The Boating Life

Special Content Collaboration with Texas Lifestyle Magazine

Changes in latitude, changes in attitude at Margaritaville Lake Resort

Margaritaville Lake Resort has been recognized as a 2021 TripAdvisor Traveler’s Choice award winner and was named among the top 10% of hotels worldwide.

Hello Texas

Bringing a touch of Florida and the Caribbean to Texas, Margaritaville Lake Resort on Lake Conroe celebrated their one-year anniversary on June 26. They will be celebrating all summer with margarita flights for this pandemic win!

There are over 20 Margaritaville Resorts throughout the U.S. and Caribbean but only one in Texas. Sitting on 186 acres, Margaritaville is a 3 1/2-hour drive from 20 million Texans; therefore, 90% of their guests come from Texas.

Everything is 100% on-brand at Jimmy Buffett‘s Margaritaville Lake Resort, from the seaside-teal doors of each cottage and guest room, to the upside-down margarita glasses hanging on the lobby chandelier, to the surfboard that serves as the outdoor shower by the pool, every small detail serves to remind you that you have a license to chill , as Buffet sings.

The tower hotel features 302 all-suite rooms, each with a view of the lake. But the 32 pastel-colored (think parrot shades) cottages are really where you find your cheeseburger in paradise. Each one has a porch that looks out onto Lake Conroe, with colored Adirondack chairs just begging for you to enjoy.

Stars on the Water

Twenty-one of the cottages have upstairs lofts featuring two double beds. All of the brightly colored cottages feature boat slips out front, parking right behind the cottage in the back, a master bedroom with a king-size bed, a small kitchenette, bathroom, living area and plenty of flat-screen TVs. You can easily create your home away from home. Wake up with a view of the lake, enjoy happy hours in the evening, and keep watch over the boats by night.

Tower Suites run $199-$499 and the Lake Cottages range from $299-$699.

I Wish Lunch Could Last Forever

Chef Jake has taken over the culinary program at Margaritaville, fresh off a flight from Florida, where he is bringing a delicious coastal flair to the resort at License to Chill Cafe & Bar and LandShark Bar and Grill. LandShark sits right on the lake with a great outdoor patio where you can enjoy scrumptious fish tacos paired with, none other than, a Landshark beer from the tap.

Chef Jake has taken over the culinary program at Margaritaville. He’s fresh off a flight from Florida, where he is bringing a delicious coastal flair to the resort at License to Chill Cafe & Bar and LandShark Bar and Grill. LandShark sits right on the lake with a great outdoor patio. Here you can enjoy scrumptious fish tacos paired with, none other than, a Landshark beer from the tap.

Chef Jake is bringing some real artistic creations to License to Chill. Start with jalapeño cornbread topped with seasonal honey butter, followed by ginger carrot bisque with a unique table presentation that keeps the integrity of the veggies intact, an entrée of rockfish served with a cinnamon marmalade and a side of broccolini, or a wagyu beef over parsnip purée. Dinner here with a cold glass of chardonnay is the recipe to chill.

Barefoot Children

Guests do not want to miss hanging out at the Jolly Mon Water Park. It features multiple pools and a lazy river, all designed to maximize your relaxation. For a more active choice, guests can enjoy pickle ball or miniature golf.

Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move on

St. Somewhere Spa, overlooking a cove on the lake, will help you wind down with its signature St. Somewhere massage or a fantastic facial, accented by an afternoon enjoying the amenities of a steam room, outdoor whirlpool and relaxation lounge.

Somethin’ Bout a Boat

Rent a pontoon boat from Einstein’s Surf & Boat Shop, conveniently located on the backside of the resort. Enjoy a beautiful day on Lake Conroe with your friends and family. Lake Conroe is massive and offers several places to tie your boat up and enjoy a seafood lunch. Monty‘s Lighthouse Cajun Bar & Grill, named after the goat that is the area’s mascot, has an outdoor patio where you can enjoy a glass of cold iced tea with a variety of fresh seafood options that they put their Cajun spin on. Enjoy a dish as hearty as shrimp and grits or as light as a fresh green salad topped with crab.

That’s What Living is to Me

Head into town one evening to enjoy a dining experience like no other at the adorably named Hodge Podge Lodge. Located in a 167-year-old house, owner Chef Jeff works with four other chefs in a kitchen that was converted from a two-car garage to create culinary artistry.

It’s a popular place and stays really busy on the weekends. Plan to make a reservation and show up beforehand to enjoy a cocktail in their speakeasy bar called Sips. In addition to the amazing menu, you’ll enjoy seeing the 1930s Model A out front that is an homage to their shabby-chic vintage style. Out back, they have a cottage made from original dorms from Stephen F. Austin University.

The restaurant is a great example of Montgomery being called “the friendliest city in Texas.” From the owner to the hostess to the waitress to the chef, they really are very intentional with the entire experience. Hodge Podge Lodge features a simple but robust menu. Including starters like a charcuterie board or crab cakes, a delightful offering of fresh salads, three chicken and pasta choices or their fan favorite, a sea bass topped with a crab cake and a light lemon sauce over broccolini and other fresh seasonal vegetables, cooked to perfection.

It’s 5 o’clock Somewhere

A few of our favorite aspects of Margaritaville are the Jimmy Buffet music playing on the TV in the room when you arrive, which is great for mood setting, and the on-brand fin faucets in the bathrooms, the Margaritaville Keurig pods in room and the parrot-emblazoned comforter on each bed.

Wonder Why We Ever Go Home

** There are over 300 Jimmy Buffet songs. Italicized captions come from song titles created by the songsmith.

I’M ON A BOAT!

Looking to rent a boat around Austin?

GetMyBoat, the #1 app for boat rentals and water experiences, encourages boating as the perfect “social distancing” activity to enjoy. Boats are regularly cleaned and sanitized, and nothing beats being outdoors on the water. GetMyBoat offers everything from luxury yachts to budget kayak rentals. Find and book boat rentals, Jet Skis, pontoon boats and fishing charters for lakes all around the Austin area and all over Texas. For captained experiences and drive-it-yourself rentals, GetMyBoat connects you directly with boat owners and captains to securely book online.

One of their captains is Austin-based Austin Dubbs, owner of True North Charters. The process really doesn’t get much easier than working with Austin. He emails details and confirmation information, picks you up at the specified dock and facilitates a great day of play. With an easygoing demeanor, his aim is to make sure your daycation on the lake is one you’ll want to replicate. (Even offering 10% off on your next charter).

BoatSetter has an array of various types of boats for rent, depending on what you’re looking for and where. It is the only peer-to-peer boat rental marketplace in the U.S. that includes insurance for owners, captains and renters. Boatsetter offers renters and owners access to the largest database of USCG-certified captains. This makes it possible for those with no prior boating experience to enjoy spending time on the water. Their diverse curated fleet is ready to get you off the dock, whether it’s for fishing or a lux experience.

Marika Flatt, Outstanding Austin Communicator 2021, is the travel editor of Texas Lifestyle Magazine. She began her travel writing career with Austin Woman magazine when it premiered in the fall of 2002. Now, she can be seen on TV shows across Texas, offering travel tips, in addition to her long-running “Weekend Trip Tip” on NPR’s Texas Standard.

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