Bonita & Estero Magazine

Getaways Family Getaway to a Happy Place

A Treasure Coast vacation to disconnect in order to reconnect

- Mandy Carter is a local mom with a passion for family travel, a popular travel blogger including her own family blog at acupful.com, and the managing editor for TOTI Media.

You do not always have to leave the kids with a sitter to take a wellness vacation. It is fun to build wonderful vacation memories while the adults also get some needed R&R. The key is to pick a destinatio­n that offers a combinatio­n of family fun, spa services and healthy eating in a location that removes you from the stresses of daily life. As a newly divorced mom, I wanted to spend spring break reconnecti­ng with my kids, but also wanted to recharge and reset my mind and body.

With the fast pace of this modern life and all the changes that the new family dynamic brings, the greatest challenge facing many people today is creating opportunit­ies to spend quality time with family. Getting complacent with everyday routines can create unintentio­nal distance. Reconnecti­ng with each other is essential for a healthy family. In order to truly connect we need to disconnect from a few things like technology, schedules and worries. Taking a wellness-focused getaway is the perfect family bonding trip.

Though our hometown in Southwest Florida offers many great hotels and stunning beaches, sometimes one just needs to get away from the everyday surroundin­gs to reconnect. So, for spring break we ventured across the state to Florida’s Treasure Coast. Imagine enjoying time together with those who mean the most to you amidst the beautiful, quaint setting of soft sand, consistent waves and bright blue sky on the peaceful shores of Hutchinson Island or strolling the streets of Stuart, named “America’s Happiest Seaside Town” by Coastal Living magazine in 2016. Located 45 minutes north of Palm Beach, this area is an Old Florida–style treasure where making memories comes naturally.

Here are four components of a total wellness getaway that can be found along the Treasure Coast.

Taking a wellness-focused getaway is the perfect family bonding trip.

CALMING ACCOMMODAT­IONS

A secluded destinatio­n is great for a wellness getaway because it eliminates the usual day-to-day distractio­ns. Hutchinson Shores Resort and Spa in Jensen Beach on Hutchinson Island opened last fall, the first new beach resort in Jensen Beach in almost 20 years. With a contempora­ry coastal vibe yet relaxed atmosphere, it proved to be the perfect combinatio­n of luxury and comfortabl­e amenities to create an environmen­t for good R&R time.

CONNECTING WITH NATURE AND ANIMALS

A short drive from the resort you will find an adorable attraction hidden in plain view. The Florida Oceanograp­hic Society Coastal Center works to protect Florida’s coastal ecosystems through education and research. The center offers daily programs where visitors can meet the resident sea turtles, hand-feed stingrays and take a relaxing walk through mangrove trails.

EATING HEALTHY

When taking a wellness vacation, focus on healthy food choices to avoid a sugar rush then crash for the kids and bloating or overeating for you. This makes the getaway more enjoyable. There are a number of healthy dining options in this happy destinatio­n. To eat right, you really have no need to leave the hotel, but we did enjoy a number of meals around this seaside area, including a delicious fresh lunch at Fruits & Roots Juice Bar +

Vegan café in Stuart.

GETTING PAMPERED

The spa at Hutchinson Shores allows you to relax with a variety of healthy treatments. In addition to the pampering services of the hotel spa, luxury amenities like the compliment­ary newspaper, fresh fruit and chilled water convenient­ly located on each guestroom floor makes for a refreshing and helpful surprise.

Adults are not the only ones who benefit from a temporary escape from everyday challenges. Kids need to recharge their spirit as much as parents need to recharge their minds. Next time you look forward to a vacation where you can treat yourself to a massage that melts stress and meals that revitalize, remember that your little ones, too, can get the same feel-good benefits from a calming getaway.

 ??  ?? The Florida Oceanograp­hic Society’s Coastal Center (above left) on Hutchinson Island offers 57 acres of nature trails and various wildlife displays, such as the stingray pavilion (above right).
The Florida Oceanograp­hic Society’s Coastal Center (above left) on Hutchinson Island offers 57 acres of nature trails and various wildlife displays, such as the stingray pavilion (above right).
 ??  ?? Clockwise from top left: Healthy eating at Fruits & Roots in Stuart; the Hutchinson Shores Resort pool, dinner at the resort’s Drift Kitchen & Bar ; the oceanfront resort is an inviting base for a wellness getaway to the T reasure Coast.
Clockwise from top left: Healthy eating at Fruits & Roots in Stuart; the Hutchinson Shores Resort pool, dinner at the resort’s Drift Kitchen & Bar ; the oceanfront resort is an inviting base for a wellness getaway to the T reasure Coast.

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