THE FOOD FACTOR Four restaurants cover most on-site dining needs: Packard’s Steakhouse (upscale and laid-back), Market Salamander Grille (fresh seasonal offerings), Turnberry Pub (casual with a golf course view) and The Grill at Loch Ness (poolside), as well as Osprey Sports Bar (quick bites). Picnickers, families and “do not disturb” types will want to visit Market Salamander where chef-prepared items are available for purchase and, as the literature notes: “We can assist with grocery shopping for in-suite preparation.” Innisbrook’s restaurants, while known for their quality American menus and ingredients, are also building a reputation for dishing up monthly specials. As for April, three of the resort’s eateries will be rocking Grilled Cheese Day on the 12th. Gastronomic creativity is alive, well, and off the charts at Innisbrook.
SUITE & SAVORY Accommodations at Innisbrook are as unique as its personality. There are no mega-hotels here but rather a collection of lowrise buildings with Mansard-inspired roofs—befitting the original 1970’s architectural concept—tucked away in treestudded clusters throughout the sprawling resort. There are four categories of rooms ranging from Deluxe Guestroom to TwoBedroom Suite—all with the usual upscale features—Wi-Fi, flatscreen TVs, high-end bedding and toiletries, daily maid service and so on. All can accommodate four guests comfortably (the two-bedroom suite is large enough for a family of four). Suites also include a living room or parlor and either a full kitchen or kitchenette. For me, this meant brewing my daily cup of coffee and sipping it leisurely on my private veranda before heading out for the day.
OFF CAMPUS To maximize a Tampa Bay visit, it doesn’t hurt to explore—even if it means leaving your comfort zone behind. Empower Adventures Zip-Line Tour (zipontampabay.com) is a good (excuse the pun), jumping off point. And as it turned out, the experience was more exhilarating than scary (although adrenaline among the vertigo set pumped rather loudly until we got our bearings). Various programs are available, including an “extreme” version and another that takes place after dark. Other recommended off-site options include taking a complimentary shuttle from the resort to Honeymoon Island State Park where you can pick up a ferry to Caladesi Island—voted America’s Most Romantic Beach. Also not far from Innisbrook is Tarpon Springs, the world’s sponge-diving capital where one can head out to sea with a sponge-diving captain (not too shabby), or take in the shops where myriad goods are up for sale including, you guessed it, sponges of every size and shape imaginable. For more information on Innisbrook, a Salamander Golf Resort and Spa, visit innisbrookgolfresort.com. • Griffin Miller specializes in spa travel and New York theater. Her resume includes writing for The New York Times, For the Bride and Hotels. She also creates promotional materials for the Metropolitan Opera, BAM, and Guggenheim Museum. A member of The New York Travel Writers’ Association, she is a playwright and award-winning collage artist. APRIL 2017 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 37