Get ready for the 25th Annual National Kidney Foundation (NKF) Pro Am Surf Festival in Cocoa Beach, FL.  Cocoa Beach is just a short drive from Orlando and it’s not too late to find budget-saving travel deals to the festival.  The festivities begin September 2 and continue through September 6.

Surfing for a Great Cause

The NKF Pro Am Surf Festival has raised a lot of money over the years, over four million dollars to be exact, and the money goes toward patient programs provided by NKF of Florida.  It is the largest charity surfing competition in the world and is attended by thousands of surfing enthusiasts each year.

A Fantastic Way to Spend Labor Day

There are many fun-filled activities leading up to the surfing finals on Monday, September 6th.  Of course you will want to see all the surfing leading up to the finals but you can also participate in the luau, silent auction, hear lots of great music, and sample foods from some of the area’s finest restaurants.

Make Your Last Minute Travel Plans Now

Use OrlandoTravelHotels.com to make all your travel arrangements to the NKF Pro Am Surf Festival.  Whether you choose to fly in/out of Orlando International Airport, Orlando-Sanford International Airport, or Melbourne International Airport, you will find great prices on flights, hotels, and car rentals.  Make your travel plans now and don’t forget to bring your surf board!
 

The Orlando Magic organization has had another phenomenal year but it will all come to a screeching halt if they don’t win the game against the Boston Celtics tonight. If the Celtics win tonight, they will have swept the Magic in the NBA Eastern Conference finals. The Magic is hoping to win tonight to bring the series back to their Amway Arena home floor.

Shingle Creek Golf Club  is the backdrop for the luxurious Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando.  Voted one of America’s Top 40 New Courses and one of Central Florida’s Top 10 Toughest Courses, this David Harman designed course will challenge you to sharpen up your golf game.

Undulating Fairways in a Tropical Setting

While the course is challenging, even lesser-experienced recreational golfers will enjoy playing this course.  Five sets of tees offer you the flexibility to customize your game. 

Play among the headwaters to the Florida Everglades and enjoy the beauty of the surroundings.  A lush, tropical landscape enhances existing oak trees and native pines.  The creek runs through the golf course so you will have the opportunity to see some amazing wildlife at this fantastic Orlando recreation  destination.

Plan a stay  at the Rosen Shingle Creek  and reserve your tee time at Shingle Creek Golf Club.  It will be one of your more memorable rounds of golf. Find unbeatable savings on your travel plans into Orlando at OrlandoTravelHotels.com .

 

 

The Orlando Magic won home court advantage with their win Wednesday night over the Detroit 76ers.  The Magic are in the hunt again to try and reach the NBA championship finals for the second year in a row.  The Magic will go up against the Charlotte Bobcats in the first round of the NBA Eastern Conference playoffs.  There are lots of great things to do   in Orlando, but when it gets to this time of year and the Magic are in the playoffs, everything else pales in comparison.

The Magic finished with the second-best record in league at 59-23.  Coach Steve Van Gundy will get his players lined up to play game one at Amway Arena on April 18th.  The rest of the first-round schedule against the Bobcats is as follows:

Game 2:  Wednesday, April 21 (Orlando)
Game 3:  Saturday, April 24 (at Charlotte)
Game 4:  Monday, April 26 (at Charlotte)
Game 5:  Wednesday, April 28 (at Orlando, if necessary)
Game 6:  Friday, April 30 (at Charlotte, if necessary)
Game 7:  Sunday, May 2 (at Orlando, if necessary)

Orlando certainly has found its “Magic” again this year in Dwight Howard, Jameer Nelson, Vince Carter, Rashard Lewis, J.J. Redick, and the rest of the Magic’s lineup.  Hurry and get those playoff tickets.  You can even make a mini-vacation out of it and get some unbelievable deals  and last minute travel packages  to Orlando.  

It’s easy to find the best of Orlando - restaurants , attractions , entertainment  and more.  You can also book flights and make hotel reservations. Best of all you can be sure with the 110% rate guarantee  that you will be getting a great deal when you plan your trip through OrlandoTravelHotels.com .

Orlando Marriott Downtown is our featured hotel of the week for April 19, 2010 and you will find great rates  on rooms.  It is located in the heart of the city and close to shopping, restaurants, and special event venues such as Amway Arena and Bob Carr Performing Arts Center. 

Marriott Downtown offers spacious rooms and suites with high-speed internet access and premium cable channels.  Relax in the heated pool or Jacuzzi or work out at any hour in the 24-hour fitness center.  The Marriott name is synonymous with luxury hotels accommodations and you won’t be disappointed with your stay at the downtown Orlando location.

Eat, Shop, and Play Near Orlando Marriott Downtown

You will be right in the thick of things in downtown Orlando where great restaurants , shopping  and nightlife  abound.  Here is our list of some things to check out during your stay at Orlando Marriott Downtown during the week of April 19th:

1. Orlando Magic  Playoff Game – the Magic is in the thick of it again this year and you will be right next to Amway Arena when staying at the Marriott.  They will be playing the Charlotte Bobcats in the playoffs at Amway on Wednesday, April 21 at 7:00 pm.
2. HUE  Restaurant – HUE is consistently voted one of the best restaurants in town and it is only ½ mile from the Marriott.  Dine inside or out and enjoy one of the best happy hours in town at uber trendy HUE.
3. Thornton Park  – one of the trendiest neighborhoods in town.  Thornton Park is a mixed-use development with lots of restaurants, shopping, and right next to beautiful Lake Eola.

Find great travel deals on flights  and hotels  to Orlando at OrlandoTravelHotels.com .  Enjoy your stay at Orlando Marriott Downtown and see all downtown Orlando has to offer.

We've talked about the number of Major League Baseball teams who call Florida home during spring training.  With spring break upon us, lots of families are visiting Orlando and the surrounding area.  Why not take in one of the games between your favorite team and an opponent while you’re in town?  Many families book flights   into Orlando from all parts of the country to see their favorite team during spring training.

Big Hot Dogs, Big Fun

A co-worker in Orlando recently drove over to Tampa to take in a game between the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays. Tampa is just a bunt, slide, and line drive from Orlando.  It was a beautiful day for him and his fiancé, along with about 10,000 other baseball fans, to enjoy a day at the ballpark. He said the parking was close with easy access both in and out.

There is nothing like relaxing in the sun with a big ol’ hot dog and cold beverage while a baseball game is going on and he reports that the hot dogs were the largest he had ever seen! Adding to the excitement of the day was watching Evan Longoria hit a homerun in the first inning to start the game off right for Tampa Bay.

While you’re visiting Orlando, check out the MLB teams and spring training  in the area and enjoy a great game.  You can also get the most popular souvenirs, and if you hang out after the game, you might even get the autograph of your favorite player.

If you’re looking for great hotel deals , flights to Orlando , rental cars  and entertainment  while you’re in town, check out OrlandoTravelHotels.com  where you can find everything you need to make your trip a success.

Orlando and surrounding communities are hot beds for Major League Baseball’s (MLB) spring training camps.  You will find 15 professional baseball teams calling Florida home while they get in shape for the upcoming season.

It’s Time to Play Ball!

The Atlanta Braves and Houston Astros base their spring training in the Orlando area.  Within an hour’s drive from Orlando, you will find home camps for the Yankees, Nationals, and Tigers. 

Ten other MLB teams conduct their team training in just a short drive or plane hop from Orlando.  You can see great pre-season games between these exciting teams.    Once you arrive at the ballpark, all you’ll need to do is get that hotdog and wait for the ump to cry, “Play ball!”

Whether you’re local or visiting in the Orlando area, OrlandoTravelHotels.com  can help you stay on top of upcoming events  and fun things to do in the Central Florida area. If you’re coming into or leaving Orlando, you can find great vacation packages  too.

 

 

Make your travel plans now to get to Orlando, Florida for the Arnold Palmer Invitational March 22-28-2010 .  While we don’t know if Tiger Woods will be there to defend his crown, we do know there is a long list of golf’s most exciting players participating in this year’s tournament.

Golfing and Giving

The Arnold Palmer Invitational is a terrific golf tournament, but more importantly, it supports two worthy charities, The Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies. 

The Invitational is held as the prestigious Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando, Florida.  You can find great hotel deals   close to the club so you won’t have to fight traffic each day.  See some exciting golf and help raise money for worthy causes by attending the 2010 Arnold Palmer Invitational.

OrlandoTravelHotels.com  will help you locate all the fun filled activities in the Orlando area as well as help you plan your transportation , book flights , reserve hotel rooms  at more – all in one convenient place. Visit our website today where you will find great rates  to plan your entire trip to Florida!

 

 

The University of Miami Hurricanes will travel north to Orlando to match up against the Wisconsin Badgers in this year’s Champs Sports Bowl. Both teams finished in the top 20 this season and the game should be a high scoring game with each team having one of the better offenses in the nation.

LSU and Penn State will square off at the Capital One Bowl on January 1, 2010 at 1:00pm. Get your tickets now to watch two of the nation’s premiere defenses go head-to-head on national television.

Orange County National Golf Course (OCN) has been voted by many golfing experts as one of the best places to play in the country. Golf Digest over the last 10 years has consistently ranked it as one of the top public golfing venues. In addition to some great golfing, OCN offers lodging, a 22,000 square foot clubhouse, 42 acre practice facility, and a 22,000 square foot lighted putting green.

ChampionsGate has two premier 18-hole golf courses designed by infamous golfer and architect, Greg Norman. Relax after a round of golf and enjoy some of the finest food and drinks you will find anywhere. You will also find a well stocked pro shop for purchasing any needed golfing items. Take advantage of the unique golfing experience at ChampionsGate on your visit to the Orlando area.

The Capital One Bowl is a highly coveted bowl game and has one of the largest payouts of any non-BCS bowl game. Featuring teams selected from the SEC and Big Ten, this bowl game is often one of the more exciting games during the post season.

The Magic will average seven home games each month so you will have plenty of opportunities to see this spectacular team play. Dwight Howard is center in a roster of great players including Jameer Nelson, Rashard Lewis, and Vince Carter.

Orlando is home to the University of Central Florida (UCF) which plays their home games at a beautiful newly constructed stadium. UCF has a great home schedule this season sure to provide entertainment and excitement for the college football fans visiting the Orlando area.