ORLANDO, Fla., May 30, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Grande Lakes Orlando, comprised of The Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott Orlando, is unveiling a new hub for all things adventure on property: Grande Lakes Sports. Located at the headwaters of the Florida Everglades, Grande Lakes has always incorporated the resort’s natural surroundings into its activity offerings. The luxury property’s expansive grounds on 500 acres afford guests the opportunity to partake in a number of adventures without ever stepping foot off property.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/586cd65e-b74a-45db-8096-f25a876b67de
The Grande Lakes Sports program now comprises all of the resort’s outdoor activities, from kayak eco-tours and safaris to the just-launched mountain bike trail and seaplane expeditions. The Hidden Lake bike trail, open just in time for National Bike Month, offers guests 13 and older a two-mile mountain bike adventure on the property’s new SCOTT bicycles. Guests can venture on the trail at their own pace or embark on a guided ride led by the hotels’ resident “Trail Boss,” who will also point out the best places to catch a glimpse of wildlife along the way.
Also available are the seaplane excursions. The Ultimate Fishing Adventure which takes guests on a 30-minute flight on the resort’s private seaplane to the upper reaches of the historic St. John’s River, Florida’s longest freshwater river and a region accessible primarily by airboat. Once there, guests will enjoy three hours of guided fishing from shore.
The private seaplane sight-seeing aerial tour of Orlando excursion is also available. The 45-minute flying adventure includes views of the Orlando theme parks and is valid for up to four people. The seaplane departs and lands on one of the 12 lakes located at The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes.
“We are thrilled to unveil this new exciting experience and expand the resort’s many activities with the launch of our bike trail,” said Jon McGavin, General Manager, The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes. “We value the resort’s natural surroundings and the opportunities it offers to present new experiences while also embracing the wildlife that call this estate home.”
Jim Burns, Vice President and Managing Director, Grande Lakes Orlando, added, “Grande Lakes Sports offers something for everyone and the new Hidden Lake bike trail adds yet another exhilarating experience for our guests.”
In addition to biking, Grande Lakes Sports encompasses:
- Fishing Excursions and Private Fly Casting Instruction, available to all guests. Guests have the option to fish from the shore or aboard a Hyde Drift on the 40-acre Shingle Pond, which sits on the most remote section of the property. For those interested in learning or perfecting their casting technique, Certified Casting Instructor and Director of Fly Fishing, Captain Mark Benson, leads private casting instruction for beginners, intermediate and advanced casters alike.
- Seaplane Excursions, available to all guests. Choose from attraction, neighborhood, golf or sunset tours available for up to four people.
- The Sunrise Safari provides guests the chance to experience the wild side of Grande Lakes. Led by professionally certified Florida Master Naturalists, guests have the chance to spot whitetail deer, bobcat, North American river otter, fox, raccoons, alligators and a host of birds ranging from Great Horned Owls to roseate spoonbills. Safari-goers will also stop at the property’s 18,000-sqaure-foot Whisper Creek Farm, which features a chicken coop and a vegetable and fruit garden that provides fresh ingredients used in culinary offerings throughout the resort.
- Eco-Tours, led by professionally Certified Florida Master Naturalists, take place on Shingle Creek, the official headwaters of the Florida Everglades. Participants will paddle on a kayak or canoe through scenic Old Florida while observing some of Florida’s natural wildlife.
- The Ultimate Fishing Adventure – outlined above, this secluded fishing location provides guests the opportunity to catch largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie and American shad (Alosa sapidissima) — a light spinning tackle and fly rod favorite. The adventure also provides the opportunity to see Florida wildlife, from some of the state’s largest alligators to wild hogs and a variety of birds including the American bald eagle, Roseate spoonbills, and ibis.
To book a Grande Lakes Sports experience, please call 407-393-4531, or visit GrandeLakes.com.
About Grande Lakes Orlando
The 500-acre Grande Lakes Orlando estate features a 582-room Ritz-Carlton and 1,000-room JW Marriott hotel situated at the headwaters of the Florida Everglades. Guests at both hotels can enjoy all the facilities and services at Grande Lakes Orlando, including an 18-hole Greg Norman-designed championship golf course and the 40,000-square-foot Ritz-Carlton Spa as well as three pools including the winding lazy river at JW Marriott. Dining options feature the culinary mastery of award-winning chefs Norman Van Aken with Norman’s at The Ritz-Carlton and Melissa Kelly with PRIMO at JW Marriott, a leader in the city’s farm-to-fork movement. The resort’s renowned culinary program is further showcased at The Kitchen at JW Marriott Orlando and Highball & Harvest at The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, as well as The Brewery, an on-property nano-brewery and Chef’s Table. Furthering this farm-to-fork commitment are the on-site apiaries and 18,000-square-foot Whisper Creek Farm.
On-property activities include Grande Lakes Adventures Experiences offering kayaking, eco-tours on Shingle Creek, and a fishing school. Conference and meeting attendees have their pick of a selection of meeting space options located across 150,000 square feet that connects the two properties plus more than 100,000 square feet of outdoor space.
Grande Lakes is located 15 minutes from the Orlando International Airport, five minutes from the Orange County Convention Center and minutes from the major theme parks. For more information about Grande Lakes Orlando, visit www.grandelakes.com. Follow Grande Lakes Orlando on Twitter at @RC_Orlando and @JW_Orlando.
About JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts
JW Marriott is part of Marriott International’s luxury portfolio and consists of beautiful properties in gateway cities and distinctive resort locations around the world. These elegant hotels cater to today’s sophisticated, self-assured travelers, offering them the quiet luxury they seek in a warmly authentic, relaxed atmosphere lacking in pretense. JW Marriott properties artfully provide highly crafted, anticipatory experiences that are reflective of their locale so that their guests have the time to focus on what is most important to them. Currently, there are 73 JW Marriott hotels in 28 countries; by 2020 the portfolio is expected to encompass more than 100 properties in over 30 countries. Visit us online, on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook and #experiencejwm.
About The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, LLC
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C., of Chevy Chase, Md., currently operates more than 90 hotels in the Americas, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and the Caribbean. More than 30 hotel and residential projects are under development around the globe. For more information or reservations, visit the company web site at www.ritzcarlton.com, for the latest company updates, visit news.ritzcarlton.com and join the live conversation, #RCMemories. The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR).