It’s Nirvana for Golfers, Swimmers and Weekend Warriors
Your home in Coral Gables may have a beautiful pool. It may have a private gym. These are laudable and luxurious lifestyle choices. But living in Coral Gables is likewise a lifestyle choice, so why not make the most of it? The Biltmore Hotel—a singular, historic resort—is likely just a few miles away from your house, and because it offers day memberships, it can serve as your home away from home, your ultra-convenient change of scene.
When the Biltmore debuted in 1926, it represented the epitome of Coral Gables’ so-called City Beautiful aesthetic movement. Though it showcases Moorish and Mediterranean influences, the hotel has a tropical, opulent style all its own. In Europe, such grand venues are referred to as “palace hotels.” In Miami, we have the Biltmore. Not many 273-room hotels make the list of National Historic Landmarks, but the Biltmore does.
Consider these two types of memberships:
The Fitness Membership. For those who want a gym membership, and so much more, opt for the Fitness Membership, which offers access to a 10,000-square-foot gym stocked with state-of-the-art Technogym equipment, free weights, and exercise studios. You can also sign up for Pilates, Zumba, yoga, boot camp, or cycling classes. Private sessions are also available, and the Succo juice bar, located in the fitness center, is a great place for a smoothie. But the best part is that members can swim laps in one of the world’s biggest, best, and most transporting pools. No hyperbole there: The famed Biltmore pool is massive (one of the nation’s largest pools by volume—60,000 gallons of water), deep, and decorated with a waterfall and a contingent of faux Roman statues. The reward for all those laps? Lunch at the Cascade restaurant, which is enviably set within a colonnade-lined loggia, perched at the edge of the swimming pool with views of the majestic Biltmore Tower and gardens.
The Golf Membership. Duffers will opt for the Golf Membership, which affords a myriad of benefits, including access to the Biltmore Golf member tournaments, a private members-only indoor lounge, and unlimited golfing. A more specific sampling of perks: seven days of advanced starting times, unlimited greens fees, unlimited practice balls, USGA/FSGA GHIN handicap, and golf club member savings offered by Jim McLean Golf School. Featuring Bermuda grass fairways, the 18-hole, 71-par championship site was designed by revered golf course architect Donald Ross in 1925 and updated in 2018. The 19th Hole is a casual bar and grill open all day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
These memberships attract different types of athletes, but what the two plans have in common is a range of special resort perks, from savings in Biltmore’s restaurants and bars (and discounted hotel stays) to member events held throughout the year. That way, the Biltmore just doesn’t enhance your health, fitness, and athletic lifestyle—it also can fill up your social calendar. In time, new homeowners will find Biltmore’s environment and membership offerings synonymous with Coral Gables’ unparalleled luxurious lifestyle.
