Golf & Tennis

You can play golf and tennis almost anywhere in the country, although the southern tier of states, where the outdoor seasons are longest, offers the best opportunities. In the Southeast, top golfing destinations are Pinehurst, North Carolina; Hilton Head Island and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; and almost anywhere in Florida. You can get information about most Florida courses, including current greens fees, and reserve tee times through Tee Times USA (tel. 888/465-3356 or 904/439-0001; www.teetimesusa.com). This company also publishes a vacation guide that includes stay-and-play golf packages.

In the Southwest, the twin desert cities of Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona, have some of the country's most luxurious golf resorts. The same can be said of Palm Springs and the Monterey coast in California.

And Hawaii has many famous and unique courses.

Most of the nation's top golf resorts also have excellent tennis facilities. For the top 50 tennis resorts, see Tennis magazine's rankings each November. Good choices include the Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne in Key Biscayne, Florida, the Saddlebrook Resort -- Tampa, and Sea Pines Plantation on Hilton Head, South Carolina.