Timeshare Information

The day after Thanksgiving officially opens the Christmas season, so it's not too early to start dreaming of those sugar plums and make plans to take the family to see Christmas parades. You'll find an exciting and unique selection in California. Rent a timeshare for a budget-friendly vacation and have a great kick-off for your family's holiday season!

Hollywood
The Hollywood Christmas Parade has been marching right through downtown Hollywood for years. This is one of the most anticipated holiday parades in California because of the many big-name celebrity participants. You never know which ones of your favorite stars will show up! This year's Grand Marshall is Susan Lucci. The 2009 parade will be held on Sunday, November 29th. For best viewing plan on purchasing grandstand seats (tickets are now on sale). Proceeds from this parade go to the Feed the Children charity organization.

Disneyland
Of course one of the most entertaining Christmas parades is the Christmas Fantasy Parade at Disneyland. Looking great in their finest holiday outfits, every one of your favorite Disney characters will help you get in the Christmas mood. Read Disney’s Winter Wonderland for more details on how to have a magical family vacation. See Anaheim timeshares.

Newport Beach
Just down the coast is the Newport Beach Boat Parade with hundreds of boats of all shapes and sizes decked out in dazzling Christmas lights. This parade actually began at the turn of the 20th century with 9 small water craft, and has grown into a world-renowned holiday event with over 1 million spectators. The boat parade is a 5-day event beginning the 3rd Wednesday in December. Learn more about staying at the Marriott Newport Coast Villas.

Santa Cruz
A fun variation on Christmas parade viewing is when the "parade" is stationary and the spectators move! Try it yourself by riding the Roaring Camp Railroads in northern California at Santa Cruz, just over an hour's drive from San Francisco where you can rent a timeshare. Travel on the "Holiday Tree Walk" train, an old-fashioned steam engine train that takes spectators past festively lighted Christmas trees atop Bear Mountain. The "Santa Cruz Holiday Lights" train carries you in vintage train cars adorned themselves with thousands of brightly lit Christmas lights. You'll roll past Santa Cruz houses bedecked in their holiday finest. On both train rides you'll sip hot cider and munch on delicious Christmas cookies while hobnobbing with Santa and Mrs. Claus. See San Francisco timeshares.

Ever heard of Branson, Missouri? It's known as one of the top family destinations in the country. Staying in the area is budget-friendly when you can rent a timeshare at a great resort for as low as $75/night. Then you can head out and sample live musical shows in over 50 theaters! What a surprise tucked in the quiet Ozarks!

Nicely located in the central part of the United States, Branson is a vacation destination for all seasons. Recreational opportunities abound with the area's three lakes just minutes from downtown Branson, and include everything from scuba diving to fly fishing, from water-skiing to wakeboarding.

Fall
The Ozarks are spectacular in the fall with hills covered in crimson autumn colors. There are many popular ways for leaf-peepers to enjoy the scenery, including train and boat tours. If you want to do your own driving, the Branson visitor's center has drawn up several driving tours to help you find the best views.

Winter
The Christmas holiday season sparkles in Branson with the “Branson Area Festival of Lights Drive-Through”. For a full mile you'll drive past 175 dazzling holiday light displays that will tickle your Christmas fancy. Since 1948 the Adoration Parade has illuminated the "reason for the season" as it winds through Historic Downtown Branson.

In January attend the Annual Professional Ice Sculpting Competition and marvel as ice sculptors from all over the country transform 250-pound blocks of ice into astonishing creations. Or try your luck at the Masters Trout Championship held on Branson's Lake Taneycomo where anglers fly-fish for award winning rainbow and brown trout.

Spring
Plan a family spring-break trip to Branson when the hills are awash with brilliant spring colors. The blooming dogwood and wildflowers turn the Ozarks into an area of true enchantment. Train and boat and driving tours for viewing this spring beauty are available as they are in the fall.

Summer
Activities and fun explode at Branson during the summer, starting in June with the National Kids Fest and the banana split eating contests! Of course, the kids' favorite will be the thrill rides including the multi-looping "Wild Fire" and the corkscrews of "Thunderation."

Oh, and remember those fifty theaters? The dazzling "Strip" rivals Las Vegas but offers wholesome family entertainment. Here you'll see live performances by world famous entertainers. How about Dolly Parton and Andy Williams and the Osmonds and the Lennon Sisters and the Oak Ridge Boys? Or try the tribute shows: Jim Reeves, John Denver, Roy Rogers, and Red Skelton. See Branson timeshares.

(Photo shown is of the Branson Yacht Club)

If your intention is to get really stuffed this Thanksgiving Day - and that's a laudable goal! - you can do it while also having a whole lot of fun by eating your way through the Walt Disney Theme Parks, one turkey drumstick at a time! Each area offers its own version of the traditional Thanksgiving turkey dinner. Here is a sample:

Magic Kingdom
Liberty Tree Tavern - you'll get an authentic New England inspired meal
Tony's Town Square - traditional Thanksgiving with savory Italian tossed in

Epcot
Akershus - everything from chestnut sage stuffing to pumpkin apple crème brulee
Le Cellier - try the herb-crusted roast turkey with mushroom and cornbread stuffing

Disney's Hollywood Studios
Hollywood Brown Derby - traditional Thanksgiving served Hollywood glamour style
50's Prime Time Café - roast turkey dinner is finished off with a spicy pumpkin tart

Disney's Animal Kingdom
Theme ParkTusker House - your turkey is sliced just the way you like it at the Carving Station
The Lodge Boma-Flavors of Africa - roast turkey smothered in a cranberry chutney flavored with special African spices

Disney's Boardwalk Resort
Flying Fish Café - roasted North Carolina Hills free range turkey
Spoodles - Thanksgiving Tradition with a Mediterranean influence

Disney's Yacht Club Resort
Captain's Grille - your traditional Thanksgiving meal begins with a serving of international and domestic cheeses and wild rice salad with apple cider vinaigrette

Disney's Contemporary Resort
Chef Mickey's - for starters, roasted pumpkin bisque with caramelized onions!

Disney's Polynesian Resort
Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show - traditional Thanksgiving meal served with a south-sea island flare includes roast turkey with pineapple coconut stuffing, and for dessert the Kilauea Pumpkin Volcano Delight!

Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort
Mickey's Thanksgiving at the Fort - here your traditional turkey feast is accompanied by a live country-western band and line dancing with your favorite Disney characters!

Rent a Disney timeshare so you'll have plenty of room in which to sprawl out and relax once your eating fest has ended and you can move on to the best Thanksgiving tradition of all - the nap! Bon appetite!

There is absolutely no reason why you have to be bundled to the cold to enjoy your turkey! Rent a timeshare and soak up the sun on a sandy beach. For a great, and warm, family Thanksgiving vacation or a holiday getaway for you retirees - think sun at one of these beach locations!

Miami, Florida, provides several sunny beaches for autumn warmth and relaxation. Rent a Miami timeshare and explore the numerous beaches available right out your backdoor. On Thanksgiving morning be sure to attend the City of North Miami's Winternational Thanksgiving Day Parade, complete with marching bands, colorful floats and laughing clowns. For more ideas, read this article which talks about Miami sightseeing ideas.

San Diego, California, is the west coast's choice for a sun-kissed Fall beach vacation. You can rent a timeshare in San Diego right on the beach. From November 25 through November 29th is the world-renowned San Diego Thanksgiving Jazz Festival. Jazz bands come from all over the globe to what jazz affionados call "the crown jewel of jazz festivals." Enjoy a jumpin' jive turkey dinner to the beat of all kinds of jazz music from traditional jazz to Dixieland to swing styles!

Virginia Beach, Virginia - sun, sand, surf - it's all here. So are non-traditional Thanksgiving dinners such as crab cakes shaped like turkey drumsticks! Ever wonder what happens to retired balloons from the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade? You can see them all here at the Thanksgiving Day Beach Parade along Atlantic Avenue! Beginning November 20th you'll be able to enjoy the unique McDonald's Holiday Lights at the Beach along the beach and the boardwalk. You are invited to actually drive through the dazzling 30-block long light display out on the beach. See Virginia Beach timeshares.

South Padre Island, Texas, is a great place for a tropical Thanksgiving. Rent a South Padre Island timeshare at a luxury resort and invite the entire family to meet on the sun-splashed Gulf Coast. The timeshares' fully-equipped kitchens will allow you to cook your family's favorite traditional turkey dinner, and share it with family members around a diningroom table - or out on the patio or the lanai or the deck or the beach! For more ideas on what to do, see our previous article South Padre Island a Warm Winter Getaway.

Although America's Thanksgiving is quite traditional, you'll find that "tradition" is celebrated in many different ways through-out our country. Here are a few travel destinations you may want to consider for your traditional Thanksgiving vacation.

Old Sturbridge Village, Massachusetts, is the largest outdoor museum in the northeast. Covering 200 acres this living museum revives life in New England from the 1790's to the 1830's. Rent a timeshare in Boston and just an hour's drive will deliver you to one of the most comprehensive Thanksgiving Day celebrations in the country. The Village re-creates an early 19th century traditional Thanksgiving meal prepared over a hearth. After dinner watch the men-folk enjoy a customary shooting match, and join the costumed Village members at an authentic service at the Center Meetinghouse to give thanks.

Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia, offers a full day of authentic Thanksgiving traditions. The day starts early in the morning when costumed bakers deliver baskets of special Thanksgiving baked goodies to the Raleigh Tavern on Duke of Gloucester Street. Later enjoy the lavish Thanksgiving feast at the King's Arms Tavern which includes wines from French vineyards favored by Thomas Jefferson. Rent a Williamsburg timeshare and you'll have the time to enjoy traditional Thanksgiving activities at nearby Jamestown and Yorktown as well.

Disney Theme Parks Thanksgiving Day celebrations are held both at Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Rent a timeshare in Anaheim or find an Orlando timeshare rental and see how Disney magic cooks up Thanksgiving. Disneyland offers the Disneyland Thanksgiving Day Feast, an all-you-can eat buffet with all of the traditional turkey dinner fixings. Held in the Grand Ballroom of the Disneyland Hotel it's attended, of course, by your favorite Disney characters.

At Walt Disney World many of the popular eating places scattered through-out the Resort will be offering traditional Thanksgiving Day fare. An example is the Liberty Tree Tavern that prepares a New England inspired Thanksgiving meal served family-style at the table. See Disney timeshare resorts.

Trying to come up with a great Thanksgiving holiday trip? Here are some ideas for a budget-friendly, family-friendly Thanksgiving vacation. Keep in mind that no matter what the destination, by renting a timeshare you have a homebase from which to explore the surrounding area, all of the amenities of a resort, a fully-equipped kitchen for cooking the important turkey dinner if you choose to "eat in," and all of that for a great low price. Can't beat it!

New York City is one of the most popular Thanksgiving destinations because of the world-famous Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade . You can rent an inexpensive timeshare at the Manhattan Club and still be in the heart of the city. See New York City timeshares.

Ski Colorado where Colorado's famed ski resorts will be up and running by Thanksgiving, thanks to good snowfall already this year. Rent a timeshare at resorts in Aspen, Copper Ridge, Vail or Breckenridge to name just a few, and enjoy early skiing with great conditions but without the bitter cold temperatures of winter. See Colorado timeshares.

The Outer Banks of North Carolina offer several choices for a warm Thanksgiving beach vacation. Rent a timeshare and explore interesting towns such as Nag's Head. At Nag's Head the entire family will enjoy Jockey's Ridge - the highest sand dune on the East Coast. Climb it, slide down it, or hang-glide off of it! See Outer Banks timeshares.

San Antonio, Texas, offers unprecedented beauty for Thanksgiving as fragrant flowers bloom in a colorful array along the famed Riverwalk. At the Wyndham Riverside Suites, in the heart of the Riverwalk, your timeshare will put you in the middle of the many activities San Antonio has to offer, including boat rides along the San Antonio River, a visit to the Alamo, and theme parks such as Six Flags Fiesta Texas. Be sure not to miss the dazzling Holiday River Parade and Lighting Ceremony held the day after Thanksgiving. See San Antonio timeshares.

Plymouth, Massachusetts, is of course the quintessential destination for a Thanksgiving vacation. Rent a timeshare a half-hour away on beautiful Cape Cod, or just an hour's drive in historic Boston, and re-live the beginnings of colonial America with the Pilgrims. Be sure to make reservations to attend the authentic Thanksgiving Feast held at near-by Plimouth Plantation. Learn more about Thanksgiving in Plymouth. See Massachusetts timeshares.

Wherever your Thanksgiving vacation plans take you, it's a special time for family bonding, and your rented timeshare will give you all of the comforts of home for a memorable holiday time together.

Thinking about a Christmas vacation? Think out of the box. Spend Christmas where the roses are blooming and the surf's up. Head to Queensland, Australia!

Queensland is one of Australia's six states and takes up a large chunk of the Australian continent on the northeast corner. Its long shoreline borders both the Coral Sea and the Pacific Ocean. For a full vacation Queensland has it all, from golden beaches to the Outback, from the Great Barrier Reef to tropical rain forests. Use your budget timeshare as home base, and start exploring!

Rent a timeshare at the Surfers Royale resort sits right on the beach on the Gold Coast in Surfers Paradise. Does that give you a hint as to what you might want to do first? Up and down the Gold Coast are some of the best surfing beaches in the world and often you can spot world-class surfers practicing their "cutback on the curl." Each year the Quiksilver Pro at Coolangatta is held as one leg of the ASP World tour of Surfing.

You can also treat yourself to sailing, boating, parasailing and fishing. Not to mention just relaxing on the beach enveloped in warm sun, the smell of salt air, and the sound of crashing waves on the shore.

The famed Australian Outback is right at your back door. The wild beauty of this stunning wilderness is like nowhere else on earth. You'll be able to get a taste of the Outback on a day road trip from your timeshare.

For exciting nightlife, alfresco river-front dining, and cosmopolitan shopping visit Brisbane, just an hour from your timeshare. Brisbane, Queensland's capital, is Australia's third largest and fastest growing city. Or head to the glamour of Gold Coast City, Australia's "Hollywood." Here 75% of Australia's films are made at the many movie studios and sound stages. The latest in the Chronicles of Narnia series is currently being filmed at the Warner Bros. Studio.

Also at Gold Coast City the entire family will "have a blast" at Dreamworld, Australia's largest theme park. Besides thrilling rides for teens and adults, Dreamworld also offers Nick Central, a Nickelodeon-sponsored kid's area, and Wiggles World for toddlers and infants. Or keep your feet on the ground and explore Tiger Island, The Australian Wildlife Experience, and Gold Rush Country. Since Christmas is in the middle of summer in Australia, you can cool off on a hot day at Dremworld's new waterpark, White Water World.

Happy Christmas! And remember - there's always shrimp on the barbee and learning to talk like a fair dinkim Aussie! See all Australia timeshare resorts.