http://www.RealAdventures.com/vacations/185127_articles-florida-southeast-miami.htm Check out some of the recently updated travel & vacation listings on RealAdventures. Be inspired, go explore! en-us Tue, 02 Dec 2008 22:21:46 GMT Tue, 02 Dec 2008 22:21:46 GMT http://www.RealAdventures.com http://www.RealAdventures.com/vacations/185127_articles-florida-southeast-miami.htm 100 100 http://www.RealAdventures.com/listings/1024819_Great-Golfing-in-Miami http://www.RealAdventures.com/listings/1024819_Great-Golfing-in-Miami Articles Florida Wed, 14 Jan 2004 00:01:00 Miami has some of the best golf courses in the nation. In this article, travel writer, Arvin Steinberg, gives RealAdvent -
Miami has some of the best golf courses in the nation. In this article, travel writer, Arvin Steinberg, gives RealAdvent






GREAT GOLFING IN MIAMI

Challenging Courses and Tropical Surroundings

By Arvin Steinberg

I recently took a tour of Miami&8217s finest courses, and this is what I discovered on my golfing holiday. Miami, FL offers some of the best and most challenging golf courses you could ask for. And that&8217s only part of the fun. Miami also has magnificent hotels that complement your golf getaway experience, and, of course, South Beach, with its fine restaurants and exciting nightlife.

I started my tour at Crandon Golf Course, a public course on picturesque Key Biscayne, which is rated by Golf Digest as &8220One of America&8217s top 75 upscale courses&8221. Playing Crandon Golf Course is like escaping from civilization, and it&8217s only ten minutes from downtown Miami. The first thing that impressed me was the beauty of the course. It&8217s surrounded by water, mangrove forests, and lush, tropical foliage. You also see lots of wildlife egrets, ibis, and colorful iguanas in their natural habitat.

Experiencing the natural splendor of the course is a real treat, but the course itself presents a true test of any golfer&8217s skill. It&8217s a challenge from the first hole, a dogleg par5 that requires a drive over water and mangroves, through the 18th hole, another par5 with Biscayne Bay on one side of the fairway and a saltwater lake on the other. I guarantee that your skill will be tested on the fourth hole at 638 yards, one of the longest par5s in Florida or the seventh hole, touted as one of the greatest holes in golf, a par4 that doglegs to the right over water.

Only five minutes from Crandon Golf Course is the RitzCarlton, Key Biscayne oceanfront resort that opened in July 2001. It&8217s Miami&8217s only luxury resort built in the last three decades. In addition to the usual amenities expected at a RitzCarlton hotel, this hotel offers a 1,200foot golden sand beach. There are also two ocean view pools including one with a waterfall and adjacent whirlpool, and a &8220tranquility pool&8221. Near the pools is an oceanfront &8220Ritz Kids&8221 pavilion and pool for the youngsters. The hotel has a spacious fitness center with modern equipment and personal trainers, a 20,000 squarefoot spa offering more than 60 treatments, and an 11court Tennis Garden.

Another way to enjoy a wonderful golf getaway in Greater Miami, is to play the scenic Biltmore Golf Course, a public golf course, adjacent to the historic Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, and, incidentally, one of former president Bill Clinton&8217s favorite golfing spots. An early morning round of play on this carefully manicured course with clustered shade and palm trees is a tranquil setting that would please the most discriminating golfer. This 18hole championship golf course was designed by Donald Ross who is considered &8220golf&8217s alltime greatest golf architect&8221, according to Golf Digest magazine.


The Biltmore Hotel is South Florida&8217s only National Historic Landmark resort and its rich history dates back to the roaring Twenties. In its heyday, the Biltmore played host to royalty, from both Europe and Hollywood. The Biltmore&8217s swimming pool is considered the largest hotel pool in the Continental U.S. and it is one of the most beautiful in the world.

In keeping with traditional European grand hotels, Old World charm permeates throughout the property. The Biltmore also offers a spa and fitness center, and fine restaurants, including a newly opened upscale French restaurant.

Turnberry Isle Resort & Club situated within the lush surroundings of Aventura in North Miami, offers two championship golf courses. Both courses designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. are masterpieces. Both courses are exceptionally wellmaintained, have firm green fairways, gracefully sculpted bunkers, and scenic tropical surroundings. The 18th hole on the South Course features Turnberry&8217s famous &8220Island Green&8221.

Turnberry&8217s two courses have won numerous awards, but I think one award really gives credit where credit is due. Golf Digest ranked Turnberry resort among the top ten golf courses in the country for outstanding service. I have personal experience that Turnberry offers outstanding service with a capital &8220S&8221 from the minute you enter the proshop until you finish your round of golf.

In addition to the championship golf courses, Turnberry Isle Resort & Club is a stunning Mediterranean style hotel secluded on 300 tropical acres. Turnberry recently opened a 25,000 square foot stateoftheart spa and fitness center. The spa&8217s three floors are connected by a grand spiral staircase. There are 26 treatment rooms and a 3,650 square foot fitness center.

Also, for fine dining, don&8217t miss the Veranda, the resort&8217s gourmet restaurant.

Don Shula&8217s Hotel and Golf Club in Miami Lakes, named for the legendary Miami Dolphins coach, offers a fantastic golf getaway.

Don Shula&8217s Golf Club features an 18hole &8220split personality&8221 championship course. The front nine holes resemble northern courses with long narrow treelined fairways. The back nine holes offer some great Florida attractions &8211 plenty of water and marsh traps and dense foliage with tropical birds and other wildlife. The Golf Club also offers a lighted Par 3 18hole Executive Course that is open nightly until 11 P.M. A driving range and practice area are also lighted and are open until 11 P.M.


Don Shula&8217s Hotel has a program based on Coach Shula&8217s philosophies of physical fitness and team building sports to help its guests stay healthy and fit. If exercising is in your plans, the hotel&8217s 44,000 square foot Athletic Club will accommodate your needs. Also, you won&8217t want to miss dinner at the original Shula&8217s Steakhouse. The 1972 Miami Dolphins landmark perfect season is the theme of the restaurant. A special feature is the 48ounce Angus steak. If you can consume this enormous steak, you become a member of the 48Ounce Club, which boasts having thousands of members. I tried, but I just couldn&8217t finish it. Maybe next time, but the night course was one of my memorable evenings spent in Miami.

If you aren&8217t exhausted after playing fabulous golf at the above courses, the world famous Doral Golf Resort & Spa and its 99 holes is in Miami to challenge your skills. There is the Blue Monster, home of the DoralRyder Open, the new Jerry Pate Silver Course, the Raymond Floyd Gold Course, the Red Course and The Great White.
The Doral is also a good place for families with many amenities including a zero entry pool, a plunge pool, a children&8217s pool and a supersplasher, 125foot Blue Monster waterslide. There&8217s also Camp Doral where kids can enjoy all sorts of fun activities while you take off for the course. And there&8217s the spa for mom or the woman in your life.

If you like golf, there is no better place than Miami to enjoy some of the best golfing in the nation.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, 701 Brickell Avenue, Suite 2700, Miami, Florida 33131, Phone (305) 5393084 Fax (305) 5392911







Details & Reservations: Great Golfing in Miami
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]]> http://www.RealAdventures.com/listings/1025295_Pritikin-Longevity-Center-offers-better-health http://www.RealAdventures.com/listings/1025295_Pritikin-Longevity-Center-offers-better-health Articles Florida Tue, 05 Aug 2003 00:08:00 Pritikin Longevity Center and Spa now located in the plush Turnberry Isle Yacht Club offers guests an opportunity to lose weight in style and address other health problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease through education. -
Pritikin Longevity Center and Spa now located in the plush Turnberry Isle Yacht Club offers guests an opportunity to lose weight in style and address other health problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease through education.


Lose weight in luxury at Pritikin

Learn a healthier lifestyle while on vacation

By Arvin Steinberg


Most of us go on vacation, have a good time, overindulge a little, probably put on a few pounds, and when we return home, it's back to the old routine. So, just for a moment, imagine a vacation in a luxurious setting, where you have a good time, eat good food, exercise and lose weight. And when you return home, you feel energized, have a new lifestyle, and you're no longer back to the old grind. That's how I felt after just one week at the Pritikin Longevity Center & Spa in Aventura, Florida.

Pritikin moved to new surroundings two years ago. The former facility, a hotel in Miami Beach has been torn down and now Pritikin is situated in a lush tropical setting at the luxurious Turnberry Isle Yacht Club. The building is magnificent. You enter into a regal marble lobby. The main lounge and dining areas are constructed of dark, rich woods, with parquet wood flooring and elegant carpeting. Floortoceiling windows afford views of the intracoastal waterway, where expensive yachts are docked, and an inviting pool area, with a bridge across and a waterfall. Tennis and golf facilities are nearby.

My large room in the Marina Hotel had a separate dressing area and walkin closet. The bath was immense and included a huge whirlpool bathtub, with enough room for two large people, and a separate shower. My room also had a balcony where I could sit and overlook the intracoastal waterway.

Since Pritikin is committed to improving your health and lifestyle, one of the first things I did was to meet with a Pritikin doctor. As everyone knows, a main rap on doctors is that they are inadequately trained, if at all, in the areas of nutrition and exercise. But at Pritikin, that is what they specialize in. I had a friendly discussion with my Pritikin doctor about my health and medical history. I was given several tests so that the doctor would know such things as my heart rate, blood pressure, sugar and cholesterol levels. The doctor used this information to set up my exercise program and to advise me about specific nutritional information that would benefit me. He told me he would monitor my progress during the week and would meet with me again at the end of the week.

The entire week was filled with healthy activities and was a real learning experience. I attended lectures which gave me life saving information on heart disease, elevated cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, arthritis, cancer, stress and general wellness. My wife enjoyed the lectures on women's health issues.

And the food was wonderful. It was carefully prepared by chefs with the oversight of the professional nutritionists on the Pritikin staff. The low fat, low salt, no sugar diet was delicious, and I am still following it at home.

I loved the sumptuous lunch buffet with the dozens of fresh fruits and vegetables to choose from. There were also creative hot entrees made with heart healthy ingredients.

Pritikin recommends eating five or six small meals during the day, so at midmorning and midafternoon, it was snack time. There were always two delicious soups and specially prepared fruit and vegetable offerings to choose from. I never felt like I was on a diet. In fact, I felt as if I was eating considerably more than I do at home.

Before dinner we enjoyed a cocktail hour with live music provided by a talented pianist. Everyone gathered around the huge bar. No alcohol was served. Instead, I along with the other guests enjoyed complimentary Pritikin Mimosas made with tangerine tea, fresh squeezed orange juice, and peach water. The Pritikin Berry Frappe made with berry tea, assorted berries pureed, and berry flavored water was another delicious cocktail enjoyed by many of the guests.

There was no assigned seating at dinner. You could select a table for two or join a table of eight. After the first day you started to know almost everyone. The atmosphere throughout the Pritikin program was superfriendly and almost camplike, with everyone discussing how things went that day. The staff was not only friendly but always went out of their way to please you.

The morning exercise sessions began with cardiovascular exercises. You had the choice of working out on the aerobic equipment of your choice. The stateoftheart exercise room had many different types of exercise machines. Among them were treadmills, crosstrainers and bicycles. I chose the treadmill. The sessions were spirited with energetic aerobic type music. TV's tuned to different channels were on all sides of the large exercise room with headsets attached to every machine if you wanted to listen to a particular station. The staff was always present to assist you and give instructions as to when to increase or lower your speed and when to slow down to check your pulse rate, which was promptly recorded in your file.

On alternate days the aerobic workout was followed by either resistance training (weights) or by stretching and abdominal exercise sessions. I particularly enjoyed the resistance training. Using free weights we were instructed on how to properly do eight different exercises. After each exercise we recorded in our files the number of sets and repetitions we completed and the weight used. I kept this record and took it home with me and I am still doing these exercises two to three times a week.There were also sessions in Yoga and aquatics in the lavish Pritikin pool.

Some of my afternoons were spent at the new Pritikin Longevity Center Spa with its vast area of treatments from Swedish Massages to Craniosacral Therapy and Reflexology. Oh, how good it felt to get a massage after my morning workout. The spa also has some other treatments that aren't readily available at typical spas. The spa has bone density testing with a DEXA machine. The test takes just a few minutes and measures your exact bone mineral content and detects as little as one percent of bone loss, revealing your risk for developing osteoporosis and serious fractures. They also have a body composition test which tells you the location of your body fat. With this test you will be able to see just how much lean tissue is available to help you burn calories. The body composition test also tells you how much weight you need to lose to achieve a healthier metabolic profile.
Personal training services are also available to help you tailor your exercise program to your specific needs when you return home. Pritikin also gives you a complete looseleaf notebook of information about nutrition, health, recipes, and exercise including illustrations on how to correctly do each exercise, so you can refer to it after you leave Pritikin.

Afternoons and evenings after dinner were filled with outstanding seminars presented by highly trained health professionals. The seminars covered a variety of subjects such as nutrition what foods you should be eating and what foods you should be avoiding weight loss and weight control how to handle stress cooking instructions and demonstrations how to read labels on foods you buy at the grocery vitamin and mineral supplements and how to deal with specific illnesses you might have.

One of the health professionals who lectures at Pritikin is Jay Kenney. He has a PhD degree from Rutgers University and is a Nutrition Research Specialist. I attended several of his interesting, informative, and often humorous seminars. He explained that many years ago he suffered from serious health problems with his heart and high blood pressure, and that he was able to reverse these problems by basically following the Pritikin program.

Pritikin has added a family program that teaches kids how fun and rewarding exercise and a healthy diet can be. The family program is available July 5 through August 2.

Proper nutrition and exercise lead to a happy, healthy lifestyle, according to the health professionals at the Pritikin Longevity Center. Many people who come to Pritikin return year after year, sometimes for two or three weeks or more, to learn more about how to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

For more information about the Pritikin Longevity Center, call 8003274914 or visit the website at www.pritikin.com

Photos by Phyllis Steinberg



Details & Reservations: Pritikin Longevity Center offers better health
RealAdventures | Florida Articles

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