Page 36 - Travel Guide to Florida 2020

SPORTS

Florida’s high-profile horse racing tracks
are Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino in
Hallandale Beach, Gulfstream Park West in
Miami and Tampa Bay Downs.

ANGLING ALL-STARS
You’ll be reeled in by all of Florida’s phenom-
enal fishing possibilities. Amazingly, Florida
has over 8,000 miles of shoreline if you
include inlets, bays and capes. Better still, the
weather is warm year-round so you can fish
any day of the year.
Marinas for deep-sea charters are located
in all parts of the state. Two of the most noted
are Islamorada in the Keys, which is known
as the “Sport Fishing Capital of the World,”
and Destin in the Panhandle that’s been
dubbed “The World’s Luckiest Fishing
Village.” There are also numerous piers, docks
and bridges where you can drop a line and
12 HOURS OF SEBRING, SEBRING INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY • VISIT SEBRING make a big saltwater catch as well as reefs and
wrecks offshore where fish congregate.
Resort & Club, Saddlebrook Resort near EXCITING EQUESTRIAN For freshwater enthusiasts, Lake
Tampa and Omni Amelia Island Plantation Ocala, 80 miles north of Orlando, with 600 Okeechobee and rivers in the Everglades are
Resort north of Jacksonville have expansive, thoroughbred horse farms is known as “The great spots to fish for largemouth bass,
world-class tennis complexes. Spectators Horse Capital of the World.” Area farms bluegills and sunfish. Throughout the state,
enjoy the Miami Open presented by Itaú, have produced 45 national champions, six a network of lakes, canals and channels
which dates back to 1985 and has featured Kentucky Derby winners and 20 Breeders' provides excellent places to fish for
major stars such as Martina Navratilova, Cup champions. Several of the farms offer largemouth bass, catfish and crappie.
Serena Williams, Novak Djokovic and Rafael tours and Ocala is home to national
Nadal. In 2019, the Miami Open moved to equestrian events and competitions, OCEAN EXPLORATIONS
their new home, the Hard Rock Stadium in including the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit, Live One of the appealing aspects of snorkeling
the city of Miami Gardens, and will be staged Oak International and Ocala Breeders’ Sale. in Florida is the wide variety of “shore dives”
from March 23 to April 5 this year. In Northeast Florida, the Jacksonville possible. You don’t have to swim far to see
Equestrian Center features 80 acres of horse amazing marine life.
POWERED TO WIN paradise complete with a giant indoor arena, The Florida Keys has dozens of intriguing
It doesn’t get any bigger and better than the outdoor show rings and over 400 stalls. spots such as Cannon Beach at John
DAYTONA 500 in Daytona Beach, NASCAR’s While polo matches take place in Palm Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, where you
speedy answer to the NFL’s Super Bowl. The Beach, Sarasota, Wellington and The Villages can see placed remnants of an early Spanish
nd
62 annual race occurs on February 16, 2020. south of Ocala, Wellington is probably the shipwreck about 100 feet off the beach, and
Sebring, in Central Florida, is hosting the most famous, drawing equestrian enthusi- Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park and
popular SuperSebring from March 18-21. The asts and celebrities from all over the world Beach off Key West, where you can view
doubleheader weekend features the Interna- during its equestrian season, which runs tropical fish and live coral. Other prime
tional Motor Sports Association's (IMSA) from January to April. Every winter, snorkeling havens throughout the state
68 Annual Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Wellington turns into a hub for the include Red Reef Park in Boca Raton, Phil
th
Presented by Advance Auto Parts on glamorous equestrian lifestyle. From the Foster Snorkel Trail in Riviera Beach and
Saturday, March 21, preceded by the FIA Adequan Global Dressage Festival to the Blowing Rocks in Jupiter.
World Endurance Championship (WEC) Winter Equestrian Festival, there is simply For those who scuba and want to dive
1000 Miles of Sebring on Friday, March 20. no comparison to this horse-lover’s paradise. deeper, Florida’s thousands of miles of
Just south of Miami in Homestead, the And with Wellington Insider Tours, visitors coastline and numerous lakes offer a plethora
Homestead-Miami Speedway hosts the Ford are given a behind-the-scenes peek at what of opportunities. Many divers flock to the
EcoBoost 400, a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup the judges, competitors and show managers natural reefs near Fort Lauderdale and Miami.
Series race held in mid-November. get to see—a true insider’s tour. There are also several artificial reefs in

34 2020 TRAVEL GUIDE TO FLORIDA