. During the three hour experience, I enjoyed not only the setting but the show was engaging and the food and drink was plentiful.

My evening at Drums of the Pacific Luau began with a shell lei greeting and fresh mai tai.  Be sure to get to the luau at the 5:30 check-in time so you can get your photo taken with some of the cast.  Afterwards, performers are demonstrating arts and crafts, before lighting the luau torches.  Of course, the traditional Imu ceremony, where they unveil the main dish of the luau – Kalua Pua'a (roasted pork) – was a sight to see.  Soon enough, dinner begins and although there are quite a few people at the luau the buffet service line was expedited rather quickly.  Many choices lined the tables, with traditional Hawaiian flavors apparent in the huli huli chicken (barbecued with flavors like brown sugarcane, ginger, and soy), lomi lomi salmon, poi, taro rolls, and of course, the pork.  Save room for dessert though, as there is a table filled with delights such as macadamia nut luau cream pie and haupia with toasted coconut.  Service at Drums was very attentive.  Our waiter kept the drinks flowing and never hesitated to ask if we needed anything extra. 

After dining on the delicious dinner served at the Drums of the Pacific in Maui, there was a short break which allowed me to stroll the grounds of the Hyatt.  As luck would have it, an impressive sunset was painting the sky and it added to the Maui magic of the moment. 

The show itself began around 7pm.  Featuring aspects of culture from all of Polynesia, the Drums of the Pacific incorporated dances, songs, and stories from all of the Polynesian islands.  My favorite moments of the luau were those based on Polynesian legends, including a story of a man who had to walk backwards home to escape death and be reunited with his true love.  Each group of island dancers was superb.  The cultures of Hawaii, Samoa, Fiji, New Zealand, Tahiti, Tonga, and Rarotonga were all highlighted, creating a very authentic Hawaiian Luau.  The fire knife finale was a hot way to end the show, which was engaging and entertaining from start to finish. 

Go Country Tonite in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Are you ready for a night celebrating the best in country music? If so, Country Tonite is the show for you. Their two hour production blends the best of hits from yesterday and today, creating a timeless production. 
 

The energetic Country Tonite Pigeon Forge show features a talented cast of vocalists, singers, dancers and one funny comedian. From the start of the show, homage is paid to country music legends. Ernest Tubb’s “Walking the Floor Over You,” Pasty Clines’ “Fall to Pieces,” George Jones’ “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” Dolly Parton’s “Working 9 to 5” and Hank Williams’ “On the Bayou” get the night started right. Kid performers join the show during “Hello Darlin’” and “Tiger by the Tail,” and the band really gets going during the performance of “Orange Blossom Special.” Their comedian really brings the funny during a “Cletus Take the Wheel,” a song about bass fishing gone wrong. A moving gospel segment featured excellent vocals on tracks like “Amazing Grace” and “Will the Circle Be Unbroken,” but the entire cast really shined on “Old Time Religion.” Before the second half of the show wrapped up, a little bit of new country kicked things up a notch with Carrie Underwood’s “Good Girl” and Brad Paisley’s “When I Get Where I’m Going.” 

The country hits continued during the second half songs like “Turn It On, Turn It Up, Turn Me Loose” by Dwight Yoakam, “Swingin’” by John Anderson and the banjo pickin’ was a highlight of Earl Scruggs’ “Roll in my Sweet Babies Arms.” Bluegrass songs like “Blue Moon Kentucky” and “Man of Constant Sorrow” were some of my favorite Country Tonite moments as they combined the very best of the talents of the musicians and vocalists. I also really enjoyed the Johnny Cash segment, during which all the Cash favorites were performed, as well as the bluegrass spin on songs like “Single Ladies” by Beyoncé. A few more renditions of radio favorites like Miranda Lambert’s “Baggage Claim” and Lady Antebellum’s “Just a Kiss” filled the theater before a patriotic segment to close out the show. 

From start to finish, the Country Tonite show really delivers. It’s an affordable, family oriented show that is one of the area’s best.

Impressive RiverStone Resort Top Choice for Pigeon Forge Visitors

RiverStone Resort is a large, luxurious property that couldn’t have impressed me more. The resort is a beautifully laid out complex which I found to be very convenient to Pigeon Forge’s most popular attraction, Dollywood, but also along a side road that made moving up and down the Parkway quick and easy.  Plus, the amenities at RiverStone create a place to stay in Pigeon Forge that strikes the perfect balance between relaxation and entertainment. 

Each building offered covered parking and elevators with views of the Gatlinburg Golf Course (yeah, it's in Pigeon Forge) on one side and the Parkway on the other. All the condos offer both views front to back, with the one bedroom condos facing the Parkway and the two and three bedroom condos facing the golf course.  All units also have a private balcony or patio, although the two and three bedroom units feature a much larger patio/balcony.  Condominiums at RiverStone Resort Pigeon Forge are beautifully appointed with pillow top mattresses, lovely furniture arrangements, walk-in tiled showers, fireplaces, flat screen televisions, spacious rooms, fully equipped kitchen with stainless steel appliances….must I go on? The two and three bedroom units also feature an upgraded master bath equipped with dual sinks and 6 ft. deep Jacuzzi tub.  They are luxury condos, but at a reasonable price when you consider how spacious they are, the location and the amenities. 

Amenities at RiverStone Resort and Spa appeal to adults and kids alike.  The on-site spa can pamper and rejuvenate you, with services such as facials, massages, body wraps, nail services, waxing and a variety of others offered.   The indoor swimming pool is large and housed in an atrium-style standalone complex with a sizeable workout facility offering multiple machines upstairs and an arcade style game room downstairs. There is also a walking trail along the creek and a 300 foot outdoor lazy river with waterfall feature for hot summer days.

RiverStone Resort in Pigeon Forge rates well and should be considered for your next trip to the Smokies.

Shular Inn Offers Quality Accommodations at Affordable Price

The Shular Inn Pigeon Forge features clean, convenient, affordable accommodations in the heart of Pigeon Forge entertainment. The newly renovated hotel is a hidden gem, as the rooms are nicely appointed with new case goods, décor and bedding. Plus, there is a wide array of amenities available to guests.

Upon arriving at the Shular Inn, I found their lobby to be cozy and inviting. After checking in, was impressed by the Double Queen unit I had reserved as it had a new feel to it and was extremely clean. I felt like I got a long of “bang for my buck,” so to speak. It featured comfortable pillowtop mattresses with quality bedding and linens, as well as new case goods, microwave, mini-fridge, café style table and chairs, and flat screen TV. The décor is an upscale mix of browns, beiges and blues and is very inviting. The bathroom had a granite vanity located in the interior of the room, with a curved shower rod in place for added spaciousness. Plus, free Wi-Fi is available in every room. There is a 2nd building of rooms at Shular Inn that feature a different décor and slightly larger rooms. These units are extremely similar to the rooms in the 1st building, although they are a bit more spacious and have a slightly more secluded feel.

A deluxe continental breakfast is served from 7:30am-9:30am in Shular Inn’s very large and welcoming breakfast room, located in building 2. The standard breakfast items are served, as well as a hot item like biscuits and gravy and eggs. The room was equipped with a fireplace and featured an earthy décor. It had a restaurant-style feel and was a great place to get a head-start on my mornings.

There is an indoor and outdoor pool located at the Shular Inn Pigeon Forge TN. The indoor pool is open 24 hours a day and located in a large atrium. The area was very clean and had a hot tub, kiddie pool, vending and restrooms available and newly installed lights change the color of the pool at nighttime. A real gem of this moderately priced hotel is the outdoor pool. Located in the courtyard of building 2, it had rock features that added to the appeal of the outdoor pool, especially the rock design around the hot tub. Plus, it had a great sun deck and featured lots of landscaping which added to the private atmosphere.

The Shular Inn is a quality choice for any Smoky Mountain visitor.

White Water Rafting with Smoky Mountain Outdoors an Exhilarating Experience

One of the best outdoor experiences I’ve had in the Smoky Mountains is white water rafting.  The thrill of being on the river, plunging into rapids and enjoying the beauty of the great outdoors was a highlight of my vacation and is something I highly recommend to all visitors.  One of the best outfitters on the river is Smoky Mountain Outdoors.  Reliable and trusted, this rafting company has over 15 years of experience guiding trips on the Pigeon River. 

There are two rafting trips available.  The Upper Pigeon River trip features Class III and IV rapids, while a more leisurely trip is available on the Lower Pigeon with Class I and II rapids.  For my first Gatlinburg white water rafting trip, I decided to do the Upper Pigeon River raft trip.  I arrived about 45 minutes prior to my trip time, changed into my swim gear and water shoes at the on-site changing facilities and quickly met with my raft guide and other members of my party to go over rafting safety, get a paddle and get fitted for a lifejacket and helmet.  With the excitement starting to build, I boarded one of the Smoky Mountain Outdoors buses and soon arrived at the put-in location, located about 10 minutes from the outpost. 

After unloading the rafts, my group met with guide Suzy.  She assigned seating arrangements and before I knew it we were on the river.  The trip starts off with a Class IV rapid – Power House – so you are put in the midst of the action right out the gate.  It’s a great way to start the raft trip and really got me amped for the rest of the excursion.  During the 6 ½ mile trip, there are 70 rapids total ranging from Class I to IV.  Big waves, big water and plenty of drops make the two hour trip fly by.  One of my favorite rapids was dubbed the roller coaster.  Our guide, Suzy, took us in sideways, creating an even bigger splash for us to enjoy.  Other rapids like Big Rock, Vegematic, Accelerator and Lost Guide added to the exhilaration of the trip. We also made our raft surf, which is when you try to go up a rapid and surf your raft.  Suzy put everyone at ease too, telling jokes and ensuring everyone knew what to do, when to do it and how to do it safely. 

A trip with Smoky Mountain Outdoors Rafting is an incredible way to experience the Smoky Mountains in an all-new way.  No experience is necessary either.  All you need to do is bring your sense of adventure for a great experience on the river!   

Award-Winning Accommodations Found at Comfort Inn Apple Valley

The Comfort Inn Apple Valley is an award-winning hotel in Pigeon Forge providing guest with an affordable retreat for their Smoky Mountain vacation.  Located directly on the Parkway, the hotel features budget-friendly yet desirable rooms and amenities that add a little extra bonus to your stay.  It is also within walking distance to several Pigeon Forge attractions and shopping.  A trolley stop is also available right in front of the hotel, so you can easily hop aboard and get to anywhere in the area within minutes. 

Double queen rooms are the standard at Comfort Inn.  Equipped with items such as a microwave, refrigerator, coffee maker, hair dryer, flat screen TV and free Wi-Fi, the rooms are clean and in quality condition with the cherry wood case goods and landscape photos adding a nice touch.  The bathroom is outfitted with an additional sink, a nice convenience for those used to having double sinks at home.  A sofa sleeper and work desk with chair complete the spacious room.  Each room at the Apple Valley Comfort Inn also has a balcony or patio which is a plus.  Note, though, that smoking is not allowed at this hotel, even on the balconies.  So, if you’re a smoker stay somewhere else.

The grounds of the hotel are very nice and one of the biggest selling points of the property is the landscaped outdoor pool area.  Located in front of the hotel but secluded by shrubbery, the pool was very clean, large and was very enjoyed by everyone at staying at the Pigeon Forge hotel.  There is also plenty of space for lounging and the seating area with umbrellas makes it easy to get some shade if you need it.  An indoor pool and Jacuzzi are also available for guest enjoyment.  The Comfort Inn Pigeon Forge Apple Valley serves up a hot breakfast daily, too, so be sure to fill up before you head out to experience Pigeon Forge and the Great Smoky Mountains.