| Orlando, Florida is more and more becoming a | | | | enthusiast, you can play a round each day at a |
| mecca for vacationers. There are many reasons | | | | different course for, oh, say about 5 straight |
| for this, and one I want to explore now is the | | | | months, since Orlando has about 150 golf courses |
| sporting or active side of the Orlando holiday. | | | | with all of them reputed to be essentially world |
| Now, talking to a friend recently about sporting | | | | class facilities. |
| holidays I almost didn't bring up Orlando's | | | | Some resorts are just for golf. ChampionsGate |
| numerous sporting attractions. He was talking | | | | Golf Club, for example, provides two 18-hole |
| about going hiking in the Rockies for a week or | | | | championship golf courses, said to be among the |
| two. And he also mentioned distance bicycling | | | | best in the US. The resort hosts several |
| holidays as a great way to spend the summer | | | | tournaments including the popular World Points |
| (and he meant the whole summer, not just a | | | | Father/Son Challenge. |
| short holiday!). Marathon running? Sure, why not. | | | | But if you're not up to championship play yet, |
| (Although even he agreed that running a | | | | most courses have professional coaches to help |
| marathon is not exactly a holiday. But he did insist | | | | you improve your game. The city even has six |
| that when you travel to a city to run a marathon | | | | golf instruction academies that use personalized |
| you get to visit great cities that you may have | | | | teaching methods and state of the art equipment. |
| never otherwise seen.) | | | | And if you want a change of pace from big time |
| Orlando's active side can include such intense | | | | (and big course) golf, many resorts here also |
| activities, but for the family, or for anyone who | | | | feature miniature golf courses. |
| wants activity but doesn't want to feel they're in | | | | For example, one new adventure style miniature |
| training for the Olympics, it can be ideal. | | | | golf course is designed as a Hawaiian oasis. Fire |
| One famous active attraction is Boggy Creek | | | | and lava pour from a fifty-foot volcano. Hawaiian |
| Airboat Rides. Started by a couple in 1994, it's | | | | Rumble Adventure Golf attracts people with their |
| blossomed into one of Orlando's top 10 | | | | rhythmic music and sophisticated design. Holes |
| attractions, according to the Orlando Business | | | | range from beginner to advanced, and are |
| Journal. | | | | thematically designed. |
| They offer high speed airboat rides on Lake | | | | There's also the Congo River Adventure Golf |
| Tohopekaliga (or "Sleeping Tiger Lake") a 12,000 | | | | course where you can take the whole family high |
| acre lake where you can board a 6-passenger or | | | | atop giant waterfalls and rocky summits or deep |
| 18-passenger boat and really take off on that | | | | down to mysterious caves. |
| lake. Like up to 65 mph. That may not seem so | | | | You mean you've never golfed your way through |
| fast on the highway, but in an airboat it can thrill | | | | tropical rainforests, jumping over river rapids, and |
| you or chill you (both, actually, if you go out early | | | | thoroughly enjoying yourself regardless of how |
| in the morning). | | | | high your score is? |
| Speeding along on the lake you can glimpse a | | | | Well, maybe then Orlando is the place to golf (or |
| wide variety of its wetland birds, such as bald | | | | mini-golf) like you've never dreamt of. |
| eagles, cranes, egrets and ospreys. Which brings | | | | There's much more to the sporty side of Orlando |
| up an important point: the airboats virtually float | | | | than this, but for golf enthusiasts, maybe I've said |
| on the water so they are less invasive to the | | | | enough and I should just let you make your |
| lakes plant and wildlife inhabitants than regular | | | | reservations for this grand, beautiful city. |
| propeller driven boats. | | | | For tips on chicory plant and chilli plants, visit the |
| For something a bit more mundane, how about a | | | | Types Of Plants website. |
| round of golf? Or if you are really a golf | | | | |