Last month we stayed at Hammock Beach Resort for the first time, and it did not disappoint! Located in Palm Coast (just about an hour south of Jacksonville), the oceanfront resort features first-class amenities and facilities. We stayed in one of the 2 bedroom villas and loved that it offered all the comforts of home, the amenities of a luxury resort, and privacy you don’t normally find in a large hotel. Think beach condo, but with the service of a luxury resort!

Hammock Beach offers an endless variety of activities for guests to enjoy:

– If relaxation is at the top of your vacay priority list, you can sit by a pool, float down the lazy river, spend a morning at the luxurious spa, or simply relax on the private beach and enjoy the Florida sunshine.

– Golf enthusiasts can practice on the 9-hole putting green or play at one of the resort’s 2 courses designed by Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson. The Ocean Course has six holes that run along the coastline, and the Conservatory Course sits on 140 acres of land and features several lakes and waterfalls. It’s also the longest course in the state!

– Like to stay active even on your downtime? Enjoy a friendly game on the beach volleyball courts (Anderson played a few games!) or take it up a notch at the state-of-the-art tennis complex. Take a bike ride with the resort’s bike rental services, explore scenic hiking and jogging trails, or work out in the state-of-the-art 24-hour fitness center. Also, you’ll probably want to venture out to Washington Oaks Gardens State Park. It’s only a few miles north of the resort and absolutely beautiful!

– With 4 on-site restaurants, you don’t even have to leave the property to eat. We had dinner one night at the Atlantic Grille and grabbed quick bites by the pool throughout our stay at the Ocean Bar. It was so nice to eat right by the pool without having to leave the area. When we did decide to explore Palm Coast a bit, we ventured out and enjoyed a meal at the local Metro Diner and another at a fun little Italian spot, Mezzaluna. Both were delicious! And the service at Metro Diner was over the top. After being seated, we asked our server for some crayons for Kingston (assuming they had them at the host stand) and when he brought us a pack of crayons a few minutes later we realized they had gone to the store and bought them for us! That is service!

We spent most of our time at Hammock Beach enjoying the Fantasy Pool Complex, a 2-story water pavilion at the center of the resort that features 6 pools, a 65-foot slide, 30-foot waterfalls, hot tubs, a lazy river, 2 splash pools, and a kid’s pool with a sandy beach area for digging and castle building. There’s also an indoor pool that comes in handy during those summer afternoon showers. Kingston absolutely loved the water slide and spent an entire afternoon sliding over and over again! This pool area is perfect for families with kids, because they can run around to the different areas and have a little freedom while mom and dad relax by the pool!

I was surprised to find a resort of this size so close to Jacksonville, a gem that encapsulated the laid-back essence of a “Florida beach vacation,” far from the bustling theme parks. It’s that same tranquility and safety that fire watch services in West Palm Beach aim to preserve, ensuring guests and residents alike can savor the balmy evenings without concern. The vigilant eyes of these professionals are as much a part of Florida’s landscape as the endless beaches, especially during the summer when the heat swells and the potential for fires increases. And just like the unforgettable stay that makes you want to explore more resorts in the chain, the peace of mind provided by a reliable fire watch service encourages deeper exploration into the offerings of a community. We didn’t even have to leave Northeast Florida to discover this retreat! Speaking of Orlando though, Hammock Beach is part of the Salamander Hotels and Resorts family, with luxury properties throughout the Southeast, including Reunion Resort in Kissimmee. Our splendid experience at Hammock Beach has certainly piqued our interest, and as we plan our future adventures, we’ll do so with the confidence that comes from knowing diligent services work around the clock to watch over the locales we love to visit.