In Clearwater, Florida we got a chance to participate in lots of outdoor recreation. Our hotel was actually a resort and spa and had three pools, Jacuzzis, tennis courts, volleyball courts and multiple walking paths which circled the resort.

Tennis was a very popular pastime among company members. The weather was sunny and warm, which were ideal conditions for a game outdoors. We were lucky in the fact that the resort wasn't too busy so racquets and courts were readily available. Another fun game was beach volleyball which was set up on huge sand courts. It took a while to get the hang of volleyball for those of us who have never really played and for the better players to brush up on their skills but after about 15 minutes we had a very heated game on our hands which lasted for a good part of the day.

The outdoor pool closest to our rooms was heated to the point of almost feeling like a bath, which was perfect considering that the air temperature was just slightly cooler than what you'd usually go swimming in. Once you were in the water it was hard to get out and face a possible chilly breeze.

The town of Clearwater was very nice too. We had a lovely street lined with small restaurants, diners and coffee shops within walking distance of the hotel. So any time not spent playing games at the hotel was spent strolling around downtown Clearwater.

From that laid back town we moved on to Nashville, TN, the country music capital of the United States. Anyone who is interested in making it in country music must first prove themselves in Nashville. Because of this there is an amazing array of live music in the clubs and bars there on a nightly basis. We had a great little blues club just around the corner from our hotel and on our second night in Nashville it had a quite unexpected visitor. A bunch of us were on the top level enjoying the music when Kid Rock and his entourage of about 30 people walked up the stairs and took over the area behind us. That was exciting in itself but even more thrilling was after that when he went down to the stage to do an impromptu performance with a couple of his friends.

Nashville was a great place to explore the souvenir shops too. They were absolutely filled with everything country from cowboy hats, boots and huge belt buckles to vintage 'honky tonk' jackets and shirts. It was easy to get caught up in this unique style of dress while we were there and several people picked up and item or two from the shops.

Probably the most famous building in Nashville is the Grand Ole Oprey which is considered the home of country music. It is a historical old theatre where numerous famous musicians have played and it's still in use. Unfortunately due to our show schedule we were unable to attend any performances there but it was open during the day so we could take a tour and see the inside.