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Sandestin Soars With New Raven Golf CourseFlorida
beach resort also scores as family vacation spot
by Angela Wibking
But
Sandestin is much more than a great place for avid golfers. It is also the
ideal place for families, couples, retirees and just about anyone who
appreciates a gated but welcoming resort community with a variety of
accommodation and recreation options that’s nestled along what may be the most
beautiful beaches in the country. The sand here really is sugar-white and the
waters shimmer from emerald to aquamarine under the clear blue skies. The surf
is almost always gentle and there is no abrupt drop-off as one wades out into
the Gulf of Mexico. In fact, it’s common to spot people several hundred yards
out, happily paddling about or searching for sand dollars in the shallow
waters.
While
the active guest enjoys the sport of his or her choice, the more laid-back
visitor might enjoy sunning and swimming at the beach, where they can also pick
up complimentary towels and a boogie board or kayak for exploring the gulf
waters. Later one can stroll over to the Market Shops of Sandestin, featuring
Chico’s, Birkenstock and 30 other upscale specialty stores. Free live musical
entertainment also attracts guests to the shopping complex in the evenings. Other
options include grabbing a bicycle and touring the property along the wide
paved biking and walking path that weaves through the resort. This is a great
way to truly appreciate the size and scope of Sandestin, which is bordered on
one side by the gulf and on the other by the Choctawhatchee Bay. Fabulous homes,
lush landscaping, lots of water and even an island nature preserve are just a
few of the sights to be seen while tooling around on your bike. Drop by the
resort’s health club if you like and work out in the cardio room, pump up in
the weight room or take an aerobics class with a certified pro. Or pamper
yourself at the salon and day spa, where a variety of spa services are
available.
Fine
dining on site is another Sandestin perk. The resort is home to Elephant Walk,
a casually elegant restaurant overlooking the gulf that’s received the DiRoNA
(Distinguished Restaurants of North America) award for the past two years. The
restaurant is perfect for couples in search of romantic dining, while the
Sunset Bay Café fills the bill for family meals with its excellent breakfast
buffets, all-you-can-eat crab legs on Wednesdays, seafood buffets on Fridays
and a prime rib dinner special on Saturdays. You can also grab a quick bite at
the Linkside Pub, the resort’s sports bar, and at Riptide, the resort’s
beachside option for a light breakfast, lunch or beverage.
For more information on these and other packages or for reservations, call 800-277-0800 or visit www.sandestin.com. |
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Golfers are used to crying “fore!” when they
tee off but at the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort they are also crying “four!”
these days. That’s because the 2,400-acre resort, located 8 miles east of
Destin, Fla., has just added its fourth fabulous golf course. The Raven course,
which opened this spring, joins the resort’s Burnt Pine, Links and Baytowne
courses. Designed by Robert Trent “Bobby” Jones, the Raven weaves its way
through wetlands, marshes and thick stands of pines. Along the way are lush
plantings of native grasses and flowering plants, dramatic water features and
varying bunker patterns. It’s the kind of course golfers will want to play
again and again and it further enhances the property as the area’s premiere
golf destination. 
Sandestin own beaches are superb but if you
prefer, there are also four swimming pools on the property that serve the
high-rise condominium complexes along the beach. The condos are the perfect
accommodations for families, as they are spacious, individually decorated in
soothing beach motifs, feature daily maid service and are a few steps from
either the beach or pool. If you prefer, however, the resort also offers
single-family homes of every imaginable style and size for daily, weekly or
monthly rental. There are also one- to four-bedroom villas on the property, as
well as the 175-room Bayside Inn, for those who prefer a hotel option. Whatever
style your choose, there’s sure to be a putting green, pool, tennis court,
health club, café, beach, natural area or even a whimsical tree house nearby.
The entire resort has been designed so there’s a unique amenity or some hidden
treasure to be discovered around every corner.
Be sure to stop at the resort’s marina for wave runner rentals, sailing
lessons or other water sports. Or plan to picnic and explore Captain Jolee’s
tree house, the embodiment of every kid’s childhood dream in pine, cypress and
bamboo. Don’t miss the Discovery Center nearby, where you can learn what’s
coming next at the resort. Since the resort was purchased in 1998 by Intrawest,
which owns such outstanding mountain resort properties as the
Whistler/Blackcomb in Canada, Sandestin has embarked on $400 million
development plan. The new Raven golf course is part of that plan, as are the
Lagoons, a tropical aquatic recreation amenity expected to be completed next
year, and the Village of Baytowne Wharf, a $172 million pedestrian community
patterned after a quaint seaside fishing town that is scheduled for 2002.
Sandestin offers packages and rates to suit just about every budget and
vacation style, from active to romantic. Here are five new value-added packages
good through 2001: