You never need an excuse to go to Vegas, Marin County, Whistler, or Orlando (well, maybe Orlando), but these four stellar events are extra incentive.
by Kate Cassidy and Dacus Thompson
The 50th Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, December 4-13
Las Vegas, Nevada
More than 200,000 Western-clad rodeo fans will descend upon Sin City to see the best bull riders, barrel racers, and bareback riders (to name a few) over a dust-filled nine days for the biggest damned rodeo event possibly ever. It’s the 50th anniversary of the national finals, and, along with all the broken ribs and eight-second rides, acts like Big & Rich, Keith Urban, and the still lovely Dolly Parton are all performing. Oh, and did we mention it’s in Vegas? (prorodeo.com)
Tickets: Technincally the rodeo’s sold out, but if you’re not satisfied with playing black jack and catching the action on the tube, there’s still hope outside of scalpers. There are 30 Mad Dash passes still available for $41.50 a pop. These allow you to find an empty seat in the balcony area for any one of the 10 NFR competitions, and as long as nobody comes to claim it, it’s yours for the duration of the show. No luck in your search? They’ll refund your ticket if you haven’t found a place within 30 minutes after the start of the rodeo.
The North Face Endurance Challenge, December 6
Marin Headlands, California
For the race’s second year, organizers held 50-mile runs all around the country — in Seattle, D.C., Madison, to name a few — but the grand finale is in the Marin Headlands, north of San Francisco. The 100-foot climbs and drops are rough, but the 1,000 runners will get stunning views of the Pacific and the Golden Gate. Not up for 50 miles? There’s also a half-marathon and a 10K ($125 for the 50-mile, $100 for the 10K, and $85 for the half-marathon; thenorthface.com).
Accommodations and Travel: The official hotel of the North Face Endurance Race is the Holiday Inn Express located on the Shoreline Highway in nearby Mill Valley. As for getting to and from the finish line, free shuttles will run from Rodeo Beach and Redwood High School on the Marin side of the bay.
8th Annual Whistler Film Festival, December 4-7
Champions Gate, Florida
It’s the perfect indoor/outdoor combination: more than 90 films plus endless parties and events (like a celebrity ski race), thrown together in one of the most breathtakingly beautiful locations in the world. The only foreseeable problem is not having enough time for all the festivities while squeezing in a few runs on the slopes (passes from $60; whistlerfilmfestival.com)
Accommodations and Travel: More than 20 hotels and lodges in the area offer special weekend film fest packages, so check out the “Travel Info” section on whislterfilmfestival.com to snag a good deal.
Del Webb Father/Son Golf Challenge, December 4-7
Champions Gate, Florida
Greg Norman may have designed the 36 holes at ChampionsGate Golf Club in Orlando, Florida, but the Shark and his son Gregory haven’t had any luck taking home the Del Webb championship (and its $200,000 prize) in the tournament’s 13 years. But Norman’s probably happy just to play a couple of rounds with his son and other pro father-son duos. Yeah, right (from $20 per day; broadcast on NBC; delwebbfatherson.com)
Accommodations and Travel: The Champions Gate Golf Resort is located directly off Orlando’s major highway, I-4. For more detailed directions and information about staying in the new resort villas, visit championsgategolf.com.
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August 17th, 2009 at 2:42 am
i want my own set of golf clubs i have gone golfing about ten times now so i understand the game. i was wondering should i buy a complete set or should i go piece by piece so like buy a driver than some irons putter etc.. also what type of clubs do you recommend? i want clubs that i will be able to learn with but also be able to use once i get to an intermediate level.
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