Story originally appeared on Club Wyndham.
Timeshare Adventures Travel Tips
Explore the great outdoors and find the perfect green space to help you connect with nature on your next vacation. Here are a few fun-and-fancy-free options for spending time with Mother Nature near your favorite Club Wyndham resorts.
Golf
Shadow Creek
North Las Vegas, Nevada
Sculpted out of the rough Nevada desert, Shadow Creek is a true oasis of green. Ranked among the best golf courses in the U.S., this stunning course is just a short drive from the Las Vegas Strip.
Nearest Resort(s): Club Wyndham Desert Blue, Club Wyndham Grand Desert, Club Wyndham Desert Rose Resort, Club Wyndham Tropicana
The Dunes Golf and Beach Club
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
This southern gem is the only oceanfront golf course in Myrtle Beach, and is also its top rated. Lined with massive oak trees and filled with ponds and marshes, it’s a beautiful course (and also a challenging one).
Nearest Resort(s): Club Wyndham Grand Palms, Club Wyndham SeaWatch Resort, Club Wyndham Dye Villas, Club Wyndham Westwinds, Club Wyndham Ocean Boulevard, Club Wyndham at The Cottages, Club Wyndham Towers on the Grove
Bobby Jones Golf Course
Atlanta, Georgia
An example of urban golf at its finest, this golf course is unique — it’s a revolutionary reversible course, meaning you can play it forwards one day and backwards the next, for a completely different experience.
Nearest Resort(s): Club Wyndham Atlanta
Camp Creek Golf Course
Watersound, Florida
Just north of Panama City Beach, this course’s layout includes wetlands, woodlands, sand dunes, and rolling hills. Set near the pristine waters of the Gulf of Mexico, this challenging course is ranked among Florida’s best.
Nearest Resort(s): Club Wyndham Bay Club, Club Wyndham Bay Club II, Club Wyndham at Majestic Sun, Club Wyndham Beach Street Cottages, Club Wyndham Emerald Grande at Destin, Club Wyndham Panama City Beach
Gardens
Parrot Mountain and Gardens
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
Four acres of stunning gardens are just the beginning. Add more than 80 species of exotic birds (including many endangered), and you’ll see that Parrot Mountain is more than just a garden — it’s also a bird sanctuary.
Nearest Resort(s): Club Wyndham Smoky Mountains, Club Wyndham Great Smokies Lodge
Desert Botanical Garden
Phoenix, Arizona
Set into a backdrop of the Sonoran Desert, this garden is home to thousands of species of colorful cacti, trees, and flowers from all over the world. As a bonus, its Butterfly Pavilion is home to countless flying beauties.
Nearest Resort(s): Club Wyndham Legacy Golf Resort, Club Wyndham Orange Tree Resort
Gaylord Opryland Resort Gardens
Nashville, Tennessee
Most gardens are outdoors, but this one is set inside a 9-acre atrium filled with tropical plants, lush waterfalls, and even a river. Take a riverboat cruise to see the sights, or simply stroll around the 68-degree paradise on foot.
Nearest Resort(s): Club Wyndham Nashville
International Rose Test Garden
Portland, Oregon
Located in the City of Roses, this garden is home to more than 10,000 rose bushes in over 600 varieties. The park was created as a testing ground for new rose varieties, and offers stunning views of Mt. Hood.
Nearest Resort(s): Club Wyndham Portland Waterfront Park
Parks
City Park
New Orleans, Louisiana
This park’s 1,300 acres make it one of the largest urban parks in the U.S. (larger than Central Park!), and it’s great for fishing on the bayou, birdwatching, or just strolling. It’s also home to a grove of 800-year-old oaks.
Nearest Resort(s): Club Wyndham La Belle Maison, Club Wyndham Avenue Plaza
Griffith Park
Los Angeles, California
Home to the famous Hollywood Sign and the Los Angeles Zoo, this park is fun for the whole family. Named after a man whose first and last name was Griffith (Col. Griffith J. Griffith), it is full of unique flora and fauna.
Nearest Resort(s): Club Wyndham Peacock Suites, Club Wyndham Anaheim, Club Wyndham Dolphin’s Cove
Zilker Park
Austin, Texas
Austin’s “most-loved park” offers lots of recreational activities. With picnic sites, a playground, disc-golf course, sports courts, gardens, and an outdoor amphitheater, this park offers year-round family fun.
Nearest Resort(s): Club Wyndham Austin
Rock Creek Park
Washington, D.C.
An urban park located in our nation’s capital, Rock Creek was actually the third national park created by the U.S. government. Explore Civil War fortifications and colonial houses in this fascinating historic park.
Nearest Resort(s): Club Wyndham National Harbor, Club Wyndham Old Town Alexandria
Trails
Petroglyph Point Trail
Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado
A 2.8-mile loop, this trail offers the chance to see ancient cliff dwellings and rock art panels from the area’s ancestral Puebloan inhabitants. With an elevation change of 300 feet, this hike is categorized as easy to moderate.
Nearest Resort(s): Club Wyndham Durango
Gateway National Recreation Area Loop
Gateway National Recreation Area, New York to New Jersey
Gateway’s 27,000 acres span two states and numerous green spaces, beaches, historic landmarks, and cultural landscapes. To see as much of it as possible, try the Gateway Loop — a 10-mile trek categorized as challenging.
Nearest Resort(s): Club Wyndham Midtown 45, Club Wyndham Skyline Tower
The Gatlinburg Trail
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee
This Smokies trail is a relatively flat and easy 4-mile hike, and is pet-, stroller- and bicycle-friendly. It follows Little Pigeon River through the forest, and the remains of several old homesites can be seen along the path.
Nearest Resort(s): Club Wyndham Smoky Mountains, Club Wyndham Great Smokies Lodge
Shark Valley Loop Trail
Everglades National Park, Florida
Located outside of Miami, this 15-mile paved trail is often used for walking or bicycling (although there is a tram as well). Keep watch for alligators or turtles, and climb to the top of the 65-foot observation tower for a great view.
Nearest Resort(s): Club Wyndham Palm-Aire, Club Wyndham Santa Barbara, Club Wyndham Royal Vista, Club Wyndham Sea Gardens
