{"id":316419,"date":"2026-06-23T02:58:51","date_gmt":"2026-06-23T02:58:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/316419\/"},"modified":"2026-06-23T02:58:51","modified_gmt":"2026-06-23T02:58:51","slug":"floridas-car-free-walking-village-is-an-outdoorsy-resort-near-tampa-with-a-unique-giant-super-pool","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/316419\/","title":{"rendered":"Florida’s ‘Car-Free Walking Village’ Is An Outdoorsy Resort Near Tampa With A Unique, Giant ‘Super Pool’"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Saddlebrook Resort<\/p>\n

Since Tampa is Florida’s third largest city, travelers seeking a quieter escape ensconced in nature should venture about 25 miles north of downtown. Set amidst a lush inland landscape lies Saddlebrook Resort<\/a>, a nearly 500-acre destination\u00a0that resembles the ultimate country club. The resort was first developed in the\u00a01980s\u00a0and designed as a “car-free walking village” where visitors could easily stroll throughout the entire property.\u00a0In 2025, Saddlebrook completed a nearly $100 million renovation to\u00a0refresh its luxurious accommodations and facilities.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Saddlebrook Resort has long been known for its focus on sports\u00a0and outdoor activities. Golf and tennis enthusiasts come to play at the resort’s\u00a0three 9-hole golf courses\u00a0or on its\u00a0one of its 41 tennis and pickleball courts.\u00a0For those seeking more leisurely pursuits, the property features two swimming pools, including the massive\u00a0Super Pool\u00a0and a pampering spa.\u00a0Throughout the entire resort weave walking trails, which bypass native flora and fauna, from lush cypress trees to sparkling ponds. While guests here are cocooned away from the crowds and bustle of the city, all of Tampa’s treasures,\u00a0from theme parks to museums<\/a>,\u00a0are just a short drive away.<\/p>\n

Saddlebrook is also relatively easy to get to, sitting just a 40-minute drive\u00a0from Tampa International Airport. Saddlebrook Resort is open year-round, but the best time to visit is between November and April, when temperatures hover between 71 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit and there is little rain.<\/p>\n

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A relaxing stay at the outdoorsy and walkable Saddlebrook Resort<\/p>\n


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Saddlebrook Resort<\/p>\n

Saddlebrook Resort is nestled north of Tampa in Wesley Chapel, one of Florida’s fastest growing suburbs with luxurious charm<\/a>. Saddlebrook Resort’s renovation has enhanced its\u00a0over 450 rooms and suites, all of which now boast a chic and refreshed aesthetic.\u00a0“Our lodging was spacious, clean and updated,” wrote a Google<\/a> reviewer. “It’s obvious the resort is putting a lot into the renovations and updates.”\u00a0The accommodations are all designed in coastal hues with floor-to-ceiling windows that frame\u00a0views of the golf courses or the\u00a0natural landscape. Families and groups should opt for one of the multi-bedroom suites, which offer amenities like spacious living and dining areas, full kitchens, and private outdoor spaces. Saddlebrook’s unique, walkable design means guests can easily spend their days strolling between the golf courses, tennis courts, swimming pool, and main clubhouse, which houses the resort’s spa and its\u00a0restaurants, like\u00a0Rare 1981<\/a>, which serves steakhouse and seafood specialties, and GOAT Kitchen &\u00a0Bar<\/a>, a convivial tavern with hearty American fare.<\/p>\n

While there’s plenty of activities to keep guests endlessly entertained, the resort’s scenic natural landscape also beckons for quieter adventures. The car-free nature of Saddlebrook means it resembles a park, and the tropical terrain shelters bald cypresses fringed with Spanish moss, magnolia trees, and colorful Birds of Paradise. As you meander on the resort’s trails and walkways, you may spot resident wildlife, which includes herons, turtles, white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, and alligators. The resort also offers guided weekly group\u00a0walks\u00a0to explore the property’s beautiful pockets. For more outdoor adventures nearby, take about a 30-minute drive\u00a0to Hillsborough River State Park, Tampa’s best-kept natural secret with rapids, wildlife, and scenic trails<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Outdoor adventures at Saddlebrook Resort<\/p>\n


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Saddlebrook Resort<\/p>\n

Saddlebrook has long been famed as a sports destination\u00a0for golf and tennis.\u00a0As Wesley Chapel is\u00a0one of Tampa’s 5 best suburbs to live in<\/a>, some top golfers and tennis players make the move to Saddlebrook permanent. In fact, the\u00a0on-site Saddlebrook Preparatory School<\/a>\u00a0trains elite junior talent in golf and tennis, with many going on to become top professional athletes.\u00a0Golfers can tee off at one of\u00a0Saddlebrook’s three 9-hole golf courses<\/a>\u00a0(Pine, Oak, and Cypress),\u00a0recently converted from the original duo of 18-hole courses by golf architect Rees Jones.\u00a0Saddlebrook is also renowned as one of the top tennis resorts in the U.S.<\/a> thanks to its complex of\u00a0over 40 courts, featuring Grand Slam\u00a0surfaces of red clay, hardcourt, and grass court. The resort’s senior and junior tennis programs help players of all ages and abilities to master the basics and practice their strokes.<\/p>\n

Guests hoping to cool down can beeline to Saddlebrook’s revamped\u00a0“Super Pool,” an aquatic wonderland that holds about\u00a0500,000 gallons of water. This family-friendly pool offers space for everything from splashing in the shallow end to swimming\u00a0laps or playing water polo. Surrounding the freeform pool are loungers shaded by umbrellas and\u00a0private cabanas with generously-sized living spaces for group gatherings. The Palmhaus cafe\u00a0serves up poolside snacks, such as ceviche and tacos. On weekend afternoons, a DJ spins tunes for a lively pool party at the Super Pool. For those seeking a quieter experience, the adults-only Serenity Pool is a peaceful oasis. Even if you’re not an overnight guest of Saddlebrook, the resort grants\u00a0day passes<\/a>\u00a0with access to both the Super Pool and the Serenity Pool. “Can clearly tell they’ve been putting money back into the resort and it shows,” raved a Google<\/a> reviewer. “Pool is fantastic.”<\/p>\n


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