Today I am taking you on a virtual vacation to the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa! This beachside resort was the perfect place for a girls weekend getaway.
Chicago winters are looong. It snowed for nine days in a row last month. Eventually, Chicagoans reach a point where they are in a rut. It’s too cold to leave home, we are sick of wearing wooly sweaters everyday,
Lucky for me, my friend Jenn and I were invited to the Hilton Sandestin in sunny Miramar Beach, Florida. A weekend of warm sunny weather, spa treatments, and exploring a new place made us feel refreshed, relaxed, and ready to take on the rest of winter.
Here is a recap of how we spent our weekend at the Hilton Sandestin:
The Hotel
The first order of business was checking into the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa, which was hosting us for the weekend. Our spacious rooms were painted a cheery shade of coral and had balconies overlooking the ocean and the pools.
The hotel is a full service hotel with restaurants and lots to see, do, and eat. Seagar’s Prime Steaks and Seafood is a AAA Four Diamond rated steakhouse, and it is the hotel’s fine dining option. Hadashi Sushi Bar serves up sushi, sashimi, and maki rolls, plus you can also order from the lounge menu so we started our meal with edamame and potstickers before chowing down on burgers and fries.
We began each morning by indulging in the vast breakfast buffet at Sandcastles. I love a good hotel breakfast buffet. It gives me the chance to try both sweet and savory foods – because I like my scrambled eggs with cheesy grits with a side of french toast sticks. Plus, buffets help me get my morning off to a quick start.
Another thing that we loved about the hotel is that the trams were available to shuttle us around town, and the Hilton’s expansive grounds. We didn’t need to rent a car!
The Pools
The hotel has three waterfront pools! This was perfect since the ocean was still a touch on the chilly side. The pool area has three sundecks with lots of lounge chairs, plus its own restaurant and bar.
The Beach
The sand in Miramar Beach’s Emerald Coast is the whitest softest sand I have ever seen. The miles of beaches were pristine, and we loved that the hotel had beach set ups with chairs and umbrellas available. The Hilton even has an app that you can use to have food and drinks delivered to you right on the beach. Isn’t that the coolest thing?
Miramar Beach gets an average of an astonishing 340 days of sunshine every year, so it is a pretty safe bet that you will have sunny days during your visit. Even when the forecast called for rain, it ended up being warm and sunny.
The Spa
Serenity by the Sea, the Hilton Sandestin’s spa provided the ultimate luxurious afternoon of pampering. We had lunch in the peaceful women’s lounge, a calm place where we could relax before our stone massage’s even started. Jenn and I each had hot stone massages, they were amazing. Beyond amazing. If we lived in the area, Jenn and I would become regulars at the spa. The staff is so kind and talented and they took such incredible care of us.
The spa also has a full nail salon and a hair salon. Plus a 24-hour fitness center, a steam room, sauna, and whirlpool. You could easily spend an entire day in the spa if you wanted.
Silver Sands Premium Outlets
I have always loved a good outlet mall, and the Silver Sands Premium Outlets is home to 110 designer stores. Since it is still sweater weather in Chicago, I look advantage of the sweater sale at J.Crew Factory. Plus, I found the most amazing deal on new Celine sunglasses at Saks Off Fifth. The outlets are open in the evening so that you can enjoy the beach during the day and then shop at night.
Baytowne Wharf
At night we took the tram to the Baytowne Wharf. This cute-as-a-button village is the place for restaurants, shopping, and nightlife.
The bars are known for having live music, and we enjoyed sipping daiquiris and pina coladas while listening to musicians at Hammerhead’s and Village Door.
The Baytowne Marina
The marina, which is just a short walk from the shops in Baytowne Wharf, is more than just a place where boats are parked.
There is a little beach, plus restaurants, bike rentals, walking paths, and treehouses to explore. The Hilton property has more than 15 miles of bike paths and walking trails that wind along the bayou, wooded areas, and golf courses.
The area is known for deep sea fishing, and fishing charters leave from the marina.
Golf and Tennis
Although Jenn and I are not golfers, I do want to mention that the property is home to four championship golf courses. Plus, Hilton guests have access to both clay and hard service tennis courts.
Logistics
We flew into Fort Walton Airport (via Houston) which is just about a 30-minute drive from the hotel. Taxis, Ubers, and shuttle services are available if you do not want to rent a car.
We had such a lovely time in Miramar Beach. The hotel staff was so genuinely friendly, and so were the other hotel guests. It seemed like we were making friends everywhere we went! It is certainly one of the friendliest places I have ever visited.
Huge thanks to the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa for hosting us! And be sure to check out Jenn’s post about the hotel!
