That’s the intent of this article, to wake up some ideas in your head, and plan for things to do in Florida and any of your travels.

When we venture down to Florida or anywhere for that fact of the matter, we first figure out what activities we definitely don’t want to miss. Here is our list of favorite things to do on vacation

1. Sit on the beach and play in the ocean. This is a no brainer. We love to walk the beach, bathe in the sun, play in the waves, and watch the beautiful people.

What types of things do you do on your vacation? What activities do you have planned? Do you relax, go active, or a little of both?

2. Play golf. Golf is a great game. There are excellent golf courses all over the world to choose from and you can even plan an entire golf vacation.

3. Go fishing. Deep sea fishing or fishing from a pier is a blast. If you have never done this try it once, you’ll love it.

4. Other sporting activities like scuba, snorkeling, water skiing, parasailing, renting jet skis, or whatever. There are a ton of water activities to choose from.

5. Day trips and tours are awesome choices. Rent a boat for the day. Take a barefoot cruise. Venture over to Orlando and go to Disney World or any theme park. Dinner cruises, exploring, hiking, tours at local sites, and anything else that you can think of.

6. Go shopping! Yes, the ladies will love this one and probably already have it planned. I hate to shop, but it is actually fun when I am on vacation. It wears me out though. Take some extra money and visit the local shops, find souvenirs, and spend some of that hard-earned money.

7. Drive around. We have rented convertibles or motorcycles for a couple of days and just explored the area. One time, we went from Miami to Key West and spent the day there. Another time, we traveled up the A1A highway along the Atlantic Coast of Florida, enjoying the luxurious homes, yachts, and views. You can even do this as a weekend getaway. Find a cool spot that’s only 6 hours or less away and take off. We always have fun doing this.

8. Take in local entertainment, events, restaurants, and such. Go dancing, find the best watering holes, do something romantic, party likes its 1999. Remember, you are on vacation and it’s time to have some fun and do stuff you don’t usually get to do at home.

The list is as endless as your imagination. These are just a few general ideas that we always plan on doing. Be creative and try new things.

Enjoy your trip, have a good time, and tell us your stories!!!

Discount Florida Vacations is a total Florida vacation guide offering fun, sun, tips, ideas, checklists, help, recommendations, resources, and experiences for anyone traveling to Florida.
You can find excellent information or plan your trip with us at
http://www.discount-florida-vacations.com

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While Florida’s tourism industry stemmed from its breathtaking beaches and world-
renowned theme parks, it has established itself as a first-class golf destination.
Although there are top golf courses to be found throughout the state, the areas of
Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, and Miami are making the largest impact on the
state’s golf industry.

Tampa Bay Area

The Tampa Bay Area is the fastest growing golf region in the state although it has
not quite established itself among the “greats” yet. The area is gaining notoriety
with first-class resorts, upscale daily fee courses, and a number of public access
facilities for any level or price range. If you are looking for a course with an old
time Florida feel, spend a day on the Copperhead Course at Westin Innisbrook. It
has been labeled one of the top golf resorts in the country due to its full character
and challenging features. The course is lush and green with plenty of risk and
reward opportunities. The Copperhead Course is open only to resort guests,
members, and friends of members with greens fees of $160 for guests.

A new arrival to the Tampa Golf scene can be found just a short drive north of the
city. World Woods Golf Club was recently developed with two courses, a nine-hole
short course, and a state of the art practice center. The Pine Barrens and Rolling
Oaks courses provide two different golf experiences. Pine Barrens is uniquely
challenging, making for an enjoyable round while Rolling Oaks is full of relaxing
dips and peaceful climbs through Florida farmland. Both courses are worth a visit to
this new golf club and with 700 hotel rooms within a 20-minute drive, you can
make a vacation of it.

Orlando Area

Although, historically, Walt Disney World and other theme park attractions have
overshadowed the Orlando golf scene, the area is full of top-rated courses and
first-rate golf resorts. There are between 100 and 150 courses in the area and
Orlando is host to two PGA tour events. In an article about Orlando golf, one cannot
overlook the Bay Hill Club and Lodge. One of the most prestigious semi-private
clubs in the country, it has been a part of the PGA tour since 1979. The club has
three nine-hole courses, the Challenger, the Champion, and the Charger. Bay Hill
makes an effort to provide top of the line service by enhancing the smallest details.
For example, each foursome at the club gets a forecaddie with no extra charge to
haul clubs, rake sand traps, and provide tips on difficult shots. You must be a guest
or resort member to play these courses with greens fees of $175 per round during
peak season.

The North-South course at Grand Cypress Villas, designed by Jack Nicklaus, is one
of the most well groomed courses in Florida. This combined with man-made rolling
fairways and turtleback greens makes for very enjoyable play. The course has been
labeled as roomy but challenging and is a must visit for any golfer in the Orlando
Area. Greens fees run from $115 to $180, well worth a day away from The Mouse.

Jacksonville Area

Jacksonville, one of the best-kept secrets on the East Coast, has a great waterfront
setting and is a well-established golfing destination. The city and its surrounding
areas are home to 68 courses, the PGA and Senior PGA tour headquarters, and the
World Golf Village, just a few minutes down I-95. The courses in Jacksonville
require accuracy but are known to provide plenty of variety. The world famous TPC
at Sawgrass was built in 1981 and is the annual host of the Tournament Players
Championship. The two courses, the Stadium and Valley, are maintained to
remarkably high standards but are two very different golfing experiences. The
Stadium Course, home to the infamous 17th island green, the most photographed
hole in golf, is known for fast greens and tight fairways. This course can fool any
level of golfer into a feeling of false security with hidden bunkers and tricky water
hazards. The younger sibling, the Valley Course, is more technically extreme but is
often overlooked. The larger greens and fairways make for a more lighthearted
golfing experience. To play, one must be a guest at the Marriot at Sawgrass or a
member. Greens fees range from $140 to $305 for the Stadium Course and $110
to $170 for the Valley Course.

The World Golf Village is home to two courses, both with two distinct nines, one
open and one wooded. The King & The Bear, designed by Arnold Palmer and Jack
Nicklaus, has recently joined the Slammer & The Squire to offer great courses all
designed by the best in the business. The Slammer & The Squire course has plenty
of lakes with rolling fairways while the newer course focuses more on aesthetics
without compromising the quality of play. Players with great short game execution
will enjoy The Slammer & The Squire while The King & The Bear requires accuracy
with distance and placement. These fine courses coupled with the World Golf Hall
of Fame and all the attractions that accompany it are a great way to enhance your
Jacksonville golf experience. Greens fees are $99 to $179 for the older course and
$125 to $200 for The King and The Bear.

Miami Area

It is easy to add golf to any luxurious Miami vacation. With world-class resorts,
infamous South Beach, and a host of semi-private courses in its back yard, Miami
has become a top golf vacation destination. PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens
offers golfers five tournament caliber courses all ranked by Zagat for “America’s Top
Courses.” There is a course for every kind of player at PGA National whether you are
a seasoned pro or someone just getting into the game. The Haig, The General, The
Champ, The Squire, and The Estate are unique and offer something a little different.
The Haig, the first course developed was intended to and does offer quality golf for
all players. Qualities such as having no crossing water hazards evens the playing
field regardless of skill. The newest course is The General, modeled after Scottish
courses. Players will see these roots in its rising and falling fairways and common
greens. The most renowned of the five is The Champ, offering the finest playing
surface available anywhere in the world. For information regarding tee times and
golf packages, visit the PGA National website.

Perhaps the most revered of South Florida golf resorts is the Doral Golf Resort and
Spa. The Doral is home to 5 courses, nine pro shops, and a top-rated spa. The
Blue Monster, The Great White, The Red, The Silver, and The Gold are world-
renowned for fantastic golf and with water on over 60 of the 90 holes, they are also
known for their challenge. The Great White, designed by Greg Norman, and The
Blue Monster, one of the most recognizable courses in the country, are the top two
courses at Doral. The Great White, framed by palm trees and white sand, is difficult
to play and favors those who play position golf. The Blue Monster is known for
huge water hazards, unforgiving rough, and an 18th hole that is one of the toughest
finishes on the PGA Tour. The Greens Fees range from $100 to $225 depending on
the course and season.

A Florida golf vacation can be enjoyed regardless of what destination you choose.
From Jacksonville to Miami and Tampa to Orlando there are countless top rated golf
resorts, clubs, and courses for you to choose from. These destinations, coupled
with fantastic vacation rental homes make the Sunshine State a great place to stay
and play.

Caroline Brame writes travel articles for various travel websites. For more information
on Florida travel, as well as, other vacation destinations, visit
http://www.RentalsExpress.com

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While golf is not played everywhere (yet), there are many wonderful golf courses around the world to visit - many offering truly unique golfing experiences for the adventurous golfer as well as some breathtaking views for travelers. From America to Japan, there are thousands of great courses to please golf enthusiasts, but where better to start than the birthplace of golf - Scotland.

Seated in the Birthplace of Golf - Scotland Courses

Let us start with the what many would argue is the best golf course in the world - the game was invented and evolved at the Old Course at St. Andrews in Scotland. To get an idea of how amazing it is, listen to the experts - Jack Nicklaus said about St. Andrews, “I fell in love with it the first day I played it. There’s just no other golf course that is even remotely close.” And Tiger Woods lauded, “Without a doubt I like it the best of all the Open venues. It’s my favorite course in the world.” With opinions like these from two of the top golfers in history, you can see why this one is not to be missed.

It is no surprise that Scotland hosts some of the finest golf courses in the world. One of the finest of the finest is Cruden Bay. Some say that golf was played on Cruden Bay as early as 1791. Today the course offers many unique challenges to golfers and is set against a gorgeous panoramic view, it was even voted as number 52 in the world by “Golf Magazine.” The course is actually set over the North Sea pipeline - so while you play over their contoured greens, muck of the U.K.’s crude oil supply is running beneath you!

Another great course, especially for tourists, is the Stromness Golf Club located in Orkney. It is not as challenging as many other top golf courses, and it is not even as attractive as most, but is it located just minutes away from the 5,000 year old burial mound Maes Howe. You could make a day of historical sightseeing and a golfing all in the same area.

Longest (and Highest) Links

Golf courses seem to be popping up all the time these days, so the site that holds the honor of longest course is disputed and ever changing. But there are some very notable ones around the globe

One such contender for the longest course is the International Golf Club in Bolton Massachusetts. While the regular tees already have an impressive length of 6,547 yards, the “tiger” tees boast a full 8,325 yards.

A course in Chine that sits near the Himalayas claims to have a longer course that runs the length of 8,548 yards, but it is hard to measure a course that is situated at an elevation of 10,000 feet in mountainous terrain. So it is still hard.to determine to which course really is the longest.

By the way, of you thought 10,000 feet was a high enough elevation for golfing, take a deep breath and try out the Tactu Golf Club in Morochocha, Peru. This course sits 14,335 feet about sea level - and that is at its lowest point!

The Satsuki Golf Club in Japan is said to have the longest single, stretching the length of 909 yards.

Gorgeous Greens

If you’re looking for a course with some great scenery, you don’t have to look outside of the U.S. Located in Idaho, Hidden Lakes Golf Resort has some of the loveliest scenery you could ask for in a course. Not only does it have bent grass greens and carefully manicured bluegrass fairways, but you can often spot some local wildlife on the course. It is not uncommon to spot a deer or moose grazing just yards away from the links. Hidden Lakes has a log cabin lodge for you to enjoy, and has a new clubhouse, lounge, restaurant, and golf shop. If you want to get away and experience the beauty of nature while enjoying some golf, this highly rated resort is the place for you.

Historical Holes

If you want a golf vacation that’s rich in history, you have a few great options. How about golfing with a view of the Great Wall of China? That’s just what you’ll get when you play at the Beijing Golf Club, located just 30 minutes away from the Beijing International Airport. While Scotland has the oldest courses, India has the second oldest. The Bombay Presidency Club was built in 1827, and the Bangalore Golf Club was founded in 1876.

And this is just the beginning! There are many other winning courses in America, including “Golf Magazine’s” top ten rated courses of 2004: Pebble Beach in California, Pacific Dunes in Oregon, Bethpage in New York, Pinehurst in North Carolina, and Whistling Straits in Wisconsin. Scotland also houses many other historical and lush courses. And while I would definitely recommend making a trip to St. Andrews in Scotland, since it is one of the best courses around as well as the oldest, there are also many other fine courses worldwide just waiting for some traveling golf enthusiasts!

Katya Coen is a regular contributor to Golfing Eighteen, where you will find a wealth of information on golf, golf equipment, courses, and news. Find more on great courses along with beautiful photos on our site!

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