We recently spent a long weekend at the beautiful Camp Creek Inn in Watersound, Florida. Here is our review to help you decide whether this 30A boutique hotel is right for you and your family.
TRAVEL
Camp Creek Inn Review
October 10, 2023
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Welcome to our Camp Creek Inn – Watersound, Florida review! This luxurious boutique hotel features 75 guest rooms, 3 on-site restaurants, and access to all the amenities of Watersound Club including the Camp Creek Golf Course, Wellness Center, resort-style swimming pool with lazy river and waterslide, tennis and pickleball courts, playground, and more.
Camp Creek Inn Location
Camp Creek Inn is conveniently located just north of the popular 30A beach road at 684 Fazio Drive in Watersound, Florida. Popular beach cities that are close by include Seacrest, Alys Beach, and Rosemary Beach. If you forgot something while packing, there is Publix at the Watersound Town Center, a little more than a mile from the hotel.
Is Camp Creek Inn located on the beach?
Camp Creek Inn is not located on the beach, but rather on the Camp Creek Golf Course. While this may be a deal breaker for some, we actually really enjoyed the tranquility of the golf course after a busy day at the beach and Watersound Beach Club.
However, it wouldn’t be a visit to the emerald coast without a day on the beach. Luckily when you stay at the Camp Creek Inn, you have access to both the Inn and the Watersound Beach Club (which is located on the beach).
Camp Creek Inn Guest Rooms - Watersound, Florida
There are several guest room options at the Camp Creek Inn. The standard guest rooms feature either a king-size bed or two queen-size beds. The bathrooms have a tiled walk-in glass shower, vanity, and separate water closet. All of the guest rooms are charmingly decorated with luxury linen comforters, a large activity table, chair, and bench. The rooms include a television, mini fridge, safe, bathrobes and slippers, Lavazza coffee, and Harney & Sons teas.
The main difference in the rooms is in regard to the view and the balcony option. The balcony option includes two chairs and a table, perfect for enjoying your morning coffee or relaxing at the end of the day. I was torn on whether we would actually use the balcony or not, but ended up booking a room with one and was really glad that we had it. We spent every morning watching the golfers start their day and it was a lovely extension of the room in the evening when the weather was more mild.
There are three different room views available – the standard view, golf view, and driving range view. The standard view overlooks the parking area and “central park” area. The golf course view looks out at the golf course and the driving range view overlooks the putting greens and driving range.
Deciding which view is right for you and your family is a personal preference. The golf course view is a little more expensive than standard and the driving range view is just slightly more than that. We ended up choosing a golf course view with a balcony but received a driving range view upon arrival. The entire property is exquisitely manicured, so any view is a good view. However, if you are opting for the standard view, I would request a room in the middle of the building if possible. This will give you the best view of the “central park” area.
ADA accessible rooms are also available with either a king-size bed or two queen-size beds. Along with the other standard amenities, these rooms include a roll-in shower with a shower seat.
If you are looking for more room to spread out, there are two suite designs available. The first is the Pine Suite. It is the larger of the two and features a king-size bed and separate living area and private balcony. The Junior Golf Suite also has a king-size bed and private balcony, but the living area is not separate from the sleeping area. Both suite options sleep up to 2 guests max. The sofas are not sleeper sofas and pullout beds are not available.
Restaurants at Camp Creek Inn - Watersound, Florida
There are three restaurants on-site at the Camp Creek Inn. We ate at 2 of the 3 restaurants on our visit and enjoyed both of them tremendously.
Located in the front lobby of Camp Creek Inn is 1936. Serving guests from 7am through 10pm, it is the more casual bar and lounge option. Children are welcome and although there is not an official dress code, we would recommend standard resort attire.
After a long drive, this was the perfect spot for an easy dinner. We tried the Spinach and Crab Dip (my personal favorite of the evening), Whipped Feta and Hummus, Inn Signature Burger, and Beach Tacos with Shrimp and everything was delicious. It was a great start to a wonderful weekend.
ANR (which stands for Apalachicola Northern Railroad) is the fine dining option at Camp Creek Inn. Reservations are encouraged and “proper resort attire” is required, which means pants for men and appropriate evening options for ladies. On Sunday evenings, they take attire up a notch with “formal Sunday-wear” so make sure you pack appropriately if you’d like to dine here during your stay.
Bark ‘N Brine is the most casual of the three restaurants. Located poolside, guests will enjoy both indoor and outdoor seating, yard games, and a variety of smoked dishes. Along with the standard menu, there are also daily drink and food specials. If you are seated poolside, you are also welcome to order from the restaurant and a server will bring you everything you need.
Amenities at Camp Creek Inn – Watersound, Florida
Camp Creek Inn is a lovely hotel in a fantastic location, but where it really shines are the available amenities. A short walk across the “central park” takes you to the wellness complex (also where Bark ‘N Brine is located). The resort style pool is amazing for both families and couples. Kids (and adults) will enjoy the large pool area complete with a waterslide and lazy river. Covered seating is available around the pool as well as cabanas (available on a first come-first serve basis). There is also a teen lounge room complete with a sofa, bean bags, television, and games.
Adults traveling without children will appreciate the adults-only pool and hot tub.
Other outdoor activities include tennis courts, pickleball courts, a basketball court, soccer field, playground, and of course, golf. While we did not play a round of golf on this trip, there were definitely plenty of golfers taking advantage of the lovely late-September weather. Guests of Camp Creek Inn have access to both of the Club’s two private 18-hole championship golf courses, Shark’s Tooth and Camp Creek Golf Course.
The Wellness Center is a fabulous spot for guests to keep up their fitness routines while on vacation. The two-story building is home to group fitness classes (including yoga), cardio and strength training machines, free weights, men’s and women’s locker rooms, and sauna and steam rooms.
I took advantage of having a gym so close by each day of our stay. It is an excellent facility, but one thing you will need to check are the hours of operation. During our long weekend, the Wellness Center closed each day at 4pm, which was a little bit earlier than I anticipated.
If you’re traveling with children, there’s no way you will make it throughout the weekend without several stops at the “treat suite.” Each floor of the hotel is designated with its own room with complimentary snacks, coffee (in the morning), soft drinks, and iced water. Just make sure to either request a spoon (or bring one from home) for the ice cream.
Watersound Beach Club
One of the greatest benefits of staying at the Camp Creek Inn is access to the Watersound Beach Club. The Beach Club is about a 10-minute drive from the Inn and a shuttle is available if you’d prefer not to drive or don’t have a vehicle on property. If you do choose to drive, you will be given a card at check-in that includes a gate code that you will need to access the Beach Club area.
Watersound Beach Club has its own private beach with complimentary chair and umbrella service (another time where it is nice to have cash on hand for tipping). It is a short walk from the club to the beach along a boardwalk, but there was a golf cart attendant on hand to assist anyone who didn’t want to make the walk. Once there, guests can relax on the beach or take advantage of the complimentary paddleboard or kayak rentals.
If you want a break from the beach or want something to eat, head up to the Beach Club where guests will find lounge chairs, umbrellas, and towel service setup alongside the two pools. There are also two restaurants located within the club. Another feature that we thought was great was the ice and water stations set up throughout the facility. If you’ve ever vacationed in Florida, you know how important hydration is.
Things to Know Before You Go
– Camp Creek Inn is a part of the gated Watersound Camp Creek community. Upon giving your information to the attendant at the gate, you will gain access to the property. The guest service attendant at the hotel will be ready to assist with your luggage as soon as you pull up.
– Camp Creek Inn is a cashless hotel. This is not a big deal since we charge everything to the room anyways or pay with a card, but you will still need cash throughout your stay for tipping, specifically for valet and/or luggage.
– The “check-in” process is different than what you would expect at a standard hotel. Upon entry of the hotel, an attendant will personally accompany you to your room, while explaining the ins and outs of the hotel, accommodations, and amenities.
– Proper attire is required throughout the hotel. If you’re spending the day at the pool or working out at the gym, there is a nice side entrance to the hotel that you can pop in and easily access the stairs or elevators up to your room.
– There is a 22% service charge on all food and beverages. Personally, even though the amount owed is the same, I prefer when the cost is worked into the food and beverage price on the menu. A service charge can be confusing, especially when the percentage is close to what you would pay for gratuity. This practice is more common in bigger cities, but if it is not common where you are from, please note that a service charge and gratuity are usually not considered the same thing so please tip accordingly.
Would we stay at Camp Creek Inn – Watersound, Florida again?
The beaches along 30A are only a short drive from our home so we like to make our way down there at least once a year. While this was our first stay at Camp Creek Inn, it most certainly won’t be our last. The hotel is beautiful, the service (and food) was excellent, and we loved the location. Having access to both a resort pool and beach club was definitely a plus as well as quick access to the restaurants and shops along Alys Beach and Rosemary Beach.
Looking for another fun place to visit along the Gulf Coast? If you’re in the Biloxi/Gulfport area, give the Mississippi Aquarium a try!
