Tennis in December- Key West Florida-it's 80f/27c there today and the Sunset is included

Key West Florida

Bay View Tennis Courts

You’ll never forget playing tennis at Bay View in Key West.  Like everything else in this unique tip of the United States, it seems to have a flavor of its own.  There are a group of regular KeyWesters and guests, and a sign up sheet to get on these free courts.  They make you feel very welcome, and after a few rounds of tennis, you can see why some people choose never to leave.  The facility has five courts that are also lit for night play.

Bay View Tennis Courts

1398 Truman Ave,

Key West, FL 33040

1-305-809-3700

What to Do After

The sunset is a reason for celebration every night in Key West.  Once you’ve seen one, you’ll understand why.  The city’s Mallory Square sets the stage for the sun’s always dazzling exit from the day over the Gulf of Mexico, highlighting the solar spectacle with art and street performers, all watched by thousands of people.

Where to Stay

The most laid back way to stay in Key West has to be camping.  This southernmost tip of the continental United States is only about 90 miles from Cuba and shares with it a balmy climate that makes sleeping outdoors comfortable most of the year.  Boyd’s Campground is an interesting mix of snowbirds, young campers, regular  folks who have Key West on their itineraries, and even tennis players.  Besides being on the ocean, the campground has a great pool that is one of the social centers of the resort.

Boyd’s Campground, Key West

Boyd’s Campground

6401 Maloney Avenue

Key West, Florida 33040

1-305-293-9301

info@boydscampground.com

Reed Anderson's Adult Academy is a great place to tune up your game

Rancho Mirage, California

Reed Anderson Tennis Academy -Adult Tennis Camp

Two years in a row we have attended  Reed Anderson's Adult Tennis Camps at the prestigious Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage California.  Reed is a skilled and lively coach and leads a well-rounded coaching staff.  Camps can be mornings or full day and divided by level. Adult students are both locals and visitors and every different ability is welcome.

After class we managed to get in a game on the beautifully manicured grass courts that Missions Hills has.

Mission Hills Grass Courts

How to Get There

Reed Anderson Tennis Academy

71333 Dinah Shore Dr Rancho Mirage, CA 92270, United States

+1 760 770 2148

What To Do After The Game

We hiked in the hills above Palm Springs.  The views are magnificent and there are literally oasis' where there are Palm trees and water in the middle of the desert.

Where We Stayed

We stayed at the beautiful Desert Princess Resort which also has a fantastic tennis facility.  We loved it so much there that we ended up buying a condo which we rent to other tennis lovers.

Desert Princess Condo

Desert Princess Rentals

Debra Crosson

info@desertprincessrentals.com

760-341-8496

888-969-3069

Tennis Year Round in Stanley Park Vancouver Canada-one of the World's Great Urban Parks-

Stanley Park Tennis Courts

Stanley Park, Vancouver BC

Stanley Park is one of the world’s great urban parks in the heart of Vancouver British Columbia, Canada.  It is a 1,001 acre public park that borders downtown Vancouver and is almost entirely surrounded by the waters of the Pacific Ocean.  The park has 11 free tennis courts that are available on a first come, first served basis.  There are also more free courts near Lost Lagoon along Lagoon Drive at Robson Street if they are full.  During the warm season, six of the courts are operated as pay courts and can be booked through the tennis pro shop at Stanley Park. There are a lot of regulars at these courts and the play can be at quite a high level on the courts at Beach Avenue.  You can find the courts near the Beach Avenue entrance to Stanley Park. 604-605-8224.

What to Do After the Game

Stanley Park and English Bay

Strolling along the seawall through this world class urban park, hanging out on English Bay Beach, kayaking, watching legendary sunsets.  It’s all part of visiting the west end of Vancouver, an area that draws locals and people from around the globe.  With Vancouver’s moderate climate, the park is a popular place to go year round.

Stanley park is designated a national historic site and is a 400 hectare oasis of rainforest, trails and beaches with mountain and water views in the heart of urban Vancouver. There are restaurants, an aquarium, totem poles and many other points of interest in the renowned site.

Where to Stay

The Sylvia HotelStanding guard over English Bay Beach and the entrance to Stanley Park since 1912, the grand old hotel is truly a Vancouver landmark.  It was designed as an apartment building for a Mr. Goldstein who had a daughter named Sylvia.  Now dwarfed by surrounding high rise towers, until 1958 it was the tallest building in Vancouver and also the site of the first cocktail bar in the city.  The outside is completely covered by Virginia Creeper and inside the charm continues with tasteful period pieces combined with modern amenities.  The rates are very reasonable considering the location, and it is therefore a very popular place for visitors.  It’s easy to spend lots of time without even leaving the hotel.  Eating in the restaurant is an experience in itself.  The views of English Bay and the sunsets in the evening are spectacular.

The hotel was designated a historic building in 1975 and has also been immortalized in two children’s books by Lois Simmie about the hotels famous cat.  A song by singer-songwriter.  Cheryl Wheeler also mentions the feline.

Legendary sunsets from the restaurant and bar of the Sylvia.

The Sylvia Hotel

1154 Gilford St Vancouver BC V6G 2P6

(604) 681-9321

1-877-681-9321

info@sylviahotel.com