Centrally located between Orlando and Tampa, Westgate River Ranch is dude ranch situatined on 1.700 acres of lush lanscape. This ranch is part of a resort that includes a lodge with a restaurant and saloon, a marina with access to both the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, and a private airport with a 5,000 fo. lighted runway.
For outdoor equestrian enthusiasts who also like boating activities, this is what the Dixie Chicks sang about in "Wide Open Spaces."
Equipment: Riding boots and horseman hats and clothing, golf shoes, and even skeet-shooting rifles can be brought to enhance the outdoor activiies her.
Updated Apr 4, 2011
Address: Between Orlando and Tampa
Phone: 1-800-286-0153
the citrus bowl is located just west of downtown orlando on tampa ave. this football stadium is home to the citrus bowl football game and once was the home field of the UCF knights. the citrus bowl also hosts rock concerts and other special events. a word of warning, the citrus bowl is on the edge of a high crime area of orlando. when attending events at the citrus bowl park in paid secure parking lots. if you park on side streets near the citrus bowl your car will possibly be missing or broken into when you return.
Updated Dec 23, 2007
Address: intersection of church street & tampa ave.
Phone: 407-849-2500
On our trip to Orlando we went to Sky Venture the state-of the-art skydiving windtunnel freefall adventure.
We experienced winds of over 120 mph which was quite an experience.And got a certificate to prove it.
Try it, it's fun
Written Sep 5, 2007
Address: Sky Venture, Orlando .
My BIL and nephew spent some time on the golf course. I don't know why - seems like they could do that anywhere. Since I have no pictures of the golf course, I've substituted pictures of the golfers.
Equipment: The website (below) says about MetroWest
"World-renowned golf course architect, Robert Trent Jones, Sr. has crafted this 7,051 yard masterpiece with 100-foot elevations that gracefully roll among glistening water hazards and expansive sand bunkers to form a fair, yet demanding test of golf. At MetroWest we're setting the standards for outstanding golf course conditioning. Play us once and you'll see why Golf Digest says "the best greens in the state" and an Orlando Magazine poll voted MetroWest as one of Central Florida's top five courses!"
Updated Aug 2, 2007
Address: 2100 South Hiawassee Road
Website: http://orlando-golf.com/
Both of my kids love skate boarding so they visit the Orlando Skate Park a lot.
I took a photo from the parking lot which doesn't do it justice. It is pretty large, and has some very frightening looking areas inside, like one that looks like an empty swimming pool the skaters "drop in"....( not for me, lol! there is one sport I skip).
If you have older kids/ teenagers that skate, and want to do something other than theme parks for an afternoon, they'll love this place. Girls are free, and all equipment can be rented.
Equipment: Skateboard or roller blades, helmets, pads. Anything you don't have can be rented or purchased there.
Updated Jan 28, 2007
Orlando doesn't have a pro football team, or even a really good college football team, but it is still fun to go watch a UCF game. Maybe someday they will be a good college football team....one can hope...
On New Years, they also have the Citrus Bowl game ( same stadium).
Updated Oct 19, 2006
5 camptionship golfs courses, richard petty racing car driving experince, and the wide world of sports complex, yes even disney world as alot to offer to fast moving families! also at the seven seas lagoon the a great range of water sports and fishing available! more ways disney just isn't fiarytale fantasy for kids. it for all poeple of different ages! come see for your self!
Equipment: all disney theme sports rection have availible loansers or retials depending on the sport, but by all means if you have a fravotie bat or culb feel free to bring it along on vacation witth you!
Written Jul 5, 2006
Address: WDW Resort
I had this tip under Off the Beaten Track. But when I looked at all the Orlando tips, the only Sports tip was a Sports Bar. So I decided to add some actual sports tips. Here's this one:
My son who has his CDL really wanted to drive a race car. So he called the Petty number, and set up to go on the Rookie experience. It was 11 am the day he was leaving Orlando. He had to be there in advance to get instruction and suit up.
There were two possible programs. One was a ride-along program for about $89 where you just ride with an actual race driver, and go really fast a couple of times around the track. But the program my son wanted to do was the Rookie Experience - that was about $349.00. In this one, each participant gets into a car by him/herself and an instructor is in a chase car with communication via headset from the instructor to the student. The student gets to drive 8 laps of the 1 mile; 7-10? banking track in this fashion. I think my son went about 125 mph.
They take your photo with the car (and I took my own of him while they were taking theirs) and then you sit under a tent and are called to the cars one or two at a time. Afterwards they give you a certificate to show that you did it, and also your framed photos.
Equipment: Their website says that you need a valid driver's license and the ability to drive a standard transmission plus must have the ability to climb through a 15" high by 30" wide window that sits 36" off the ground. (the car doors don't open)
"All participants are provided a regulation helmet and neck guard. Participants of the driving programs will also be issued a drivers suit and will need to wear socks, closed-toe shoes and clothes that will be comfortable under a drivers suit."
Updated Jul 16, 2005
Address: 6022 Victory Lane
Phone: 1800BE-Petty -local:704-455-9443
Website: http://www.1800bepetty.com/
This is what's great about the rides. The machines move for you! The sport is mostly snapping a pic when you think your car has left the rails, at that last sharp turn into the sky.
I just thought 'Let this be my memento, someone's bound to find the camera'
Equipment: If you have lips, keep them together otherwise they'll flap in the wind.
Written Jan 14, 2005
Address: Magic Kingdom
Not many people seem to know about it but there's a small marina on the lakefront near the Comtemporary Resort where you can rent boats.
12' Sun Fish Sailboat 2 guest maximum $9.43 per ½ hour
14' Hobie Cat Sailboat 2 guest maximum $11.79 per ½ hour
My niece, who is mad on sailing wanted to do this.
Equipment: The website says:
"Please present a Walt Disney World Resort ID Card, passport, or a valid driver's licence. Sales tax not included. For information on specialty cruises (seasonal) or additional recreation offerings, please inquire at the rental window, touch 57 on your WDW Resort room phone, or call WDW-PLAY."
*Requires reservations.
Written Sep 1, 2003
Website: http://www.wdisneyw.co.uk/pricecont.html
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