Winter Park Resort

Warm breezes welcome guests as they arrive, taking away the winter blues from those of us traveling from up North. Lighter clothes, a slower pace of life and plenty of fun activities – a great escape from the office chatter.

We stayed at Holiday Inn Club Vacations at Orange Lake Resort in nearby Kissimmee, which was one of the many beautiful resorts in the area. We started to unwind by playing golf and lounging around the pool. The pools are kid-friendly and there are many surrounding play areas to keep them busy.

Our resort was close to Walt Disney World – a great benefit when traveling with kids. One day, we traveled to one of the theme parks and the fun rides kept all of us entertained. The next day, we went to SeaWorld Orlando…it is amazing to see the sophisticated interaction between humans and animals! SeaWorld had a lot of space to sit, eat and walk around. We enjoyed the evening show "A Sesame Street Christmas". The script was good and the actors really brought life to the characters!

I enjoyed every moment in Orlando. The sun warmed the heart, the water got the body moving and the breeze soothed the soul. Orlando really gives a great opportunity to go back in time, to being a kid again!

Want to learn more about Orlando? Come back to the RCI Blog this week to read stories and see photos from RCI subscribing members who have visited here!

I’ve been traveling to Vermont for almost 20 years now and I have so many fantastic memories of my times there.  I first started my relationship with the Green Mountain state as a teenager when I used to trek up North in an attempt to find the most rigorous and challenging ski trails. With more than 15 different mountains and resorts, Vermont offers a wide variety of options for all kinds of skiers and snowboarders, no matter what your skill level.

While the winter may be my favorite time to visit Vermont, I’ve also had the opportunity to experience it in the autumn and summer.  I can honestly say that New England during the height of fall foliage is something that everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime.  The views of the rolling mountains and hills, filled with different hues of yellow, orange and red, are quite breathtaking. Vermont is also a great place to visit in the summer.  One of my favorite memories was when I visited my sister in July and we spent the afternoon walking the streets of Burlington before ending the day relaxing in a park that overlooked Lake Champlain.

This week on the blog, we’ll be featuring stories and pictures about Vermont from RCI subscribing members.  Be sure to check back throughout the week to get some great ideas and information that can help you plan a trip to the Green Mountain state.

I've been lucky over the years... I've lived in some of the most beautiful states in the country. When I was young I lived in Northern California, then we moved to Alaska. I've also lived in Colorado and Connecticut and I've had a job that has taken me to all 50 states... numerous times. Having said that, I think I now live in the best state of all...Utah! You can literally go skiing in the morning and play golf that same afternoon. I love it! And while there are cool cities and towns everywhere in Utah, you have to visit Park City!

Park City is the perfect place - there are three ski resorts within just a few miles of each other - The Canyons, Park City Mountain Resort and Deer Valley. Each has won their share of International awards. One of the things I love about Park City is its easy access. There is a 6 lane freeway (I-80) that runs right past it and you can actually fly into Salt Lake City International airport and be at any of these resorts within 45 minutes.

Park City has just the right mix of locals and tourists. If you like to shop there is a huge outlet mall out by the freeway exit as well and another shopping center less than a mile away that has new cinemas, the latest stores and good restaurants, too. But the best part of Park City is "Historic Main Street". Park City was built up during the 19th century as a mining town and many of the earliest original buildings are still a part of Main Street. Main Street has a little bit of everything... really unique shops and stores selling everything from your typical souvenirs to high-end furs. There are great art galleries and lots of really quaint, local restaurants, diners, coffee shops and ice cream stores. The one thing you won't find on Main Street is any kind of a chain store or restaurant - I absolutely love it.

Park City is a true, four season destination. I live about 45 minutes away and we play in Park City year round. I grew up in Alaska so I definitely like to hit the slopes during the winter. But I also love photography and, during the spring, the mountains and meadows burst with color as a result of all the spring flowers. During the summer we've enjoyed everything from hot air balloon rides to great rounds of golf and lots of outdoor concerts. Fall in Park City is amazing as all the leaves change colors and everything is blazing in oranges, reds, yellows and greens. This is the time of year that we typically use some of our Points and exchange through RCI to stay at any of their affiliated resorts - we really like The Miners Club at The Canyons.

If you like amazing natural beauty with the fun and sophistication of a classy resort town proud of its history and heritage, you will LOVE Park City.  And besides...it seems like the air is always clean and crisp and the sun a little brighter up here. If you haven't been to Park City you really should check it out... and if you have been here, well... I know you'll be back!

This week on the RCI Blog, we’ll be sharing stories and photos from RCI subscribing members who have visited Park City. Be sure to come back to read about their adventures!

For me, I have always associated “vacation” with the Spring and Summer months. Beaches, pools, water parks, and that great summer tan is what always got me inspired to travel to new places. However, while working on the fall issue of Endless Vacation^® magazine, I realized I am missing out on a ton of fun activities and great places.

One article I enjoyed working on was “Virginia is for Wine Lovers.” I have been to Virginia a dozen times, yet I never had the chance to check out Wine Country. Since I live on the east coast, it is a perfect long weekend getaway. I can just imagine the car ride to Virginia…checking out the great scenery and fall foliage.

While researching this article, I was most impressed with all of the different activities the resorts in the area had to offer: indoor water parks, wine tours, horseback riding, even a Murder Mystery Dinner! It turns out there is a lot more to do on vacation in the fall than I thought, especially if you only have a weekend to fit it all in.

After finishing each new issue of Endless Vacation magazine, fellow co-workers typically hear me say “this is my favorite one yet!”…so it is only fitting that I admit this fall issue is one of my favorites. But after seeing what is in store for our Winter issue, I am afraid this one has some tough competition. Looks like I will be packing my bags for fall AND winter!

Be sure to check back on the RCI blog this week. We’ll be sharing stories and photos from other RCI subscribing members who have taken a trip during the fall to experience all that autumn has to offer.

And if you haven’t had a chance to check out the Endless Vacation magazine app for the iPad^®, download it now and take a look at our fall issue!



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In my position here at RCI, I get to hear directly from subscribing members about their timeshare vacation experiences. A lot of our RCI^® subscribing members choose a California vacation for one reason or another, especially in the winter. They talk about the beaches, the wineries, and the good weather — a great combination to warm up any winter. Some of them are planning a stay at a timeshare for a wedding, honeymoon, or anniversary. Some of them are just planning for some time away. Here’s what other RCI members had to say* about their California vacation:

Robert, Palmdale, CA: Our trip to Arnold, California in March was awesome. The Big Trees State Park was just down the road and the kids went snowboarding 20 minutes away. Lots of hiking and fishing. The nearest lake was gorgeous and we saw lots of wildlife. People in the town were really friendly and helpful. The resort was comfy and had a warm feel to it. We want to return there.

Joyce, Salem, NH: My husband and I were excited to plan our exchange trip to Capistrano California.  We exchanged our Cape Cod timeshare for a beautiful two bedroom, two bath timeshare in the Capistrano Surfside Inn. The timeshare was huge and immaculate and the ocean was just across the street.  Also within walking distance was Dante Point which not only had an active harbor and walking areas with fantastic restaurants and shops, but bikepaths as well for those who wanted to bike around the area.  We visited The Mission at Capistrano and walked the small streets with many unique shops.  We chose this place to have a restful holiday and it was, yet there was plenty to do if we chose to do so.  I would highly recommend this paradise area to anyone who wants to vacation in California.  We would definitely visit again, but there are so many beautiful resorts with RCI, we want to try them all.  We love RCI and the wonderful opportunities it offers us in trying new places and seeking new adventures.

Christine, San Bernardino, CA: In the summer of 2007, my husband and I experienced the most wonderful, relaxing vacation week that we have ever had. We decided to stay at WorldMark Angels Camp, California. During the day, we spent time visiting a couple of local wineries and sightseeing. In the evening, we barbecued dinner, relaxed, and escaped the reality of everyday stresses. It was a wonderfully simple and non-hurried vacation and we are looking forward to getting away again in the future!!

* Although we've corrected some spelling and technical errors, these vacation stories from RCI members are otherwise unchanged. They are not meant to inform you about resorts, destinations or about RCI products and services. RCI always recommends that you do your own research when making travel plans.