Since President's Day is Monday, Valentine's Day falls on a long weekend, so why not take advantage and make a quick escape just for the two of you. Here are half a dozen suggestions of intimate resorts where you can reconnect on and off the court, if not over Valentine's Day weekend then another.
•Rosemary Beach, in the Florida
Panhandle, is not so much a resort as a small, architecturally inspired town set behind high white-sand dunes along the Gulf of Mexico. Pathways and narrow streets connect neighborhoods of cottages, large and small, with a few shops and restaurants, a day spa, two village greens, a bed-and-breakfast, and a racquet club with 8 clay courts. Valentine's specials start at $189/night with lots of complimentary amenities, including free tennis lesson and personal fitness training for two, discounted spa treatments, a champagne toast, DVD rentals, late checkout, and more.
•Green Valley Spa, St. George, Utah. Promise an elegant junior suite with down bedding, a jetted tub, fireplace, and private courtyard, just steps from the courts and a full-service spa and a short drive from the red-rock spectacle that is Zion National Park. But do it in a card on Valentine's Day and wait at least a week before going, because there's a junior tournament scheduled for weekend of Feb. 13-14, taking up courts ordinarily used for the science-based Vic Braden Tennis College programs, a great way for the two of you to improve your on-court play. In spring, room only packages start at $189/night.
•Rancho Valencia Resort, Rancho Santa Fe, California. Bed down in an ultra-spacious Mediterranean suite with an oversize bath, cathedral ceiling, a hand-painted tile fireplace, and private garden patio. On Sunday, Feb. 14, join locals from all over San Diego County and other guests in a big mixed doubles round robin, followed by appetizers and drinks and lots of camaraderie or have the staff set up matches or clinics for you any day.
•Meadowood Napa Valley, St. Helena, California. Hurry: With only 85 rooms, suites, and cottages, many Valentine's weekend room types are already booked. But what could be better on Valentine's Day than a gorgeous setting, fine wine, great food, and visits to vineyards combined with with a solid tennis instruction, spa services, even world-class croquet courts?
•Wild Dunes, Isle of Palms, South Carolina. Couple a carriage ride through historic Charleston with the best of a resort vacation, including a diverse and well-honed tennis program, a choice of hotel and villa lodging, 2½ miles of beach, 36 holes of golf, and miles of bike trails. Check out their "Wild Winter Promotion" rates, with deluxe rooms at the Boardwalk Inn and some villas reduced 30%.
•Ponte Vedra Inn & Club, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. It's still shoulder season here in northeast Florida, so you probably won't be getting in the Atlantic, but that only adds to the allure of the 15 Har-Tru courts under former touring pro Mike Leach, and to the spa, oceanview fitness center, and handsome junior suites just steps from the ocean. On Sunday, Feb. 14, they're running their annual Sweetheart Mixer, a couples round robin. During this off-season, an oceanfront room with daily breakfast and unlimited tennis starts at $237/night.
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Here's a sample of recent critiques of the top resorts and camps by other vacationers.
Van Der Meer Tennis, Sweet Briar, Virginia
Loomis Racquet Academy at Swarthmore, Pennsylvania
Weil Tennis Academy, California
Whistler Racquet Club, British Columbia Canada
Loomis Racquet Academy at Swarthmore, Pennsylvania
Dispatches from my latest travels
Club Med-Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Little Dix Bay, British Virgin Islands
Boulevard Village & Tennis Club, Vero Beach, Florida
The Inn at Palmetto Bluff, Bluffton, South Carolina
Four Seasons Resort and Club at Las Colinas, Texas
Caneel Bay, A Rosewood Resort, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands
Vic Braden Tennis College at Green Valley Resort & Spa, Utah
The Bridges Family Resort
A Top 50 US Tennis Resort Exceptional tennis For Any Age
www.bridgesresort.com
NE Tennis Holidays
#1 U.S. tennis camp; VT/FL/NH Cape Cod;Fine dining/lodging
netennisholidays.com
indicates a tournament
LA Tennis Open. www.latennisopen.com
A men's event, part of the U.S. Open Series, held at the LA Tennis Center at UCLA.
Hall of Fame Adult Tennis Camp, International Tennis Hall of Fame, Rhode Island, Phone: 401-846-0642
Former WTA touring pro Mary Rompf conducts 3-day (15-hour) and 4-day (20 hour) tennis camps on the lawns at fabled Newport Casino. The fees include clinics, match play, entrance to the museum, and more.
Sunriver Summer Tennis Camp, Steve Vaughan's Wild West Tennis, Oregon
13-hour program for NTRP players 3.5 and up run by Steve Vaughn's Wild West Tennis. Package includes a welcome party, on-court instruction, a team round-robin competition, a player dinner, and awards.
Adult Mixed Doubles Tournament and Social, Broadmoor, Colorado
Neil Roche's "Back in the Game" Mixed Doubles, Waterville Valley Resort, New Hampshire
Now celebrating its 11th anniversary, this mixed doubles event grows more popular each year. The compass draw format several matches and there are several social events including a Friday evening Kabob Soiree the evening prior to the tournament, and a dinner soiree Saturday evening. Tennis players and golfers who've been away from the game encouraged to participate.
Ellis Ferreira Clinic, Sea Colony Resort, Delaware
Grand Slam doubles champion Ellis Ferreira joins tennis director Thomas Johnston for a day of clinics on doubles tactics and strategy plus an open-forum conversation session and an exhibition and refreshments.
Mercury Insurance Open, La Costa Resort & Spa, California, Phone: 760-930-7032
This event, which replaces the Los Angeles Women's Tennis Championships on the Sony Ericsson WTA calendar, marks the return of women's professional tennis to La Costa.
New England Tennis Holidays Camp, Waterville Valley Resort, New Hampshire, Phone: 800-869-0949
Special 5-day camp on Waterville's red-clay courts
USTA National Mother Daughter Grass Court Chmps, International Tennis Hall of Fame, Rhode Island, Phone: 401-846-0642
Open to All USTA players. Events are Mother Daughter, Senior Mother Daughter, and Super Senior Mother Daughter. To sign up, visit USTA.com.
Rogers Cup (Men). Phone: 866-338-2365. www3.rogerscup.com/men/english/home.php
ATP World Tour Masters event, held this year in Toronto. Andy Murray won the 2009 tournament, which was played in Montreal.
Western & Southern Financial Group Open. www.cincytennis.com
A combined men's and women's event, in Cincinnati. Roger Federer and Jelena Jankovic are defending champions.
Rogers Cup (Women). Phone: 866-338-2365. www3.rogerscup.com/women/english/home.php
A WTA singles and doubles event held on the hard courts at Uniprix Stadium in Montreal, Canada.
Callaway Gardens' Doubles Tennis Challenge, Callaway Gardens, Georgia
Men's and Women's doubles round robin for NTRP ratings of 2.5, 2.0, 3.5, 4.0, and 4.5
USTA Open Grass Court Championships, International Tennis Hall of Fame, Rhode Island
Open to all USTA members. Men's and Women's singles, doubles, and mixed divisions. Winnters receive wild chards into Challenger Event. To sign up, visit USTA.com.
Dream Team Weekend with Wilander & Pernfors, Essex, Vermont's Culinary Resort & Spa, Vermont
Join former world #1 Mats Wilander, former world #10 Mikael Pernfors, and Futures Tour pro Cameron Lickle as they bring the Wilander on Wheels (WOW) tennis fantasy camp to The Essex Resort & Spa in Greater Burlington, Vermont. It's a special 3-day, 3-night weekend of tennis tips, training, and socializing.
Family Travel Forum
Family Travel Information Advice, Custom Planning
www.familytravelforum.com
Sports Psychologist
Mental Coaching by Phone or in Palm Beach, Florida Office
www.JohnFMurray.com
Everett Potter's Travel
Value-focused Travel Advice Interviews, Reviews, Articles
www.everettpotter.com
Mariani's Virtual Gourmet
Weekly food, wine and travel reports from around the world
www.johnmariani.com
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See Also: Map of Europe and North Africa
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Discounts, room upgrades, and special packages only available on Tennis Resorts Online.
John Newcombe Tennis Ranch, Texas
TRO Exclusive: Save $100!
Tennis Resorts Online users can claim a special $100/person discount on any Sunday-Friday adult package Newk's offers between now and the end of 2010. To get it, telephone reservations toll-free at 800-444-6204 oremail the Ranch. You must mention Tennis Resorts Online to get the discount. Request a brochure.
Saddlebrook Tennis (Hopman), Florida
Adult Camp Special: Half Day of Free Tennis
Book two days of tennis and two nights of lodging at the low summer rates and get an extra half-day of tennis free. To take advantage of this offer, phone toll-free 800-729-8383 and ask for the Tennis Resorts Online Free Half-Day Special. Valid May 15-Sept. 25, 2010.
International Tennis Academy (ITA USA) at Club Med Sandpiper, Florida
10% Off Adult Training Program
Tennis Resorts Online has secured a 10% discount on ITA's Adult Weekly Program, a Monday-Friday 3-day or 5-day option consisting of 3 hours of daily group instruction booked through ITA - Club Med. Call 800-232-3413 for details and mention this discount code: TRO-ITA.
*Note: May not be combined with other discounts.