Having three kids under five makes traveling a lot more difficult nowadays, however we didn’t let that stand in our way this winter. We were searching for the best family friendly resorts in the US and stumbled upon this gem on Florida’s east coast, Hammock Beach Golf Resort and Spa.
We wanted to find a resort that had several pools, entertainment for young kids, a beach, a kids club so that the adults could relax, and restaurants and amenities on site. Hammock Beach Resort checked off all the boxes so we headed down from NJ this past week for our family getaway.
Our kids are 4, 3, and 1 and most people call us crazy for getting on a plane with these little ones, but with a positive attitude, we hopped on board, and everything went smoother than expected! Even with three kids, this trip was just what we needed to relax, unwind, and reset.
Hammock Beach Resort was the perfect family friendly destination for us and we will definitely be going back. Our kids loved every minute of this vacation and we made memories to last a lifetime.
You don’t need to travel to the Caribbean to experience resort-like amenities. This is one of Florida’s hidden gems!
Here are some factors that made it such a great stay for my family:
Kids Activities
The obvious focal point of this resort for kids (and adults) is the many pools and resort amenities.
Our kids stayed in the pool All. Day. Long. And it really knocked them out! By 5pm they were begging to put on their jammies and tuck them into bed- no complaints there!
The Fantasy Pool Complex consists of the main pool with giant water slide (48” to ride), lazy river, lagoon pool with sand/beach, an adults-only pool, hot tub, and a pool bar cafe. There’s an abundance of lounge chairs as well.
The Lagoon pool features sand so it mimics the beach which the kids loved! We brought a few sand toys and they were in heaven.
My kids absolutely loved the main pool which was heated to a warm temperature, but the lazy river and lagoon are not heated. In the summer, the temperature shouldn’t be a problem, but when we went in early March, those pools were just too cold.
However, on a really hot day, after playing in the sand for about an hour, the temperature of the lagoon pool didn’t feel too cold to them and they still went in. I just wish we could have utilized those pools more.
There’s is a calendar of events at the resort for each month which consist of snow cone and craft making in the pool complex, evening s’mores and movies, glow in the dark mini golf, pool games and activities, and more. There are definitely options for kids of all ages to experience something fun and different each day.
The resort also offers a program called Kids Crew which costs $50 for a 4 hour kids “babysitting” program. It’s for ages 4-12 and includes lunch as well.
They do crafts and activities with them, take them swimming, and give you a chance to relax and enjoy some sun. We did it one time on our trip and it was definitely worth it.
If the weather isn’t too great, there is also a huge heated indoor pool available as well. Another complimentary activity is the Putt Putt mini golf. My kids have never tried it before, but loved taking a swing at a few balls before dinner.
Adult Amenities
If you take advantage of the Kids Crew or have a grandparent or babysitter with you, you’ll have some free time for adult-friendly activities!
Choose to unwind with a massage or facial at the spa or play golf on one of the two gorgeous waterfront golf courses.
You can also relax and sip drinks in the Adults-Only pool or hot tub and take out the complimentary bikes to cruise around the resort and beyond.
Inside, there is a game room with a ping pong and foosball table if you want to challenge each other to a game. You can also relax in the spa garden which has two more small hot tubs for relaxation.
Dining
There are a few dining options on the resort with different cuisines.
My favorite was Atlantic Grill for both the food and atmosphere. You get a gorgeous view of the ocean and golf course and the food was delicious.
They even made it enjoyable for young kids by offering crayons and activity paper.
Other options include a sports bar/grill, sushi, pool bar, and steakhouse.
Accommodations
The grounds of Hammock Beach are beautifully kept and there are gorgeous views from every part of the resort. The rows of palm trees everywhere you look will leave any northerner swooning!
This expansive resort has tons of rooms. Most on the upper levels have gorgeous views of the ocean, golf course, and resort.
We chose to stay on the lobby (1st floor level) to be closest to the pool areas. This minimized our ocean view, but even one less elevator trip makes all the difference with exhausted toddlers!
There are plenty of large guest suites consisting of 1-4 bedroom suites to accommodate any size party or family. They include a small kitchenette which was perfect for us to make lunches and snacks for the kids, and a spacious balcony to use once the kids go to sleep.
The interior of our room was a bit outdated so that is definitely something to note. However, they seem to be doing renovations around the hotel so I’m sure they are planning on updating them soon.
Professional Photography
The resort offers a complimentary photography session with family photos taken on the beach and golf course by Atventure Photography. While the service is complimentary, the photos are not.
You’ll sit down and select the photos that you’d like to purchase, but be aware that they’re not cheap. However, no photography sessions are, so it’s pretty reasonable with what any photography session would cost.
Location
Hammock Beach Resort is located on the east coast of Florida on the northern/central end.
It is about 35 minutes from St. Augustine where you’ll find so much culture at the oldest city in the USA. It’s definitely worth a day trip to see gorgeous Spanish architecture from the 1600s, amazing cuisine, and a small walkable city on cobblestone streets.
In that area you can also head over to the Alligator Farm for the kids to see a live Crocodile feeding. Also check out Ponce de Leon’s Fountain of Youth exhibit for some historical knowledge.
I hope you got a great idea of why Hammock Beach Golf Resort and Spa is one of the most family friendly resorts on the east coast! Hope you can make it there to experience the gorgeous views and exciting amenities soon.
So who says you can’t travel with young kids and actually call it a vacation? Not us!
