Comprehension of the terms leisure and recreation is essential to a complete understanding of this increasinglyimportant segment of the hospitality industry. Kaye Chon, in his book Welcome to Hospitality: An Introduction, defines leisure as "freedom resulting from the cessation of activities, especially time free from work or duties." Chon defines recreation as « refreshment of strength and spirits after work, a means of diversion." However, these definitions cannot be considered ab- solutes, as the terms mean different things to different people. No two people view leisure and recreation in exactly the same way. It is this diversitythat leads to the exciting, creative thinking of the entrepre- neur: How can one carve a niche and capture a segment of the leisure and recreation market, when prospective customers cannot agree on what leisure and recreation are? Is the purpose of this free time amuse- ment, revitalization, activity, education, to be in the middle of it all, or to get away from the crowds? Let's explore some of these many possibilities.