I would have accepted a media offer to Streamsong Resort if it were anything short of a homeless shelter, probably. I write about Orlando travel frequently. The more I experience, the more tips I have for visitors, so off I go when invited. I did not expect Streamsong to be outstanding.
Maybe "outstanding" is a strong word. Hear me out. Streamsong is a golf resort. To me, in Central Florida, that means a slightly schmaltzy looking hotel with earnest but unimpressive food. Not so at Streamsong. Not in any way.
Let's back up. The exterior, set back on a 16,000-acre parcel of land, is a six-story building that looks a bit like Meadow School, which was newish when I enrolled a few decades ago. While the interior was vastly more polished than the facade, it shared this: The style is what's now known as Mid-century Modern. To me, that's the decor look of my childhood with an urban spin.
The inside is sleek, almost stark, with wood and concrete and other natural materials offering a cool, contemporary European feel. Look a this hallway near the check-in desk.
Nature is an overriding theme, it seems. The land is not manicured. It's neat and attractive, but it looks untouched. That's far from the truth, in a way. The land was once a phosphate mine. When owner The Mosaic Company had its way with the land, it made the most of the remains: It turned the hilly terrain into two golf courses -- plus the resort, a clubhouse, and a skeet-shooting range. I'm told a third golf course is in the planning stages. You get a little "A Land Remembered" on this property. In fact, there's a copy of that the superb historical novel in every guest room.
Those parts that are manmade have that bare, cool vibe. Take a look at the living/dining/working area of my suite. Oh yes: You see two back-to-back flat-screen TVs between the sofa and the table.
Here's the master bedroom.
While the interior is so sleek, the exterior is au naturel.
The pool area bridges the interior's polish with the exterior's natural beauty.
The spa is other-worldly. This photo is the main hallway. A wider area just like this has a series of warm and cool pools. You can spot bits of two of them in the photo below.
The restaurants in the main building and the clubhouse were all attractive and distinctive, and the food was delightfully high in quality. Here are two highlights:
On our last day, we were invited to try bass fishing. Streamsong has its own lakes, so a fishing guide named Bill took us out for a good two hours on a Mako Skiff. Ours was the only boat on the water. I stunk at bass fishing. When I threw the line it landed in bushes. When a fish bit, I couldn't reel it in. But Bill was sweet and patient, and he just kept telling me what to do, sometimes doing parts for me, until I indeed reeled in a bass of my own. Once we took a photo, he threw that bass right back into the water. My husband had much better luck, as he always does with physical challenges.
So is "outstanding" the right word for Streamsong? It may well be. I'd go back, on my own dime. Many golfers chose the resort for their weekend getaway. And the entire property is such a welcome change from standard Orlando-Tampa mediocrity. I recommend Streamsong.
Travel enthustiastically,
Rona