Nickelodeon Parents' Pick for Best Local Blog in Atlanta
What: Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club
Where: Innisbrook, Fla. (near Tampa)
Cost: Special $695 for a week in a 1-bedroom suite, $995 for a 2-bedroom suite
Photos: For photos of the resort, go to photo album on Field Trips with Sue’s Facebook page.
We spent Memorial Day weekend enjoying the Florida sunshine at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club near Tampa, Fla. Innisbrook is best known as a golf resort, hosting the Transitions Championship, part of the FEDEX Cup, on the Copperhead course. There are three other courses on property with the most scenic being the Island Course. Golf is still a big draw, but for families there are lots of wonderful activities in addition to hitting the links. For Summer 2010, Innisbrook is offering a great deal, $695 for a week in a one-bedroom suite or $995 for a two-bedroom suite. All suites offer full-sized kitchens, a real plus when traveling with kids.
The resort encompasses 900 acres, has four golf courses, six pools, a playground, mini-golf course, shuffleboard, nature walk and four restaurants. There are lots of activities for families including complimentary junior golf and tennis lessons on specific days. Daily from 4 – 7 pm, families can golf together at the 9 hole, par 3 Fox Squirrel course for free. The Loch Ness Pool is the center for family fun and has two water slides, zero entry with sandy beach and fountains, good for little ones and crawlers, and beach and water volleyball for older kid fun. There are also poolside crafts for an extra charge. During our visit, family programming included a dive-in movie and family whiffleball tournament.
If the kids like to fish, poles and gear are available from the tennis center. While you fish, look for several of the native Florida birds that live on property. Pick up picture cards at the Loch Ness Pool and head out on an early morning bike ride for the best viewing and bring some bread to feed the turtles along the Nature Walk. In the evenings, the golf courses are open as walking trails. The Island Course is the most scenic of the four.
If you want more excitement, Innisbrook is near Busch Gardens Tampa or take in a Ray’s baseball game at Tropicana Field. Although the resort is not along the ocean, they offer shuttle service to nearby Honeymoon Island. Guests can then take a ferry to Caladesi Island, recently voted as a “best beach.”
On your way home, have a Greek lunch at the Sponge Docks in Tarpon Springs.
Although we were provided a complimentary room for the purpose of reviewing it (as is common in the travel industry), we only recommend places we would stay and products we would use.
