Beyond Rye

Beyond Rye
Family Vacations, The First of Many

– By Duke Thrush –

What does one look for in a family vacation? Is it relaxation? Is it fun and excitement? Is it learning and adventure? Is it time well spent with the children? Or is it maybe, “all of the above?” For the smart travelers, the answer is always “all of the above.”

And one such resort that seems to have it all for the traveling family is The Club at Hammock Beach in Palm Coast, Fl. Upon arriving at the resort you are greeted by a personal concierge who gives you the grand tour of the property and you soon come to realize that the resort is still relatively undiscovered by the traveling masses.

This is good because part of relaxation and enjoyment is being able to get four lounge chairs in a desired location by the pool where you can have both sun and shade. You also want to have some privacy and still be able to keep a close eye on the kids around the pool area.

The six-acre water and swimming pavilion is a dream spot for kids and grown ups alike. For the kids, Hammock Beach features a large water slide, a zero-entry lagoon-shaped pool, a meandering lazy river and a sand beach pool on multiple levels. For the grown ups there is a warm pool situated conveniently next to the pool bar with delicious pina coladas and a 50-person Jacuzzi, perfect for loosening up before the real activities begin.

Some may consider the pool the focal point of a family vacation but Hammock Beach offers so much more. The private beach is unspoiled and runs as far as the eye can see. The beaches rival the soft, wide-open sands of the Hamptons and the water has a Caribbean feel with rolling waves and warm, clear ocean water. Walks along the beach should be a daily activity when visiting Hammock Beach.

If you need more than a long walk on the beach for your daily exercise routine, Hammock Beach offers a first-rate fitness center with a full service spa. After your morning workout you can treat yourself to a sauna or steam in the well-appointed club facilities or a soft tissue massage at the spa. While husband and wife enjoy the spa, the kids will be immersed in activities at the kids’ club where they will go on scavenger hunts, do arts and crafts, and will be watched closely by the well-trained Kids Crew staff.

And what would a family vacation be without championship golf at your fingertips? The Club at Hammock Beach borders the famed Ocean Hammock Golf Course. This course is better known as “The Pebble Beach of the East.” Six holes run alongside the Atlantic Ocean and at 7,200 yards the course plays to a slope of 147. The Conservatory, a Tom Watson signature course, will be the crown jewel of the resort when it opens in November. It will feature six sets of tees, making the course playable for all levels of golf. But if you want the challenge of championship golf, play from the championship tees at a modest 7,700 yards, “yikes.”

For a great family event, Hammock Beach offers a 9-hole, natural grass mini golf course. This is a great way to get the youngsters interested in the game of golf. They get the feel of being on a real golf course, without the boredom and heartache of a four-hour round of golf. And let’s face it: there really isn’t anything better than watching your 4-year old son or daughter drain a 15-foot putt for birdie now is there.

The Club at Hammock Beach offers many different dining experiences, including formal dining, casual dining, room service and poolside dining from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. But you might want to venture south about 10 miles to The Shark House, a great family restaurant with both indoor and ocean front casual dining with live music and an upstairs karaoke bar. So as the night rolls along, you may find yourself belting out a few verses of your favorite Three Doors Down composition.

After thoroughly embarrassing both your wife and kids, it’s time to head back to your suite for a good nights rest. All the suites include a full kitchen, washer and dryer and high speed Internet access for your convenience. There are one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom suites to choose from, one more luxurious than the next.

The Club at Hammock Beach is not only a full service resort but also a living, breathing resort community with real estate options including condominiums and oceanfront single-family homes and home sites. This merge between resort and luxury golf community sets Hammock Beach apart from ordinary four-star resorts and individual luxury golf course communities.

Consider The Club at Hammock Beach a must vacation stop for you and your family, I know that my kids will be talking about their vacation here for many years to come. The only drawback is having my son pulling on my pant leg screaming, “When can we go back to Florida Dad?”