It had been a long time since we enjoyed a family beach trip, so when we booked Kaitlyn’s 10th birthday trip to Universal in Orlando, I started searching for a spot to spend a day or two in conjunction to get our beach fix. I came across Hammock Beach Resort and it seemed like a dream fit. It sits on the Atlantic coast of Florida, just south of St. Augustine, and is only 1.5 hours from Orlando. It seemed like the perfect spot to add on to the front end or tail end of our chaotic theme park experience.
I had heard good things and it sure looked like it was set up for families so we were thrilled when we connected and they offered us a two night stay to come check it out. I’m sharing my honest review of Hammock Beach and the details (and let’s be honest, way too many pictures) of our trip. Let me know if you have any questions!
Hammock Beach Resort Review
We planned to spend three days and two nights at Hammock Beach Resort and wanted to squeeze every relaxing moment out of it that we could, so on Mother’s Day we left Charlotte by 8:00 AM so we could arrive by around 3:00 PM. Pulling in we were all impressed at just how large and sprawling the resort is. We had no issues checking in, and soon were directed to the parking garage below our assigned 3 bedroom condo. Oh my goodness, how the girls (OK, me, too) squealed with delight when we burst into the spacious condo, with a large balcony and ocean view!
We didn’t want to waste a moment of our beach getaway, so we unpacked, changed into bathing suits and headed straight to the beach. It truly felt like we had our own private beach! We might have seen another family or two, but for the most part, it was so peaceful. Our kids wasted no time testing out the waters and jumping in the waves. I exhaled; this was the relaxation and peace we had been seeking.
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We stayed for a while before curiosity got the best of us and we wanted to go exploring. We wandered back from the beach and right into the nine hole putting course. This is a free offering. We grabbed putters and balls and played a few holes before the girls got sidetracked into wanting to find the indoor pool they had heard about at check in. Letting them dictate the decisions because we were on beach time, David and I said ok, and we went searching for the indoor pool, which ended up not being too far away. We had that to ourselves, too!
We swam for quite a while before realizing that we could probably eat dinner at some point. I think it was 8:30 or 9:00 before we finally sat down outside at Loggerheads Sports Bar to enjoy burgers and fries. Then we all headed back for showers and a good night’s sleep.
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We woke up the next day with absolutely no agenda. It was the best feeling! We let the girls sleep in a bit while David and I went in search of lattes, which we found in the lobby. We wandered back to the lawn to take in the scenery and beach breezes.
While I could have sat in that spot all day, we figured we should get the day going to make the most of it. We got the girls and went to have breakfast at the Atlantic Grille where we chatted about everyone’s top priority for fun for the day.
We all had a different answer, so we wasted no time. We kicked things off with the greatest attraction for the kids- the pool area! The pool complex is impressive. The main event is the activity pool, complete with two story twisty water slide, a water fall, a zero entry option, and plenty of space to swim around. Directly next to it is a lazy river with floats. It’s pretty much a kid paradise, but the adults had plenty of fun, too. We could really get moving on that slide.
A few steps away is a sand volleyball court, which we entertained for a while. Only David could hit the ball properly, so after the girls and I gave ourselves bruises on our arms in attempts to get it over the net, we waved the white flag and headed to the giant hot tub near the adult pool instead.
From swimming, we decided to take advantage of the free hour bike rental (you pay if you go over that time period). They had kid and adult bikes, so we all obtained one and went exploring. We found a whole bike trail system on property that wove through the trees. It was aimed toward mountain biking, but we found a couple trails easy enough for us to venture onto; it was fun!
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A hearty, late breakfast gave us the fuel we needed to blow past the lunch hour. However, the onsite gelato shop was an obvious choice for an afternoon pick me up. The lady working was so kind, letting the girls try multiple flavors before finally selecting one to coat in candy toppings. We headed to the beach afterwards to put all that sugar to good use, jumping through the waves.
Late afternoon we finally headed back to the room to shower and get ready for our 6:00 reservations at Atlantic Grille. We opted for a outdoor table and hungrily devoured our seafood while listening to the waves crash. A perfect end to our active and adventurous day.
We were due to head out the next day, but not before we squeezed in one last treat. Hammock Beach offers a kid club in both mornings and evenings of select days for children aged 4-12 years old. It includes crafts, swimming, and lunch. Even though we technically could have left the kids in our condo, this sounded like something they would much prefer. When we dropped them off and they kicked things off with making SLIME (Kaitlyn’s favorite), we knew it was the right call.
With the kids all set up with 9:00-1:00 entertainment, David and I took the morning as a date. We worked out in the fitness center, then split to our respective locker rooms to sauna and shower before each heading in for a 60 minute massage at the spa. It was probably my most relaxing 4 hours of 2024 thus far. What a treat!
Feeling revived, we picked up the kids who were happy as clams, then packed up our stuff and headed out. We packed a lot into our two night stay and still weren’t able to quite do it all. What a great spot for a relaxing and fun family getaway; we’d definitely return!
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Hammock Beach Resort Location
Located along the Atlantic Ocean in Palm Coast, Hammock Beach offers a beautiful beach destination. It’s about 40 minutes south of St. Augustine and about 45 minutes north of Daytona. It’s 45 minutes from the Daytona Beach International Airport. Most important to us, it’s only 1.5 hours from Orlando, making it the perfect pre or post theme park trip add on.
Hammock Beach Resort Concierge
Check in was a breeze, which was a nice surprise since the resort is sprawling. We pulled up to the main lobby and left the car outside while checking in at the front desk, which was a quick experience. They told us about all the onsite offerings and activity calendar, then directed us where to park to access our condo. We didn’t need to return to the car for our entire stay, which was nice. Check in time was at 4:00 and check-out was at 11:00, though we called the morning of check out and they kindly extended us a late check out of 1:00 to accommodate our spa and kid club morning.
Hammock Beach Resort Rooms
We stayed in a three bedroom condo which was incredibly spacious. There was one king, one queen, and the third room had two twins. Each bedroom had its own ensuite bathroom. The kitchen had high end appliances, a large dining table, a living room space with two couches and chairs, and a spacious back porch with gorgeous views of a pool, the golf course, and the ocean. We joked that we could have fit so many more people in it, but it was really a treat to have so much room to spread out.
They also offer hotel rooms, 1+ bedroom suites, multi bedroom villas, condos, and full vacation homes. They offer some pet-friendly accommodations, too, and we saw several cute dogs on property. There is free wifi with strong signal throughout the resort.
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Hammock Beach Resort Amenities
Hammock Beach Resort Pool
I’d say this is the biggest draw for family fun. It’s obvious they put a lot of thought and time into this pool complex/recreation area. The activity pool with the twisty was slide, lazy river, waterfall, and zero entry option could fill a full day of fun for young families with babies and toddlers up to young teens. A bar and restaurant overlooks this area from above and is appointed next to the adults only pool, which is nicely separated from this kids-focused area without being too far away. Then there are several other smaller pool options and a giant hot tub. The entire pool complex felt very clean and well cared for. Servers made the rounds asking if you needed any food or drinks. It was the favorite spot for our kids, ages 9 and 12.
Hammock Beach Resort Spa
The fitness room is right next to the spa and we found it to be spacious and fully equipped. About half the area is cardio machines, including rowers, treadmills, and bikes. The other half has weight machines and free weights. It was surprisingly full when we visited, but did not feel overcrowded or impact our ability to workout. It was very clean.
The spa itself also felt very clean and well taken care of and had a helpful attendant. The men and women facilities are separate but the relaxation room before your treatment is co-ed. I do wish David and I could have done the sauna or hot tub together prior, but I was grateful that both locker rooms had them as options for us to enjoy separately.
Hammock Beach Resort Golf Course
We aren’t golfers (yet?) so I don’t have any first hand experience to share here, but I will say when I told people about our trip ahead of time, 95% of the reactions were positive about their golf course, saying things like Oh, I’ve played there/had a friend that has played there and it’s amazing! It was certainly beautiful.
They offer two award-winning golf courses. One is a breathtaking Jack Nicklaus-designed Ocean Course winds along pristine wetlands and sparkling lakes, while the Conservatory Course, designed by Tom Watson, is highlighted by waterfalls, babbling brooks, and field stone work.
Other Hammock Beach amenities include: tennis, pickleball, beach arcade, and marina with options for getting out on the water.
Hammock Beach Resort Restaurants
Offering nine on site dining options, you don’t have to leave the resort for any meal. From the higher end Delfinos Italian Chophouse to sushi to the sports bar atmosphere and grab and go options, you’ll find what you’re after. Reservations are suggested for Delfinos Italian Chophouse, Atlantic Grille, and Stix Authentic Sushi.
If you are looking for family focused fun for your trips, you may also like: Carolina Pines RV Resort Review, Jellystone Golden Valley Resort Review, or The Omni Homestead Resort.
