Villas Of Grand Cypress

Hotel Information: One mile from Walt Disney World® Resort, a private gated entry opens to this 1,500-acre Orlando golf resort with towering palms, colorful plants, and manicured lawns. A reception center houses an intimate lobby with an oversized fireplace and a bar serving complimentary cocktails, soft drinks, coffee, beer, and wine to arriving and departing guests.

Amenity highlights: The Villas of Grand Cypress has four Jack Nicklaus Signature Design courses: an 18-hole layout and three nine-hole courses. PGA-level instruction is available at the golf academy. Other recreation options include swimming, tennis, horseback riding, jogging, sailing, canoeing, pitch ‘n’ putt golf, and nature trails. The Club Bar and Grill, with views of the golf course, serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Insider tip: Located on the resort’s grounds, the Grand Cypress Nature Area is a protected 45-acre cypress swamp. Along the swamp is the Audubon Walk, a mile-long boardwalk with signs pointing out the plants and wildlife. Frequently spotted animals include the Carolina wren, northern cardinal, great horned owl, downy woodpecker, pine warbler, nine-banded armadillo, and marsh rabbit.

The Villas of Grand Cypress features 146 one- and two-story villas and club suites with Mediterranean decor. Villas and suites have separate living areas; French doors lead to furnished patios. Accommodations provide flat-panel HDTVs.

Conveniences include wet bars, minibars, wireless Internet access, and laptop-sized safes. Bathrooms feature separate tubs, glass-enclosed showers, granite-topped vanities, scales, phones, and bathrobes. Turndown service is provided.

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