Where to Stay in Greater Tampa Bay – Innisbrook Golf Resort

I was invited as media for a 2 night stay at Innisbrook Golf Resort. All opinions are my own. Whether you’re seeking a romantic getaway, guys’ golf vacation, or family trip – Innisbrook Golf & Spa Resort is the perfect destination! The Salamander property is just 30 minutes from the Tampa airport, and 2 hours from one of Florida’s top destinations – Orlando. The multi-award winning property boasts 900 wooded acres, beautiful lakes and lush greenery.

More about Innisbrook Golf Resort

Innisbrook is home to an annual PGA TOUR championship where the world’s finest players come to visit. It also has 3 additional championship courses, all with their own unique layout. The resort consistently receives top accolades including Golf Digest’s “Best Golf Resorts in Florida” and Golf Digest’s “Top 75 Golf Resorts in America.” Innisbrook features 600 guest suites and rooms in what would be described as “retro chic” buildings. We stayed in a 2 bedroom suite which included 3 beds, 2 bathrooms, a living space and full kitchen. It was located right off one of the four golf courses on the property and had absolutely stunning views. The rooms were clean, well maintained and allowed our family of four to spread out and comfortably enjoy the luxurious suite. All rooms include Wi-Fi & high-speed internet, in-room dining, flat screen TV’s and much more. Inspired by Georgia and South Carolina, the 900 acre resort offers plenty of shade and relaxation. You’ll spot all kinds of wildlife, like fox squirrels, birds, fish, and more.

Innisbrook Activities

There are boundless activities to choose from at Innisbrook including 11 Har-tru tennis courts with daily clinics, private lessons and a large tennis shop with clothing and equipment for the entire family. Other activities include fishing, a large playground, a mini golf course, basketball, volleyball and shuffleboard. The newly crafted outdoor yoga space is the perfect place to get your zen on, and the large fitness facility has an abundance of equipment options to keep you healthy. There’s so many activities on-site, you may never leave! However the resort is located just minutes from a state park and the local beaches where you can use the property’s courtesy shuttle to visit. During our stay we took in as many activities as the daylight allowed for, including a beautiful nature walk where we spotted turtles, fish and heard alligator sounds. Watch out for large tree branches along the path! One of the funnest activities, especially for families, is the golf resort’s Loch Ness Pool. The Loch Ness features:

• Two sand beach areas
• 15-foot waterfall
• Two winding water slides
• Separate plunge pool with bubbling jets and fountains
• Grille for casual poolside dining
• Water volleyball
• Sunbathing areas
• Monster-sized spa that seats up to 36 people
• Sand volleyball court

We had a blast at the LochNess pool! It was hard to pull the kids away. The water slides were especially enjoyable for the family. In addition to swimming at LochNess, there’s an on-site bar with drinks, snacks and complimentary water. You can rent bicycles to take a spin on the many trails available throughout the golf resort property. When the sun goes down, visit the Market Salamander Grille located at the main check-in building. We enjoyed a chef-led dinner with amazing service! I can’t say enough good things about the chef, our service, and the food. Everything was outstanding! We began with specially crafted appetizers from the chef, including a spicy scallop in a fish stock cream sauce, and sweet option for the kiddos. For the main course, I chose the highly recommended sirloin strip steak with herb risotto, a side of vegetables and balsamic reduction sauce. Nate chose the evening’s surf and turf special – a ribeye and scallops with sautéed cauliflower. For dessert we shared the local favorite – a double chocolate ice cream sandwich with vanilla bean ice cream and caramel sauce. Yes – it absolutely tastes as good as it looks! The restaurant is open for all-day dining. Before you depart Innisbrook Golf Resort, I highly recommend a visit to the Salamander Spa for some relaxation. The facility includes lockers with robes and slippers, showers, a tranquil waiting space, hot tub and sauna. You could spend hours there! The services range from nail to massages and facials. I recommend the spa’s signature ritual which includes a scalp massage, followed by a relaxing full body massage with essential oils of your choosing, and a exfoliating foot scrub with heated towel treatment. It was absolutely amazing and just what this busy mom of two needed to feel refreshed! While I enjoyed some R&R, the boys visited the Fox Squirrel golf course, where kids are welcome. My husband rented a golf cart so they could zoom around the course. They had a lot of fun!! Before departing, we rented fishing poles and supplies to take the boys to one of the many watering holes the resort offers. J was determined to catch his first fish – and he did! He was so excited, and weirded out too. LOL! He refused to touch it, but dad returned the fish to the water for him. During the cooler months, visit the resort’s fire pit located at the main check-in building and roast some marshmallows by the fire. Innisbrook Golf Resort and Spa is located at: 36750 U.S. Highway 19 North, Palm Harbor, FL 34684 Toll-Free Reservations: 1-888-794-8627 (727) 942-2000 Head to their website for more information about Innisbrook, and visit their Facebook page too. We are already planning on our next visit to Innisbrook! We had the best experience and can’t wait to return. Every staff member we came into contact with from the tennis shop to the restaurants and doorman were friendly and helpful. We honestly felt a bit of Disney magic in the way the staff and management handle the resort and its’ visitors. If you are looking for a Florida getaway with top notch service – Innisbrook is the place to stay!