We discovered the perfect family beach resort just 2 hours from Detroit

A gorgeous, activity-packed, and family-friendly beach resort that’s just a two-hour flight from Detroit? Sign us up. 

There comes a time in every Michigan family’s life when the unrelenting cold, never-ending gray days, and bitter chill that invades our very bones become too much. When that time comes, it’s our duty to flee the state we love so much and seek warmth.

My family and I recently found desperately needed warmth at a new-to-us family beach resort in St. Petersburg, Florida. Ideal for spring break, winter vacations, or a sunny summer trip, TradeWinds Resort on the gorgeous shores of St. Pete’s beach is a hop, skip, and a jump from Michigan—in only a two-hour flight from Detroit and under-30 minute drive from the Tampa Bay airport, you and your family can be sunning themselves on the shores of the warm Gulf waters, sipping pina coladas on the beach, or enjoying all of the family-friend amenities the resort has to offer. Inflatable water park, slides, or paddleboats, anyone?

If you’re looking for a new family beach resort that’s easy to get to from Michigan, definitely add TradeWinds Resort to your list. Here’s more information about what you’ll find at the resort and what to check out while you’re there.

It’s only 2 hours from Detroit

I realize I mentioned this already, but I feel like it bears repeating because one of the most frustrating parts about travel is, well, the traveling. Especially if you have kids with you, schlepping them to the airport, making a ton of connections, and keeping them happy on a crowded airplane can make skipping the trip more appealing than traveling.

That’s why I was so thrilled to find that access to such a downright gorgeous beach (seriously, I love our Michigan beaches, but the endless white sand and warm waters of St. Pete’s will leave you in awe) and family-friendly resort is only a two-hour flight away. Getting to the resort from the Tampa airport is also super easy—the resort works with a transportation company you can contact to arrange a pickup, or it’s about a 30-minute drive.

The beach is breathtakingly beautiful (and surprisingly empty) 

The thing about living in Michigan is that everyone tends to “go to Florida” when they’re looking for a warm getaway or a beach trip. But if you’re not interested in Orlando or a Disney World trip, you may wonder where else you can go. As it turns out, the secret is St. Petersburg.

I had never been to St. Pete’s beach before, but a few of my friends frequently vacation there—and they even begged me not to write about the area because it’s a bit of a hidden gem. Despite having the most gorgeous beach I’ve ever seen (with warm water, something we Michianders never experience!), the area is surprisingly chill, and the beach was nearly empty when we visited. Granted, it was not spring break when we were there, but it still felt like the entire vibe of St. Pete’s is more laid-back than some of the other vacation spots in Florida.

If you want a truly relaxing beach vacation, this is the place to go. (But don’t worry—there’s also plenty of activities waiting when you’re ready to get off your included beach lounger, so keep reading for more on that!)

Kids stay free

As someone with a lot of kids, I appreciate that TradeWinds lets kids stay free—as long as they’re under 17 years old and staying in your room, the kiddos are no extra cost. Cool, right?

Additionally, there are two properties to choose from when you stay at TradeWinds: Island Grand or Rumfish Beach. Both properties share amenities, and when you stay at one property, you have access to the other (they’re also very close, so walking between the two is no problem).

Both resorts would be great to stay with kids, but having stayed at the property, I would recommend the more family-friendly Island Grand if you have kids or teenagers, because the many amenities, like the water slides, paddleboats, ice cream shop, and inflatable park, are mere steps away. RumFish had more lively entertainment at night, like karaoke and fire pits, but as a mom, I appreciated the quiet the Island Grand side offered at night. (And keep in mind, you can walk over to enjoy the nightlife and campfire s’mores even if you stay on the Island Grand side, so it’s the best of both worlds!)

If you have a large family or are staying with extended friends or family members, the resort also has larger on-site villas you can rent, with some options that can accommodate up to 10 guests.

There’s an on-site ice cream shop

Speaking of the ice cream shop, as someone who firmly believes that all vacations involve daily ice cream stops, I consider it of vital importance to inform you that there is an on-site resort ice cream shop with the most delicious ice cream, homemade waffle cones, and milkshakes.

Located conveniently smack dab in the middle of the resort (between the two properties), Shipwreck Trading Co. is a small-yet-mighty grab-and-go food option and gift shop. You can order freshly fired pizza, breakfast sandwiches and pastries, coffee, and of course, ice cream.

I found having an on-site shop so helpful for our family when traveling, and it helped save money too. Instead of buying a full sit-down breakfast every morning, we could stop in for a quick cup of coffee and breakfast sandwiches—and the same with lunch.

The included resort amenities are ideal for families

I was absolutely blown away by the amount of free activities and entertainment included in the resort package at TradeWinds. There’s almost so much available that you might find trouble fitting it all in. I traveled with teenagers, and they especially loved that there was a new entertainment schedule available every day, along with unlimited trips down the huge water slides right on the beach. There was also beach volleyball and their personal favorite: an on-site Chick-fil-A. (Obviously, you’ll need to pay for that Chick-fil-A sauce and nuggies, but it’s there!)

When you purchase a package at TradeWinds, you pay a $55 nightly resort amenity fee (and some tax), which grants you access to a ton of feebies, including:

• A welcome arrival Prosecco toast
• Wi-Fi Internet access
• Two daily beach loungers with an umbrella (while two daily beach lounge chairs are included in the resort fee, if you want front row seats, you’ll need to pay extra and reserve those each day)
• Unlimited use of the High Tide Slide
• Unlimited use of waterway paddleboats
• Access to seasonal floating water park (this is an entire inflatable water park set up in the Gulf, and it’s huge and so fun for kids!)
• Touch Tank Experience
• Family Pirate Show and Mad Science Show
• Campfire S’Mores (available nightly at Rumfish)
• Fitness center
• Pickleball Courts
• Mini golf and beach volleyball
• Beach games: ladder ball, bocce ball, corn hole
• Dive-In Movies
• Daily Resort Activities
• Shuffleboard
• SunSetter Game Zone: foosball, ping pong, Jenga
• Complimentary Family Beach Photos—you can quite literally book an entire family photo shoot on the beach for free, and one high-res image is included!

Kids of all ages will have a blast

While we saw plenty of couples and singles enjoying TradeWinds, as a mom of five kids aged 5-17, I especially appreciated that this is a resort I could safely take all five of my children to, and know that there is something for everyone. Making everyone happy on vacation is one of the most challenging aspects of being my family’s unofficial trip planner, and I love it when properties like TradeWinds take that burden off of me.

The resort had the ideal mix of little kid activities, like family pirate shows, pools, kids’ camp activities, and crafts and classes, along with tween and teen-friendly options, like the slides, inflatable water parks, game center, resort activities, and my teens’ personal favorite: beach volleyball.

As a mom, I can’t tell you what a relief it was knowing that entertaining my kids was taken care of for me. The resort is the perfect mix of large enough that kids can stay busy, but small enough that I didn’t feel overwhelmed. There are also many add-on activities you can do while at the resort, like parasailing, dolphin cruises, massages, and even swimming with the fish.

The food is delicious and reasonably priced

I’m going to level with you: In general, while traveling with my kid, I don’t expect a 5-star dining experience. I’m happy if everyone is fed and not grumpy. But staying at TradeWinds Resort is an assurance that you will be fed and you will be fed well, even as an adult.

I was absolutely blown away by the food and dining experiences offered, from the most delicious on-site breakfast (I recommend the avocado toast and that fresh, local coffee!) to an authentic Italian dinner at Palm Court Italian with handmade pasta, locally caught mussels, and mouthwatering tiramisu.

You’ll also want to check out the next-door RumFish Grill, which offers a full seafood menu and a unique dining experience next to a 33,500-gallon aquarium. If you have kids who can’t get enough of the fish life, you can also book them an in-tank swimming experience—the restaurant opens up for tank swimming with the fish every morning (you’ll want to reserve in advance). Just watch out for Frank, the electric green eel, who definitely made an appearance at the top of the tank when we visited!