The Fittest Hotel In Florida
Unless you travel with a personal trainer, it can be incredibly hard and inconvenient to stick with your fitness routine while you're on vacation. But that's not the case if you vacation at the Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa in sunny Fort Lauderdale. Not only will you find it exceedingly easy to stick to your routine, but there's also an astronomically high chance that you'll expand your exercise horizons. Here are ten ways to break a sweat at this beachfront resort that has a gift shop stocked with athletic apparel and a breakfast attendant who you may run into at boot camp.
1. Make a Date with the "Health Colonel"
Although he could win a congeniality award, Colonel Bob doesn't mess around. He's spent 30 years in the Army, but these days he can be found —still sporting fatigues— on the resort's beach where he leads boot camp classes for guests and Fort Lauderdale locals. The 16-acre resort is home to South Florida's largest private beach, and Colonel Bob makes a point of covering as much ground as possible. He provides the props, the sand provides the resistance, and knowing that there's plenty of delicious food nearby to indulge in is plenty of motivation to drop and give Bob forty.
2. Get Out Your Ace Game
Practice your serve or play a full set— but whatever you do, don't forget about the resort's Tennis Happy Hour on Fridays. Every Friday, a tennis pro is on site to provide pointers, and guests are invited to meet other players and arrange matches. In addition to match play, guests can also sign up for clinics and programs that are offered on the resort's two hard courts and two clay courts. Table tennis is also available.
3. Try Not to Travel
Not many Marriott properties can brag about on-site basketball courts, but this property isn't included in that group. Guests can go from laying by the pool to shooting hoops in less than two minutes. Play for bragging rights, or play for higher stakes— the loser can always buy dinner for the winner at Sea Level, which is also less than two minutes away and serves fresh cuisine in a casual, outdoor setting with ocean views.
4. Paddle Past the Break
Conveniently located on the hotel's beach, the Aloha Watersports hut is managed by a fun ensemble that can put even the most wary beginners at ease. The warm water and challenging, but manageable waves make for an ideal place to transition from still-water SUP to SUP surfing. Although Aloha offers 30-minute rentals, the experience is so intoxicating that you'll probably end up wanting to SUP all summer long.
5. Salute the Sun
Pack your own mat or borrow a purple one from the resort, but unless you want them to be jealous, don't tell your friends that you'll be doing down dog with views of the beach. The resort offers yoga classes inside their fitness studio and outside on a terrace, so guests can easily squeeze in their favorite poses without having to practice in their room or leave the property to locate a studio.
6. Don't Cut Class
Forget about the channel guide and fast food menu because the fitness class schedule is probably the most important handout at this resort. The classes, most of which are held on the first floor in the resort's fitness studio, include spinning, P90X, power walking, water aerobics and Zumba. After a strenuous workout, guests can walk down the hallway and melt their sore muscles in the spa's steam room.
7. Work Out, Whenever
Hitting the weights or logging some cardio is less of a chore in the resort's fitness center which is open 24/7 and features floor-to-ceiling windows and state-of-the-art equipment. The resort can also arrange for guests to meet with personal trainers for one-on-one workouts and personalized fitness assessments. For guests looking for a little guidance, there's a large community board that is frequently updated with recommended reps and routines.
8. Suit Up
The hardest part about swimming at the resort is picking a pool. Guests can choose between the large outdoor lagoon and the private indoor pool located in the adjacent spa. If swimming laps isn't your thing, the resort offers dive-in movies at dusk where you can tread water while watching a family-friendly flick. For those who prefer to practice their strokes in saltwater, the inviting ocean is just yards away.
9. Dig in the Sand
The resistance of sand makes a resistance band seem like child's play, and for those looking to maximize their calorie burn, beach volleyball is the perfect sport. Every day, the resort sets up a net on their private beach where guests can sweat it out in a friendly (or fiercely competitive) pickup game.
10. Battle for Bragging Rights
Although the resort has three gift shops, the best souvenir comes from the resort's recreation department. This talented team designs unique teambuilding challenges and fun competitions akin to what one might see on an episode of Survivor. Whether it's won in Beach Olympics or the Build-a-Boat Race, the "I Won Bragging Rights at Harbor Beach." t-shirt is sure to turn heads for years to come.