Serious Learning, Serious Fun at Margaritaville Lake Resort, Lake Conroe, Texas

“It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere” goes the popular song lyric. But if you're coming to Margaritaville Lake Resort, Lake Conroe, Texas, you might be curious: What’s on the itinerary for the rest of the day?

This 186-acre, all-suite lakeside resort just an hour north of Houston is a perfect destination for meeting planners and incentive groups. The Margaritaville motto at this Texas escape is “serious learning, serious fun,” which means groups can strike a perfect balance with access to state-of-the-art meeting spaces, as well as unique team building activities (have you ever bowled with coconuts or been in a cardboard boat regatta?), and plenty of options for fun at the lake, pools or on the links.

Inspired by the lyrics and lifestyle of the singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett, the resort definitely exudes a fun island attitude. But it’s also a place where you can slip into business attire and attend or lead successful events, meetings and conferences. Plus, the team building activities come with a fun island twist.

Meeting planners appreciate that the resort’s private conference center is removed from distractions, boasting 72,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space designed for groups to collaborate and be productive. When the work’s done, guests have all the amenities they need to unwind back at the resort.

“There’s a nice transition from the serious learning to the serious fun,” explained Tom Faust, vice president of sales & marketing for Margaritaville Lake Resort, Lake Conroe.

Here’s what an ideal day looks like at the paradisiacal Margaritaville Lake Resort, Lake Conroe:

Early Morning: Enjoy Lake Views and a Workout

Wake up and enjoy the views. All of the suites at Margaritaville Lake Resort, Lake Conroe have balconies or patios where guests can start their days wrapped in plush robes, relaxing in Adirondack chairs with coffee mugs in hand.

With a light and airy feel, the spacious 600 square-foot suites are outfitted with modern Ethan Allen furniture and feature fun design elements that are a nod to the Caribbean (think: lime-shaped throw pillows, framed prints of palm-fringed beaches and sea-glass tiles in the walk-in rain showers).

While there are Keurig coffee machines in the suites, guests also have the option to get their Starbucks fix along with breakfast sandwiches or New York-style bagels on property at Joe Merchant’s Coffee & Provisions.

For those looking to get a morning workout in, the Fin’s Up! Fitness Center is a 10,000 square-foot gym with spin bikes, free weights, cardio equipment and a busy schedule of fitness classes like yoga, barre and pilates that are complimentary for guests.

Morning: It’s Meeting Time

Wonder what it’s like to work from paradise? Margaritaville Lake Resort, Lake Conroe has a nice mix of flexible indoor and outdoor spaces, from lakeside venues to open-air terraces, as well as spacious lawns and the state-of-the-art conference center. Boasting 72,000 square-feet of meeting and events space, the resort also has dedicated, on-site conference planners and audio-visual technicians to help meetings run smoothly.

The Margaritaville meeting spaces have been thoughtfully designed so that groups can come together to share content and be productive in comfortable spaces that can be customized. Rooms are equipped with ergonomic chairs and many receive abundant natural light. For a fun touch, the room names match the resort’s island theme, like the “surf boardroom” and the “coastal ballroom.”

Meeting spaces are also flexible, with 20 meeting rooms that range from 200 square-feet to 10,000 square-feet.

Another thoughtful amenity is the conference dining center that serves a seasonal buffet from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. so that guests have the flexibility to fill up their plates when they’ve got some down time or their sessions break. The culinary team provides plenty of options to suit the varying dietary needs of meeting guests.

Afternoon: Time for Teambuilding

Margaritaville Lake Resort, Lake Conroe offers several team building activities that have a fun, tropical theme. While it may seem like it’s all fun and games, these activities are a great way to improve communication and productivity among teams, helping coworkers get to know each other better in a low-pressure environment.

Among the most unique team building events is the Continental Drifter Cardboard Boat Regatta, where teams are given a set of materials that includes cardboard boxes, duct tape, plastic wrap and paddles. The challenge? Design and engineer a sea-worthy boat and choose a captain from your team to race it across the shallow lagoon area off the beach.

Another island-themed team building event is pineapple-coconut bowling, which involves rolling coconuts along the sand towards pineapples set up as pins. The competition culminates with a round of piña coladas.

A popular team building option is “The Lost Shaker of Salt Scavenger Hunt” that dispatches groups throughout the resort looking for clues that lead them to find secret margarita ingredients and a missing saltshaker.

Other team building experiences to choose from include margarita mixology classes, a cheeseburger cookoff, beach olympics, sandcastle building competitions, a miniature golf tournament and more.

Late Afternoon: You’re on Island Time

When it’s time to unwind, meeting guests have plenty of options whether it’s lounging poolside, enjoying a cocktail from the swim-up 5 o’Clock Somewhere Bar or playing pickleball on the resort’s sport courts.

The scenic Golf Club at Margaritaville Lake Resort is an all-season 18-hole course, driving range and putting green with fairways that roll through tall pines, sandy beaches and by cascading waterfalls.

Or book a treatment at the St. Somewhere Spa, which has steam rooms and relaxation lounges. Unique treatments include Himalayan salt stone massages and tropical body scrubs and massages with the option of coconut oil enhancements.

For those who want to get out on the lake, the on-site Einstein’s Surf & Boat Rental Shop rents kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, ski boats, pontoon boats, jet skis, fishing equipment and more.

If you work up an appetite, swing by the Lone Palm Pool Bar, a thatched-roof tiki bar with tropical drinks and casual eats like a Texas wagyu beef hot dog or steamed peel and eat shrimp.

Evening: Enjoy Dinner and Live Music

Cheeseburgers in paradise and perfectly balanced margs are just a start to the culinary options at Margaritaville Lake Resort, Lake Conroe.

LandShark Bar & Grill is the resort’s marquee restaurant, with fun design touches like surfboard tables and outdoor dining overlooking the lake. Beer battered fish n’ chips with mango coleslaw, shrimp ceviche, jerk-marinated Kingston Chicken and slabs of key lime pie are among the island-inspired menu highlights.

Later in the evening, guests can cut loose at the Boathouse Bar & Lounge, which is a late-night hang out that’s great for groups. Texas-meets-Caribbean at this bar, which has a stage for musicians to perform as well as a dance floor and sports simulator.

After a fun and productive day, it’s time to get some rest and prepare for another day in paradise.