Sawgrass family fun package starts at $159 per night

By Clara Bosonetto Maerz

For the AJC

The 4,800-acre Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florda was recently lauded with a number of accolades.

The most recent was being named one of the Best Beach Resorts for Families by Parents.com, the website of Parents Magazine. Praised for its mini golf course designed by Arnold Palmer, kids-only swimming pools, shark tooth hunts and private beach, the Sawgrass Marriott joined an elite list of 20 family-friendly vacation spots.

To determine its winners, Parents.com researched the cost of a week's vacation for a family of four at a number of mid-priced beach resorts. They took the properties on the most affordable half of the list, and compared such factors as ocean views, children's programs, children's menus, nonstop family activities, availability of lifeguards and comfy rooms. See the full report: http://www.parents.com/fun/vacation/ideas/best-beach-resorts-for-families .

The resort was recently ranked 7th among the Top 10 Best Relaxation/Spa Hotels in North America by the readers of TripAdvisor, the world's largest source of travel advice generated by your fellow travelers.

Also, Better Homes and Gardens included Sawgrass Marriott in their "Top 50 Favorite Family Resorts."

Recreational choices at the Sawgrass Marriott include a private beach at the Cabana Beach Club, 350-acres of freshwater lakes and ponds perfect for fishing, and its signature Sawgrass Xplorers kid's program. Trained youth-education specialists entertain the resort's youngest visitors with activities such as arts and crafts, sandcastle sculpting, "dive-in" movies, beach hikes and scavenger hunts.

Chill out along 26 miles of private family-friendly beach, at one of the four outdoor pools (three heated) or three whirlpools -- or at the spa.

A highlight of the resort are the 99 holes of championship golf over five courses. Sawgrass is the official hotel of the Tournament Players Club (TPC) at Sawgrass and hosts the PGA Tour and The Players' Championship. If tennis is more your game, choose from 17 courts of four various playing surfaces.

Visit Sawgrass on a "Family Fun" package which includes buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner for each night of stay for children under age 12. Rates start from $159 per night for resort view accommodations.

The Sawgrass Marriott is located minutes from Jacksonville, Florida.

http://www.sawgrassmarriott.com