As I took in the view from my balcony, I got my first hint about what goes on around here. I followed the sounds to a disembodied head on the beach with a small child sitting on it like a stool, amid gales of laughter. The second was the pool. The pool in front of Edgewater Beach Resort is a party planner’s dream. Curvy shaped around islands, waterfalls and shallows, drinks being served with parasols in them and food offered on either side. A shaded bandstand sheltered musicians who provided live music and inspired frivolity. Welcome to Edgewater Beach Resort, where no matter how tall they may be when they arrive by the end of the day no one is actually older than twelve.
Every day is a party on the beach! From the balcony of my comfortable room with its living room, kitchen and dining room facing the ocean I quickly figured out that this place is all about fun. There were Hobie Cats, sailboats, jet skis, snorkel gear, parasail boats and something that looked like a banana on steroids being pulled by a boat. Actually just about any kind of water toy made was out on the water for guests’ use. I found it wonderfully uncontrived—simply a perfect arena for a great party. Equally spread among the revelers were beach chairs occupied by sleepers, readers, grazers and observers all happily enjoying the afternoon beach.
Emerald sea in front of Edgewater Beach Resort
As I looked beyond the inviting lagoon pool with its islands and coves, past the wide white beach to follow the glittering orange trail of setting sun over the sea, I felt the tranquility of sunset, mixed in with that deeply ingrained instinct to party. I was ready to join the cocktail migration up the beach to the various watering holes.
I joined my friends at the Palapa Restaurant for dinner, which sits right on the edge of the sea under a round, thatched palm roof. The menu is extensive and everything that we had for each night’s dinner was terrific. I especially liked the jalapeno vinaigrette dressing. It was so good I just wanted to roll in it! From the chef’s grandfather’s recipe for unbelievable Crab Cakes to cold crunchy marinated vegetables, to desserts that were as delicious as decorative, the food here was consistently imaginative and luscious.
During the day we had plenty of activities to choose from. if we wanted to do more than play in the sand and sea. There is the 27-hole championship Hombre Golf Club course nearby and a on site nine-hole golf course that actually wraps itself around the condominiums at the resort.
The resort has a spa, offering all the pampering you can think of which sounds pretty great after a round of golf, a few sets of tennis, or a workout at the sports center. And if being a 12 year old is something measured in years rather that attitude, there are on site programs real short people too!
Guests at Edgewater Resort can request shuttles to the sparkling Shipwreck Island water park which could easily occupy a whole day, the 50s style Miracle Strip Amusement Park for an evening’s diversion, or the very nice Gulf World Marine Park that is good for several hours. Further a field is Shell Island, accessible only by boat and offering most notable encounters with the seas sweetest creatures, dolphins. Fishing expeditions, wreck diving and even a fantasy pirate adventure are all available to guests by shuttle.
Of course if you are a shopper it is pretty much endless and it is all within about 10 minutes of the resort.
The beach is flawless, the pool perfect, the food fabulous, off site trips abound and the rates very reasonable. Edgewater Beach Resort is a getaway spot where behaving like a 12 year old is the name of the game, no matter how tall you are!
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