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One of the nicest resorts we have been to in a long time, the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center was a vacation all in itself. With lovely rooms, several restaurants and dining options right on site, as well as shopping available, and it’s own pool and water park, you won’t need to leave the campus to have a great time. Beautiful gardens with running rivers and waterfalls, fish (including mangrove snappers, redfish, snook, stingrays and tarpon) and koi fish, alligators, turtles, and other aquatica abound in over 360,000 gallons of water, you may forget you are indoors as you stroll around the atrium.
You and your family can stroll through the Castillo de San Marcos in the St. Augustine atrium features this small-scale replica of the oldest fort in North America. The original was built by Spain in 1672 in what is now St. Augustine. It is a great place to hold events as well, which I’m guessing is why a wedding was held there during our stay, how romantic! You can also see gator feedings and turtles in this area- less romantic, but interesting
Designed to inspire you to travel and see more of Florida, the atriums (like the St. Augustine) are definitely enough to whet your appetite. We were also lucky enough to meet and greet some fun Dreamworks characters, like Po (Kung Fu Panda), Puss in Boots (Shrek, Puss in Boots), King Julian (Madagascar), and Shrek (Shrek). My son loves hugging characters, as previously mentioned, so this was a huge hit for him.
Cypress Springs, the water park at Gaylord Palms, was simply amazing. No lines, no travel to get there, no parking fees….no problem!
There were many water slides to choose from, as well as sizes (for small kids as well). I really prefer it when hotels separate areas for big and little kids (big pools are so difficult for little ones who can’t yet swim) and it makes it more enjoyable for the whole family when everyone has something to do that they can enjoy at their own speed. Cypress Springs even had baby swings for the tiniest guests to enjoy while older siblings played on the slides and water attractions. The pool also has “Games” led by staff several times a day, an on-staff photographer you can utilize, and a “pool party” nightly.
Every slide had an individual lifeguard at the top and bottom- safety first at this resort, which this mommy appreciated.
The hotel room itself was large and spacious, with a balcony, safe, and mini fridge. The staff had ice in the room when we checked in, as well as bottles of water in the minifridge for our use. The bathroom was very large, with lots of room to get dressed in without hitting the tub or sink. There was a TV in the room as well, with lots of channels to choose from (like cartoons for some peace and quiet when you are packing up, and the weather channel to know what the day will bring). The room was very clean and had no strange odors to it, the tub was clean enough that I let my son take a bath in it, (I almost never let him bathe in hotel tubs, we do stand-up showers only for the most part) and had a drying line in the tub to help dry wet pool things. Why every hotel doesn’t have one is beyond me! The staff was efficient and courteous- if I called the front desk for any reason, they were prompt and polite in assisting.
It was sad to leave the hotel, which had lovely views, rooms, restaurants, and staff. The hotel also donates %10 of room package rates to monthly designated charities, so not only will you enjoy your stay here, but you can feel good about it as well. Make A Wish Foundation will be the benefactor for the months of September and October.
Please fee free to look at more photos from our stay HERE.
Wow this place looks amazing! I’ve never stayed anywhere quite this nice before. I’d love to visit!