Best billiards hall
1st Sportstown Billiards, 2414 E. Robinson St., 407-894-6258, sportstownbilliards.com
2nd Cue-Phoria Billiards and Café, 2050 Semoran Blvd., Winter Park, 321-972-1867, cuephoria.com
3rd Trick Shots Billiards, multiple locations, trickshotsbilliards.com
Best city park
1st Lake Eola Park, 195 N. Rosalind Ave., 407-246-4485, cityoforlando.net
2nd Central Park, 251 S. Park Ave., Winter Park, 407-599-3334, cityofwinterpark.org
3rd Dickson Azalea Park, 100 Rosearden Drive, 407-246-2283, cityoforlando.net
Best dog park
1st Fleet Peeples Park, 2000 S. Lakemont Ave., Winter Park, 407-599-3334, cityofwinterpark.org
2nd Paw Park, 427 French Ave., Sanford, sanfordfl.gov
3rd Dr. P. Phillips Community Park, 8249 Buenavista Woods Blvd., 407-254-9045, drphillips.org
Best day trip
1st Wekiwa Springs State Park, 1800 Wekiwa Circle, Apopka, 407-884-2008, floridastateparks.org/wekiwasprings
2nd St. Augustine, ci.st-augustine.fl.us
3rd New Smyrna Beach, cityofnsb.com
Best gym
1st YMCA, multiple locations, ymcacentralflorida.com
2nd Planet Fitness, multiple locations, planetfitness.com
3rd LA Fitness, multiple locations, lafitness.com
Best ice rink
1st RDV Sportsplex Ice Den, 8701 Maitland Summit Blvd., 407-916-2550, mvpsportsclubs.com
2nd The Ice Factory of Central Florida, 2221 Partin Settlement Road, Kissimmee, 407-933-4259, icefactory.com
3rd Light Up UCF, UCF Arena Bldg., 50 N. Gemini Blvd., 407-823-6006, lightupucf.com
Best local sports team
1st Orlando Magic, orlandomagic.com
2nd Orlando City Soccer, orlandocitysoccer.com
3rd Orlando Solar Bears, orlandosolarbearshockey.com
Best sports team coach
1st Stan Van Gundy, former Orlando Magic
2nd Adrian Heath, Orlando City Soccer
3rd Matthew Cascaddan, Winter Park High School crew
Best mini golf course
1st Mighty Jungle Golf, 7792 W. Irlo Bronson Highway, Kissimmee, 407-390-6453, mightyjunglegolf.com
2nd Congo River Golf, mult-iple locations, congoriver.com
3rd Pirate's Cove Adven-ture Golf, 8501 International Drive, 407-352-7378; 12545 S.R. 535, Lake Buena Vista, 407-827-1242, piratescove.net
Best place to bike
1st West Orange Trail, 407-654-1108, parks.onetgov.net
2nd Cady Way Trail, 407-836-6200, parks.onetgov.net
3rd Cross Seminole Trail, 407-665-2001, seminolecountyfl.gov
Best place to bowl
1st Colonial Lanes, 400 N. Primrose Drive, 407-894-0361, coloniallanes.net
2nd Boardwalk Bowl Entertainment Center, 10749 E. Colonial Drive, 407-384-0003, alomabowlingcenters.com
3rd Aloma Bowling Center, 2530 Aloma Ave., Winter Park, 407-671-8675, alomabowlingcenters.com
Best place to camp
1st Wekiwa Springs State Park, 1800 Wekiwa Circle, Apopka, 407-884-2008, floridastateparks.org/wekiwasprings
2nd Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort, 4510 N. Fort Wilderness Trail, Lake Buena Vista, 407-939-6244, disneyworld.disney.go.com
3rd Moss Park, 12901 Moss Park Road, 407-254-6840, orangecountyfl.net
Best place to swim
1st Wekiwa Springs State Park, 1800 Wekiwa Circle, Apopka, 407-884-2008, floridastateparks.org
2nd Kelly Park/Rock Springs, 400 E. Kelly Park Road, Apopka,407-889-4179, ocfl.net
3rd YMCA, multiple loca-tions, ymcacentralflorida.com
Best public golf course
1st DubsDread, 549 W. Par St., 407-246-2551, historicaldubsdread.com
2nd Winter Pines Golf Club, 950 S. Ranger Blvd., Winter Park, 407-671-3172, winterpinesgc.com
3rd MetroWest Golf Club, 2100 S. Hiawassee Road, 407-299-1099, metrowestgolf.com
Best place to canoe/kayak
1st Wekiwa Springs State Park, 1800 Wekiwa Circle, Apopka, 407-884-2008 floridastateparks.org/wekiwasprings
2nd Rock Springs Run State Reserve, 30601 County Road 433, Sorrento, 407-884-2008, floridastateparks.org/rockspringsrun
3rd Blue Spring State Park, 2100 W. French Ave., Orange City, 386-775-3663, floridastateparks.org/bluespring
Best shooting range
1st Shoot Straight, 4700 S. U.S. Highway 17-92, Casselberry, 407-834-2242; 1349 S. Orange Blossom Trail, Apopka, 407-889-0842, shoot-straight.com
2nd East Orange Shooting Sports, 7210 Gardner St., Winter Park, 407-679-1995, eastorangess.com
3rd Oak Ridge Gun Range, 6160 S. Orange Ave., 407-857-5663, oakridgegunrange.com
Best skate park
1st Vans Skatepark, (now closed)
2nd Orlando Skate Park, 400 Festival Way, 407-898-9600, actionparkalliance.com/orlandoskatepark
3rd Midtown Skate Park, 5043 Forsyth Commerce Road, 407-440-2802, midtownskatepark.com
Best sports complex
1st RDV Sportsplex, 8701 Maitland Summit Blvd., 407-916-2442, mvpsportsclubs.com
2nd XL Soccer World, 825 Courtland St., 407-641-4791, xlsoccerworldorlando.com
3rd Amway Center, 400 W. Church St., 407-440-7000, amwaycenter.com
Best theme park ride
1st The Incredible Hulk, Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando Resort, 1000 Universal Studios Plaza, 407-363-8000, universalorlando.com
2nd Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando Resort, 1000 Universal Studios Plaza, 407-363-8000, universalorlando.com
3rd Manta, SeaWorld Orlando, 7007 SeaWorld Drive, 888-800-5447, seaworldparks.com
Best theme park
1st Islands of Adventure, Universal Orlando Resort, 1000 Universal Studios Plaza, 407-363-8000, universalorlando.com
2nd Universal Studios, Universal Orlando Resort, 1000 Universal Studios Plaza, 407-363-8000, universalorlando.com
3rd Epcot, Walt Disney World Resort, Lake Buena Vista, 407-939-6244, disneyworld.disney.go.com
Best water park
1st Wet 'n Wild, 6200 International Drive, 407-351-1800, wetnwildorlando.com
2nd Aquatica, 5800 Water Play Way, 407-351-3600, aquaticabyseaworld.com
3rd Disney's Typhoon Lagoon, Walt Disney World Resort, Lake Buena Vista, 407-939-6244, disneyworld.disney.go.com
Best yoga studio
1st Orlando Power Yoga, 2415 E. South St., 407-719-0101, orlandopoweryoga.com
2nd College Park Yoga, 3029 Edgewater Drive, 407-999-7871, collegeparkyoga.com
3rd Shine On Yoga, 619 N. Thornton Ave., 407-601-4394, shineonyoga.com
Best zipline
1st ZOOm Air Adventure Park, Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens, 3755 N.W. Highway 17-92, Sanford, 407-330-0767, zoomair.us
2nd Screamin' Gator Zip Line, Gatorland, 14501 S. Orange Blossom Trail, 800-393-5297, gatorland.com
3rd Zipline Safari, Florida EcoSafaris at Forever Florida, 4755 N. Kenansville Road, St. Cloud, 407-957-9794, floridaecosafaris.com
Best sport you've probably never heard of
Orlando Hurling Club
orlando.florida.gaa.ie
First word we received about this Gaelic jumble of a sport was when Orlando Hurling Club hosted their Clash of the Ash tournament last September. Dubbed "the fastest game played on a grass field," according to Orlando Hurling Club's Scott Graves, hurling is an Irish game that combines the athleticism of lacrosse, baseball and hockey, if you can imagine that mashup. In play since 2010, Orlando Hurling Club is the largest organized hurling team in Florida. The club holds open practices and public tournaments on a regular basis, and it's always recruiting new players to the team. You may not know what hurling is – and it kind of defies explanation – but check out their site and find out for yourself why it's catching on here in Orlando.
Best surfing variant
Kiteboarding
Almost any weekend you see them on Cocoa Beach: folks rigged out in an unholy alliance of snowboard, surfboard and parachute. Whether you call it kiteboarding, kitesurfing or parasurfing, it's the fastest (non-motorized) sport on the water. Rig a parachute harness around your torso, snap your feet into the board bindings, and take off as fast as the wind will take you – just don't expect to stay on the surface of the water. Once the wind fills that chute, serious air will be caught. (Spectators should vacate the sand when it's time to come in for a landing or risk a "kite"-smash to the head.)
Best came-out-of-nowhere team
Orlando City Soccer Club
orlandocitysoccer.com
They came seemingly from out of nowhere, and they've totally blown us away. In their inaugural season, the Orlando City Soccer Club won the United Soccer League Pro championship at the Florida Citrus Bowl and hosted the largest crowd ever recorded in a single United Soccer League game. Then at their preseason supporters' summit in January, a loud-and-proud fan base packed Mojo Cajun Bar & Grill to kick off the team's second season and garner support for a bid at being named a Major League Soccer team. Returning this year with 80 percent of their original roster, the club didn't suffer a loss until nearly six weeks into their sophomore season. We'd go on, but really, these guys and their explosive success speaks for itself.
Best team in boots
Orlando Rugby Club
orlandorugby.com
When you're talking about contact sports, rugby is the United Kingdom's full-fledged version of American football – sans the wimpy shoulder pads and helmets. Since 1970, Orlando Rugby Club's maintained a prominent showing in the Florida Rugby Union, most recently with last season's 19-1 finish and national championship playoff run (albeit short-lived). Players of all ages and levels are encouraged to try out, but unless you're up for the "rucks," "mauls" and "scrums" associated with these battles, we'd suggest you sit this one out.
Best one foot in, one foot out
Dwight Howard
The headlines spattered out like the promo reel of a soap opera drama: Dwight Howard seeks trade; Howard loves Orlando, says he'll stay; Howard calls for Stan Van Gundy firing; Howard's loyalty questioned. And then after the months-long saga, Howard winds up benched with a season-ending back injury (yippee!). In the end, our city's most fair-weathered player stays (for now), but Van Gundy's out and the Orlando Magic is left picking up the pieces. These are the days of our lives.
Best jet-set weekend
NBA All-Star Game
Our city's duties hosting the 2012 NBA All-Star Game went beyond just the courtside amusements. A cluster of A-list celebrities – Kevin Hart, Floyd Mayweather, Diddy, among others – descended on Orlando's hottest nightlife spots to throw red-carpet cocktail soirees, high-end comedy showcases and DJ club parties. After all of the lockout back-and-forth this season, this year's All-Star weekend proved to be a huge boost for not only the NBA, but also for the city of Orlando.
Best football game where halftime is the main event
Florida Classic
floridaclassic.org
Each year for nearly 35 years, thousands of fans have gathered at the Florida Citrus Bowl for this annual college-football showdown between Bethune-Cookman and Florida A&M. Some fans attend for the game-time action, some only go to experience the renowned halftime marching-band spectacle. So the immeasurably dark shadow cast over this Central Florida tradition, after last year's post-game hazing death of FAMU's Marching 100 drum major Robert Champion, pains us. Florida A&M's marching band has been suspended for the year as a result of band member's actions that may have caused Champion's death, so it might be a while before the Classic is restored to its former glory – when it is, we hope the school's band has cleaned up its act and can remind us why it is that we really love the Classic.
Best attempt to keep fans occupied during the NBA lockout
Tampa Bay Lightning play at Amway Center
There was a time early last fall when Orlando Magic fans twiddled their thumbs while they waited for the end of the drawn-out NBA lockout. In an effort to curb fans' jock itch (and supposedly broaden the hockey fan base), the city invited the Tampa Bay Lightning to the Amway Center for an icy bout with the St. Louis Blues. The arena's inability to execute an appropriate rink floor (a giant hole opened up during the game), plus the Lightning's slow-pace (and losing) efforts disappointed fans craving a basketball bounce-back.
Best game-time decision
Orlando Predators season opener strike
Labor negotiations had plagued the Arena Football League for months leading up to the season opener scheduled at Amway Center in March. The players union demanded a salary bump, and on game day the Preds' players threatened an on-field strike. Within two hours of game time, the league fired the entire rosters of both the Orlando Predators and visiting opponents Pittsburgh Power. (They were notified during their pre-game meal.) Replacement players (including former UCF quarterback Kyle Israel) took to the field that night and the game ended in a 40-26 Predators loss.
Best race on water
Orlando International Dragon Boat Festival
gwndragonboat.com
If you've never seen Downtown Disney's Mickey-eared jollity suddenly turn to an assiduous pursuit to win, you haven't been to the annual Dragon Boat Festival. It's a sight to see, as a surge of national and local rowing teams launch into Buena Vista Lagoon each year, vying for the Southern Regional Dragon Boat Association Point Series title. When it comes to synchronization and showmanship, Disney's characters have nothing on this one-day rowing regatta.
Best sibling rivalry
Soven brothers compete in the Nautique Wake Games
A little friendly competition certainly hasn't seemed to hurt this pair of wakeboarding brothers. In fact, Orlando-based Phillip Soven and younger brother Bob have all but embraced the challenge. The two squared off in this year's Nautique Wake Games at Orlando Watersports Complex – Phillip finished with top honors, with Bob trailing close behind in third place. Taking it a bit further, the Sovens will star in their own MTV reality show WakeBrothers, which is set to premiere sometime this summer. A pilot of the show attests to the guys' playful relationship, and viewers should expect a slew of pranks in between behind-the-boat wakeboarding scenes.
Best bondage play
ZOOm Air Adventure Park
Central Florida Zoo
3755 N.W. Highway 17-92, Sanford
zoomair.us/orlando
Admit it: You've seen the pictures. Your cubicle mate and her "adventurous" new beau went zip lining in Costa Rica and didn't invite you. Luckily, you don't need a passport or a pock-marked, sunburned boyfriend to feel the rush of defying your sad little gravity. Now, ZOOmAir Adventure Park at the Central Florida Zoo can have you swinging from the vine like Tarzan with thigh burns for less than $50, and it's even kid-friendly so you can dump the scamps and head for the Harness House for some uncomfortable double entrendres and life-saving leather straps. Hey, it's better than a bar.
Best affordable sailing
Central Florida Sailing Club's Community Sailing Program
Fleet Peeples Park, Winter Park
Thesailingclub.us
Who knew you could learn to sail for less than it costs to even buy a kayak? Not us – at least not until we stopped to gawk at a group of people preparing to launch their boats at the boat ramp on Lake Baldwin in Fleet Peeples Park. For a mere $145, anyone can sign up for lessons taught by Red Cross certified instructors that include both classroom and on-the-water time. Once you learn the ropes and have completed your course, you can then join the club and take part in racing days, fun sails, regattas and more.
Best hunting/fishing camp
Lone Cabbage Fish Camp
8199 State Road 520, Cocoa
321-632-4199
twisterairboatrides.com
Nestled along the St. Johns River on State Road 520 in Cocoa, Lone Cabbage acts as a headquarters for Central Florida's outdoorsmen (and women!). Early morning sees duck/alligator hunters and fishermen funneling through the boat ramp for an easy-access launch to nearby Lake Poinsett, while the afternoon welcomes small groups of tourists aboard the Lil' Twister airboat for eco-tours and alligator sightings in the marsh. After-adventure breaks and sunset back-dropped casual dinners are best spent in the outdoor patio area, which features a full bar, live music and a taste of Old Florida food, including fried gator tail, frog legs and turtle.
Best place to get your windshield smashed
Audubon Elementary Ballpark
8199 State Road 520, Cocoa
321-632-4199, twisterairboatrides.com
Ah, baseball on a summer night: floodlights in the dusk, crickets singing in the grass, popcorn eaten in the bleachers … the sweet tinkle of a shattered windshield and the blue air of a punk band cussing a streak. Thanks to the inevitable stray balls, parking in the alley between Park Ave CDs and the ballfields operated by the North Orlando Kiwanis Little League is perhaps your best bet for grievous auto-bodily harm, as several store employees and bands performing in the store (including Surfer Blood, on their last swing though town) have found to their dismay. Picturesque, convenient, but deadly – consider yourself warned. ■
