Fairway Drive: Philadelphia and The Countryside

T-minus an hour or so to your tee time, this is where you should be. Get a bucket of balls and practice every conceivable driving distances. But don't tucker yourself out - there's also a free practice sand bunker to try out (not that you'll be needing it after this). Mad Golfer is right on the way to the course, and the pro shop is ranked in America's top 25.

It's hard to not get lost in the sea of rolling green hills that make this classic golf country. It's home to some of the finest public clubs around, like this one. Tree-lined fairways greet you all along, with an even front nine, and a hilly back nine. Watch out for the creek that touches four of the holes, and a battlefield of bunkers. Walking is permitted, but you might want a cart so you have plenty of energy for what's coming up at night.

After a day of playing your favorite game, we're thinking you'll be primed and ready for a night at the region's sexy new mothership of gaming. Parx Casino has tables, slots, and other games to keep the competitive juices flowing. Later on, head to the bar simply known as 360. Jerry "the Geater with the Heater" Blavat, even presides over it all some nights. It's the best live bands, the best DJs, the best night you'll experience in a while.

This championship caliber course has it all, including, yes, five ponds. Rolling architecture, large bentgrass greens, elevated tees and plenty of water features (ponds, baby) contribute to an unforgettable golf experience. Look for 4 sets of tees ranging from 5430 yards to 6760 yards, an all grass driving range, and a 7000 square foot putting green. Oh, and Golf Digest gave the course 4 stars. And the locals named it the best public course around, three years running.

It wasn't long ago that a small colt named Smarty Jones brought world-wide attention to this racetrack. But from the day it opened in 1974, the old "Bensalem Oval" has been a thoroughbred in the horse racing circuit. Get a good box seat, or watch the ponies trackside. It's tradition and gaming at its finest. Best of all, the track is adjacent to Parx and your hotel.