five favorite things // my stay at the hilton sandestin

Just a few weeks ago, I got my final fill of summer sunshine in on a quick trip to the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa. The team was kind enough to invite me to the beautiful property, and since it’s only a 4 hour drive from Gainesville, I hit the road for a few days of sun and sand!

Today, I thought it would be fun to walk you through my five favorite parts of the miniature vacation. So many of y’all sent in comments about your love for the property, and I quickly understood why!

 

1. my spacious, modern room

 

I felt completely spoiled in a King Bed Beachview room. Not only was it so incredibly spacious and well-decorated (my favorite hotel aesthetic, and something rare to come by in beachfront hotels) but there was also an adorable set of bunk beds near the front of the room. If Andrew had been with me, I’m 100% confident he would have insisted on sleeping in them. Plenty of space for a family!

 

2. beachfront activities

 

One of the wonderful things about the Hilton Sandestin is that it has its own private beachfront. They do a great job of offering lots of different ways to enjoy it, and here are a few of my favorites:

Umbrella Rentals

The bright yellow umbrellas put such a smile on my face and are available to rent. My insider tip? Call the hotel right when you make your reservations and ask to reserve a spot on the front row. They’re given first-come-first-serve, and are a game-changer especially during busy seasons!

BIKINI TOP | SUNGLASSES | SARONG

SUNGLASSES

Beach Bonfire

One of my favorite moments of the trip was the nighttime beach bonfire. The Hilton Sandestin team set up an amazing fire complete with music and smores. We spent a few hours out there snacking, chatting and taking in the beautiful night. This would be such a great idea for a group of families or friends to do together!

Fitness Class

The first morning of our trip, I got up early for a fitness class on the beach. To be honest, I was not really looking forward to the 6am wakeup call, but ended up having the best morning. The fitness instructor took us on a long walk along the beach where we alternated between squats, lunges, arm circles and a few other low-impact exercises. It was such a pleasant way to wake up and get some movement in while enjoying the view and the cool morning!

TOP (sold out) | LEGGINGS (sold out)

 

3. delicious dining

 

I’ve spent quite a bit of time on 30A, specifically over in the Seaside/Watercolor area, and meals are always a highlight for me. :) This was my first time in Sandestin, and I was really impressed with the fact with how expansive the dining options were at the Hilton Sandestin.

The breakfast buffet at Sandcastles was huge, and I was pleasantly surprised by the Hadashi Sushi Bar near the lobby of the hotel! My very favorite meal, however, was our final dinner at Seagar’s. Oh my goodness. It had a gorgeous, dark and romantic atmosphere complete with a pianist and wine room. If you have ever been to Houston’s, that’s the vibe it gave me!

DRESS | SHOES | HEADBAND | CLUTCH (sold out) | HOOP EARRINGS

DRESS | SHOES | HEADBAND | CLUTCH (sold out) | HOOP EARRINGS

 

4. spa day!

 

I absolutely loved my experience at the Serenity by the Sea Spa. What a treat! In all the times I’ve visited the beach, it’s been rare to have a gorgeous spa within walking distance! I got to my appointment about a half-hour early to enjoy the whirlpool before my amazing massage. When my masseuse asked how it was, I responded “life-changing”… so I think that’s a good sign! :)

 

5. shopping

 

Needing a break from the sun, we decided to head over to the Grand Boulevard for lunch, shopping and a stop at the Shard Shop! What a fun way to spend the afternoon. I can’t recommend Vintij, our lunch spot, enough! Such a darling ambiance along with some amazing, beautiful dishes. I had so much fun getting my creative juices flowing by making a rendition of our wedding monogram at the Shard Shop. This adorable area is just a few minutes drive from the Hilton Sandestin!

DRESS | WEDGES | HEADBAND | BAG (sold out)

All in all, it was a wonderful few days away soaking up the tail end of summer at the Hilton Sandestin! If I could change one thing, it would be that Andrew had been there to experience it with me. I know he would have loved it!

Here are a few other photos and outfit details from the trip.

DRESS | WEDGES | HEADBAND | CLUTCH (sold out)

COVER UP | SHOES

DRESS (almost sold out) | WEDGES | EARRINGS

DRESS | WEDGES | HEADBAND | CLUTCH (sold out)

On this first day of fall, I’m so happy I was able to round out a busy, exciting, beautiful summer at the Hilton Sandestin. Let me know if it’s a spot you love as well!

Love from the Sunshine State,

Kate

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2 Comments

  1. Monty said:

    Another wonderful place to add to our ever growing list of beautiful Panhandle beach towns to visit. Having grown up in Central Florida (Lakeland), I didn’t get much beyond Tallahassee (Go 🐊🧡💙) before moving away after college. Looks like you had a great time and with one of my favorite Birmingham Bloggers … Heather from @mylifewellloved.

    Published 9.23.19 · Reply
  2. Nikola said:

    Hi there,
    You have to include Streamsong Resort in Florida: https://britonthemove.com/streamsong-resort/
    It’s the closest to playing in Europe that you will get to here on the mainland of the US.
    Seriously, if you’ve not played at Streamsong – you’ve not experienced the best.
    Nikki

    Published 1.18.21 · Reply