Category Archives: Watersports

Pet- Friendly TradeWinds St. Pete Beach

A 25-acre beachfront playground on the Gulf of Mexico, the pet-friendly TradeWinds Island Grand on St. Pete Beach, Florida features two tennis courts, five heated pools, and endless water-sports, perfect for the whole family and their furry companions.

TradeWinds Pet Area
TradeWinds Pet Area photo credit: Sherel Purcell

There are 48 pet-friendly suites at the hotel and a leash-free Pet Play Zone with a doggie drinking fountain, fire hydrants, and photo op display. Room service is also available for pets through the Paw Court Bistro. TradeWinds Island Grand welcomes two pets up to 80 lbs for an additional fee of $30 per night.

St. Pete Beach at TradeWinds
St. Pete Beach at TradeWinds photo credit: John Cameron

For the 7th year running, the 2020 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice named St. Pete Beach one of the top 10 beaches in the nation. The icing sugar white sands of St Pete Beach are ideal for beachcombing and shelling.

TradeWinds Paddleboat
TradeWinds Paddleboat photo credit: John Cameron

Hop aboard a paddleboat and explore the canals that meander around Tradewinds. The waterways are home to swans, Japanese Koi, turtles and a variety of herons and egrets. Fish feeding stations are located along the banks.

Not to be confused with paddleboats,  the stand-up paddleboards available for purchase, are the first choice for the more athletic guests. You can claim your paddleboard tickets online on an hourly basis. Visit the Tiki Hut on the beach behind TradeWinds Island Grand for a kayak on a first-come, first-served basis.

TradeWinds Water Slide
TradeWinds Water Slide photo credit: John Cameron

Kids will never be bored with the inflatable, three-story tall, 200-foot-long water slide located on the TradeWinds beach. Unlimited rides are included in every stay. Book a newly renovated one-bedroom suite with  juliette balcony facing the gulf that includes a kitchenette with full-size fridge, two -burner cooktop, microwave, coffee maker, toaster and dishware.

Salty's Tiki Bar at Tradewinds
Salty’s Tiki Bar at Tradewinds photo credit: John Cameron

Dining options at Tradewinds include Sharktooth Tavern and Flying Bridge. Enjoy a sunset with live music at beachfront Salty’s tiki bar. For a fun night out, Karaoke Mondays at RedBeard’s Sharktooth Tavern is the place to be.

Rumfish Aquarium
Rumfish Aquarium photo credit: Sherel Purcell

Don’t miss Rumfish Grill, Tradewinds sister property just next door. Featured on Animal Planet’s hit show Tanked, a 33,500-gallon aquarium with more than 200 fish is the focal point of the Rumfish dining room. Rumfish also has a welcome happy hour from 3 to 5pm.

St. Pete Beach Sunset
St. Pete Beach Sunset photo credit: Sherel Purcell

And when you want some quiet time, escape to a hammock right on St. Pete Beach.

Top Resorts in Palm Beach County

If your perfect Palm Beach Florida vacation features a range of surf and turf activities, we have the ideal resorts for you. These properties offer everything from snorkeling amidst sunken ships to historical tours on beach cruisers to waterside golf.

You’ll find ample opportunities for paddleboard and surfing lessons, state-of-the-art indoor/outdoor fitness facilities and even a 15-mile jogging trail along the Intracoastal Waterway.

The Breakers
The Breakers photo credit: John Cameron

Inspired by the Italian villas of the 1400s, The Breakers Palm Beach is run by descendants of founder Henry Flagler. Guests can do a free, two-hour cycling tour of local historical sites.

Golfers will love the challenging Rees-Jones course, the oldest 18-hole course in Florida. Dating from 1896, the Ocean Course sits on 140 acres overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, adjacent to the 540-room Breakers Hotel.

The Breakers Clubhouse
The Breakers Clubhouse photo credit: John Cameron

After the round, guests head to the Flagler Steakhouse upstairs in the golf clubhouse for excellent steak and seafood dishes.

The Breakers Pool
The Breakers Pool photo credit: John Cameron

Gym enthusiasts appreciate the contemporary 6,000-square-foot indoor/outdoor oceanfront fitness center, while all can enjoy the 20,000-square-foot spa, Mediterranean-style beach club overlooking one-half mile of private beach, four swimming pools, five whirlpool spas, 10 lighted tennis courts and an extensive program of family activities including water sports.

Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa
Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa photo credit:John Cameron

The Eau Resort offers free beach cruisers so guests can cycle three miles north to golf along the ocean and the Intracoastal at the Palm Beach Par 3 Golf Course.

Palm Beach Par 3 Golf Course
Palm Beach Par 3 Golf Course photo credit:John Cameron

The helpful water sports staff can arrange fishing trips or set you up with paddle boards, kayaks and catamarans to explore the marine life or improve your sailing skills.

Divers can see the old A1A highway, 30 feet below the surface, while snorkeling kids can discover schools of fish closer to shore. There’s an Aquanuts program for children ages five to 12 and a COAST Teens Program for ages 13 to 17.

An onsite tennis pro offers lessons on three Har-Tru clay courts, while a state-of-the-art fitness center, complete with personal trainers, offers spinning, yoga and Pilates classes.

The Seagate Hotel & Spa
The Seagate Hotel & Spa photo credit: John Cameron

The Seagate Hotel and Spa in Delray Beach is a gold-certified Leed property boasting five beautiful aquariums, including a shark tank. At their ocean club, guests can take a guided snorkeling tour to sunken ships or explore the area in single or double kayaks, paddleboards or rent masks and fins.

Hole 17 Seagate Golf & Country Club Delray Beach, Florida
Hole 17 Seagate Golf & Country Club

Golfers will enjoy a beautifully manicured 18 hole championship course, designed by Joe Lee, playing 6,552 yards from the tips. If you are staying at The Seagate, don’t miss the chance to play this fun course.  Guests also have access to eight Har-Tru tennis courts, a fitness center and a pool.

Marriott Singer Island Beach Resort & Spa
Marriott Singer Island Palm Beach photo credit: John Cameron

A key feature of the Marriott Palm Beach Singer Island is the grotto-style, heated outdoor Lagoon Pool with a two-story waterfall and water slide. Guests congregate here on Friday evenings for the popular dive-in movies on the resort’s big-screen. Beach volleyball and morning meditation classes round out the group activities.

3800 Ocean is the signature restaurant at Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island.  It’s always a treat when the chef takes away your menu and says, leave it to me. Chef Sergio Rivera presented us with a delicious starter of plump Wellfleet oysters, dredged in a breaded coating, fried and presented in their shell, followed by a duck breast au jus on black olive risotto and a sea bass wrapped in prosciutto, perfectly paired with a California chardonnay.

At the water sport rentals desk, you can book a pedal boat tour to nearby Burnt Ridge or sign out a motorboat to explore the waters on your own.

Waterstone Resort & Marina
Waterstone Resort & Marina photo credit: John Cameron

In Boca Raton, the Waterstone Resort and Marina, popular with boaters, has 139 guest rooms with private balconies overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, Intracoastal Waterway or Lake Boca.

The polished chrome against whitewashed teak wood millwork both indoors and out creates a seamless transition between the main floor and waterfront promenade. Easy access to water activities on all three include reef snorkeling trips, fishing charters, boat rentals, surfing lessons, jet skis, ocean kayaks and paddleboards.

The Boca Raton Resort & Club’s award-winning amenities include two 18-hole championship golf courses, 30 tennis courts, seven pools, a 32-slip marina with full fishing and boating facilities and a half-mile of private beach with water sports and family activities.

Previously published on USA Today 10 Best