Travel > Places > Getaways >The Real Deals

On a horse, on a hike, on a kayak, on a bike: Go outdoors

By Richard P. Carpenter, Globe Staff, 05/25/2003

		All Along  Destinations  Get in gear  Going Strong  Outbound  Real deals  Sensible traveler  Taking Off  Where they went

The Great Outdoors is . . . well . . . great. Vacations centered on biking, boating, fishing, hiking (or just plain walking), golfing, tennis, and riding get you close to the scenery and let the fresh air float your cares away. Here is a sunny sampling of outdoor experiences:

Summer vacations at New Hampshire's Waterville Valley resort start at $49 per person, quad occupancy, or $69 a person, double. Included in the rate are a night's lodging, access to the White Mountains Athletic Club, one-hour rental of a canoe, kayak, or pedal boat, unlimited court time at the 18-clay-court Tennis Center, a two-hour mountain bike rental, nine holes of golf midweek at the Waterville Valley Golf Course (also weekends in May, June, September, and October), a day at the Summer Recreation Camp for children ages 4 to 12, and a free shuttle.

Call 800-GO-VALLEY or visit www.waterville.com.

POMG is not a very catchy name for a company until you learn that it stands for Peace of Mind Guaranteed. POMG Bike Tours of Vermont explore the Northeast Kingdom, Lake Champlain Valley, Mad River Valley, and other areas of the Green Mountain State. And where does the peace of mind come in? Guides average eight years' experience in the active-travel industry and are trained in bike repair, first aid, and CPR. Weekend tours start at $325 a person, but for something more elaborate, consider the new Northeast Kingdom 5-Day Multi Sport Tour. The expedition combines bicycling with a canoe or kayak trip down the Missisiquoi River through a wildlife sanctuary, a guided nature and history walk, and tours of the Cabot Creamery and Bread and Puppet Theater and Museum. The cost is $995 a person, or $1,095 during foliage season. Breakfasts, dinners, and accommodations are included.

Call 888-635-BIKE or visit www.pomgbike.com.

A $25 discount is being given on any Provincetown fishing tour offered by OutbackPro Sport Fishing, notes the TravelSmart newsletter. Excursions, which run through Oct. 15, are listed as ranging from $275 for one person ($400 for two) for a five-hour outing to $375 for one ($550 for two) for eight hours. There are also custom tours, and transportation to the fishing grounds and food are included.

Call 866-286-1706 or visit www.outbackpro.com.

After a horseback ride across parts of the New Mexico desert and Rio Grande River, you will probably be hungry. Well, good, because waiting for you will be smoked baby back ribs, baked beans with molasses, and mile-high apple pie. The Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort and Spa, near Albuquerque, offers "Hearty Fare and Happy Trails," with the chuckwagon lunch and a 90-minute guided trail ride for $100 for adults and $80 for children 7 to 12. Or you can just ride for $60 or just eat for $40 ($20 for children). Resort rates start at $175.

Call 505-771-6037 or visit www.tamaya.hyatt.com.