I started my month with my third half marathon of the year. It didn’t go well and I finished in a lot of pain, but I was looking forward to my after-race plans. Beer, hanging out with friends, and a staycation at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress! After all of my post race fun I hopped in the car and made my way out to the hotel to meet up with Laura (who was coming from Tampa).
The 1,500 acre Grand Cypress resort offers an upscale travel experience with well-appointed guest rooms and suites and a host of amenities and activities. Located along the 1,000 feet of white sandy beach of private Lake Windsong, the 800,000 gallon, ½ acre, free- flowing lagoon pool boasts 12 waterfalls, heated and non-heated pools, two whirlpools, new Water Slide Tower Pavilion, new children’s Rock Climbing Stations, new interactive Water Jet Splash Zone, rope bridge, walking paths, and expansive, wrap-around sundecks all inspired by contemporary design matched with the simplicity of timeless fun.
After leaving my car with the valet I made my way to the front desk for check-in. Ya know what is awesome? When you check into a hotel and they hand you a glass of champagne! I took my champagne and relaxed in the beautiful lobby while waiting for Laura to arrive. It was definitely the perfect start to our staycation.
Once we checked into our room, with an amazing view of their beautiful pool area and Lake Windsong, we did a little bit of exploring. One of the things on their list of recreation list that stood out to us was the rental bikes (which were included in the resort fee). We had some time to kill before our first appointment (more on that in a minute) so we grabbed to cruisers and headed out for a loop around the resort. They have 3 jogging/walking trails on property and decided to take the shortest one that goes around the lake. The trails goes around Lake Windsong and has some amazing views of the resort and the beach. The mulch on part of the path made the ride a little harder than we had planned, but it was still fun. We made it back to the bike stand with just enough time to head to our appointment… massages at the Marilyn Monroe Spa!
I must admit that my upcoming spa appointment was one of the things that got me through my half marathon earlier that morning. The 5,200 square-foot, full-service spa features a variety of glamour services for nail, face, hair, and body, bringing all of the Marilyn Monroe signature services to Orlando’s original luxury resort. Upon check-in we were lead to their locker room where we changed into some super soft robes and then headed to their waiting area. Oh my it was wonderful. Soft music, comfy loungers, snacks, and a variety of drinks – including wine if you wanted.
Our massages started right on time and were such a treat. I had the Gemstone Massage and it was heavenly. The therapist used two gemstones in addition to her hands to do the message. It was a little weird at first, but in the end I really enjoyed it. And those heated massage tables are just amazing! After our massages we spent a little time relaxing in the waiting room with some coffee and hot chocolate.
I was very excited to take Laura to LakeHouse for dinner. I really enjoyed my first visit there and was looking forward to the whole dinner experience with my bestie. We started out with some of their craft cocktails. Our appetizers included French Onion Fondue and the Shrimp Tempura Roll. The French Onion Fondue comes with their housemade bread which is SO good. And the best thing is that if you run out of bread before you run out of fondue they will bring you some more.
Our entrees were tasty, beautiful, and so flavorful. I had the BBQ Shrimp and Grits while Laura had the Filet Mignon. We really wanted to have dessert, but we were WAY too full. Thankfully we were able to get the Key Lime Cheesecake to go to enjoy later.
The next morning we decided to enjoy our Key Lime Cheesecake for breakfast by the pool before we had to check out. It was a beautiful spring day in Florida, but we were very thankful for the heated pool since the non-heated pool was only 59 degrees! After “breakfast” I knew there was one more thing I needed to do before we left – go down the slide! I’m sure you guys aren’t even a little bit surprised that I was the first one down the slide that day. I was quite proud that the first two down the slide were adults.
We really enjoyed our grand staycation at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress. I’m already thinking about our next trip. If you are thinking about a staycation (or vacation) of your very own, they are running a fantastic special. Guests can enjoy the #SunshineOnSale special offer with a night free valid April 1 through May 31, 2016. Stay a minimum of three consecutive nights and receive the forth night free, plus a $50 resort credit per stay to use toward resort food and beverage purchases. Rates start at $189.00 for deluxe accommodations, based on availability, plus tax and resort fee. Use offer code: ESCAPE at www.GrandCypress.Hyatt.com for reservations.
*Disclosure: I was treated to a complimentary staycation by Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress. As always, all thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.