Sport and Leisure, Glasgow Style

The Gaelic translation of Glasgow, Glaschu, literally means “dear green place”—an appropriate name for a city which boasts over 90 parks and gardens within its city boundaries. A fantastic example of this is the sprawling Botanic Gardens, which encompasses more than 40 acres of meticulously maintained lawns, flowerbeds, herb gardens, and exotic trees. Walking paths that wind among them make for some of the city’s prettiest spring- and summertime strolling; but even in winter, you can browse among the thousands of blossoming plants collected in the property’s twelve glass houses—including tropical palms, ferns, water lilies, and myriad species of orchids. The largest and most unusual of the glass houses is the Kibble Palace, an 1873-built wrought-iron wonder covering more than 20,000 square feet. For more information about the places and people who make Glasgow special, visit peoplemakeglasgow.us

Glasgow is a city that lives and breathes football. The two biggest clubs -- Celtic and Rangers -- are by far and away Scotland’s most supported footballing institutions and have dominated the country’s domestic league for decades. Financial tribulations have seen Rangers fall from grace in recent years, but the club looks to be headed back to the top tier to resume its rivalry with Celtic. For a more sedate experience, catch a game involving Partick Thistle -- Glasgow’s third biggest club -- who also play in Scotland’s top league.

From the port in the Firth of Clyde, you are less than an hour from the rugged beginnings of Scotland’s famed Western Highlands. A key landmark of the region is Loch Lomond, the largest body of freshwater in Great Britain. Recently opened at its southern shore near the village of Balloch is the Sea Life Aquarium. Further up the loch, near Tarbet, sightseeing ships ply the deep blue waters below the peak of Ben Lomond (974 meters).