Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort – Sandestin, Florida
I love Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort. I have been lucky enough to visit this beautiful property located on Florida’s Emerald Coast several times since 2004. I found the resort to be very LGBT welcoming as well as the entire Emerald Coast area including Destin/Fort. Walton Beach and the resorts that line Scenic 30-A.
For the most up-to-the-minute information on Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort visit http://www.sandestin.com or email info@gaytravelpros.com.
- What is Sandestin?
Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort is a 2,400-acre premier destination resort located in Northwest Florida. Sandestin invites guests to enter its world of 30 charming village neighborhoods featuring condominiums, villas, town homes and a wide variety of hotel accommodations. The resort boasts more than seven miles of sugar-white sand beach and bayfront property, four championship golf courses, 15 world-class tennis courts, 19 swimming pools, a 113-slip marina, water sports, children’s programs, a fitness center and spa, 65,000 square feet of meeting space and a pedestrian village featuring a host of boutique shops, casual and fine dining restaurants, nightclubs and bars that come alive with strolling musicians, street performers, dancing fountains and lively festivals and events. In this complete vacation world, guests can create their own, one-of-a-kind memorable experience.
- Where is Sandestin located?
Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort is located on Northwest Florida’s Gulf Coast, between Pensacola and Panama City, eight miles east of Destin. A member of Beaches of South Walton – Sandestin is the only resort situated on both the Intercoastal Waterway and the Gulf of Mexico and is accessible via three airports – Fort Walton Beach, Panama City and Pensacola. The 2,400-acre Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, founded in 1973, is the premier family resort destination in Northwest Florida.
- What makes Sandestin special?
Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort offers the most desirable year-round sand, surf and golf vacation experience in the Southeast for families and groups. It is the region’s only resort to offer both beach and bay access. Sandestin offers incomparable golf, including the Raven Golf Club, expanded tennis and a broad range of recreational activities. Accommodations can be found in a wide variety of rental units, ranging from condominiums and villas to large single-family homes. Sandestin has embarked on the most unique development program in Northwest Florida. The resort’s 28-acre Village of Baytowne Wharf offers guests shopping, dining and entertainment options with its 30 unique retail offerings, restaurants, eateries and bars. The resort also features the 168-unit Grand Sandestin and the Baytowne Conference Center, which features the Magnolia Ballroom, the largest ballroom in Northwest Florida on the Gulf Coast.
- What amenities at Sandestin are complimentary?
To help guests stretch their vacation dollar, the resort provides all guests with a variety of complimentary amenities including use of the fitness center, bicycles, one hour of canoes, kayaks and tennis court rental each day plus access to children’s activities.
- How many accommodations does Sandestin have?
Throughout its 30 distinct neighborhoods, Sandestin offers 1,300 rental accommodations including single family homes, one- to four-bedroom villas, condominiums, the 168-room Grand Sandestin, the 175-room Bayside Inn and penthouse suites. In fact, there are more than 30 different accommodations choices available at Sandestin to suit every budget.
- What are Sandestin’s golf offerings?
Sandestin offers guests 72 holes of award-winning golf on four championship courses, including the Raven Golf Club, Burnt Pine Golf Club, The Links Course and Baytowne Golf Club. All four of Sandestin’s courses were designed by world-renowned course architects. In fact, Sandestin is the only resort with courses designed by both Jones brothers – Rees Jones (Burnt Pine) and Robert Trent Jones Jr. (Raven). Both The Links Course and Baytowne Golf Club were designed by Tom Jackson. Sandestin also provides guests of all ages and skill levels with instruction, courtesy of the Sandestin Golf Academy.
- What other sports and activities are available at Sandestin?
In addition to golf, Sandestin offers world-class tennis on 15 courts. In fact, Sandestin is the only resort in the area to offer natural grass, hydrogrid clay, and hard surfaces. Tennis instruction for adults and children is also available. Sandestin also maintains 7.5 miles of top-rated sugar-white sand beach and bayfront property and the 113-slip, full-service Baytowne Marina. The property also features a fitness center, salon and day spa, 19 swimming pools, an 18-hole putting course (The Dunes) and a nature park (Jolee Island).
Recreational activities at Sandestin include beach volleyball, boogie boards, hiking, bicycling, kayaking, canoeing, catch-release lake fishing, waverunner rentals, pontoon boat rentals, sailing instruction, sailboat rentals, sailing charters, sunset cruises, Solaris dinner cruises, professional golf, tennis and sailing lessons.
- What dining options are there at Sandestin?
Sandestin offers guests a choice of more than 20 restaurants right on the resort grounds. The resort’s Village of Baytowne Wharf features a number of dining options including Acme Oyster House, Another Broken Egg Café, Bistro Bijoux, Jim ‘N Nick’s Bar-B-Q, Marlin Grill and Poppy’s Seafood Factory. Hammerhead’s Bar & Grille, Rum Runners and John Wehner’s Village Door provide guests with a choice of nightlife venues.
In addition to the dining choices at the Village, Sandestin also offers guests a Gulf-front restaurant – Finz, overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. Another dining option is the Linkside Pub, a sports bar. Three Tiki Bars are also available seasonally. The resort also boasts the first free-standing Starbucks Coffee to open on Northwest Florida’s Gulf Coast with three additional Sandestin locations (within The Village of Baytowne Wharf, The Market Shops at Sandestin and Grand Boulevard).
In addition to the dining choices at the Village, Sandestin also offers guests a Gulf-front restaurant – Finz, overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. Another dining option is the Linkside Pub, a sports bar. Three Tiki Bars are also available seasonally. The resort also boasts the first free-standing Starbucks Coffee to open on Northwest Florida’s Gulf Coast with three additional Sandestin locations (within The Village of Baytowne Wharf, The Market Shops at Sandestin and Grand Boulevard). Located adjacent to Sandestin’s Baytowne Marina, The Village of Baytowne Wharf is a 28-acre pedestrian-only coastal village located along Choctawatchee Bay. The Village has its own accommodations for those who choose to stay in the center of the action, a variety of restaurants, nightlife venues, shops and boutiques for guests to explore during their stay. The Village also has an Events Plaza with vibrant special events, annual festivals and concerts. Designed by Master Resort Planner Eldon Beck, the Village’s unique architecture combines French, Spanish, colonial, antebellum and “Low Country” influences from five centuries of history and culture of the Gulf Coast.
- How does one get around at Sandestin?
Although guests can drive their own cars throughout the resort, except within The Village of Baytowne Wharf, Sandestin also provides a fleet of complimentary transportation services including more than 20 trams.
- Is there shopping at Sandestin?
From fine wines to collectible art to products to pamper your pet, guests will find more than 48 retail offerings at Sandestin. The Village of Baytowne Wharf features specialty boutiques and retail shops such as Seagrapes Wine Bar & Gifts, Island Clothiers, Coconut Kids and Raspberry Rhino, among others. The Market Shops at Sandestin offer guests 30 specialty boutique retail shops, including Barefoot Princess – a Lilly Pulitzer Signature Store. In addition, guests can shop at two golf shops, a gift shop and the Tennis Shop. Located off-property approximately one mile from Sandestin is the Silver Sands Factory Stores.
- What programs are available for children at Sandestin?
Sandestin offers a variety of instruction programs for children including a Junior Golf Program, Sailing and Tennis instruction programs. Kids will also enjoy the Jolee Island Nature Park and Capt. Joe Lee’s Tree House and Nature Walk. KidZone is Sandestin’s adult-supervised children’s activity program that includes daily events for kids ages 3-5 and 6-10 years of age throughout the summer season.
- What meeting facilities are available for groups at Sandestin?
With the May 2003 opening of the Baytowne Conference Center, Sandestin is able to offer groups of up to 1,600 more than 65,000 square feet of flexible meeting space. This includes the Magnolia Ballroom – the largest ballroom in Northwest Florida – located within the new 60,000 square-foot Baytowne Conference Center. The resort’s award-winning meeting facilities also include the 12,600 square-foot Linkside Center Exhibit Hall; 24 breakout rooms plus two ballrooms and four boardrooms; 3,000 square feet of flexible meeting space on the Gulf; a Grand Lawn (at the Baytowne Conference Center) for outdoor functions; two business centers; and an oversized pool deck ideal for casual outdoor receptions.
- What is the resort’s address and telephone number?
Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, 9300 Emerald Coast Parkway West, Destin, Florida 32550
800/277-0800 or 850/267-8000
- What is the contact information for reservations and information?
Sandestin reservations can be made through 800/470-7389; or at reserve@sandestin.com.
Desiree Sousa
Owner
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