We just came back from a super relaxing long weekend at The Henderson Beach Resort & Spa in Destin. Our family has always loved Destin. Sam and I got engaged there, we took W on one of his first beach trips and I believe the prettiest beaches in Florida are on the panhandle. So it was super fun getting to go back as a family and experiencing a luxury resort only two and a half hours from home.
One of perks of the area is the fact that you gain an hour as Destin is on Central time. We left our house at 9:30am EST and were at the resort by 11:00am CT. This makes it super convenient to fully enjoy a day at the beach.
As part of this travel diary, I’ll be sharing all aspects of the resort and everything we experienced from the beach and pool, to dining, kids club and the spa. We packed a lot into two days and we will definitely be back!!
The Accommodations
Our room was very spacious with two queen beds, a sitting area with table, desk with flat screen tv and a large bathroom with a tub, walk-in shower, double vanity and private toilet area. Additionally there was a super cute vanity next to the closet where I did my makeup every night!
By far, my favorite part was the beautiful and spacious balcony with gorgeous views of the hotel green, pools and the ocean!
We were greeted with a sweet welcome amenity of macaroons, mineral water, beach tote full of goodies and a stuffed animal for Westley.
The Spa
We kicked off our first day with a trip to the spa! It was such a treat, especially because my hubby had never been to a spa before, so it was such a fun experience to enjoy together!
The spa has separate lounge areas for men and women, so we were each escorted to our respective lounges and locker room. The amenities were incredible with huge showers, steam room, Himalayan salt room, hot tubs and more.
After changing into a comfy robe, I headed to the Lavender Lounge where a plush chaise, warm neck wrap and blanket awaited me. It was the perfect way to relax and wait for our treatment to begin.
Ten minutes later, the massage therapist came to get me and we met up with Sam and his therapist for our custom couples massage. He elected a “by design” massage that included hot stones and a stress reliever drink and I received a pre-natal massage (with all the pillows) and a special hand treatment for my eczema.
It was wonderful being able to enjoy custom massages, but in the same room. Post treatment, I headed to the salt therapy room and Sam enjoyed the steam room.
Safe to say the hubby is hooked. And I definitely see us booking more couples spa trips in the future!
Poppy’s Kid’s Club
While we got some R&R at the spa, Westley had a blast at Poppy’s kids club. We signed him up for three hours, which also included lunch.
The kids club room was super cool with a tent, tons of bean bags, board games, Nintendo Switch, books and more. I think the best part for Westley was Jasmine, the wonderful kids club captain who hung out with him.
There definitely was a look of disappointment when we came to pick him up. He wanted to hang at the club with Jasmine the entire day.
My favorite part was that throughout our stay, Jasmine and all of the other wonderful staff who met Westley continued to greet him by name every time they saw us on property! It was a great feeling.
Westley also got a few hugs in with Jasmine throughout the stay. He definitely had a crush 🙂
Beach and Pool
Our favorite part of the resort was definitely the family pool, which is really big and includes a lazy river, zero entry section with water features and a splash pad area!
We spent a good amount of time floating down the lazy river on noodles and it was soooo relaxing!
There were plenty of umbrellas, lounge chairs and tables, so we always had a great set up with towels and plenty of water. Westley also enjoyed daily ice cream bar from Sea Level by the pool.
Saturday we ventured to the beach where we had a beach chair/umbrella set up. It was a short walk to the beach and the chair rental is good all day, so we went back and forth between the beach and the pool.
The water was crystal clear and the perfect temperature. Between the pool and the beach, we spent six hours on the water!
Fitness
While I took it easy on this trip, Sam took advantage of the fitness offerings at The Henderson. The classes are included with your stay, which is an added plus and the fitness center has top-of-the-line equipment.
Sam did a double header Saturday morning kicking off his day with 8am beachside meditation followed by 9am rooftop yoga. He really enjoyed both classes with the same instructor and met us on the beach post workout feeling energized!
Food & Beverage
F&B is always my favorite part of any trip! I’m a big foodie and usually plan most of our trips around where we will be eating.
The Henderson had some great choices and we enjoyed amazing meals during our trip! Here’s a breakdown of what we ate.
Horizons
Horizons is the casual lunch eatery, which offers great food and great views! We had lunch here on Saturday during a break from the beach and pool action.
The three of us shared smoked fish dip to start and then Sam and I shared the Crispy Fish Sandwich and the Bacon Cheeseburger both served with super delicious fries! Westley had the kids Cheeseburger, which was HUGE.
This was a great lunch option that offered us a chance to sit down and hang, taking a break from swimming. Right after lunch, we headed back to the beach 🙂
Primrose
Saturday evening, we got dressed up and headed down to Primrose for dinner. The restaurant is coastal themed and features an extensive sushi menu along with fresh a la carte local fish, steaks, chicken and chops with creative sides.
While I wasn’t able to indulge in my usual raw sushi feast (#PreggoLife), we decided to order a California Roll and Shrimp Tempura Roll for our appetizer. It was bump friendly and SO delicious. I accompanied the sushi with a mock strawberry Mojito, while Sam enjoyed the real thing with rum.
For entrees, we decided to share. Sam and I love ordering together, so we can taste more items from the menu. This has been our thing from day one. Lucky for me, I married a foodie!
We ordered the NY strip with lobster mashed potatoes and collard greens with smoked bacon. Additionally, we ordered the Shrimp Fra Diavolo – one of the pasta specialties. Westley enjoyed the kids pasta bolognese.
We were too full for dessert, but the options looked divine.
Sprinkles
Speaking of sweets, Sprinkles, the ice cream parlor on property was a family favorite. We enjoyed daily ice cream cones and Westley added a daily lollipop for good measure 😉
The decor was classic with black and white tiled floor, high tops and even a juke box. Westley went for chocolate ice cream every time, while Sam and I indulged in the Birthday Cake flavor. It was sweet!
Service
Overall, service at The Henderson was superb. From the warm welcome at valet and the Bell Hops to Kelby at the front desk, the staff at the Kids Club, fitness center, restaurants and beyond, every one was kind and helpful.
Westley felt so special because everyone knew his name and greeted him any time they saw us on property. I’m big on remembering people’s names and appreciate when that is reciprocated.
We were able to maximize our time at the resort and left feeling refreshed and recharged. It’s incredible what a few days of R&R can do. We definitely plan to return to The Henderson for another beach getaway.
Happy travels,
Ivette
Ivette Faulkner 