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I recently returned home from a trip to the Hilton Sandestin in Miramar Beach, Florida. Living less than two hours away, I am already very familiar with this popular family beach trip destination. However, this was my first time staying at the Hilton Sandestin, and I have to say that I was impressed!
Often, I see people looking for a Florida resort that checks these boxes:
- beachfront
- beachfront pools
- beachfront activities
- beachfront balconies
- beachfront restaurants
I think you get the picture! If you are vacationing in Florida, you want to be beachfront as much as possible. There are so many ways to experience the Florida panhandle, from the charming towns along 30A to the hustle and bustle of Destin. However, if you are looking for an effortless family beach trip, the Hilton Sandestin may be exactly what you are looking for!
I was hosted by the Hilton Sandestin, but all photos and opinions shared here are my own.
The Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa
Located along the Gulf of Mexico in the Florida panhandle, the Hilton Sandestin is one of the only full service resorts in the area to offer a private beach, beachfront pools, an award-winning spa, access to golf, and all of the other amenities you would expect from a beachfront Florida resort.
It truly is a one-stop shop for family fun that doesn’t require an extensive itinerary, overplanning, or sacrificing one thing for another. The Hilton Sandestin has it all, and you honestly don’t have to leave the resort if you don’t want to. But, if you do, it’s centrally located for easy day trips to other popular Florida panhandle communities.
I am glad that I had the opportunity to experience the Hilton Sandestin for myself. Honestly, I can’t wait to bring my family back! You know that I am always planning elaborate family trips to Europe and am the queen of travel side quests, always adding one more stop. But there is something to be said about an easy beach trip full of sun and sand.
So, let’s jump in, and I will share nine reasons why I think you will love staying at the Hilton Sandestin on your next family beach trip!
9 Reasons Why You’ll Love The Hilton Sandestin For Your Family Beach Trip
From incredible beach service to one of the best meals that I have ever had, here some some Hilton Sandestin highlights that you will enjoy! This is truly a full service resort. And, as always, you can view the Hilton Sandestin website for a more comprehensive list of resort amenities, rates, and more.
#1 Amazing Beach Access
The Hilton Sandestin Beach Resort is located beachfront, and most of its rooms offer Gulf views from private balconies. The beach at the Hilton Sandestin is private for hotel guests and, therefore, significantly less busy than nearby beaches.
At the beach, you can either bring your own gear or rent beach chair sets. A full-day beach set up with two chairs and one umbrella currently costs $47, which is less than the going rate at most other beaches. They also offer 1/2 day setups for $30.
And it gets better! The hotel offers beachside food and beverage service, allowing you to relax fully. In these photos, the yellow umbrellas show you where the Hilton Sandestin’s private beach is.
If you want more adventure, the hotel offers kayak and paddleboard rentals, as well as sand volleyball. In season, you can also rent jet skis or take a banana boat ride from the adjacent vendor. And, consider booking a beach bonfire during your family beach trip and enjoy s’mores on the sand!
#2 Multiple Beachfront Pools
Located right next to the beach is Hilton’s expansive pool deck, featuring two outdoor pools and a hot tub. Between the two pools is Barefoot’s Beachside Bar & Grill, a full-service open-air restaurant and bar. Additionally, Picnix Poolside Market has grab-and-go sandwiches, pizza, ice cream, and more. There are also poolside activities and a stand selling a variety of items, from sunscreen to pool floats.
The Hilton Sandestin also features a beautiful atrium pool and hot tub located just off the lobby and main pool deck. It has an abundance of natural light. The indoor pool area underwent a complete rebuild and renovation over the past year as part of a $35 million renovation project, which was completed in 2024. It just reopened a month or so ago, and it’s beautiful. I find it refreshing to have an indoor pool that isn’t tucked away in a dark hotel corner.
The indoor pool is kept warm all year, and the outdoor pools are heated seasonally as needed. Always check with the hotel directly to confirm whether the pools will be heated during your stay, especially if you are visiting in the winter or shoulder seasons.
#3 Family Rooms With Bunk Beds
Another pleasant surprise was the built-in bunk beds in many hotel rooms at the Hilton Sandestin. In fact, all of the rooms in the hotel’s Emerald Tower feature bunk beds. These bunk beds have twin-size mattresses and are tucked away by the front entrance, allowing for some extra separation.
As a mom of two teenagers, this is reason enough for me to book! Oftentimes, booking two rooms doubles the price, but we really do appreciate the extra space and separate beds for the kids.
The Hilton Sandestin also has standard rooms and suites in the Spa tower that do not feature bunk beds. So, just pay attention to the room types when booking and pick the one that best suits your family beach trip needs.
#4 Great Restaurants On Site
During my stay at the Hilton Sandestin last week, I had the opportunity to dine at every single restaurant. Therefore, I can personally attest that there is something for everyone. And everything I ate (and drank) was fantastic, from tableside Bananas Foster at Seagar’s to the best Watermelon Frose I’ve ever had!
Here is a rundown of the six restaurants at the Hilton Sandestin. Believe it or not, there are close to 100 additional places to eat within a few miles of the resort if you decide to leave the resort for a meal.
Sandcastles Restaurant & Lounge: Located directly off the lobby, this is the hotel’s main restaurant. It transforms from a robust hotel breakfast buffet to a full-service lunch and dinner restaurant. During the recent multi-million dollar renovation, the hotel added a large wood-fired pizza oven. The pizza was fantastic and makes a great, easy meal with kids!
Hadashi Sushi Bar: This was my second favorite meal! Located adjacent to Sandcastles, this sushi bar offers an extensive menu, with everything being exceptionally fresh.
Seagar’s Prime Steaks & Seafood: This is the only AAA Four-Diamond steakhouse in northwest Florida, and it was incredible. I highly recommend the tableside Caesar Salad and Bananas Foster to start and end your meal. As a bonus, enjoy live piano music while you dine.
Barefoot’s Beachside Bar & Grill: Enjoy beachfront breakfast and dinner at this casual spot located right on the pool deck. *seasonal
The Sand Bar: This beachfront bar is your go-to for beach drinks. *seasonal
Picnix Poolside Market: Located right off the pool deck, this small market cafe offers a variety of snacks, including sandwiches, ice cream, and more. *seasonal
The Coffee Shop: Enjoy Starbucks coffee and easy grab-and-go breakfast bites here.
#5 The Village At Baytown Wharf
If you are staying for several days and want to venture off-site, you’ll definitely want to take the hotel shuttle to the Village at Baytown Wharf in Sandestin. We have enjoyed many fun days and afternoons here as a family. And, Matt and I have also had a couple of too-late evenings enjoying the dueling pianos at Rum Runners.
Baytown Wharf offers a variety of fun activities for kids, including a large playground. Older kids will love the ropes course and zip line, while the little ones take a spin around the carousel. Enjoy shopping, dining, live music, and seasonal events. You will also find a free fireworks show at Baytown Wharf on Tuesday evenings!
There is also a marina at Baytown Wharf that offers everything from fishing excursions to sunset dinner cruises aboard the Solaris yacht. Most of the year, you can catch beautiful bayside sunsets from here.
Click here for a list of Baytown Wharf activities!
#6 Centrally Located To Destin & 30A
Speaking of venturing out, I’d like to take a moment to highlight the Hilton Sandestin’s fantastic location! This family-friendly Florida resort is located on the grounds of Sandestin in Miramar Beach, Florida. And while it certainly doesn’t feel like you are at the center of it all, you actually are!
Just under 5 miles to the east, you can hop onto Scenic Highway 30A to enjoy the charming coastal communities of Grayton Beach, Seaside, Rosemary Beach, and more. Here you will find several beautiful Florida State Parks, with Topsail Hill Preserve State Park being the closest.
Related Post: Family-Friendly Things To Do On 30A
If you head west, you’ll reach Destin in under 10 minutes. Here, you can visit Harborwalk Village or take a catamaran sunset cruise.
Related Post: Top Things To Do In Destin With Kids
There is also some great shopping near the Hilton Sandestin. My favorite place is Grand Boulevard, located in Sandestin. This upscale shopping area features the area’s only Anthropologie, Vineyard Vines, Beaufort Bonnet Company, Pottery Barn, Tommy Bahama, Lululemon, and many other notable retailers. Destin Commons and the Silver Sands Outlet Mall are other popular shopping destinations nearby.
#7 Top Notch Spa & Golf
During my stay at the Hilton Sandestin, I spent a full morning at Serenity by the sea Spa. First, I relaxed in the gravity chairs before heading to the sauna and hot tub within the resort spa. Then, I enjoyed a 50-minute massage from Tara, and I can honestly say it was one of the best massages I have ever had! I wrapped it up with lunch in the spa lounge before heading out to the beach.
The award-winning Serenity by the sea Spa at the Hilton Sandestin offers a wide range of spa services and a full-service hair and nail salon. On my next visit, I think I will schedule a nice blowout before our family dinner at Seagar’s.
If you prefer golfing on your family vacation, the Hilton Sandestin also has got you covered! There are four golf courses located in Sandestin, and the hotel concierge is happy to assist you in scheduling a tee time. You can learn more about golfing at Sandestin here.
#8 Babysitter Reccomendations
As I mentioned earlier, a trip to the Hilton Sandestin isn’t complete without a dinner at Seagar’s. While this restaurant does allow children, I think it’s best experienced as a date night. But this is a family beach trip, so what do you do with the kids? Well, I was pleasantly surprised to hear that the Hilton Sandestin offers babysitter reccomendations with a vetted company that services the hotel often. Just stop by and ask the concierge or call ahead to ask.
#9 Hilton Honors Rewards & Perks
As a points and miles enthusiast myself, I must point out that this is obviously a Hilton beach resort. This means that you can earn and redeem your Hilton Honors points on a beach vacation here. Likewise, you can enjoy the benefits of your Hilton status, such as food and beverage credits, upgrades when available, late checkout, and more.
Joining Hilton Honors is free, and you always want to be signed up for any and all hotel and airline loyalty programs when you travel. Click here to learn more about Hilton Honors!
Plan Your Family Beach Trip At The Hilton Sandestin
As you can see, there is a lot to love about the Hilton Sandestin, and I have hardly scratched the surface. So, if you are looking for an effortless family beach trip, the Hilton Sandestin is the perfect place for you! I really love the fact that everything you need and want is right there, allowing you to enjoy the beautiful Emerald Coast. The convenient location will enable you to explore more during your family beach trip if you desire, but you certainly don’t need to.
Click here to book your stay at the Hilton Sandestin!
More Family Travel Inspiration
If you enjoyed learning about the Hilton Sandestin for your family beach trip, you will love my other family travel blog posts. In every single one, you’ll find my travel photos and first-hand travel tips to help you plan the best trips ever!
You can click here to explore all of my travel blog posts for unique destinations, but here are some specific topics that you may enjoy:
- Beach Trip Essentials
- Points & Miles Guide
- Finding Flight Deals
- Airport Lounge Guide
- My Travel Essentials
- International Travel Tips
- Amazon Beach Trip Faves
- Cute Family Swimwear
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