Things to Do at TOPS’L Beach & Racquet Resort
Bordered by the Gulf of Mexico and a serene nature preserve just west of the Topsail Hill Preserve State Park, a stay at TOPS’L Beach & Racquet Resort offers opportunities for relaxing at the beach, playing tennis or raquetball, or hiking, kayaking, and paddle boarding. A free resort shuttle ensures you can get to it all with ease.
The gulf-front pool deck at The Blue Dunes Grille hosts family-friendly activities daily during the summer months. Moms, dads, and kids all enjoy dive-in movies, and arts and crafts activities like building personalized stuffed animals, making shark tooth and pearl necklaces, and tie-dying t-shirts. Be sure to get a selfie with TOPS’Y, the TOPS’L Turtle mascot while you dance and play. Planned activities are also scheduled for the week before Easter and Labor Day weekends.
If you’re visiting in winter, there’s plenty of fun for you, too. From January 1 through March 15, the resort hosts card games, bingo, and a guest appreciation party, as well as off-site dinner-and-show trips to the Mattie Kelly Arts Center on the Northwest Florida State College campus. The TOPS’L Club also offers weekly activities like water aerobics, yoga, and fitness classes.
Dining at TOPS’L Beach & Racquet Resort
Our vacation rentals in TOPS’L Beach & Racquet Resort are less than a mile from the charming Village of Baytowne Wharf, which offers a variety of fine dining, casual cuisine, and nightlife. Nearby Grand Boulevard boasts popular restaurants like P.F. Chang’s, Tommy Bahama’s, Emeril’s Coastal Italian, and Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse.
There are also three on-property restaurants at TOPS’L Beach & Racquet Resort. The Ocean Club is open to the public, while The Blue Dunes Grille and Club Tiki are open exclusively to TOPS’L members and resort guests.
The Blue Dunes Grille
A convenient location on the beachside pool deck means you don’t need to leave your fun in the sun, or even change out of your swimsuit, to enjoy delicious sandwiches, salads, appetizers, and drinks while you soak in the gulf views.
Download The Blue Dunes Grille Menu >
Club Tiki
Enjoy handcrafted cocktails, wraps, smoothies, pizza, and appetizers near the resort clubhouse. Relax in the covered outdoor lounge area, or catch your favorite team on one of eight 52-inch TVs.
Download the Club Tiki Menu >
The Ocean Club
Open for dinner nightly, the Ocean Club offers fine dining with local flair, plus live entertainment on select nights. Come enjoy the freshest cuts of fish and steak, with only the finest ingredients.
TOPS’L Club and Fitness Center
Every guest staying at the vacation rentals in TOPS’L Beach & Racquet Resort has access to Club and Fitness Center facilities and services. Try out the latest fitness equipment and weights, attend an aerobics class, or consult one of the certified fitness trainers. Multiple indoor and outdoor pools are available for exercise or relaxation. Guests can also take advantage of steam rooms and saunas, as well as basketball, tennis, and racquetball courts. The tennis front desk can answer any questions and schedule tennis programs for you.
Club and Fitness Center Amenities
- Indoor/outdoor heated pool and hot tub
- Outdoor pool and hot tub
- Fitness equipment
- Racquetball court
- Complimentary aerobics and yoga classes
- Personal fitness trainers available
- On-site massage therapists available
- Sauna and steam rooms
- Private locker rooms
- Lounge area with flat-screen TVs and complimentary coffee
- TopSpin tennis pro shop and beach market
- Complimentary WiFi in lobby
TOPS’L Tennis Center
Whether you’re looking to play tennis under the warm Florida sun or under the lights after dark, the top-rated tennis facilities at TOPS’L Beach & Racquet Resort offer both. The TOPS’L Tennis Center hosts weekly tennis events year-round, such as round robins, drill sessions, and clinics. As a guest staying at the vacation rentals in TOPS’L Beach & Racquet Resort, you can enjoy free use of the tennis courts during your stay, and the tennis front desk can help arrange tennis instruction, tournament play, and other programs.
Awards and accolades
- Best Tennis Facility, Diamond Award (Visit South Walton, Perfect in South Walton Awards, 2019–2020)
- Tennis Facility Grand Champion (Visit South Walton, Perfect in South Walton Awards, 2016)
- Best Tennis Facility (Destin Magazine, Best in Destin awards, 2013–2018)
- Best Tennis Club (Northwest Florida Daily News, Finest of the Emerald Coast awards, 2015)
- Ranked in the Top 25 of the Top 100 Tennis Resorts and Camps (Tennis Resorts Online, 2013–2016)
- Best Value for the Dollar (Tennis Resorts Online, 2013–2014)
Tennis facilities and services
- 12 newly resurfaced clay courts
- Tennis desk located in TOPS’L Club
- USPTA-certified tennis professionals
- Private and group lessons
- Tennis clinics
- Player-matching services
- Round robins and socials
- Tennis packages available
- Racquet stringing
- Tennis equipment available for purchase
- Tennis racquet and ball machine rentals available
Additional tennis club resources
Meet the TOPS’L tennis professionals
Joe D’Aleo, Director of Tennis
Joe D’Aleo has been with TOPS’L Beach & Racquet Resort since 1995 and has been integral to its reputation as one of the best tennis resorts in the country. His passion and devotion to the game have led to an accomplished career as a player, coach, and teacher.
Joe has been certified with the USPTA as an Elite professional for 20 years and was nominated USPTA 2006–2007 District Pro of the Year, Florida division, for the Panhandle. He was the USPTA FL District President for District 1 from 2010–2013 and currently serves on the USPTA FL board as Vice President. He has been awarded USPTA FL District President of the year for 2011 and 2012 and received the prestigious honor of USTA FL and USPTA FL service award in 2011. Joe is the tournament director for the Helen Drake Invitational Tennis tournament, one of the largest USTA adult tournaments in the state of Florida, which hosts more than 300 players each year. The Helen Drake tournament has received three awards, including the 2013 Al Mills Memorial Adult Tournament of the Year award from USTA FL.
Sam Vickroy, Head Tennis Professional
Sam Vickroy has been part of the TOPS’L tennis staff since 2004. After a successful college tennis career, in 1996 Sam went to work for world-renowned professional Bill Tym at Richland Country Club, where he got the opportunity to work with some world-ranked juniors.
Sam has been a USPTA Elite professional for 15 years and continues to grow his knowledge of the game year after year. His enthusiasm and love of teaching make him a great instructor for both private lessons and group clinics. Sam’s experience adds a lot of expertise to the tennis program at TOPS’L, and we look forward to many more years with Sam as part of the team.
