The Lodge & Club
Who knew there was this hidden gem near Jacksonville, Florida? On our way to the Caribbean, we made a stopover in Florida and stayed at The Lodge & Club, a nice little escape on the water in Ponte Vedra Beach.
THE PROPERTY
The property is also a club, so you will find a mix of vacationers and “regulars” as people from the neighborhood can be a part of the club and enjoy the facilities. I think this may also be why the property is a bit spread out. There is the main building with the lobby and rooms, an adult pool, restaurants, and a grassy lounge area with a fire pit. It is also nestled right on the beach. The kids/family pool is across the street, and that building also houses the gym, rec room, kids' craft/play room, and locker rooms. They offer a free car service that can take you to their other building, including the spa, which is a little way down the road. The building where you can rent equipment for water activities is also down the road as well. They have a sister property, Ponte Vedra Inn & Club, nearby, where you can enjoy their facilities with an easy shuttle ride. The property is spread out among these gorgeous neighborhood homes, and all I kept thinking was how lovely it must be to live in these beautiful homes while also using the hotel’s facilities.
THE ROOM
We stayed in a beautiful, cozy suite with a king-size bed, a pull-out couch, a fireplace, a large kitchenette, and a bathroom with a soaker tub. We had a back door that led to a little seating area, and we were only steps away from the beach. We really loved how spacious the bedroom was; we did not take long to feel right at home. They welcomed us with some treats when we checked in, and the service was impeccable, so attentive and quick.
THE FOOD
We ate at Sea View Grille the first night, and the food was good, but it wasn’t our favorite of the places we ate during our stay. I had the Mahi Mahi special, and I ordered the same for the girls. It was a bit hard to find anything without dairy, as I do not eat dairy or meat, so I had to limit my options. I did have a tiny piece of the bread they serve in a skillet, and it was delicious, but definitely full of cheese. The girls loved it, though! The service was great, as they ensured we had everything we needed. The restaurant looks out over the ocean, which was nice to view as we ate. They also have another restaurant on their property, The Oasis, which has a more casual vibe, but the menu looked delicious. Something cute we also stumbled across in the lobby was a little s’mores-making station for kids to make their own s’mores. This was a nice little treat for the kids, enjoyed as dessert.
Our favorite place to eat during our stay was the sister property, Ponte Vedra Inn & Club. We tried The Inn Dining Room, and everything was impeccable. First of all, the restaurant's decor was stunning; it reminded me of our time in Cuba. This restaurant is more upscale, with white tablecloths and a dress code requiring collared shirts. The food was thoughtfully prepared with many intriguing options. We ordered a few dishes because they all sounded so amazing, and we wanted to try them. The dishes we tried included the Short Rib Brioche Taco, Lobster Brioche Taco, Seared Grouper, Tuna Tartare, Lobster Bisque, Classic Caesar, Florida Waldorf Salad, the Rib Eye Steak, and some sides. My favorite dish was the Florida Waldorf Salad; it was so fresh, and the plating was absolutely stunning. Everything we ordered was great, though. However, the dessert definitely stole the show. We got the Bananas Foster, which they make table-side, making for a little show. This was an extra treat for the girls as they lit a little fire while making it so it’s a bit dazzling. But the show wasn’t the best part; the dessert was absolutely delicious. I only tried a little because, you know… dairy, but man, oh man, I wish I could have eaten the whole thing. My girls and Danny gobbled it right up.
After being turned away the last night for dinner at The Inn Dining Room (they have a super strict dress code, so I would check with the restaurant before you visit), we ended up ordering room service, and honestly, I’m glad we were able to do so because it was delicious and nice to eat dinner in our pj’s. Room service is always a good idea.
THE BEACH + POOL
There are two pools on the property. An adult pool in the main building and a kids/family pool in the building across the street. We visited in early March, and it wasn’t quite warm enough in Northern Florida, so it was nice that the pool was heated. The girls loved hanging out in the little kiddie area, and the slide looked so fun. My girls aren’t 100 in the water yet, so we didn’t try it out. If it were a bit warmer when we visited, I would have definitely tried it out.
The property is right on the beach, so it’s an easy walk. All we had to do was walk down some steps behind our room, and we were right on the sandy shore. You can rent umbrellas and chairs from a stand for a small fee, and they will set it all up for you. Even though it was too chilly to swim, we still enjoyed hanging out and letting the girls play and explore. There were many jellyfish washed up on shore, which I learned was normal for that time of year, and I personally was fascinated by it. I had never seen a jellyfish in the wild, so it was cool to see them up close. I even decided to give the girls a little science lesson on them. Things you do when you’re a traveling homeschool mom.
THE SPA
The spa, oh the spa! This one actually caught me off guard. I used their car service to the Spa, and I was oh-so pleasantly surprised. It’s beautiful, and the facility offers so many things that my one massage turned into a full Spa morning (no regrets!). There is a large waiting area with a calming fountain where you wait for your massage. There’s an area to have lunch indoors in the back of the waiting area. When you check in, they give you a robe and slippers to change in their locker room. Inside the locker room is a sauna, steam room, and jacuzzi. When you walk out to the back, you'll find a pool with hydrotherapy and lounge chairs around, as well as chairs and tables with umbrellas. After my Signature Massage, which was so relaxing, I took some time in the sauna, which was just what I needed. I absolutely love a good sauna. Then I decided to relax on the lounge chairs by the pool and have lunch. I LOVE that they serve lunch at the spa, and the menu was so delicious and fresh. I got the guacamole and a spinach-and-arugula salad. I relaxed with my book and really took some much-needed me time. It was glorious. My favorite part was that if you needed anything from the staff (food, towels, a hug, you name it), all you had to do was raise a flag on the back of your chair, and they would come to you. Talk about service! If I were a nearby resident, I would opt for a membership just to enjoy this spa whenever I wanted. I could tell many of the people around me were members and regulars of the spa. Lots of girlfriends kiki’ing all around.
What a gem this place is. If you find yourself in the area, even if you don’t stay, it’s worth a pop in to the spa or one of the restaurants (I recommend The Inn Dining Club). This hotel would not normally be on my radar, but these are times when I’m thankful for what I do and for being able to find and share little gems like this. Not everyone can afford to leave the country, so it’s always nice to find domestic travel destinations. Let me know if you end up staying here. I would love to hear about your experience! xx
See pricing and availability for The Lodge & Club HERE and use my code MISSENOCHA for $$ off your stay.