Things to Do in New Port Richey

Situated in the cool shadows of cypress trees and home to glistening ponds, Northdale Golf & Tennis Club's 6,824-yard course reflects architect Ron Garl's vision to sculpt a layout that capitalizes on natural beauty without spoiling it. A former dairy farm, the emerald expanse challenges golfers with tree-lined fairways, water hazards that appear on multiple holes, and white-sand bunkers, which greenskeepers procure in bulk by trimming Zeus's beard every spring.

Globetrotting tennis pro Chris Cary presides over the club's nine lighted tennis courts, grooming forehand strokes in lessons and ensuring an even-spread layer of dust over the clay surfaces. The Compass Grille awaits hungry visitors and tennis balls that have lost their bounce at the end of the day, serving up deli-style fare and drinks from a full-service bar with a variety of imported and domestic beers.

Course at a Glance:

• Designed by Ron Garl
• 18-hole, par 72 course
• Length of 6,824 yards from the farthest tees
• Course rating of 72.8 from the farthest tees
• Slope rating of 129 from the farthest tees
• Link to scorecard

Dunedin WaterSports sets visitors sailing past fluffy clouds and gentle wakes on the Gulf of Mexico on jet skis, kayaks, paddleboards, and jet boats. With rental sessions lasting from 30 minutes to a full day, staff members equip renters with the means to paddle out to the likes of Caladesi Island State Park and its mangroves or zip along the tranquil coastline. Jet-boat rentals speed groups to fishing locations, and when the water is right, visitors may try paddleboarding with Poseidon's trident. The team can also provide fishing gear for angling trips or sets of snorkeling gear to get visitors close enough to swim alongside fish.

The newest addition to the fleet is the jet-pack-like flyboard, which uses hydraulic water pressure to create forceful streams that help to propel participants from the water’s surface and through the air. Not keeping solely to the Dunedin beachfront, the team also delivers speedboats and watercraft to customers’ launch sites.

Whether by deck, pontoon, or console boat, Belle Harbour Boat Rentals gets people enjoying the water without the hassle of watercraft ownership. From the Belle Harbour Marina, travelers make their way along the Anclote River and inter-coastal waterways in search of sights, sun, and fish. Along the way, they find miniature islands and sandbars, perfect for picnics or building sand sculptures of feet for taunting merpeople. Fishing excursions yield bounties of seatrout, redfish, and snook or a chance to view early-morning glimpses of Anclote Key Lighthouse. Along the way, waterside eateries beckon groups for a quick bite with their burgers, seafood, and drinks before customers journey back out to share dining critiques with the manatees, dolphins, bald eagles, and osprey that inhabit the area.

Though West of the Moon Art Glass has been around for more than 35 years, its facilities are brand new. Because of a recent relocation, their artisans inhabit a fresh space, where they sculpt custom stained- and leaded-glass works of art for local homes, businesses, and even churches that recently decided to install windows. Their experienced hands masterfully tackle any task customers set before them, whether it be a window, a light fixture, or a wall sculpture. The same meticulous attention goes into leading classes, which grant pupils the tools to craft their own masterpieces from materials that range from fused glass to faux bone. For those who prefer to skip right to the finished product or lack the space in their garden to grow their own glass, the gift shop sells jewelry, sun catchers, and window panels.

Masked warriors charge over the top of trench fortifications, spearheading an attack on enemy lines, spurred on by a telltale popping noise and flurry of splattered paint. "I don't care if you're a man, woman, child or 65-year-old grandma, you're going to get an adrenaline rush," Owner John Gross told the Tampa Bay Times, speaking to paintball and airsoft sports’ ability to bring out that competitive spirit in almost everyone, from military folks to birthday-party guests.

Players of all ages and stripes engage in friendly combat on the rolling slopes of six separate fields, which sport obstacles and features such as mock-pillboxes, buildings, and a hulking U.N. tank. Visitors ambush, flank, and outmaneuver opposing teams using the field’s arsenal of pigment-hurling paintball cannons, or more realistic pellet-shooting airsoft rifles. Referees carefully watch play to ensure soldiers adhere to house safety rules and Geneva Convention standards.