Things to Do in Apopka

Rusty Anchor's tour boat chugs down the calm waterways of the Dora Canal, as passengers gaze out over the railing at ancient cypress trees covered with spanish moss. Aboard the vessel, tourists might also see alligators lounging on fallen logs, nesting ospreys, wading herons, or rubber duckies searching for a nearby bubble bath.

When picking the location for the championship course at Zellwood Station Golf Club, architect George Maddox discovered hilly terrain not often seen at Floridian links. He made the most of this undulating ground as he designed four doglegs that loop around a dry lake, nicknamed Crater Junction, and also devised a treacherous ninth hole. Known as the Train Wreck, this obstacle is infamous for its long fairway and sharp dogleg left. Today, head golf professional Christopher C. Tyler presides over the course’s bermuda-grass fairways and its expansive greens, which putt fast and true. Before facing down the landscape, golfers can figure out which of their balls are afraid of heights by sending them flying from one of a dozen hitting stations at the driving range.

Despite its impressive course and welcoming clubhouse, Zellwood Station Golf Club isn’t resting on its laurels; the club has plans to debut four new holes, a 10,000-square-foot practice chipping-and-putting facility, and a new driving range before the end of 2012.

The certified flight instructors at First Landings Aviation were all actively airborne by their 20s: Adam Valencic earned his Private Pilot's License at 19, and Chris Buell and Kyle Pack began flying at ages 12 and 13, respectively. The pilots harness their years-long enthusiasm for each individually tailored student program they offer, be it a half-hour Discovery flight, sport-pilot training, or private-pilot training. The sport-pilot flight-instructor course, meanwhile, affords students opportunities to practice their instruction skills before teaching others how to beat flocks of migratory geese in drag races. With their licenses in tow, pilots can also take the skies in one of First Landing Aviation's rental aircrafts.