The Emerald Coast of Northwest Florida’s Panhandle is a family playground with sparkling white sugar sand beaches, the calm emerald green water of the Gulf of Mexico, countless kid-friendly activities, stunning sunsets, and the charming towns that line State Road 30A. While some families might opt for a beach house vacation rental, those looking for the amenities and convenience of a full-service hotel for their vacation will love the Hilton Sandestin in Miramar Beach.
Just 45 minutes from the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport and 25 minutes to Destin, the resort community of Sandestin features plenty to keep families busy beyond the beach, including four championship golf courses, a putting course, 15 tennis courts, bike rentals, and plenty of boating/sailing, fishing, scuba and snorkeling options from Baytowne Wharf. Sandestin even provides transportation services throughout the resort, including to the restaurants and bars in Baytowne, as well as the nearby Silver Sands Premium Outlets.
For decades, the Hilton Sandestin has been the cornerstone of the resort, attracting families and groups, year after year. In fact, one of the things that impressed me the most on my recent visit was not just the longevity of the property with guests, but the number of employees who have been at the hotel for 10 to 20 years or more. That tells me that this place is special, but let’s find out why!
Hilton Sandestin Review
I had the pleasure of visiting the Hilton Sandestin in October, when the crowds had thinned but the weather was ideal, as part of a press trip in order to experience and cover the property. I had a lovely time and all opinions expressed in this review are my honest feelings.
Let’s Start with the Beach
Ever since visiting Gulf Shores, Alabama, I’ve been obsessed with the white quartz sand, soft dunes, and clear water of this stretch of the Gulf of Mexico. After visiting Sandestin, I get it why the 30A region is so popular with Southerners. But word has gotten out and now, even us New Englanders have discovered what is undoubtedly one of the best beaches in the U.S. (bold proclamation, I know!)
At the Hilton Sandestin, the beach is at your doorstep. With two large towers, the hotel offers plenty of rooms with partial or full beach views but here is a hot tip, book a room in the Emerald Tower that ends in -16 and you will also get a corner, wrap-around balcony with fabulous sunrise and sunset views. (My room was 1116).
The hotel’s yellow umbrellas dot the beachfront, offering front row seats to water access, just steps away from the expansive pool deck. Beach chairs and umbrellas are available to rent ($47 for two chairs and an umbrella for the full day when I visited), and is serviced by the beach hut and Sand Bar. In season, servers will also bring drinks and snacks to your chair, eliminating even those few steps up to the bar. But here is another pro tip, be sure to pick up your towels at the pool towel hut before heading down to the beach!
Stand up paddle boards and kayaks are also available from the beach hut, when the weather cooperates, for $30 per hour. If you are looking for motorized watersports, there is an outfitter offering wave runners just next door.
The beach stretches for miles in each direction, just begging for long beach walks. And the clear water and gentle waves of the Gulf make swimming a pleasure for all ages. With little to no seaweed, no sharp shells or rocks, and just a few fish gliding by, swimming in Sandestin is an experience even this shark-phobic land lubber can enjoy. That’s not to say you won’t see fish jumping out of the water or even spy some dolphins (or more if you venture out beyond the second sandbar.)
When the sun sets, you have a front row seat to a stunning show as the sky changes from a vibrant orange to soft peach and pink hues. And the fun doesn’t end after dark, you can arrange for a group bonfire on the beach — complete with s’mores!
What About the Pools?
The Hilton Sandestin features two outdoor pools and a hot tub on an expansive 22,500 square foot beachfront deck. The pools are surrounded by comfy chaise lounges and private cabanas that are available to rent. The pool deck is also is where you will find Barefoot’s Beachside Bar & Grill and Picnix Poolside Market for grab-and-go food, both of which have seasonal hours.
The hotel also has an indoor pool, which will be renovated over the winter of 2024-2025 to improve accessibility and modernize the facility. But don’t worry, the outdoor pools are heated in the winter and even if it rains, the hotel transforms their meeting space into a movie theater showing family-friendly hits.
Here’s The Best Part: Bunkbeds!
For most hotels, family travelers feel like an after thought and you are lucky if you can confirm adjoining rooms at the time of booking. Not so at the Hilton Sandestin. All 300 rooms in the Crystal Tower feature bunkbeds (plus there are another 290 rooms in the Spa Tower for those that don’t need the extra space). With these bunkbeds, each of which have their own individual television sets, combined with a king bed and a pull-out sleeper sofa, there are plenty of rooms that easily fit a family of five.
My King Bed Deluxe Junior Suite with a beach view was shockingly large! Each room is also designed with an additional sink and vanity outside of the bathroom, to make getting ready with lots of people easier too. With a walk-in closet, plenty of extra floor space, and a spacious balcony, families do not need to feel cramped at all.
The rooms also feature a mini fridge (my room had a small fridge in the minibar area and a large, dorm-sized fridge in the room), a microwave, coffee maker, hair dryer, and even a steamer! Plus the kids will appreciate access to WiFi and a smart TV offering premium cable and access to some of your favorite streaming services.
How About the Food?
The Hilton Sandestin features six seasonal on-site restaurants – including a AAA Four-Diamond steakhouse and I had the opportunity to sample most of them. Just off the lobby you will find the newly renovated Sandcastle’s Restaurant, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The options range from grilled oysters and fresh seafood to a selection of pizzas baked in the restaurant’s wood-fired pizza oven.
Just across the walkway, Sandcastle’s Lounge offers drinks and light bites and, in the evening, is also home to the Hadashi Sushi Bar, offering a wide-selection of hand-rolled sushi.
During the day, you can enjoy drinks beachside at The Sand Bar (seasonally) or take a break from the sun for a fresh-air lunch at Barefoot’s Beachside Bar & Grill. Barefoot’s has a fun sampling of tropical-inspired cocktails and a mix of salads, sandwiches, and appetizers to share (like the ginormous nachos).
If you prefer to grab-and-go, you can order from Barefoot’s or pick up staples at Picnix Poolside Market. Throughout the day you can also grab Starbucks coffee and a selection of tasty pastries at The Coffee Shop.
The one dining experience you won’t want to miss when staying at the Hilton Sandestin is a special dinner at Seagar’s Prime Steaks & Seafood. You may need to save up for this AAA Four-Diamond restaurant, but it is the perfect capstone to a fabulous vacation.
Steak lovers will absolutely be in for a treat with a selection of cuts of prime beef…all the way up to Japanese A5 Waygu if you really want to splurge. But even if you aren’t a meat lover, Seagar’s offers fabulous seafood or vegetarian options. The steaks are seasoned and cooked perfectly and I’d also highly recommend the broiled lobster, the mushrooms, and even the simple, but perfectly cooked and seasoned green beans.)
Hopefully you are taking the whole family or group because the table side preparation of Seagar’s caesar salad is an experience and if you like a flamboyant presentation, get the bananas foster for dessert too (although I still prefer the delicious creaminess of the cheesecake.)
Can Mom Hit the Spa?
It isn’t just mom who will love the Serenity by the Sea Spa at the Hilton Sandestin. With separate areas for men and women, everyone can enjoy some peace and relaxation. Even the kiddos can get involved with a mommy and me mani/pedi for those four and older.
With sixteen treatment rooms, a hair and makeup salon, nail studio, whirlpools, saunas, steam rooms, and relaxation lounges with zero gravity chairs, you can spend a whole day relaxing. It is even possible to order lunch in the lounge so you don’t need to change out of your robe all day.
One of the newer services is a hydrojet wave table that offers a touchless massage, which can be combined with red light therapy. I tried it and loved it…if only I could get one of these installed in my home I’d be on it every day with the pressure turned up to 10 to work out those knots. Think of it like sitting in one of those great massage chairs, but you are laying down on something like a waterbed and the pressure is delivered through water jets underneath the rubber surface. You are also covered (if you wish) with a weighted red light therapy blanket for greater wellness.
The 24-hour fitness room features top-of-the-line Precor equipment, two Peloton stationary bikes, and more. Yoga classes are included in the resort charge, and other specialty classes such as pilates are available for an additional fee.
It isn’t just guests that love the Serenity by the Sea Spa, locals and vacationers from around the area like spending a day at the Spa so make your reservations in advance.
But What Else Can You Do?
As mentioned previously, the Hilton Sandestin is part of the Sandestin resort community, which includes golf courses, tennis courts, and even a put-put course. But more than that, the Hilton Sandestin is close to so many water sports and activities.
From the Baytowne Wharf, you can take a sunset dinner cruise with live entertainment on the Choctawhatchee Bay onboard the Solaris yacht from SunQuest Charters.
In the Village of Baytowne, kids will love trying out the zipline, carousel, climbing wall, and winter-time ice rink. Stop for ice cream at La Cremeria, grab a daiquiri at Fat Tuesday or a cocktail at 5 O’Clock Somewhere, or enjoy a meal at one of the village’s many restaurants in between shopping at the boutiques.
Of course, there is plenty more to do in the region, including fishing charters and many free things to do in Destin.
Bottom Line?
The Hilton Sandestin is a perfect choice for families looking for a beach vacation that doesn’t require a passport or breaking the bank account.
Tamara Gruber is the Founder and Publisher of We3Travel. A former marketing executive and travel advisor, Tamara is an award-winning travel writer and recognized expert in family travel. Tamara is a member of SATW, NATJA, IFWTWA, and the Adventure Travel Trade Association, and serves on the Board of the Family Travel Association. She is also the publisher of YourTimetoFly.com and the co-host of the Vacation Mavens travel podcast.
