WEEKENDER: Ponte Vedra Beach

Known as “the jewel of the northeast coast,” Ponte Vedra Beach is an oceanfront retreat about 20 miles southeast of Jacksonville in northeast Florida. The area is synonymous with golf and home of the THE PLAYERS Championship, which is held each year on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass (one of Golf Magazine’s top 80 courses in the world). Its namesake hotel, the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club, has been a favorite beach destination for families for more than 90 years, and it has all the essentials onsite: four pools, 12 onsite dining options, 15 tennis courts, a bocce ball and croquet lawn, and an array of water sport activities. It’s a six hour drive from Charlotte, making it a great place to take the family on one of those long weekends in October or November. So pack up the kids, break out the swimsuits, and have one last blast of summer.

Each of the resort’s four onsite pools is steps away from the beach.

STAY

The Ponte Vedra Inn & Club has 262 rooms and suites, many with ocean views and walk-out beach access. The Historic Inn has rooms with two queen or one king-sized bed and decor that reflect the building’s original 1928 grandeur. The property, which has gone through multiple expansions and updates through the years, also has 10 contemporary low-rise buildings with connecting rooms that are more accessible for families. Most are equipped with kitchenettes, separate showers and large soaking tubs, and private balconies, as well as guest room-adjacent parking. They also offer nightly turndown service, so kids can find a sweet treat on their pillow at bedtime.

Ponte Vedra Inn & Club puts you on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean.

EAT

The Inn Dining Room serves breakfast daily starting at 7 a.m. Order pancakes, waffles, and skillets, or opt for the buffet breakfast, which is available most weekends. For a more casual option, visit The Gourmet Shop to get a latte, muffin, or breakfast sandwich before hitting the beach. The Beach Side Snack Bar is steps away from the family pool and has a glass case full of burgers, hot dogs, and pizza, plus a deep freezer stocked with popsicles and ice cream that you can quickly grab and take back to the pool deck. (Note that weekend-only service begins October 2.) The Surf Deck Grille is another casual lunch or dinner option with ocean views, coastal fare, and a kid’s menu. Flip-flops and bathing suits are allowed, but cover-ups are required to dine in. The Seahorse Grille is an upscale restaurant inside the Surf Club that’s a great place for special occasions—or to splurge on your last night. Kids are welcome (and they’ll love the wrap-around aquarium), but there is a dress code so be sure to pack a dress, collared shirt, or sport coat if you plan to have dinner here. 

Seafood Risotto is a signature dish at the Seahorse Grille.

Find kid-friendly dishes like Spaghetti & Meatballs.

PLAY

The beach is the main attraction, whether you soak in the sun, hunt for shark teeth, or rent a kayak, paddleboard, or beach cruiser. Kids can spend half a day (or more) at the family pool flying down the waterslides and splashing around in the zero-entry wading space; when they need a break, hop over to the children’s playground. If you have toddlers in tow, drop them off at nursery for up to five hours and practice your swing at one of the two on-site golf courses or play some tennis on one of the 15 clay courts. For some R&R, book a treatment at The Spa at the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club and choose from more than 100 services—just be sure to make a reservation as soon as you arrive since appointments fill up fast. When you want an adults-only dinner, check out the club calendar, which has a variety of drop-off events for kids in the evenings.

The family pool has a a 7-foot water slide and a children’s wading space.

The resort has a children’s playground.

A wide stretch of white sand provides miles of Atlantic beach to explore.