A Weekend Itinerary for First-Time Guests

First-time guests often ask our front desk the same thing at check-in: "what should we actually do while we're here?" Two nights is enough time to see most of the resort without rushing, if you don't try to cram everything into one day. Here's a loose structure that tends to work well.

Friday Afternoon: Arrival & the Pool Deck

Check-in opens at 4 PM, but if you arrive earlier, valet will typically hold your bags so you can head straight to the pool deck. A couple of hours at the family pool or a reserved cabana is the easiest way to unwind after a drive, and Sundeck Bites covers a light lunch without needing a reservation.

Friday Evening: Dinner & Palm Sky Lounge

The Tidewater is a good first-night pick if you want a proper sit-down dinner without the reservation pressure of Harbor & Barrel on a weekend. Afterward, Palm Sky Lounge upstairs usually has live music running, and it's an easy walk from either dining room.

Saturday Morning: Spa or Beach, Not Both

This is where first-time guests tend to overschedule. Pick one — a mid-morning spa treatment followed by the relaxation lounge, or a walk down Beach Boulevard toward the lighthouse followed by breakfast at Sunrise Grand Buffet. Both fill a morning well; trying to do both usually means rushing one of them.

The biggest mistake we see first-time guests make is treating a two-night stay like a checklist instead of picking two or three things and actually enjoying them.

Saturday Afternoon: Back to the Pool, or an Excursion

If you booked a sunset sailing charter or fishing trip, this is typically when it runs. If not, a second pool afternoon — ideally with a cabana this time, since Saturday tends to be busier — is the easy default.

Saturday Evening: Harbor & Barrel and the Gaming Floor

Saturday is the night to use your Harbor & Barrel reservation if you made one. Afterward, the gaming floor is a natural next stop if that's of interest — a couple of hours at the tables or slots caps off the evening well before heading up for the night.

Sunday: A Slow Morning Before Checkout

With checkout at 11 AM, Sunday morning is best kept simple — breakfast, a final walk on the beach, or one more hour by the pool if the weather's holding. Late check-out can often be arranged if you'd like to stretch the morning a bit longer.