I decided to find some inner peace last weekend and headed to Clearwater Beach’s new Sandpearl Resort for a Spa Day.  

The beachfront gem that recently replaced the Clearwater Beach Hotel can only be appreciated by walking through its doors. The cheerful décor with yellows, greens and corals, brightens your day immediately. The Florida beach-themed paintings in the lobby speak volumes about the relaxed mood of the resort.

Local artist, Christopher Still, painted the murals underwater with special equipment. The visuals highlight shells, birds and wildlife indigenous to the area. If you look closely at the boy diving in the ocean in “Beneath the Waves”, hanging above the concierge desk, the shadow is the shape of the state of Florida. (Some of Still’s other works can be found in museums and private collections including the Governor's Mansion of Florida and the Smithsonian Institution.)

Subliminal hints let you know you have arrived in the Sunshine State. But, you won’t need them when you see the sunset over the Gulf of Mexico from your hotel room.

The pool against the backdrop of the white sands of Clearwater Beach was exactly what I daydreamed of as I scrambled eggs for my two sons, who were fighting over who would walk the dog that morning. Listening to the Sandpearl’s steel-drum band play, I could think of only one word: “Ahhhh.” 

The Sandpearl is great for family travel. I was struck by the resort’s outdoor poolside cabanas for rent for $50 a ½ day for hotel guests. They are great for travel with kids because they have flat-screen televisions, shade, drinks and snacks. Some family members can take a swim, while others watch a football game or cartoons. What a great idea!  I know my husband never wants to miss a big game when we are on vacation. This option allows the best of both worlds: football and swimming.

Sandpearl also has a series of enrichment activities that welcome families:

• Astronomy Night on the Boardwalk

• Artist in Residence program, where guests may have the opportunity to create their own work of art as a keepsake

• Marine Discovery – a private boat tour with a marine biologist for $30 per person

• Arts and Crafts for kids ages 5-10 ($10 per child)

There will be plenty to do on my next trip. For last weekend’s agenda, I headed to the Sandpearl Spa, where I had a much-needed massage. The technicians had six-weeks of intensive training prior to the spa’s opening and it quickly became obvious; the treatment was great. My friends tried the “Citrus Pedicures” and we met up afterwards in the “Relaxation Room.” If you have never stepped into a relaxation room, you should put that on your New Year’s Resolution list for next year.  

We ate dinner at Caretta on the Gulf, which features infusions of South American, Caribbean and other international offerings. The Ceviche and Raw Bar offers a fresh daily selection of local seafood. A wood-burning oven adds even more dining options.

After dinner, which included a sighting of celebrity Hulk Hogan’s son, we headed over to Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill down the street to listen to a live band.

The next morning, we had a light breakfast on Caretta’s terrace and went for a jog on the beach. With John Mayer’s songs blasting on my iPod, I ran a few miles on the packed sand. There is no better way to start a day. I picked up some beautiful shells to add to the boys’ collections.

Then, I made what my fellow moms and I call "The Big Mistake."

I called home to check on the kids and realized I better rush back to hold down the fort and make it on time for baseball practice. The one-night vacation had come to an immediate halt.

A taste of paradise is better than no taste at all.