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Active Pursuits in Athens, GA
Sandy Creek Nature Center, half a mile north of the Athens bypass, off U.S. 441, offers some 200 acres of woodland and marshland, with a live animal exhibit. It has many nature trails…
Active Pursuits in Spartanburg, SC
Most locals head for the state parks and lake just a short drive away, off the Cherokee Scenic Highway. Croft State Park, 450 Croft State Park Rd. (tel. 864/585-1283), offers hiking…
Active Pursuits in Asheville
Bicycling -- The Asheville area is terrific for mountain biking. Bicycle shops and outfitters can provide trail maps and bike rentals. Call the chamber of commerce at tel. 828/258-6101…
Active Pursuits in Charlotte
Charlotte is ringed by nature preserves and parks, including the nearly 1,000-acre McDowell Park and Nature Preserve, about 12 miles south of the city center on N.C. 49 (tel.…
Active Pursuits in Playa Hermosa
Most of the beaches up here are usually quite calm and good for swimming. If you want to do some diving, check any of the dive operations listed in the Playa del Coco and Playa Ocotal…
Active Pursuits in Playas Flamingo and Potrero
Playa Flamingo ★★ is a long and beautiful stretch of soft white sand, although the surf can sometimes get a bit rough here. The beach doesn’t have much shade, so be sure to use plenty…
Active Pursuits in Playa Nosara
Among the several beaches at Nosara are the long, curving Playa Guiones ★★, Playa Nosara ★, and the diminutive Playa Pelada ★. Because the village of Nosara is several miles inland,…
Active Pursuits in Malpais and Santa Teresa
If you decide to do anything here besides sunbathe on the beach and play in the waves, your options include nature hikes, horseback riding, ATV tours, scuba diving, and snorkeling,…
Active Pursuits in La Fortuna
ATV: Best of the area’s operators is Original Arenal ATV (tel. 2479-7522), which offers a 2 1/2-hour ATV tour along the area around the lake and national park. The cost is $105 per…
Active Pursuits in Lake Arenal
Fishing -- If you want to try your hand at fishing for guapote, call Lake Arenal Fishing (tel. 8811-2928), or just ask at your hotel. A half-day fishing trip should cost around $275…
Active Pursuits in Playa de Jaco
ATV Tours: Several operations run ATV tours through the surrounding countryside. Tours range in length from 2 to 4 hours up to a full day, and cost between $99 and $175 per person.…
Active Pursuits in Manuel Antonio National Park
Hitting the Water Beaches Outside the Park: Playa Espadilla, the gray-sand beach just outside the park boundary, is often perfect for board surfing and bodysurfing. At times it’s a bit…
Active Pursuits in Dominical
Exploring the Beaches South of Dominical & Ballena Marine National Park The open ocean waters just in front of town and toward the river mouth are often too rough for swimming.…
Active Pursuits in Chapel Hill
You'll find several fine golf courses around Chapel Hill. Public ones include the 18-hole Cedar Grove Golf Course, 700 McDade Store Rd., Hillsborough (tel. 866/211-2051 or…
Active Pursuits in Playa Zancudo
The main activity at Zancudo is relaxing, and people take it seriously. Every lodge has hammocks, and if you bring a few good books, you can spend hours swinging slowly in the tropical…
Active Pursuits in Barra del Colorado
Fishing, Fishing & More Fishing Almost all the lodges here specialize in fishing packages. If you (or your significant other) don’t fish, this might not be the place for you. Even…
Active Pursuits in Cuba
Active tourism is still in its infancy in Cuba, but opportunities have opened up in the last few years. The island offers myriad opportunities to add a bit of adrenaline and adventure…
Active Pursuits in Raleigh
Raleigh's parks and recreational facilities have won awards. In all, there are 3,904 acres of parkland and 1,332 acres of water. A greenway system covers 1,297 acres, offering hiking…
Active Pursuits in Cape Hatteras National Seashore
Hatteras Island Fishing Pier, 24251 Atlantic Ave., Rodanthe (tel. 800/331-6541 or 252/987-2323; www.hatterasislandresort.com), stretches 653 feet into the Atlantic. The fee for fishing…
Active Pursuits in Morehead City, NC
Fishing is especially good here -- in fact, it's the reason most visitors come to Morehead City. The Gulf Stream brings in blue marlin, tarpon, amberjack, and other prizes, in addition…
Regions in Brief in Morehead City, NC
The Bogue BanksAtlantic Beach is the oldest of the resorts on the 28-mile stretch of barrier island known as the Bogue Banks, which includes the vacation centers directly south, Pine…
Side Trips in Beaufort, NC
Harkers Island -- If you're a boat owner, you can tie up across the sound from Beaufort at Calico Jack's Marina (tel. 252/728-3575) on Harkers Island. If you don't have a boat, a ferry…
Active Pursuits in Isla de la Juventud
Isla de la Juventud is one of Cuba's premier dive destinations, and the diving here is wonderful. The waters are crystal clear, and there are walls, corals, caves, and even a few…
Active Pursuits in Cayo Largo del Sur
Most visitors to Cayo Largo spend most of their time sprawled out on the 25km (16 miles) of uninterrupted white-sand beach. While the beaches fronting most of the hotels here are some…
Active Pursuits in Varadero
If you want to take out a Hobie Cat, windsurfer, paddle boat, or sea kayak, chances are your hotel will have them, either as part of your all-inclusive package or for hire. If not,…