Ritz Carlton Grande Lakes

Hotel Information: Rising majestically 14 stories and overlooking lakes, exquisitely manicured lawns, and an 18-hole golf course, the hotel welcomes a clientele of primarily leisure guests. An ornate yet intimate lobby, with soaring columns, sparkling chandeliers, and intricately designed wood ceilings, evokes grand Italian palazzos of yesteryear.

Amenity highlights: Golfers enjoy the 18-hole, Greg Norman-designed golf course. The 40,000-square-foot day spa offers massages, body treatments, facials, and an outdoor lap pool. Exercise machines and yoga classes are available in the fitness center. The resort also includes an outdoor splash pool, spa tub, children’s pool, jogging path, and tennis courts. Casual and fine-dining options are available on-site. Guests also enjoy horse-drawn carriage rides on Saturdays (surcharge).

Insider tip: Shingle Creek, headwaters to the Florida Everglades, borders the trees that surround the resort’s golf course. Wildlife can be seen at the creek.

The 584 guestrooms in this Ritz Carlton hotel include furnished, step-out balconies with lake, garden, or pool views. Rooms include The Ritz Carlton signature feather beds, wood furnishings, desks, CD players, flat-screen cable TV, multi-line phones, video games (surcharge), and minibars.

Bathrooms offer separate marble baths, glass-enclosed showers, dual sinks, designer toiletries, bathrobes, and slippers. Wireless Internet access is offered (surcharge). Housekeeping is provided twice daily in addition to evening turndown service.

Smoking is not permitted inside hotel rooms.

Orlando Resort

Walt Disney World & Orlando For Dummies 2008

Price: $18.99*
(eBooks)

Walt Disney World includes four theme parks and a dozen lesser attractions, two entertainment districts, tens of thousands of hotel rooms, and scores of restaurants.

Merchant: eBooks

Orvis Fly Fishing School at Grande Lakes

Price: $470*
(Orvis)

Located at Grande Lakes in Orlando, Florida, on over five hundred acres of the Headwaters of the Florida Everglades, this resort is also the home of Grande Lakes Outfitters, which offers both pond and

Merchant: Orvis