My BFF and I boarded a Southwest Airlines flight for to the Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club, just 25 minutes from Tampa International Airport on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Innisbrook is located on 900 wooded acres in the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area on Florida’s Gulf Coast. A recent $26 million resort-wide renovation included new restaurants, gourmet market, addition of a new 20,000-square foot luxury spa and fitness center, enhancements to its golf courses, clubhouses, lodging and tennis facilities.
To me, everyday is a vacation in Florida, especially when it’s winter in Colorado. From an amazing spa treatment at Indaba Spa to two rounds of golf to culinary treats, my trip to Innisbrook coddled the vacationer in me. Accommodations are scattered throughout the property in low-rise lodges. Ours was a 2-bedroom suite with a kitchen and living room overlooking the golf course.
After checking in, we hurried to the Market Salamander Grillé & Bar on Sunday evening by watching the U.S. hockey team play during the Olympics. Prepared by Chef Andre Halston (who appears on national Daytime television), the food was amazing – especially the Lobster Mac n Cheese! (The Olympic hockey game, of course, went into overtime and had us both on the edge of our bar stools!)
The resort hosts the annual PGA TOUR Transitions championship every March, and our visit was just the week before the big event. (Qualifying rounds closed the course on Monday & Tuesday.) However, at the last minute, our hosts managed to get us on Copperhead. I was excited to swing my club on a PGA course, the Copperhead, and even more thrilled that I managed to play a decent game. The Island Course, which we also played, is where the annual LPGA Legends Tour Open Championship is played.
Our clubs got a workout during our two days and two 18-hole rounds of golf. It was the perfect girlfriend getaway. I also tried out a new pair of golf shoes, compliments of Sandbaggers Golf Shoes. Read my review here: http://travelinginheels.blogspot.com/2010/06/i-love-shoes.html
For those with families, Innisbrook caters to families too! On the free shuttle, we encountered many families, including a grandmother with her granddaughter. There are so many ways to enjoy Innisbrook, including:
- Camp Nessie with its many activities like face painting and sand candle sculpturing
- Dive-in movies at the Loch Ness Monster Pool, replete with a water slide and beach (NOTE: The Loch Ness Monster Pool is pretty cool, a water adventure for kids of all ages!)
- Five additional pools
- Miniature golf
- Playground
- 900 acres to explore and bicycle
- Family Fox Squirrel Golf Course
- Junior golf and tennis lessons
- Complimentary shuttle to nearby Caladesi Island – ranked as America’s top beach
- Day trip to Busch Gardens Adventure Park
Check out Innisbrook’s special summer package, starting at $695 for one week: http://www.innisbrookgolfresort.com/index.cfm/vacation-rentals
