Destination Guides

30Jul By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Destination Guides

Cycling in Emilia Romagna, Italy: top five biking experiences

Following the conclusion of the 2023 Tour de France, attention is now turning to 2024 which will mark the 111th edition of the cycling grand tour. The 2024 Tour de France “Grand Depart” will begin in Italy for the first time in the race’s history, with the Tuscan city of Florence hosting the opening stage on 29 June. Cyclists will then enter the Italian region of Emilia Romagna, passing through key checkpoints including Bologna, Rimini, Cesenatico and Plaisance. Globally recognised as a cycling destination, Emilia Romagna will soon be able to label itself as an official Tour de France host, adding to its list of credentials from the Giro d'Italia to the Nove Colli di Cesenatico. To get travellers in the mood ahead of Le Tour next year, here are five cycling experiences to try when visit...

Read More

18Jun By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Bucket List, Destination Guides, Hotels & Resorts, Trips & Experiences

Scottish golf bucket list: best golf resorts in Scotland

Here at Sports Tourism Media we love a bit of golf – and we also love Scotland. Okay, we're definitely not good enough to be swinging with the best of 'em on the top golf courses in the home of golf, but every hacker can dream, right? In this round-up – which is pretty much our Scotland golf travel bucket list – we pick out some of Scotland's best "stay and play" golf resorts and hotels (ranked in no particular order). These places are so picturesque that even if your game isn't up to scratch, they're worth a visit just to admire the scenery. And there's the bonus of a dram or two of Scotch, of course... Did you know? The East Lothian region is known as “Scotland’s golf coast”. Along 30 miles of coastal terrain there are 21 Scottish golf courses, which makes it the "gr...

Read More

16May By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Destination Guides, Sports Travel, Trips & Experiences

Portes du Soleil: a summer sports travel guide

Portes du Soleil is a ski and biking region of the Alps that covers the neighbouring French Chablais and Swiss Valais. The region features 12 resorts – including Avoriaz, Champéry, Les Gets and Morzine – and offers a range of summer activities such as mountain biking, cycling, hiking, trail running and yoga. Portes du Soleil is a popular destination for a sporty summer holiday, we take a look at the highlights.  Portes du Soleil’s 12 resorts The 12 French and Swiss resorts in the Portes du Soleil region are located between Mont Blanc and Lake Geneva:  France: Morzine, Avoriaz, Châtel, Les Gets, Montriond, La Chapelle-d’Abondance, Abondance, Saint-Jean-d'Aulps Switzerland: Champéry, Val-d’Illiez-Les Crosets-Champoussin, Torgon, Morgins Mountain biking An intern...

Read More

12May By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Destination Guides, Events

NFL 2023-2024 season schedule: Super Bowl LVIII, international games, key dates

The NFL has confirmed the full schedule for the 2023-2024 season. Cleveland Browns and the New York Jets will play in the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio on 3 August. Then on 7 September the NFL Kick-off Game will see defending Super Bowl champions Kansas City Chiefs host the Detroit Lions at Arrowhead Stadium. There will be five international games in 2023 – three in London and two in Frankfurt. Super Bowl LVIII will be on Sunday 11 February 2024 at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The 2023-2024 NFL schedule will see each of the 32 teams play 17 regular-season games over 18 weeks. The 17th game will feature teams from opposing conferences that finished in the same standing within their respective divisions the previous season. The AFC will be the home conference for the 17th ga...

Read More

9May By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Africa, Destination Guides, Trips & Experiences

South Africa: best adventure activities in the Rainbow Nation 

South Africa may be known for its stunning safaris, world-class golf and outstanding wine regions, but for many it’s one of the world’s ultimate adventure travel destinations. Home to national parks, sweeping savannahs and picture perfect beaches, the Rainbow Nation also boasts a great climate and offers value for money for visitors. In this guide we look at the top adventure activities to enjoy in South Africa.   Graskop Gorge Lift Company https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2r1t6Yj9Xw Visitors looking for a leisurely experience should head to Graskop Gorge Lift Company, whose viewing lift takes visitors 51m down the face of the gorge into the indigenous forest of western South Africa. More adventurous guests can also experience the suspension bridge, zipline and the big...

Read More

29Apr By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Destination Guides, Events, Sports Travel

Canary Islands: big sporting events in 2023   

With natural beauty, warm climate and a unique blend of activities, the Canary Islands are an ideal place to enjoy sport and adventure. In 2023, the islands will also play host to a number of big sporting events. Here we look at some of the sport event highlights coming up.  6 May: Bestial Race Fuerteventura The Bestial Race Fuerteventura will take place on 6 May, offering participants a new route through desert mountains and beaches with new obstacles. With two different routes to choose from, the race promises fun and excitement for everyone. 20 May: Lanzarote Ironman The 31st edition of the Lanzarote Ironman will take place on 20 May. Participants will tackle a challenging 3.8km swim, 180.2km cycle and 42.2km run. The event will also offer slots for the 2023 IRONMAN World Ch...

Read More

27Apr By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Destination Guides, Europe, Outdoor & Adventure, Trips & Experiences

Aosta Valley: summer adventures in Italy’s smallest region

At the heart of the Alps and bordered by France and Switzerland, the Aosta Valley in northwest Italy is surrounded by some of Europe's highest peaks: Cervino, Monte Rosa, Gran Paradiso and Mont Blanc.  Offering mountaineering, walks and hikes featuring alpine nature and spectacular vistas, Italy's smallest region is also a top destination for cycling and mountain biking enthusiasts, with dedicated tracks and numerous stations with bike parks and downhill circuits. Other highlights include summer skiing, golf and water sports such as canyoning, rafting or canoeing.  Here’s a look at some of the adventures and activities on offer in Aosta Valley this summer…  Hiking at Cammino Balteo This is a circular itinerary of under 220 miles with an altitude between 500m and 1,900...

Read More

24Apr By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Bucket List, Destination Guides

Sports travel bucket list: best sports museums in UK and London

If sporting history and memorabilia is your thing, then there are plenty of places to visit in Britain. From football and rugby to cricket and tennis, the UK has a wide range of world-class sports museums for fans to experience. Here we pick out some the best sports museums to visit in the UK and in London. Football museums National Football Museum Where: Urbis Building, Cathedral Gardens, Manchester, England Website: nationalfootballmuseum.comReview Scottish Football Museum Where: Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland Website: scottishfootballmuseum.org.uk  Wembley Stadium Tour and Museum Where: Wembley, London, England Website: wembleytours.comHow to book: Buy a Gift | Red Letter Days  Arsenal FC Museum Where: Emirates Stadium, Hornsey Road, ...

Read More

9Apr By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Destination Guides, Event Calendars, Events, Sports Travel

SailGP expands global calendar for season four 

SailGP has unveiled an expanded schedule for its fourth season – a 12-race global circuit spanning four continents from June 2023 to July 2024.  Known as “the world’s most exciting racing on water”, SailGP’s fast-paced, adrenaline-fueled events use identical hydrofoiling F50 catamarans – 50ft race boats with 80ft wingsails that fly over the water at speeds of more than 60mph. The global championship features national teams battling in short, intense races at iconic stadium-style venues across the globe.  The North American market features prominently in the 2023-2024 calendar, hosting six of the planned 12 events. This includes a brand new stop in Los Angeles on the LA Waterfront at the Port of Los Angeles from 22-23 July 2023, and the return to New York in June 2024, which hosted Sa...

Read More

8Apr By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Destination Guides, Events, Sports Travel

Event in focus: Motor Valley Fest 2023 in Emilia Romagna, Italy

Emilia Romagna’s Motor Valley Fest returns from 11-14 May 2023 for a celebration of Italy’s rich automotive and motor racing history. The four-day festival takes place in the heart of the northern Italian region’s “Motor Valley” – spread across the Unesco-city of Modena and surrounding areas – and will feature a wide range of activities, events and test drives. Highlights include the re-opening of the Automobili Lamborghini Museum in Sant’Agata Bolognese (Bologna), as well as live music, food and entertainment throughout. Long regarded as the “Motor Valley” due to its important contribution to Italy's motor industry, Emilia Romagna is home to celebrated names such as Ferrari, Maserati, Pagani, Dallara, Ducati and Lamborghini; there is no other place in the world with such a rich motor h...

Read More

8Apr By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Destination Guides, Events

Cycling in Morzine 2023: Tour de France, Bike Week and more 

Sitting at 1,000m altitude, the French mountain village of Morzine, part of the Portes du Soleil, has a wide range of activities and experiences on offer throughout summer. Not only is it a sporting hub, with the Tour de France returning for the 22nd time, but it’s also a place where visitors can enjoy nature and the great outdoors.  Unlike many other skiing destinations, Morzine has 3,000 permanent residents, meaning it remains a vibrant hub during the warmer months. Guests can make the most of 52 bars and restaurants, 34 hotels, 80 retailers, 21 chairlifts and cable cars across Morzine and Portes du Soleil, 200km of signed cycling trails, and 15 mapped mountain bike routes. Visitors can also spot 132 cows, 50 goats and 20 pigs, plus more than 1,000 species of flora.   Her...

Read More

7Apr By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Destination Guides, Sports Travel

An active tour of Philadelphia: running, cycling and the outdoors 

As a sports destination, Philadelphia has it all. Pennsylvania’s largest city is home to teams in the four major US sports leagues – the Phillies (MLB), Eagles (NFL), 76ers (NBA) and Flyers (NHL) – and is also well known for its association with boxing’s most famous fictional fighter, Rocky Balboa. As well as the major league sports, Philly is also a great outdoorsy city which boasts a huge urban park system and extensive walking, running, and cycling trails. Here we look at the activities and things to do in Philadelphia for a healthy and active city break.  Fairmount Park Boxer’s Trail (Image: Fairmount Park Conservancy) Outdoors  Philadelphia boasts one of the largest city-owned urban park systems in the world. Taking up more than 2,000 acres, Fairmount Park incorporates mor...

Read More

3Feb By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Destination Guides, Sports Travel, Trips & Experiences

Emilia Romagna, Italy, sports guide: events and activities in 2023

Emilia Romagna’s “Motor Valley” comes alive when it hosts three major motorsport events: Motor Valley Fest and Formula 1 in May and MotoGP in September. The northern Italian region has been long regarded as the Motor Valley due to its significant contribution to Italy's motor industry. In addition to being home of celebrated brands – including Ferrari, Maserati, Ducati, Pagani, Dallara, Energica and Lamborghini – Emilia Romagna has a wealth of events and attractions making it a must-visit destination for motoring fans, from international motor tracks and circuits, to a number of private collections of vintage cars and motorcycles. Emilia Romagna has an action-packed sports events calendar in 2023. As well as motorsport, the Italian region will also host Giro d’Italia cycling and IRONMAN...

Read More

10Jan By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Destination Guides, Event Calendars, Events, Sports Travel

Rugby union: 2023 Six Nations men’s and women’s fixtures and dates

European rugby union takes centre stage in February and March 2023 with the men’s Guinness Six Nations championship. Featuring England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales, games will be played over five rounds. In 2022 France won the championship and the grand slam. The 2023 edition of the Six Nations will also be a big part of preparations ahead of the men’s 2023 Rugby World Cup in September and October.   Following the conclusion of the men’s Six Nations, it’s the turn of the women’s teams. The 2023 Women’s Six Nations championship begins with the first round of fixtures on 25-26 March and finishes with round five on 29 April. Guinness Six Nations Fanzones Each year, millions of rugby fans attend the Guinness Six Nations matches, and more than 100,000,000 tune in across ...

Read More

30Oct By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Destination Guides, Winter Sports

Ski travel book: Around The World in 50 Slopes by Patrick Thorne

The new book from veteran snow travel writer Patrick Thorne – Around The World in 50 Slopes – takes skiers on a journey between ski runs located in 30 countries across six continents. Available to buy in bookstores and online, each of the 50 featured slopes includes a fact box and a hand-drawn map which marks each run’s location. Thorne's last book – Powder: The Greatest Ski Runs on the Planet – topped Amazon’s ski-books best-seller list for more than six years. For his new title, he has taken a different approach in choosing his 50 runs. “There are lots of lists online covering the world’s steepest, most challenging runs and it’s normally the usual suspects, but I’m more interested in runs that have a story to them, an added dimension beyond just being great runs,” he said. “In short, ...

Read More

28Sep By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Destination Guides, Europe, Trips & Experiences, Watersports & Surfing

‘Blue Scotland’ by Mollie Hughes: a sports adventurer’s guide to Scotland’s wild waters

In her new book – Blue Scotland: The Ultimate Guide to Exploring Scotland’s Wild Waters – sports adventurer Mollie Hughes picks out her favourite places across Scotland to paddleboard, kayak, swim and surf.  Mixing world-class surfing breaks with kayaking adventures on the west coast, and urban paddleboarding along the Clyde with invigorating swims in the lochs of the Cairngorms National Park, the book shows how to access and enjoy these varied blue spaces.  Hughes includes her own personal experiences and tips, enabling wild water sports fans of all levels to make the most of the amazing opportunities Scotland has to offer. Here’s her pick of the off-the-beaten track places to visit in Scotland.   North Uist, Outer Hebrides  “The Island of North Uist in the Outer Heb...

Read More

27Sep By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Destination Guides, Sports Travel, Trips & Experiences

Golf in Italy: eight of the best golf courses in Emilia Romagna

With more than 20 courses, the northern Italian region of Emilia Romagna is an ideal destination for both beginner and professional golfers alike. It also provides a rich cultural background to enjoy in-between rounds, meaning golfers can combine spa holidays, food and wine, and art on their trip. Here we take a look at eight of the best golf courses in Emilia Romagna, Italy.  Adriatic Golf Club Cervia, Ravenna This charming 27-hole golf club (top picture) is located amongst pine forests and salt lakes, a setting of natural beauty just a short distance from the sea. Enjoy water obstacles and innovative design that guarantees enjoyment for golfer across all levels. Previously, the Italian PGA Championships have been held here on several occasions, the latest being held in 2019. The co...

Read More

30Jul By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Destination Guides, Sports Travel

Val d’Isère summer sports guide: e-biking, walking, hiking and more

Sports fanatics looking for an active summer break need look no further than the striking alpine town of Val d’Isère in France. Typically thought of as a snow-capped winter destination, Val d’Isère transforms in the summer months to offer a whole range of sporting activities in the beautiful mountainous landscape, from exciting e-bike routes and trail running packages to forest adventure courses and lake-side yoga.  Summer’s hottest sport Noticing an ongoing demand for e-biking, Val d’Isère has committed to boosting its e-bike offering through developing new trails, bike sharing schemes, and hosting an E-Bike Festival from 29-31 July which will see long distance races, discovery rides, including a gourmet ride where food lovers can explore the area whilst trying fresh local produc...

Read More

10Jul By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Destination Guides, Sports Travel

Bath and Bristol: ‘experiential’ sport, culture and history

Images: Ramy James Salameh Sport travellers need only point their compass to the west of England to find a weekend full of sporting, cultural and historical experiences. Sports Tourism Media’s Ramy James Salameh did exactly that and found two destinations uniquely distinct, offering many wonderfully different qualities and characteristics. Located just a 90-minute train ride from London, and just 12 minutes apart, Bath and Bristol make the ideal twin-centre sports travel weekend away. The former is an Unesco world heritage city and as quintessentially English as is possible to get, (think Bridgerton, filmed in the city) with period Georgian architecture around every corner and surrounded by nature. Bath is world-famous for its thermal waters, which have been enjoyed since bef...

Read More

2Jun By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Destination Guides, Sports Travel

New Jersey: an outdoors guide to the ‘Garden State’

New Jersey, the “Garden State”, offers many outdoor activities for walkers, hikers and water sport enthusiasts.  Although it’s one of the most densely populated states in the US, New Jersey boasts plenty of wide-open spaces to explore the great outdoors with lakes, forests, waterfalls and mountains all waiting to be enjoyed. Here we look at the state’s best beaches, parks, gardens and camping areas. Main image: Long Branch Beach (The New Jersey Division of Travel and Tourism) Beaches, rivers and water sports  Along the state’s 130 miles of Atlantic coastline there are more than 60 designated beaches, all with a wide diversity of offerings and experiences. Water-based activities include surfing, sailing, diving and fishing. Above the water, wildlife spotting opportunities are...

Read More