Parrotheads’ Paradise: Jimmy Buffett's New Margaritaville Hotel
What do you do when you are missing one of your best girlfriends who has just moved 500 miles away to Cincinnati, Ohio? You tell her to book a plane ticket and meet you for a “Cheeseburger in Paradise” at the new Jimmy Buffett Margaritaville Beach Resort in Hollywood Beach, Fla.
The resort town of Hollywood Beach is centrally located between Miami and Fort Lauderdale. It gets its name from Joseph W. Young, who in 1920 founded the city on a dream of creating an East Coast motion picture capital. Some movies have been filmed there, but for the most part the town has become a low-key vacation destination with white sands and turquoise waters. It’s exactly the paradise Jimmy Buffett sings about in his iconic song, “Margaritaville,”
A place with the motto “It’s 5 o’clock somewhere” seemed like a perfect destination for two moms looking to get away.
The author and her friend Eileen at the new Jimmy Buffett Margaritaville Beach Resort in Hollywood Beach, Fla. (Photo: Carey Reilly)
You don’t need to be a Buffett fan to appreciate and enjoy his resort; you just need to believe in what he stands for — having a good time. And who doesn’t want to do that on a vacation? The hotel nicely balances the laid-back tone of Buffett’s tropical brand with the luxuries we all crave in a resort.
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Upon arriving, Eileen and I grabbed our first of many margaritas and willingly accepted our “License to Chill.” We admired the artsy chandeliers adorned with upside-down margarita glasses, Buffett’s inspirational lyrics are quoted throughout the hotel and (of course) the margarita bar situated in the lobby. Then, we headed straight for the Hollywood Beach Boardwalk lining the front of the hotel to sit and take in the gorgeous Florida waters.
A view of the pool at Margaritaville. (Photo: Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort)
Paradise comes in all shapes and sizes in this land of beach combing. You can choose to relax at the spa, try the surfing simulator wave rider, or swim in one of three pools. Because we were a little concerned about the surf simulator’s forceful waves ripping off our bathing suits, we opted for our idea of paradise; vegging by the the pool, drinking margaritas, and eating nachos — lots of nachos.
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We did, however, try an activity that up to this point I thought could only be mastered by yoga instructors in bikinis: paddleboarding. The resort offers lessons — and not just with anyone, but with world-ranked longboard surfing champion Barry Shaw. Shaw, a longtime friend of Buffett’s, runs the paddleboarding and kayaking center at the hotel.
The perfectly laid-back tropical chic vibe of the guest rooms. (Photo: Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort)
His hang-10 attitude perfectly captures the essence of this vacation spot, especially when he parks his turquoise vintage “Woodie" with a rainbow assortment of surfboards piled in the back in front of the hotel.
I must admit, paddleboarding looked intimidating, and I was really surprised when I somewhat effortlessly stood up on the board. I kept my balance long enough to paddle across the canal and into the waters. For a moment, I thought, “I could do this all day. This could be my new sport!”
Longboard surfing champion Barry Shaw. (Photo: Carey Reilly)
On our final night of our stay, we noticed a buzz in the lobby. We were so excited when we learned that Buffett and his band were performing that night to celebrate the opening. We swayed to his tunes on the beach while he took the stage with his surfer grin, guitar, and island vibe and sang all of his classics. He sang out, “Searching for my lost shaker of salt,” while we joined his loyal Parrotheads and shouted back, “Salt, salt, salt!”
Parrot decor in the lobby. (Photo: Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort)
Then, reality set in and the muscles in my legs started to twitch, ache, and shake. Apparently, my sea legs need some paddleboard strengthening. Just think of the gams I’d have if I lived there and did this all year round!
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After two days of “wasting away in Margaritaville” our girls’ weekend getaway came to an end. We enjoyed temporarily escaping our mom duties. I loved falling asleep by the pool without hearing, “Ma! Can you clean the dog poop off my sneakers?”
The flip-flop life. (Photo: Carey Reilly)
Eileen treasured the glorious breakfast buffet and not having to clean up the dishes afterward. We laughed, we cried, and we filled our mom tanks up with gratitude for our lives back home with our husbands and our little chickens. And most of all, we appreciated the gift of two old friends taking a weekend to let Jimmy Buffet remind us, “If we couldn’t laugh, we would all go insane.”
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