At Innisbrook Golf & Spa Resort in Palm Harbor near St. Petersburg, it’s all about the amenities. Whether you’re looking for a world-class golf weekend, a relaxing retreat away with your girlfriends or a spring break vacation the kids will love, you’ll find it here.
Nestled deep in 900 wooded acres of gently rolling hills and lush greenery, Innisbrook Golf & Spa Resort features 72 holes of championship golf across four exclusive courses designed by architect Lawrence “Larry” Packard.
Although all are challenging and uniquely laid out, perhaps the most well-known is the Copperhead Course, home to the PGA Tour’s annual Valspar Championship. Repeatedly receiving top accolades, including Golf Digest’s Top 75 Golf Resorts in America and Golf magazine’s Top 100 You Can Play, the Innisbrook courses are both imaginative and challenging. Even the little ones can get in on the golf action at Innisbrook on the Fox Squirrel 9-hole walking family course.
Of course, if it’s just too hot to golf, you can head to one of the resort’s six pools (heated in the winter!). A favorite is the Lochness Monster Pool, featuring sandy beach areas, a 15-foot waterfall, a 36-person hot tub, two water slides, sand volleyball and more. During the summer months, poolside activities and games will keep the kids entertained while mom and dad enjoy a refreshing treat from the Grill at Lochness bar.
If you’re feeling adventurous (and have strong legs!), we recommend trying the surrey bikes. It looks like a golf cart with pedals, and it’s guaranteed to provide a great lower body workout, not to mention a laugh or two along the way. They are a fun, unique way to explore the resort. If you prefer your transportation to be of the air-conditioned variety, a tram system runs seamlessly to get you and yours from one end of the resort to the other in a jiffy. A quick phone call and they will arrive to pick you up. Talk about service!
No relaxing vacation would be complete without at least one pampering spa treatment. The newly remodeled Salamander Spa features 12,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor spa and wellness space, including 12 beautifully appointed and relaxing treatment suites. You won’t find many typical massages here. If you really want to go all out, opt for one of the resort’s signature treatments. Choose from services designed to ground or balance you or detoxify, revitalize and invigorate your body, mind and soul. You can also choose from a tempting selection of body treatments, facials, massages and salon services. The adjacent fitness facility is free for guests and includes an energizing selection of classes, including yoga, Zumba and aqua aerobics, not to mention state-of-the-art exercise machines and equipment.
When it’s finally time to retire for the evening, you’ll find no cramped hotel rooms here. The spacious suites are exceptionally well appointed and very home-like. Fully stocked kitchens make it easy to prepare a dinner or breakfast for the family. Just provide the food! Large televisions, screened porches, oversized showers and spacious living accommodations make it easy for even large families to spread out and enjoy some quality time. And the linens? Sigh. You’re practically guaranteed a good night’s sleep.
And let’s not forget about the food. From fine dining at Packard’s Steakhouse, where top-quality cuts of steak rule the menu, to the more laid-back Market Salamander Grille, where you can enjoy exclusive burgers (Our favorite is the Hawaiian Burger, which includes a premium beef patty, Canadian bacon, pineapple marmalade, teriyaki glaze and pepper jack cheese all topped on a sesame brioche bun), fresh seafood and delicious salads. Save room for dessert—the peach bread pudding is second to none!
The Grill at Lochness is ideal for a midday meal while enjoying the pool area. In addition to the fresh salads and sandwiches, the menu also offers tasty kid classics, like PB&J, hot dogs and pizza.
Although you could spend your entire vacation exploring all Innisbrook has to offer, venturing away from the resort for a day trip or two will be well worth the effort. One of Florida’s most beautiful, unspoiled beaches, Honeymoon Island State Park, is a quick car trip away (or the resort offers a convenient shuttle service to the park). If you crave even more seclusion, grab the ferry from Honeymoon Island to Caladesi Island where you’ll find three miles of nature trails and three miles of kayak trails. What you won’t find are hotels, shops or sales pitches. Just turquoise water and white sand.
If a day at the beach isn’t on the agenda, take a day trip to the historic Greek village of Tarpon Springs, or travel just a bit further to the Florida Aquarium, Salvador Dali Museum or a variety of prime outlet stores.
Learn more › innisbrookgolfresort.com › (888) 794-8627
