Timeshare Information

Dollywood is turning 25! The popular theme park built in Pigeon Forge, TN, by singer/song-writer Dolly Parton, is celebrating its 25th Anniversary in 2010. Rent a timeshare in Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg and join in the big celebration.

In 1982 Dolly Parton announced in an interview with Barbara Walters that she wanted to open a theme park in her Tennessee hometown. Enter Ted Miller, General Manager of Silver Dollar City in Branson, MO who, as he says, saw the writing on the wall. "That would have been a formidable competitor," said Miller, and he immediately contacted Parton about forming a partnership with the Herschend Family Entertainment Corp, which runs 26 theme parks around the country. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Dollywood attracted 650,000 visitors its first season. Open just nine months out of the year (late March through the first of January), Dollywood has an astounding 2.5 million visitors annually. Miller attributes the theme park's success to "Perfect branding - with its cultural location near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the most visited national park in the country, and Parton's iconic status as an international celebrity."

Over the past 25 years Dollywood has stayed true to its roots as a complete family entertainment venue with its mountain and musical themes. The 150-acre theme park offers more than 40 rides and attractions; live entertainment featuring country, bluegrass, gospel and mountain music; and numerous crafters authentic to the East Tennessee region. For Parton, Dollywood was mostly about creating jobs for friends, family and people who love to entertain. More than 2,500 people work inside the park.

In just the past four years Dollywood has won 15 major awards, the most of any theme park in America, from the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA), the largest international trade association for permanently situated amusement facilities worldwide. IAAPA represents over 4,500 individual members from more than 90 countries.

Watch for Dolly Parton's television special about Dollywood's 25 year history scheduled to air in July, 2010, on the Hallmark Channel. Then quick! Book a timeshare rental so you and your family won't miss out on the fun and celebration of Dollywood's "Silver Jubilee!"

“Everyone knows that I’m a dreamer, and the 25th anniversary of my Dollywood theme park is the continuation of a country girl’s dream of a special place where families can experience and enjoy all that my Smoky Mountain home has to offer,” Dolly Parton said. “I'm inviting everyone to join us all season long as we celebrate the dreamer in YOU, too!”

See Pigeon Forge timeshares. See Gatlinburg timeshares.

Did you know you can enjoy a kid-friendly vacation in Boston? This imposing cultural and historical city offers so many fun things for kids that it's also considered a great family-friendly vacation destination. Who knew? Rent a Boston timeshare and take your kids to Bean Town, USA.

Follow the red brick road…The Freedom Trail is a 2.5 mile sidewalk, with a distinctive red brick line running down the center, that winds along 16 historic sites, including the Old North Church and the home of Paul Revere. Pick up The Freedom Trail Kids' Guide Book, or check out Boston by Little Feet, a tour perfect for children ages 6 - 12. And every member of the family will get a kick out of riding on the Boston Duck Tour.

Kid-friendly museums abound. At the Museum of Science kids can create virtual fish. At the Children's Museum they can whip up a room full of bubbles, and explore the new interactive exhibit that teaches kids about the city's multicultural neighborhoods. The Museum of Fine Arts offers a Children's Room for ages 6 to 12 with weekly workshops and Family Activity Books.

Head out to sea and the kids can play sea captain aboard the Voyager III at the New England Aquarium. When they go ashore they can make friends with penguins, sharks and eels. A fun water shuttle links the Aquarium to the Charlestown Navy Yard where the kids can clamber all over historic Old Ironsides (the U.S.S. Constitution).

The Boston Common Frog Pond will delight the youngsters with daily activities in the summertime, including a wading pool for the little ones. In the winter the pond converts to a skating rink.

You can even get the kids headed to Harvard by exploring kid-friendly Harvard Yard across the Charles River in Cambridge. Here the kids can bike or rollerblade along the Esplanade or enjoy a scenic boat ride along the river. And at "Susi's A Gallery for Children" your kids can paint their own souvenirs, such as T-shirts and picture frames and other one-of-a-kind items.

While traversing about Boston the kids can play the "find the animal sculptures" game. Hint: there's a 3,000-pound marble Foo dog at the base of China Gate in Chinatown, bronze dolphins at the New England Aquarium, a copper grasshopper weather vane over Fanueil Hall, and bronze ducklings in the Public Garden, inspired by Robert McCloskey's popular children's book "Make Way for Ducklings."

After all of this activity, the kids will be hungry. You can fix them a big pot of Boston's famous molasses covered baked beans in your timeshare kitchen - after all, that's the reason the city is called Bean Town.

(Photo from cityofboston.gov)

Calling all Military Families! The latest news from Washington is that the National Endowment of the Arts is partnering with over 600 museums across the country to offer free admission to military families throughout this summer. There are many budget timeshares available for rent in almost every state, and coupled with free museum admission, you can have an affordable, fun, and amazing summer family vacation.

NEA Chairman Rocco Landesman said he was very pleased by how many museums joined the effort, despite the poor economy, from the Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum to the International Quilt Study Center and Museum in Nebraska. "I think it is good karma for the museums," he said. "Long-term, it promotes museum-going and engagement with the arts." The Defense Department is helping to promote this "Operation Appreciation" offer.
The program, called the Blue Star Museums Initiative, is for active duty military personnel and their families, and runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day, 2010.

All you have to do is think of the museums that you've dreamed of visiting, but could never afford the admission prices. Go ahead - choose just about any one of them - and the doors are opening wide just for you. For example, a San Diego timeshare rental will give you an inexpensive hub from which to not only enjoy great beaches, but also explore 14 participating museums in the area, including the Timken Museum of Art in Balboa Park which houses the Putnam Foundation Collection of European Masters.

Rent a budget San Francisco timeshare downtown, and take the cable car over to the newly-opened Walt Disney Family Museum. Featuring the life and legacy of Walt Disney, as presented by his family, this fun museum exhibits, among other things, film clips that range from experiments with trick shots - such as "unspilling" a glass of milk - to reels that documented Disney's life at home with his family.

You can rent a New York City timeshare and visit the pricey New York Museum of Modern Art. Other great NYC museums participating in this program include the Staten Island Children's Museum, (and remember, a ride on the Staten Island Ferry is always free!) Also, over Memorial Day weekend in New York City, NY Sen. Kristen Gillibrand has announced more than 50 museums and historic sites will offer free admission to military personnel and veterans.

Visit the Blue Star Museum Initiative online for a complete list of all participating museums.

(Photo of Vincent van Gogh's "The Starry Night" from moma.org)

It's summer, the kids are out of school, but you have to work. Well, for some real family fun, consider a kid-friendly business trip! Family Circle Magazine offers this great suggestion: "Are you headed to a top convention city on business? Let the kids tag along, and turn work into a mini family vacation." This idea is especially easy to do when you rent a timeshare - the kids and your spouse will have a comfortable, affordable, home-like place to stay, and a chance to have a surprise vacation - with you!

San Francisco
If you are headed to San Francisco on business, this is a perfect city for bringing the kids along. There is so much to see that the kids will never be bored. Just driving up and down San Francisco's famous hills can rival any theme park ride. And pitching down a steep hill in a cable car can be a thrill. At Fisherman's Wharf the kids will love clambering around the antique schooners, tugs and square rigger sailing ships that line the pier at the San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park. See all San Francisco timeshares.

Washington D.C.
Many of you will probably find yourselves headed to Washington, D.C., on business this summer. Take your kids along - what a great opportunity for them to explore our nation's capital. The highlight, of course, would be the National Mall with its Smithsonian museums, and admission is free! The very kid-friendly "America on the Move" exhibit at the National Museum of American History will be one of their favorites, as well as getting up close and personal with spaceships at the Air and Space Museum. It's also free admission at the National Zoo. Here the entire family will fall in love with Mei Ziang and Tian Tian, the two Giant Pandas on loan from China. See Washington DC area timeshares.

Nashville
Do you have a business trip planned for Nashville? Well, take the kids! A timeshare rental here will give your kids the opportunity to explore this very American city on the shores of the Cumberland River. Known as Music City, USA, Nashville will have everyone’s toes a’tappin’ before the suitcases are even unpacked.

Although the Spring 2010 flooding of various sections of the city has temporarily closed the Grand Ole Opry theater, the Opry show hasn’t misssed a beat. Your family can still enjoy the shows and entertainment of major, and up-and-coming, country music stars as the oldest radio show in history continues to broadcast from two of its former homes. When the theater reopens be sure to take the kids on a behind the scenes tour of the Opry House, complete with great stories about the Opry and its famous members. See Nashville timeshares.

Calling all Keikis! This means children, from toddlers to teens. The fascinating Hawaiian Island of Kauai has a great vacation planned just for you! Have mom and dad rent a Kauai timeshare - tell them there are great timeshares to match any budget - and head to Kauai for some summer fun!

So all of you Makuas (parents) read on…Kauai has an abundance of protected beaches, easy hikes, and family-friendly resorts, making it an ideal kid-friendly (Keiki-friendly!) vacation destination. There are lots of activities that the entire family can enjoy together. For example, criss-crossing the island are easy hiking trails where there are so many sparkling, splashing waterfalls that your Keikis can turn the adventure into a counting game.

At an old historic sugar plantation Keikis will thrill at "mountain tubing" where they "flume" down an old irrigation system in a tube. At Lydgate Beach Park there are two natural lava ocean pools, making for safe, but still fun, swimming for even the littlest Keikis. Here there is even a wonderful wooden play structure that will entertain keikis for hours.

The timeshare resorts all offer Keiki-oriented activities. For example, with a timeshare rental at Marriott's Kauai Beach Club your Keikis will have fun with traditional island games, pool sports, beach games, and even a treasure hunt and an obstacle race.

Rent a timeshare at The Westin Princeville Ocean resort and keikis ages 5 -12 can join the Kids Club. Keikis will be kept busy with authentic Hawaiian games, arts and crafts including lei making, hula dance lessons, and much more.

You Makuas will be interested to know that Kauai is a major site used by movie and television studios. An activity your teens will enjoy is searching out the shooting locations of over 60 feature films and television shows. For example, the hit movies Jurassic Park I, II, and III, King Kong, and Raiders of the Lost Ark, were all filmed on Kauai. The adults in your family will have fun seeing film locations for South Pacific and Six Days Seven Nights, as well as for the television mini-series The Thorn Birds. In fact, tours are available to many famous sites. You'll not only see where the films were shot, but you'll also learn fascinating details about the stars and find out what they did on Kauai while they were here "on location."

For all 'Ohanas (families) - Kauai is calling you. A budget timeshare rental vacation on this wonderful Hawaiian island will give each 'Ohana member memories to treasure for a lifetime.

(Photo from kauaidiscovery.com)

You've heard about timeshares, you're curious, so let's have a healthy discussion of just what exactly is a Timeshare. The term "timeshare" has been bandied about so much that you need to understand what that word really means. When you break the word down, you see that it defines itself: you "share"/"time." And that means that you are part of a group who is sharing the cost of vacation lodgings, and thus sharing the time to use it. It gets more complex when you start learning about the various aspects of timeshare ownership - whether you're purchasing deeded property, the "right-to-use," or even just paying for "points." See a list of timeshare terms and definitions here.

Because of the bad press, so to speak, of timeshare in recent years, due to a few unscrupulous businesses and scam artists, many timeshare companies (for example Disney and Marriott) now call themselves "Vacation Clubs." They are the same thing as timeshares - the new term just has a healthier ring to it today.

What a timeshare is Not is a good real estate investment. When you "buy" a timeshare, you are not investing in actual property. Instead, you are purchasing "time" to use some property. So your timeshare investment does not appreciate like you would expect most real estate investments to.

Buying a timeshare is, however, a "good investment" if you think of a good investment as something you buy that makes your life more fun and easier. Owning a timeshare might force you to take that well-deserved and oft-needed vacation every year. Owning a timeshare makes vacation planning easy since you know well in advance when you're going, where you're going, and what to expect when you get there. Owning a timeshare also allows you to "see the world" for one easy price, as it were, when you use the timeshare exchange program.

How do you know if a timeshare is for you? If you typically can take at least one week of vacation at a time, you're situation is perfect for timeshare. If you are tired of cramming the family into a cramped hotel room, and even having to pay for a second hotel room to accommodate everyone - look at timeshare rental which will give you the living - and relaxing - home-like space of a small apartment, as well as save you money on a per person basis. If you enjoy the amenities of a full-service resort, that can range from waterpark-type swimming pools to golf, or if you'd like to have your own personal space in a great location such as Manhattan or downtown San Francisco, then a timeshare is for you.

Vacationing every year as a timeshare owner could be the thing you do that truly helps create a family bond, and gives everyone in the family wonderful memories to last a lifetime. The best place to start if you are interested in timeshares is by renting one. After that, you can determine if buying a timeshare resale is right for you.

Smuggler's Notch Resort, in Vermont, has been characterized as "Framed by history and surrounded by natural beauty." It has also been described as one of the preeminent Family Resorts in the country, and timeshare rentals here start as low as $71/night.

A four-seasons resort, Smuggler's Notch - nicknamed "Smuggs" - is the quintessential family vacation destination. In the winter world-class downhill skiing is available over the three mountains of Morse, Madonna, and Sterling. Cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and even dog-sledding are also offered. In the spring there is hiking, fishing and biking and during the warm summer months all kinds of water activities are added. When autumn arrives Vermont's breathtaking fall foliage is ever present.

The Smuggler's Notch resort area is named for a narrow notch, or mountain pass, that runs adjacent to Sterling Mountain. The geology of the notch made it well suited for smuggling since the area is heavily forested, remote, and dotted with numerous caves and caverns. In the early 1800s, as a response to the embargo by the U.S. government on British products, smugglers transported illegal goods across the Canadian border. During Prohibition the notch was again used by smugglers with the caves being used for the storage of smuggled Canadian beer, wine and spirits.

Today doing things as a family is fun and easy at Smugglers’ Notch. As it has continued to expand and improve its family offerings it has become the standard by which other family resorts are measured. For example, during the summer, family activities include the Funmeister Family Tubing Party, the Discovery Cookie Race, and the Hawaiian Hula Party. The winter snow offers families such activities as the I-Did-Sled family to family competition, the Snowshoe Cider Walk, and the Torchlight Parade and Fireworks finale.

Doesn't this all sound like a terrific timeshare vacation destination? The entire family, from toddlers to teens, will find plenty to enjoy and rave about at Smuggs. As one official in the resort lending financial industry said of Smuggler's Notch Resort, "The entire operation is run with a passion and excitement directed at creating the best vacation experience possible. It's easy to see why they have such successful resort and timeshare operations."

(Photo shown is the Smuggler's Notch Resort)