Wednesday, 19 February 2014



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Beacon Hill Park Victoria-Play Tennis There if you Dare


Beacon Hill Park

Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

They call themselves the ‘Tennis Warriors’, and they hone their court skills outdoors 365 days a year.  You can drop in for free at Victoria’s Beacon Hill Park and challenge these warriors, or you can become one of them.  The Tennis Tourist checked out Beacon Hill Park on New Year’s day and found himself a rallying partner.

Beacon Hill Park Video

What to Do After the Game

Beacon Hill Park

The park is in Victoria’s historic James Bay neighborhood.  Beacon Hill sits right at Mile Zero of the legendary Trans-Canada highway.  It is Victoria’s main urban green space with over 190 acres(75 hectares) of park.  Located next to Victoria’s southern shore, it includes numerous playing fields, beautiful manicured gardens, exotic species of plants and animals such as wild peacocks.  There is a petting zoo for the kids.  The views of the Straight of Juan de Fuca and the Olympic mountain range are spectacular.  The sport of cricket has been played in Beacon Hill Park since the mid-nineteenth century.  During the summer there are outdoor concerts and festivals.  The park is surrounded by lovely old homes and you can take a horse and white carriage ride throught the park and the surrounding neighborhoods.
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Where We Stayed

The EmpressHotel
This grand old hotel majestically overlooks Victoria’s scenic inner harbor.  It’s a treat to stay in the old rooms of this stately building which was built in 1908 and has been one of Canada’s favorite destinations for well over a century.
The pool stays open late, and is lots of fun after a day of tennis and sightseeing.  Having a fancy cocktail at the Bengal lounge in the hotel, and rubbing elbows with those who want to see and be seen is a Victoria tradition that’s great fun.  The curry buffet in the lounge is pricey but highly recommended.  
The Empress Hotel
Toll Free: 1 866 540 4429
721 Government Street
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Where is your Favorite Place to Play Tennis?

Thursday, 6 February 2014

Romance on the Courts-Three Sweet Valentines Tennis Destinations


In our tennis circle, there are many couples, including my partner and myself, who met on the tennis court. Tennis continues to be one of the places where we are happiest, and there's nothing we like more than taking our game on the road.  Here are three destinations that we would consider perfect for a romantic tennis getaway.

#1 Koh Chang Island, Thailand

We  managed to find one tennis club on this tropical island paradise. The Koh Chang Tennis Club is well maintained, lit for night play and very reasonably priced. It's located in central Khlong Proa on the west coast of Thailand's second largest island.

The staff is very friendly and they can provide you with racquets, balls and cold towels if you need.  Give them a call to make a reservation, or have your hotel front desk arrange it for you.  Koh Chang Tennis Club is open from 0700 to 2200 everyday.

Call them at 084-892-6992 or email at a7lek@mail.ru





Koh Chang Tennis Club


What To Do After Tennis

 Motorcycle Trip around the island

We rented a motorcycle and toured this island that is lined with white sand beaches.  After tennis, we hung out at a little roadside Thai restaurant, cooled off and enjoyed some hot Thai cuisine.  Then we hit the open road (a narrow windy one) and took a look at the island's west shore.  A beautiful national park offers some spectacular viewpoints and Lonely Beach almost at the end of the road attracts hippies, backpackers and those who want the no-frills Thai beach experience.  We hung out there, taking in the unbelievable view while enjoying cool beverages on the lay-down ocean front deck.



Where We Stayed
We stayed at the Chai Chet Resort, about 4 kilometres to the south of the courts. An elegant and reasonably price resort overlooking the bay and a large stretch of white sandy beach. All down the beach are cottages and hotels.  At night you can stroll down there and check out the action at different beach restaurants and bars.  We took in a fire show with dinner one night.
The staff at the Chai Chet is very helpful and welcoming.  The pool is amazing, not to mention the swim-up bar.  It's a great place to enjoy a cool Chang Beer after a hot tennis workout.
Our sea-view room was very nice with an unique bathroom and shower that had the effect of a rocky stream running through it. 


Chai Chet Resort






#2 

Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort and Tennis Center Hilton Head Island, South Carolina




Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort labels themselves the ultimate destination for anyone who wants to improve their tennis skills.  Ranked amount "The 50 Greatest US Tennis Resorts" by Tennis Magazine  Palmetto Dunes offers tennis packages and vacations for players all skill levels and a top notch family resort destination. The resort's Tennis Centre features 23 clay and two Nova ProBounce courts(six of which are lighted for night play).  There is also a full schedule of seasonal activities, daily round robin tournaments and a wide array of instructional programs.

What to Do After the Game

Hilton Head Beaches



Miles of pristine beach, sun drenched, wind-swept.  You can enjoy the sound of the surf or get right in it and take a lesson on riding it.   The ocean one of the most wonderful features of  Hilton Head Island.  But if that isn’t enough, Hilton Head boasts more than 20 golf courses, over 50 miles of paved bike pathways and an 11-mile lagoon network for paddling.   

Where We Stayed

Palmetto Dunes Resort

One of the world’s finest tennis facilities is a definite reason to stay here, but so is the location.  It is set on 3 miles of the beaches that Hilton Head Island is so famous for.  The resort has 3 18 hole golf courses, an oceanfront pool, bike rentals and more.
Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina


1-866-380-1778
#3 Key West Florida Bay View Tennis Courts

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.

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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.
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Where We Stayed

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 osnowbirds, young campers, regular  folks who have Key West on their itineraries, and even tennplayers.  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

Have a wonderful Valentines Day!

Wednesday, 5 February 2014

Tennis Tourist visits Rico's Tennis Academy in Calgary Canada

Rico's Tennis Academy
Calgary, Alberta-cold winter, warm tennis






A warm, inviting place to play tennis protected from Calgary's sometimes chilly winter weather.

10 courts in one bubble and one solid structure, Ricos Tennis Academy is a popular and lively place to play tennis in Calgary.  Non-members are able to book courts and take lessons.


Wha
t to do After the Game

Elbow River Pathway


Any season is a time to enjoy Calgary's Elbow River Pathway.  It winds it's way along the river and goes right by Rico's Tennis Bubble. The path is part of an 800km network of walking and biking trails that connects this city end to end and meanders along its rivers and creeks. 






Wh
ere to Stay

Hotel Alma



A funky, retro space that is part hotel, part university dorm (3 floors are used as dorms during part of the school year).  The Hotel Alma is on the University of Calgary campus just north of downtown and has good light rail and bus transit around the city.

Hotel Alma
169 University Gate NW
Calgary, AB
T2N 1N4
1-877-498-3203
stay@hotelalma.ca

Tuesday, 28 January 2014

Boca Raton Florida-Evert Adult Tennis Camp..Coaching by a Legendary Tennis Family

Evert Adult Tennis Camp, Boca Raton Florida

Drew Evert, brother of the legendary Chris Evert who won 18 grand slams, runs this camp at the Boca Raton Club in Florida.  It draws tennis players of every age and level. The facility is outstanding, located on the grounds of the iconic pink hotel.  Camps can be tailored to your schedule.  We attended and worked on our game. 





What To Do After the Game
We spent time strolling around the amazing property of the Boca Raton Resort and Club.   Besides it's 10 tennis courts, it has many other features that make it a Florida landmark.  This iconic hotel was opened in 1926 and features distinctive and elegant architecture and finely manicured grounds.  There are numerous restaurants offering a wide variety of cuisine, and 27 floors and four buildings of grand architecture. 

Where to Stay

The Boca Raton Hotel and Club


...of course.  If you can afford it, this splendid old pink hotel has stood as a symbol of luxury and comfort since 1926 when it was opened as the most expensive 100 room hotel of its day.  


Today this fabulous Waldorf Astoria resort can still boast being one of the world's desirable hotel properties.

The hotel has a beach club and golf and for tennis players it provides everything you'd want and more.  The expansive tennis and fitness centre is available to all guests.  The state of the art tennis and fitness centre is regularly listed by Tennis Magazine as one of the top tennis programs in the country.  The facility includes 30 clay-based courts including 12 Har-Tru at the resorts country club and 18 hyro-grid courts at Boca Raton Resort and Club.

The club features a concierge service for booking courts and looking for competitive team members at their level.  There is a full pro shop offering a wide range of equipment and a two story Mizner-style clubhouse.

Wednesday, 22 January 2014

Koh Samui Thailand-A Tennis Player's Dream

Koh Samui Tennis Club

                                          Video-Tennis Tourist in Koh Samui Thailand

If there was tennis in heaven, it might look like this.  Koh Samui tennis club is beautifully maintained and offers everything the tennis traveler could want including hitting partners and coaching.  The two courts are plexi-paved, the same surface used at the Australian Open.  The surroundings are lush and tropical, and the clubhouse serves up both tennis gear and cold Chang Beer.  The courts are lit for night play.

I played with a hitting partner 'Chan' and this guy definitely made me run.   Other players we ran into here were from Russia and Poland.





Koh Samui Tennis Club
77/1 Soi Sumkorkawe, Bangrak
Koh Samui, Suratthani, Thailand 84320
Ph : 08 352 91214
Email : info@samuitennis.com
Koh Samui Tennis Club


What To Do After Tennis

An Thong Marine National Park

We spent the day on a boat touring Ang Thong National Marine Park by boat.  These 42 islands shouldn't be missed.  The mountains on these white sand-rimmed islands rise graciously from the green water of the Gulf of Thailand with such beauty that you just can't stop snapping pictures.   Tour boats will take you kayaking, hiking the mountain trails and snorkeling where you'll find all kinds of sea life.






Where we stayed
We stayed at an older cottage resort called the Matlang.  It's  beachfront  with no frills but tons of character.  Our cottage was spacious and clean and the ocean was just steps away.  The beachfront massage at our resort attracted people from all over.  The food was good and very reasonable traditional Thai which is getting harder and harder to find in the busy town of Chaweng just up the road.   The resort was run by a very friendly group of Thai folks who couldn't have been more helpful.

Matlang Resort


Matlang Resort


MATLANG 154/1 M.2 CHAWENG BEACH,BOPHUT,KOH SAMUI,SURATTANI ,84320,