When rest, relaxation, and non-league play are the order of the day, check out these nearby resorts.
By Cory Sekine-Pettite
Whether you’re a beach person or a mountain person, there are multiple tennis-focused resorts near Atlanta for either a long weekend or a full-on summer vacation. On the following pages, you will find our annual list of Summer Getaway destinations that are sure to please tennis fanatics, pickleball fiends, golf enthusiasts, and sun bathers. Continue reading to find your new favorite beach or mountain getaway.
Sea Island
Sea Island, Georgia
seaisland.com
855.572.4975
If a sports-focused getaway is your cup of tea, the Retreat Tennis Center at Sea Island is where you want to be. It features 14 Har-Tru tennis courts and eight pickleball courts (currently used for group clinics, private lessons, and open play). Additionally, Sea Island is one of the few Forbes Five-Star U.S. resorts with squash facilities. Further, guests can make use of two international softball courts and one North American hardball doubles court. Plus, the Squash courts are located within the Fitness Center.
With expansive settings and five miles of private beach, Sea Island offers guests an array of beautifully appointed accommodations from which to choose, including private cottages, elegant guestrooms, and spacious suites. With a host of off-the-court activities, the availability of private lessons and custom clinics, Sea Island is the perfect getaway to improve your game.
Big Canoe Racquet Club
Jasper, Georgia
bigcanoepoa.org
706.268.3367
The South’s premier mountain resort community is just two short hours north of Atlanta in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. Surrounded by quaint towns and wineries, Big Canoe offers something for the entire family. Big Canoe is an outdoor lover’s mountain paradise, boasting a 27-hole golf course, 10 pickleball courts (four lit), six clay tennis courts, two indoor hard courts, four Bocce courts, hiking and Jeep trails, and five lakes.
Visitors can rent a pontoon boat, or sit on the beach, read a book, and sip a frozen cocktail while the kids enjoy an inflatable obstacle course, rock slide, paddle boards, kayaks, and one of two pools. Send the kids to golf, tennis, pickleball, or fishing camp while you take a yoga class or enjoy a relaxing massage.
Let Big Canoe customize a weekend getaway for your tennis or pickleball group! With four coaches on staff, they can create a weekend of clinics and lessons to fit your needs and budget.
Innisbrook Resort
Palm Harbor, Florida
innisbrookgolfresort.com
844.366.1919
Located just minutes from the pristine beaches of Clearwater, the historic downtown and sponge docks of Tarpon Springs, and the vibrant streets of Dunedin, there is something for everyone to enjoy at Innisbrook Resort and the surrounding area. The resort is more than a premier golf and racquet resort — it’s a true destination. Spread across 600 acres of rolling hills and lush landscapes, the serene nature and natural beauty surrounding the tennis courts and courses provide a peaceful retreat.
Innisbrook Resort hosts 10 expertly conditioned Har-Tru clay tennis courts for a world-class tennis experience. It also offers four outdoor pickleball courts, as well as three indoor racquetball courts — two of which can be converted to indoor pickleball on request.
Along with elite golf and racquet facilities, visitors can relax in the six resort pools, including the expansive Loch Ness Pool, Salamander Spa with 12 treatment rooms and immersive wellness treatments, and a fitness center. Then plan your dinner at any of the five on-site dining options, including the signature restaurant, Packard’s Steakhouse.
Palmetto Dunes
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
PalmettoDunes.com/tennispickleball
866.287.2679
Tennis and pickleball lovers near and far are able to book their perfect weekend escape at Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort on Hilton Head Island and enjoy tennis and pickleball court time, lessons, clinics and more daily at the award-winning Palmetto Dunes Tennis & Pickleball Center. Palmetto Dunes offers 17 Har-Tru tennis courts (four of which are lighted), 24 pickleball courts (8 lighted) as well as Hilton Head Island’s largest pro shop. Eight of the 24 pickleball courts have recently been resurfaced with a Nova Sports USA all-weather surface system.
The resort offers one of the most comprehensive instructional pickleball programs on the East Coast. The center serves an impressive number of resort visitors and also counts about 300 local members in its pickleball club. League play, lessons, and clinics are available for all ages and ability levels. Getaway package offerings can be tailored to whatever you would like. For example, the “Tennis Stay & Play Package” offers three nights, two clinics, discounts, and more.
Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort has long been a favorite vacation destination because it consistently provides one of the richest vacation experiences in the country, with more award-winning activities than any other resort in the Southeast. In addition to the courts, be sure to check out the bike rides, golf courses and high-tech driving range, the beaches, water activities, and more.
Sandestin Golf
and Beach Resort
Miramar Beach, Florida
Sandestin.com
800.622.1038
Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort offers the ultimate blend of relaxation and recreation, making it the perfect weekend escape. Nestled between the Gulf of Mexico and Choctawhatchee Bay, the resort spans 2,400 acres of stunning natural beauty, providing guests with white-sand beaches, championship golf courses, and world-class tennis and pickleball.
Sandestin is home to one of the top-rated tennis facilities in the region, featuring 12 HydroGrid clay courts, three hard courts, and six dedicated outdoor pickleball courts. The Sandestin Tennis Center offers everything players need, including a fully stocked pro shop, equipment rentals, racquet stringing, and private or group instruction. Guests of the resort enjoy one complimentary hour of court time each day, with night play available for a small fee.
Off the court, Sandestin offers an unforgettable array of amenities that elevate every stay. Guests can explore four championship golf courses, unwind with a massage at the full-service spa, or relax by the pool. The Village of Baytowne Wharf adds a lively energy with waterfront dining, boutique shopping, live music, and seasonal events.
