Palisades Resort

Description:

• Located off the beaten path, this all-suite resort isn't particularly lavish (it's pretty plain, actually) but does invite guests to experience a different side of Florida. Set against the backdrop of a 400-acre preserve, views include a lush green forest, a sparkling lake, and an array of local wildlife. Accommodations include spacious one-, two- and three-bedroom suites filled with all the comforts and conveniences of home (including fully equipped kitchens, two full-size bathrooms, washers and dryers, and private screened-in balconies) at a price that won't put a hole in your pocketbook. Flatscreen TVs in every room ensure that no one will fight over what to watch, though the view of the lake from your balcony is far better than any show you'll find on TV. In the morning, the lobby lounge serves up a complimentary continental breakfast, after which it becomes an ideal spot to sit, relax, have a drink, or even check your e-mail. Movies are shown in the minitheater off the lobby. There's a minimart right on-site (and I mean mini), but if stocking up is what you have in mind, the full-service grocery store just down the road is a far better option. A sprawling, brick-lined sun deck running the length of the resort sports plentiful seating and grills for barbecuing. Note: A new roadway (scheduled to open within the year) will connect the resort directly to Disney property, allowing guests to skip the traffic jams that often plague the main thoroughfare when heading to the parks.

  Coming Soon -- Scheduled to open as this is being written is the new Grande Palisades Resort at Lake Austin (tel. 866/455-4062; www.grandepalisadesresort.com) -- a full-service luxury resort (and sibling to the Palisades Resort). When completed, the resort will feature 800 luxuriously appointed suites (ranging 1,263-1,504 sq. ft. in size), most with views of the lake and conservation area. Distinguishing the Grande Palisades from its sibling are extensive on-site amenities including numerous pools and Jacuzzis; saunas; children's play areas; tennis courts; a full-service spa; a full-service restaurant, cafe, grill and lounge; an Internet cafe; shops and boutiques; and boating and water-related activities (which, upon completion, Palisades guests will be able to access via complimentary transportation). Think Universal's Portofino Bay with a Mediterranean twist (but on a slightly less luxurious scale).

• © Frommer's 2012