At least twice a year, we head an hour north to our favorite local destination, Hutchinson Island, FL.  Hutchinson Island is this beautiful little island known for it’s beaches, nature preserves and parks.  It is made up of two barrier islands on the coast of Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River Counties. There is something about the people, the chill atmosphere and the stunning beaches that keep us coming back again and again.  And while we had been staying at the same hotel for the last 5 years, we have found our new home away from home, Hutchinson Shores Resort & Spa. Not only is it gorgeous, but it’s a place that both adults and kids can enjoy so for families, it offers the best of both worlds.

Hutchinson Shores Resort & Spa – First Impressions

When you pull up to Hutchinson Shores Resort & Spa, you can’t help but stare.  The property is so well maintained and the building screams relaxation.  They offer valet parking or self-parking and just outside the doors, you’ll find a Jogger’s Station complete with water, towels, suntan lotion, a local jogging map, earbuds and ice packs.  We realized at that moment that they have thought of everything to make sure that their guests feel at home in their resort.  And it doesn’t stop at the door. Each hallway features a pantry, stocked with complimentary water, fresh fruit, newspapers, bags of ice and fresh baked cookies. My girls actually set their alarms each day for 4:59pm so that they were in the pantry as soon as the cookies were brought out at 5pm.

The Lobby

When we walked in for the first time, I remember thinking that the designer must have been in my brain.  The color scheme, the flooring, the decor pieces, and the attention to detail that was put into every inch of Hutchinson Shores Resort & Spa is just spot on.  They’ve really brought the outside in.  You’ll find wood, bamboo, live plants and live moss on the walls.  The furniture and fixtures were perfectly selected and overall, it’s exactly how I would love for our home to look.  When you first walk in, there is an incredible sand sculpture that left my girls speechless.  They couldn’t believe that it was made of real sand.

They have really used every inch of the lobby thoughtfully.  It’s both welcoming and relaxing and you can just tell that the rest of the resort will be equally as perfect.

We were immediately greeted by one of their front desk staff and the check in process was both fast and efficient.  They are happy to answer any questions and really are welcoming!

The Room

If you close your eyes and imagine the perfect room that incorporates both a beach vibe and a comfortable living space, you couldn’t come up with a better room than the one we stayed in at Hutchinson Shores Resort & Spa. Next time, we hope to stay in the one bedroom suite which includes a separate living room, dining area and a large private corner balcony. They do offer different view options, but we highly recommend the ocean view. If you’re going to the beach, you need to be able to wake up to it and soak it all in.

They provide everything you need from shampoo to lotion, which is the best smelling shampoo ever!  I’ve tried to find it online so we can buy a huge bottle but it appears that it’s exclusively made for the hotel. If you find Nest Fragrances Ocean Mist & Sea Salt shampoo or conditioner, please let me know! It literally leaves your hair smelling like the ocean. We can’t get enough.

The Restaurant

Hutchinson Shores Resort & Spa offers two poolside bars and a sit down restaurant.  Drift Kitchen + Bar is Hutchinson Shore Resort & Spa’s premier oceanfront restaurant, offering fresh seafood and Italian specialties in a beautifully designed, contemporary space overlooking the beach and Atlantic Ocean.  There is a fantastic kids menu that is both reasonably priced and full of items that kids love such as chicken tenders, macaroni + cheese and mini hamburgers.  When you have picky kids (and boy do we), it’s rare to find a restaurant where all three can a) find a meal that they like and b) finish it all.  Drift was able to satisfy both for our family.  All of our servers were not only attentive, but knowledgeable and made our dining experience perfect, all four times we ate there during our stay.

Our favorite dinner dishes had to be the Northern Harvest Salmon and Day Boat Scallops.  Both left us wanting more.  We also got to try Ginger Beer soda, which was an interesting experience! Imagine juicing the pickled ginger that they serve next to sushi and adding some carbonation.  I would have loved to drink that when I was pregnant!

The Decor + Amenities

Everywhere you look, you can see how much thought was put into the furniture and decor.  But it doesn’t end there. I was a given a tour of the hotel when we first arrived and while each amenity was great, I found the guest room to be at the top of our list.  Often we will check out of hotels and stay to enjoy the beach or pool for a few hours.  In most cases, hotels will hold your bags if you don’t want to leave them in your vehicle.  But Hutchinson Shores Resort & Spa goes a step further.  They offer a guest room where you can both store your bags, as well as shower and change when you are finished and ready to leave.  It’s not something I’ve ever seen at any of the hotels we’ve stayed at and I’m hoping this genius idea catches on.  It made us feel as though they weren’t just throwing us out at checkout time, but more concerned with us enjoying every moment we spent, even after we checked out.

Hutchinson Shores Resort & Spa also offers over 8,000 square feet of event space.  It’s perfect for corporate events, parties and weddings.  We were able to tour the event area and I could imagine having our vow renewal ceremony there one day.  I’m not sure there is a place that would be more beautiful.

The Beach

Hutchinson Shores Resort & Spa offers direct beach access to a private beach.  No crowds. No fighting to get a spot and most importantly, no losing your kids in a sea of people.  You can rent a chair and umbrella and just relax while the kids build sandcastles, run and look for seashells.  During this time of year, you’ll find parts of the beach are blocked off where sea turtles have nested.  While we haven’t been lucky enough to witness them emerge, I hope that one day we will.

The Pools + Activities

Hutchinson Shores Resort & Spa offers two heated pools, a smaller pool with fountains and a larger pool with a jacuzzi waterfall and plenty of seating.  Both pools have direct beach access as well as a pool side bar.  My kids could’ve spent their entire visit in the pools.  They were able to make friends with other kids their age and had a blast jumping, flipping and playing Marco Polo.

Hutchinson Shores Resort & Spa also offers children’s activities on the weekends.  They post a schedule toward the end of the week so that you can schedule which ones your kids will want to take part in.

You can also find lots of fun, child friendly attractions nearby.  We visited the Florida Oceanographic Center and our favorite place, Children’s Museum of the Treasure Coast. Stay tuned for more info on both of those.

The Spa

One of the things I NEVER do is make time to pamper myself. Hutchinson Shores Resort & Spa was gracious enough to provide me with an 80 minute signature wrap and massage.  80 minutes of silence.  80 minutes of not having one of my kids asking me for something or telling on one another.  80 minutes of me without my phone and laptop.  80 minutes of pure heaven.  I was given one of their new green tea wrap treatments which made my skin feel amazing, given a scalp massage and then a long, fabulous back massage.  I just couldn’t figure out why I hadn’t done this sooner.  The entire experience relaxed me and took away all of my stress.  From the relaxing aromas to the incredibly attentive masseuse who made me feel so at ease instantly, it was an experience I will not forget.

While this wasn’t our first visit, I also know that it won’t be our last.  We are already planning our next trip to Hutchinson Shores Resort & Spa and look forward to our next stay.

What do you think of Hutchinson Shores Resort & Spa? Comment below and let us know!

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*This blog post was sponsored by Hutchinson Shores Resort & Spa but all opinions are my own.