1100 FP Mag Spring 05 Printer

the places you go
e d i t o r ’s n o t e
Have you ever returned from a vacation
feeling like it was just what the doctor ordered?
In this issue we take a look at the health
benefits of getting away and how timeshare
owners use their vacations to relieve stress.
Also in this issue, read about the special
Adventure Club and Play Days programs
planned for you in 2005. If you’re interested in
tips on how to book a FairShare Plus
reservation during high-demand periods, check
out the “Plus Pointers” article.
FairShare Plus owners can look forward
to an exciting Annual Meeting this year in
Orlando! Look for details on page 8.
We welcome your comments and
suggestions for stories you’d like to see in future
issues of your magazine.You can mail them to
my attention at the address below, or e-mail
them to faces&[email protected].
For many first-time visitors, the beauty
of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains is a memory
that stays forever, calling you back for more.
Just ask Nancy and Lynn Myers of
Oklahoma City.Though they visit and enjoy
many other Fairfield resorts, they have
Ruth Shively, Editor (and Fairfield owner)
returned to Fairfield Pagosa every year for
over 20 years — and they can’t wait to
come again.
contents
1 . . . The Places You Go
3 . . . Share The Fun
4 . . . Fixed Week Billing Goes Online
5 . . . FairShare Plus Adventures
9 . . . Fairfield Play Days 2005
10 . . . Resort Times
19 . . . The People You Meet
25 . . . Contact Information / Service Corner
26 . . . Owner Information
Fairfield Faces & Places is published quarterly by the FairShare
Vacation Owners Association and participating Fairfield Property
Owners Associations. © 2005 Fairfield Resorts, Inc.,
8427 SouthPark Circle, Orlando, FL 32819. All rights reserved.
On the Cover: For owners Will and Tieah Gunnison, timeshare
ownership guarantees quality vacation time for their family each
year. Having the opportunity to unwind and rejuvenate is a
priority for them.
1
the places you go
he could not join the family outings,
The mountain scenery and open spaces
Steve found his own outdoor fun —
of Pagosa Springs combined with the nearby
fly fishing for trout at the four beautiOld West town of Durango make for a speful lakes at the resort.“He was in
cial all-American vacation with appeal for
heaven,” reports Ann,“and we all
almost everyone. Skiers, hikers, whitewater
enjoyed the trout dinners. If I didn’t
rafters and fishermen find glorious opportuknow better, I might have thought he
nities there, while shoppers head for
hurt himself on purpose.”
Durango’s lures, good restaurants and shops
“Pagosa is ideal for families,” says
with everything from Stetson hats and
Nancy Myers,“because there are so
Indian jewelry to fine china.The famous
Nancy and Lynn Myers hike the
Colorado trail.
many choices.We’ve brought as many
Durango & Silverton steam train trip
as 20 family members with us, driving in a caravan and using
through the mountains, the many scenic auto drives, and the
several units at the resort.The resort is great for fishing, bikchance to visit Southwestern sights such as the cliff dwellings
ing and hiking and some of our family members love the
at Mesa Verde National Park make for wonderful memories.
golfing with mountain views.”
Fishing, a favorite pastime at Pagosa, proved a godsend
Nancy especially enjoys the many scenic drives around
to Ann and Steve Davidson from Muskegon, Michigan.They
the area. Her favorite is along the San Juan Skyway. From
had eagerly planned a week in May last year with their four
Durango, the road clings to a cliff top heading from the
grown children and two daughters-in-law. It was to be the
town of Ouray to the towering summit of Red
family’s first Fairfield vacation and their first time out West,
Mountain Pass and into the old
and they were all looking forward to rafting, horseback rid(continued page 23)
ing and an overnight backpacking mountain hike.Then eight
weeks before they were to leave,
Steve needed back surgery, and a
week before the trip, he broke
the toes on one foot.Though
2
share the fun
Ambassador Rewards Update
One of the great parts of taking a vacation occurs
after you get home.That is the time you get to share
your good times with friends, family and coworkers.
“As a part of their vacation lifestyle, we hope
owners get the chance to share their Fairfield vacation
experiences over and over again,” says Joe Ruby, head of
a new division created during 2004 to focus on
Fairfield’s referral program,Ambassador Rewards.
“Referrals are all about sharing the fun.”
According to Ruby, the division’s goal is, quite
simply, to ensure a positive referral experience for
owners and referrals alike.To accomplish this objective,
there are several key areas that have been addressed
and will continue to be a focus throughout the year:
• Stabilize the current system to ensure that Fairfield
owners receive better communication and timelier
processing of their Ambassador credits.
• Improve the current marketing programs that are
used to introduce owner referrals to Fairfield’s
products and services.
• Develop new initiatives designed to meet the
challenges Fairfield faces in the current regulatory
environment.
“We have made tremendous progress already,
including the successful launch of many on-site referral
contact centers intended to bring closer
alignment between our owners, their
referral guests and the
Fairfield sales
3
representatives,” Ruby cites.“We have also implemented
several system enhancements during the past few
months that have improved the process for maintaining
referral information.” Ruby elaborates that both of these
initiatives enable the organization to be much more
responsive to our owners and their referrals.
Fairfield is
also focusing on
programs that use
the power of the
Internet to help
owners share the
fun online.
“We are
pleased to introduce Fairfield eCards as
our first step, and cordially invite owners to visit
www.fairfieldresorts.com/ecard to learn more about
this easy new way to send personalized eCards to their
referrals,” Ruby says.
Future issues of Fairfield Faces & Places will provide
updates on new features and benefits.“In the meantime,”
says Ruby,“we hope that owners will keep sharing the
fun and take advantage of the benefits of their referral
program.”
Due to various state laws, residents of certain states may
not be able to participate in all aspects of the Ambassador
Rewards program. See Member’s Guide for details.
fairfield programs
Fixed Week Billing
Goes Online!
Our FairShare Plus owners enjoy the convenience of
12 monthly automatic payments for their annual assessment.
Fairfield now offers fixed and flex week owners the ability to
pay their annual assessment online by credit card or check
card! Those who received an annual billing recently should
have also received a letter describing this new feature. Not
only can owners make payments online at the new Web
site, but they can also verify and update address, city, state,
zip, telephone and e-mail information.The Web address is
https://www.efairfield.com/secure/logon.asp.
The site was developed to be simple to access — all
you need is your Project/Contract ID and mailing address
zip code. Once that information is entered, you create a
password and voilá — you’re ready to review your
information and make a payment! If you have provided
your e-mail address, you will even receive an e-mail
confirmation with all your payment information. Having
trouble using the site? Don’t worry — we’ve included a
link on the front page that walks you through the
instructions step by step.
Not only is the site easy to use, it’s also secure. It
employs 128-bit encryption and a VeriSign-provided
security certificate, meeting the industry standards in
online security. So plug in, log on and take us for a test
drive.We think you’ll enjoy this easy-to-use addition to
the services we provide Fairfield owners.
Should you have any maintenance fee billing or
collections questions related to the resorts listed below,
you can either e-mail [email protected]
or call 800-225-3522.
Atlantic Beach
Avenue Plaza
Bay Voyage Inn
Bluebeard’s Castle
Pirate’s Pension
Bentley Brook
Blue Ridge Village I
Blue Ridge Village II
Bluebeard’s Beach Club
Elysian Beach Resort
Inn on Long Wharf
Inn on the Harbor
Long Wharf Resort
Mirror Lake
Mirror Lake II
Newport Onshore
Newport Overlook
Ocean Gate
Ocean Palms
Orlando Int’l. Resort Club
Palm-Aire
Ocean Club
Riverside Suites
Sandpebble Beach Club
Sands
Santa Barbara
Sea Gardens Cabanas
Sea Gardens Key West
Sea Gardens Oceanview
Sea Gardens Waterfalls
Sea Mystique
Tamarack
Dear Valued Owner,
There are many ways
Fairfield can add more value to
your ownership — warm
hospitality, exceptional service
and additional program benefits
are just a few. Probably the most
exciting is when we announce
new resort locations, adding more pages to your family’s
“dream book” of vacation destinations.
As the number of FairShare Plus owners grows, we
continue to add new options.You’ve already heard about
our newest Orlando location, Bonnet Creek Resort,
which opened in November immediately adjacent to Walt
Disney World Resort.And last fall, you got a sneak preview
of Fairfield Atlantic City at Skyline Tower (opening May
2005) in Faces & Places.This year we’ll be adding new
towers at Ocean Boulevard in Myrtle Beach and Grand
Desert in Las Vegas (both available Fall 2005).
In this issue I’m pleased to share with you news of
several resort locations that are planned to be available to
FairShare Plus owners. We now own 50 units in Lake
Tahoe at Fairfield Tahoe at South Shore (available now).
We are also adding a new property in Destin, Florida,
called Fairfield Destin at Beach Street Cottages (expected
completion is Spring 2005). Located across the street
from the Gulf of Mexico, the resort features 48 units in
24 Key West-styled buildings.
We are also planning additional resorts in both New
Orleans and San Antonio (late 2006). Fairfield New
Orleans at La Belle Maison, located in the Crescent City’s
warehouse district adjacent to the French Quarter, will
offer 119 units. Fairfield San Antonio at La Cascada,
located along the River Walk less than two blocks from
San Antonio’s River Walk loop, will add 100 units to our
growing portfolio.
We hope you’ll be as excited as we are about these
planned additions to the FairShare Plus portfolio of resorts!
Warmest Regards,
Mary Mahoney
Executive VP
Hospitality & Resort Operations
continued on page 24
44
F O R
F A I R S H A R E
P L U S
M E M B E R S
Adventures
New Destinations . New Memories . A World Of Possibilities .
Fairfield Branson at Mountain Vista
Branson Activities Program Is Tops
According to the latest RCI ratings, Fairfield Branson at
Mountain Vista ranked in the top one percent of North
American resorts for in-house activities and recreation.That
means guests at Mountain Vista and The Falls have access to
one of the best activities programs in the country! Whether
it’s on-site activities, group excursions to area shows or
relaxing lake cruises, there’s never a dull moment in Branson.
Themed parties are planned for every night of the
week.This spring, Sundays kick off the fun with a guest
reception, followed by Monday’s Wine & Cheese party
featuring live entertainment by area performers.Tuesday is
Lasagna Lounge Lizard Night with zany acts by the staff and
audience participation, and Wednesdays feature Stroganoff
Night complete with a meal and entertainment, followed by
the “Not So Newly Wed Game.” Chicken & Pickin’ happens
on Thursdays and features a country band and, of course,
fried chicken. Friday offers the ’50s Burger Feast complete
with a rock ’n’ roll band and unlimited burgers and hot dogs!
According to Activities Manager John Spencer, new ideas
are always being introduced and themes change periodically
5
(Teen Night during Spring Break, for example). Specialty
parties are also popular at this 166-unit resort. A wonderful
gift for that special someone is the Valentine Candlelight
Dinner with live music and champagne.The resort’s 4th of
July celebration boasts tons of family games from waterballoon tosses and gunny-sack races to watermelon seedspitting contests and pie eating. Other holidays are also
observed, with lots of Easter fun, picnics planned for Labor
and Memorial Day celebrations, and Thanksgiving dinner with
all the trimmings.
The list of planned activities for kids and adults is almost
endless, ranging from “happy birthday to me” kids’ parties,
tiny tot cheerleading, water Olympics, tap-dancing lessons,
movies, magic workshops and puppet making for the kids, to
fitness walks, water aerobics, nutrition bingo, massage classes
and tai chi for adults.You can learn juggling or line dancing
…compete in air hockey and darts tournaments…take the
family fishing with a member of the staff…test your cardplaying skills at Poker Partners Night…and even learn scuba
diving at the pool!
The resort’s Activities Department can also get you the
cheapest discounted show tickets in town on certain days of
the week. Staff members make the arrangements for tickets
and meet guests at the show 30 minutes prior to ensure that
all goes well, even making sure that Fairfield guests are seated
together.The staff tries to offer a diverse schedule to appeal
to all types of interests — from country, ’50s and ’60s shows
and magic acts to Cirque du Soleil and Broadway-type
shows. Also offered are discounted tickets to attractions like
Ripley’s Believe It or Not and the American Presidential and
Roy Rogers-Dale Evans museums.
In case you don’t want to leave the resort, Fairfield
Branson at Mountain Vista provides recreational amenities
you can take advantage of on your own schedule — indoor
and outdoor pools, gym, sauna, tanning bed, pool tables,
shuffleboard, basketball, arcade room and a plethora of board
games. No interest is without an outlet at Fairfield Branson
at Mountain Vista.
F O R
F A I R S H A R E
P L U S
M E M B E R S
Adventure Club
Get Ready For 2005!
May 12-15
Atlantis
Paradise Island, Bahamas
June 2-5
Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort and Spa
Beaver Creek, Colorado
Get ready to unwind and make footprints in the sand at the
luxurious Atlantis resort, where a beautiful water-view room
awaits you. Enjoy a catamaran cruise aboard the Seahorse and
snorkel in the crystal clear waters of one of The Bahamas’
most beautiful reefs, or head to the Blue Lagoon for a thrilling
“Dolphin Encounter.” Discover the world’s largest marine
habitat, ride on the water slides, enjoy the resort’s worldfamous casino and relax on unspoiled beaches.You’ll also
explore the city of Nassau and dine at one of Atlantis’ best
restaurants. Come with us as we discover a lost continent!
Mark your calendar for an exciting adventure filled with fresh
mountain air and fabulous vistas in the glorious Rocky
Mountains! Accommodations are reserved for you at the Park
Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort and Spa located in the heart of
the charming, Alpine-style Beaver Creek Village. Enjoy the
rivers of Vail Valley while whitewater rafting, take an exciting
Jeep tour through the White River National Forest or experience the fresh mountain air while horseback riding. One night
we’ll dine at an upscale cabin restaurant — a top-of-themountain treat that will delight you with its spectacular views.
We are now taking reservations, but act soon as space is limited!
For reservations, call 1-800-251-8736 — select option 1 for reservations, then option 1 again for FairShare Plus.
For more details, visit us online at www.fairfieldresorts.com/member and click on Adventure Club.
Chicago Holiday Adventure Club Trip Gets Rave Reviews!
What an adventure! The Chicago experience was beyond our expectation; the selected activities were superb, the accommodations were
beautiful and rich with historical distinction, and the organization was impeccable.Yet what radiated the most throughout the entire time
was the warmth and friendliness of the Fairfield staff, owners and guests. Having my teenage granddaughter with me was such a privilege.
…it was a wonderful opportunity to experience one-on-one closeness and bonding along with exciting activities that sealed a special
relationship that will last forever. [Because of Adventure Club we were able to] see and do unexpected, out-of-the-ordinary things that
would not be afforded to an occasional traveler. I eagerly look forward to more Adventure Club travel. Come join in the fun!
– Norma Eastep, Oklahoma City, OK
The trip turned out to be more than either Betty Lou or I expected. I only signed up to get rid of
some points that I was going to lose, but I now will start scrambling to find the points to either
join you all in the Bahamas or one shortly thereafter.The group was the right size so one could
interface and get to know everyone.The bottom denominator of the group was that everyone
was a traveler and this gave everyone a baseline from which to have conversations and exchange
their travel experiences.The length of time of the trip was also on the money. … It is tough to
place a value on all these intangibles, but compared to a Fairfield or RCI week vacation stay, the
intangibles, from my perspective, sure make it a good value for the points used. – Jack Sharkey,
Alexandria, VA
Everyone was delightful and fun and the weekend superb! Thanks too for the “goodies” left in the rooms…such a lovely surprise each
night.The company, the food, the organization and planning — my hat’s off to you. – Diane Appleby-Driskell, Las Vegas, NM
6
F O R
F A I R S H A R E
P L U S
M E M B E R S
Plus Pointers
The Rotating Priority List
Last quarter we discussed different ways to make
reservations through FairShare Plus and stressed the
importance of planning early and being flexible.We
encouraged you to take advantage of the Advance
Reservation Priority feature to book as early as possible at
your home resort.
One of the great things about FairShare Plus is the many
options you have to choose from! Booking at your home
resort is a good way to plan ahead but you’re not limited to
vacationing at the resort where you own in FairShare Plus.
What if you want to make reservations for a busy holiday
season or special event week at a Fairfield location that’s not
your home resort?
It is often difficult to find availability during these highdemand times even if you make your request right when the
10-month booking window opens. So, rather than trying year
after year to time it just right and beat out all the other
owners, why not try using our Rotating Priority List?
The Rotating Priority List was created to give owners a
chance to experience resorts other than their home resort
during holiday or peak travel times.This includes
Easter/Spring Break, 4th of July week, Christmas and New
Year’s weeks,Thanksgiving week and other special event
weeks at specific resorts.
Just follow these simple steps to get on the list:
• Call the Vacation Planning Center, or submit your request
online, as far as 22 months in advance of the week you are
requesting.
• You can be placed on the list as long as you have the points
required for each reservation you are requesting.
• Names are placed on the list in the order in which they
are received.
• You will receive a written notification letter with
instructions as to when to call for reservations.
• As instructed in your letter, call back to request your
reservation on the date provided.
(continued page 8)
At A Glance
Travel Planning Calendar
If you are ready to plan your next vacation now, the following chart should be used as a guide for good availability.
Summer travel is booking quickly, so we recommend booking online today at www.fairfieldresorts.com/member.
Feb. -Apr. 2005
May - July 2005
Aug. - Oct. 2005
Nov. 2005 - Jan. 2006
Bay
Atlantic City
Alexandria
Alexandria
Branson
Berkshires
Atlantic City
Destin
Glade
Branson
Destin
Durango
Las Vegas (Grand Desert)
Daytona Beach
Flagstaff
Fort Lauderdale (Royal Vista &
Nashville
Fort Lauderdale (Palm-Aire)
Harbour
Ocean Ridge
Glade
Sedona
Flagstaff
Orlando (Cypress Palms &
Nashville
Smoky Mountains
Hawai‘i
Orlando (Cypress Palms &
Mountains
Las Vegas (Grand Desert)
Myrtle Beach
Myrtle Beach
Star Island)
Pagosa
Star Island)
Smoky Mountains
Pagosa
Ocean Ridge
Ocean Ridge
Williamsburg
Smoky Mountains
Orlando (Cypress Palms &
Orlando (Bonnet Creek)
Star Island)
7
Sea Gardens)
Sedona
F O R
F A I R S H A R E
P L U S
M E M B E R S
Don’t Miss The
FairShare Plus Annual Meeting
The Annual Meeting of the FairShare Vacation Owners
Association will be held Thursday and Friday, May 5 and 6.
Based on feedback from many owners, the city chosen for
this year’s meeting is Orlando and the site will be the
Wyndham Orlando Resort.The event promises to be an
exciting one, filled with valuable workshops, prize giveaways
and plenty of opportunities to interact with other owners
and Fairfield management and staff.
Activities will get under way on Thursday evening with
a “Cinco de Mayo” cocktail party at Fairfield’s newest
property, Fairfield Orlando at Bonnet Creek Resort! You’ll
have a chance to tour this beautiful resort (which is located
immediately adjacent to the Walt Disney World® Resort) and
perhaps even win a prize.
Friday’s program at the Wyndham will begin with
concurrent owner training workshops in the morning
followed by lunch and the Annual Meeting, where you’ll hear
about everything Fairfield is doing to enhance your
ownership for 2005 and beyond.The day will close with a
Q&A session, grand prize drawing and desserts and coffee.
Please mark your calendar and plan to attend.You can
make a FairShare Plus reservation at one of Fairfield’s
Orlando resorts, or reserve a room at the Wyndham
Orlando Resort. More details will be available as plans unfold
for this year’s exciting event.Watch for news in Adventures
Online, or visit the Web site at www.fairfieldresorts.com/member.
The site for this year’s Annual Meeting will be the Wyndham Orlando Resort, located on
International Drive amid 42 acres of tropical gardens and winding lagoons.
Owners attending the FairShare Plus Annual Meeting will be treated to a reception at
Fairfield’s new Bonnet Creek Resort on Friday evening.
Online Reservations
Improve Again!
Fairfield is pleased to announce an enhancement
to the Online Reservation System.With the addition of
credit card processing, owners now have the ability to
rent points, pay transaction fees and rent housekeeping
credits all online. It’s easier than ever for you to plan
your vacation with the click of your mouse.
To take advantage of the Online Reservation
System, log into the member’s section of our Web site
(www.fairfieldresorts.com/member), click on the “Plan My
Vacation” section and select the Online Reservations
button. Begin by searching for an available resort and
entering vacation search criteria to check availability. If you
meet the Online Reservation guidelines, you can book the
unit online by simply following the steps on the Web pages.
It’s that simple!
from page 7
- If there is availability, you will be able to confirm your
vacation provided you have the necessary points in
your account. Borrowing or renting of points is not an
option for this feature.
- If there is no availability, you can remain on the list for
the next year, moving up as owners ahead of you make
their reservations and drop off the list.
Even though a reservation isn’t guaranteed, using the
Rotating Priority List increases your chances of taking a
vacation during high-demand periods, eliminates the need
to keep calling back to check for availability, and gives you
yet another option to help you get the best value for
your points. Chances are good that with a little patience,
you will get the reservation you want.
8
fairfield programs
Fairfield Play Days 2005!
Look for and enjoy all of the Play
Days promotions coming your
way in 2005. For more
details on these exciting
activities, including participating
resorts, go to the member Web site at
www.fairfieldresorts.com/member and click on Fairfield
September –
Richard Petty
Promotion
September 16-29
If you’ve got the
need for speed,
you won’t want to miss this! Fairfield
joins forces with the Richard Petty
Driving Experience, putting you in the
driver’s (or passenger’s) seat of an actual
Nextel Cup stock car. You’ll experience
the thrill of driving at speeds up to 125
mph and “racing” to the finish line.You’ll
have plenty to talk about the rest of your
Fairfield vacation!
Play Days. Keep checking back for updates, and watch
future issues of Fairfield Faces & Places for more news.
April – Bloom Into Spring April 1-14
Participating Fairfield resorts will Bloom Into Spring
this April with wine-tasting and garden tours. Several
locations will feature gardening demonstrations to help
get your green thumb ready for the spring and summer
months. It’s also an opportune time to visit a favorite
Fairfield resort and enjoy food- and wine-tasting events and delicious
cooking demonstrations.
May – Mother’s May May 6-19
One of our most popular events from 2004 is back, as
Mother’s May offers a variety of activities and programs
for moms.We honor mom on Mother’s Day, and
Mother’s May will make them feel just as special —
with spa services, yoga classes, personal training/organized walks and much more.There’s nothing mom loves more than a vacation,
so this May bring her to Fairfield.
June – Father’s Family Fun June 17-30
In June, it’s Dad’s turn as Play Days brings back Father’s
Family Fun — and a full slate of activities to keep the dad in
your life busy and happy before, during and after his special
day, Father’s Day. From tennis tournaments and golf to
simply relaxing by the pool with family, Father’s Family Fun
offers the perfect getaway for the important dad in your life.
9
September and
November –
Edwin Watts
Golf Tour
The first Fairfield Fall
Golf Tour was a huge
success! Don’t miss out in 2005 —
details and site locations to be
announced soon.
October –
Halloween
Happenings
October 21-31
All of the little
ghosts and goblins
will love spending Halloween with
Fairfield! Bring the whole family for some
ghoulish fun at the resort and in the surrounding area.
December –
Get Ready for
the Holidays
Shopping Trips
December 2-15
Fairfield will take
you to some of the finest shopping areas
as we get ready for the holidays — with
organized shopping excursions that let
you shop ’til you drop.
the
M A R C H
2 0 0 5
-
M A Y
Wherever your next vacation takes you, be certain that good times lie ahead
— whether it’s taking part in the activities your resort has planned, or stepping out and discovering the destination. Keep in mind your resort concierge
or activities staff can provide additional information, including pricing and
schedules, on programs taking place on-site and off. Tickets and discounts to
local attractions and area activities are also available and vary by site. Be sure
to inquire what is offered at your destination!
F L O R I D A
Fairfield Destin The “world’s luckiest fishing
village” entertains a full spring schedule. Join
thousands of fanatics at Harbor Docks for the
World Championship Cobia Tournament
March 18 through May 8, and again for the
Crab Crunchers weekend fishing tournament
April 8-10. • The First Friday Concert Series at
Destin Commons Center Plaza entertains visitors with food sampling, face painting and
more March 4, April 1 and May 6. • Delight in
the Irish sounds of Henri’s Notions and the
bagpipes and drums of the Tallahassee Pipe
Band at St. Patty’s Day Delight at the Village of
Baytowne Wharf Events Plaza March 17. Also
at the village, auto enthusiasts won’t want to
miss the Exotic/Antique Car Show April 24-25.
• Take the family to Kidz on the Coast
Anniversary Celebration offering face painting,
clowns, bounce house, entertainment and more
March 19 at Destin Commons. • The Indian
Temple Mound Museum holds an open house
for its 12th Annual Archaeology Day March
19. Then April 29 to May 1, don’t miss
“Musical Echoes” with performances by Native
American artists, seminars on flute making and
Photo: VISIT FLORIDA
Destin’s famous fruitful waters offer anglers some of the best
sport fishing in the country.
2 0 0 5
as volleyball contests and more March 14-31
near Main Street Pier. • Go back in time as
Mary McCloud Bethune Performing Arts
Center presents the Broadway spectacular
“GREASE!” featuring rock ’n’ roll classics from
the ’50s April 8. • Seafood lovers, don’t miss
the 6th Annual Shrimp Fest at the Inlet Harbor
Marina & Restaurant April 24-25, with live
music and magnificent shrimp dishes from
around the globe. • On May 8, sample from
over 40 beers from around the world, listen to
live blues and jazz, and browse the antique car
show at the Beer and Blues Festival, Riverfront
Marketplace. • May 20-22 is Jeep Beach 2005
featuring trail rides, fishing trips, river cruises,
pool deck activities, beach parade, children’s
play areas, food courts and fireworks at the
Photo: Daytona Beach Area CVB
Enjoy fresh seafood and harbor views at Daytona’s 6th
Annual Shrimp Fest April 24 and 25.
playing, and an outdoor market. • The
Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra wraps
up its season with “Mighty Beethoven” at the
Okaloosa Walton College Art Center on April
15. • Slip down to the Market Shops of
Sandestin for the 19th Annual Sandestin Wine
Festival April 21-24. • The Emerald Coast Boat
Show reels in boaters and anglers of all ages
with over 400 types of boats, marine accessories, fishing clinics and kids’ activities May
19-22 at the Emerald Coast Conference
Center. Come see why Destin is called the
jewel of the Emerald Coast.
Fairfield Daytona Beach VroomVroom! Daytona Beach is known for
its world-famous Bike Week. Catch
motorcycle shows, exhibits, concerts and
festivals on Main Street March 4-13. Then
head over to the Daytona 200 by Arai
Motorcycle Race March 12 at the Daytona
Beach International Speedway. • Meander
through over 20 downtown locations and partake of savory wine and food samples at the
Daytona Beach Wine and Food Festival, March
13 at Riverview Marketplace on Beach Street. •
Spring breakers can catch beach festivities such
Photo: Orlando CVB
See the natural side of Florida on an airboat tour of Central
Florida’s wildlife. You may even spot a Florida alligator.
Daytona International Speedway and DAYTONA USA. This spring head outside for great
fun at the World’s Most Famous Beach!
Fairfield Orlando Spring is a great time to
appreciate Orlando’s location close to
so many natural attractions. Glide through the
Central Florida wetlands at speeds of 50
miles per hour by
airboat, spotting
exotic birds,
beautiful habitats and the
world-famous
Florida alligator. • Things get sweeter at the
Florida Strawberry Festival with arts and crafts,
petting zoo, food, contests, top-name entertainment, parades and more in nearby Plant City
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March 3-13. • The 46th Annual Winter Park
Sidewalk Art Festival features a juried selection
of national and international artists in downtown Winter Park March 18-20. • Celebrate
spring at its most colorful at the Epcot
International Flower and Garden Festival April
15 through June 5, with fragrant flower bed
displays, topiaries and beautiful gardens. •
Then take in the 17th Annual Maitland Spring
Arts & Fine Crafts Festival April 16-17 at Lake
Lily Park, featuring fine arts and crafts, jewelry,
ceramics, children’s activities and live music. •
Walt Disney World joins sister park Disneyland
(in California) as it celebrates 50 years with
“The Happiest Celebration on Earth,” beginning May 5. Look for a new musical,
Cinderellabration, opening at the Magic
Kingdom in the spring; Lucky the Dinosaur,
the first-ever Audio-Animatronics® figure,
debuting in May at the Animal Kingdom; and
Disney’s California Adventure, a hang-gliding
ride over the Golden State, opening in May at
Epcot. • The Zellwood Sweet Corn Festival
shucks off May 28-30, attracting locals to its
arts and crafts, live entertainment, concessions
and, of course, sweet corn! Orlando is the perfect place to enjoy the magical life of spring.
200 diving-related exhibitors gather for the
Ocean Fest Dive & Adventure Sports Expo
2005 on A1A just south of Las Olas Boulevard.
• Pompano Beach’s Seafood Festival delivers a
variety of fresh local seafood, arts and crafts,
music and more April 22-24. Then catch the
Pompano Beach Fishing Rodeo offering over
$100,000 in cash and prizes May 19-22. •
Downtown West Palm Beach welcomes over
300,000 people for SunFest 2005 April 27 to
May 1, featuring more than 50 concerts,
juried art show, fine craft marketplace and
fireworks. • Look to the sky April 28 to
May 1 for the McDonald’s Air & Sea Show,
touted as one of the world’s largest spectator
Photo:WCTC/JakeMcGuire.com
Fairfield Fort Lauderdale Let South Florida
entice you outdoors this spring with morning
fishing excursions, afternoon rounds of golf
and evening strolls on the beach. • Shop at the
Swap Shop, one of the largest outdoor markets
of its kind, or go more upscale at nearby
Galleria Mall or the world-famous Sawgrass
Mills Mall. • Join the Single Seniors Dinner
Cruise aboard the Serenity Yacht, featuring an
evening cruise on the Intracoastal Waterway
and a romantic dinner at one of South Florida’s
finest restaurants — Joe’s Riverside Grille. •
The 17th Annual Las Olas Art Fair features a
Photo: VISIT FLORIDA
Experience pure vacation paradise in Fort Lauderdale as you
swim, snorkel and sail in the beautiful aquamarine waters.
street festival with the finest national and international artists, music and food March 5-6 on
Las Olas Boulevard. Then on March 10, return
for the Las Olas Wine & Food Festival. •
Enjoy Bahamian and Caribbean-style delicacies,
music and free seminars April 22-24 as over
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Don’t miss the Cherry Blossom Festival March 26 through
April 11 during your visit to Old Town Alexandria.
events, with concert, fireworks and air shows
featuring the U.S. Navy Blue Angels on Fort
Lauderdale Beach. Whatever your pace, Fort
Lauderdale will keep you moving.
house
Orangerie, open
only during this time. •
Mount Vernon also hosts its Wine
Festival & Sunset Tour May 13-15,
highlighting our founding fathers’ wine
endeavors with live entertainment, reenactments and tours of rarely open cellar vaults. •
Taste of DC, the largest outdoor food and
music festival on the East Coast, celebrates the
rich culture of the area May 28-30 downtown.
• The Smithsonian Washington Craft Show
features more than 100 juried exhibitors of
American contemporary works made of glass,
jewelry, leather and more at the National
Building Museum April 14-17. Washington is
the perfect touring spot for spring.
Fairfield Williamsburg (VA) Soak in the
history of Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown
and Yorktown this spring. Colonial
Williamsburg presents the spring of 1774
S O U T H E A S T
Fairfield Washington, D.C. Washington
bustles with activity this spring. Green prevails
at the Old Town St. Patrick’s Day Celebration
& Parade March 5 featuring the Fun Dog
Show at Market Square, Classic Car
Competition on Royal and Pitt streets, and
parade complete with bagpipers down King
Street. Or catch the St. Patrick’s Day Parade on
Constitution Avenue March 13. • The capital’s
fabled cherry blossom trees herald in the
National Cherry Blossom Festival March 27 to
April 11, featuring a parade with international
performance troupes, Japanese Street Festival
and sushi and sake sampling. • Go fly a kite at
the Smithsonian Kite Festival, where kite
designers and flyers of all ages compete for trophies at the Washington Monument April 2. •
Touted as “America’s Largest Open House,”
Historic Garden Week offers visitors over 30
tours to 250 of Virginia’s most beautiful gardens, homes and historic landmarks across the
state April 16-24. Drink in spectacular blooms
at Mount Vernon’s Gardening Days (April 16
to May 1), a garden and gift sale of ornaments,
plants and books featuring Washington’s green-
Photo: Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation
Military re-enactors depict soldiers throughout history in
“Military Through the Ages” at Jamestown Settlement.
March 14 with important real-time events such
as the signing of the Boston Port Bill and the
first Intolerable Acts by King George III (a
retort to the Boston Tea Party). • Colonial
Williamsburg’s Dewitt Wallace Decorative Arts
Museum celebrates Women’s History Month
throughout March. • Head to Jamestown
Settlement for “Military Through the Ages,”
featuring re-enactments of military encounters,
soldier camp life and weaponry March 19-20.
Join them again May 14 for Landing Day,
Jamestown’s 398th founding anniversary featuring maritime demonstrations and interpretive
activities. • During Historic Garden Week,
April 16-24, you can tour several James River
plantations not usually open to the public,
including Tuckahoe Plantation, a boyhood
home of Thomas Jefferson. • The 42nd Annual
Art on the Square welcomes thousands to
Enjoy the Tryon Palace gardens and the spring season’s peak
bloom during Gardeners’ Weekend April 8-10.
downtown Williamsburg April 24 for handcrafted art in Merchants Square. • Head to
Yorktown Visitor Center May 27-29 for Civil
War Weekend, including special Memorial Day
ceremonies at Yorktown National Cemetery
and Confederate Cemetery. • Allow the kids to
run wild at Busch Gardens, opening March 19
(weekends in April). Check out the new thrill
ride “Curse of DarKastle,” a journey through a
Bavarian castle frozen in time. • Or take an
easy day trip to Virginia Beach, Norfolk’s
waterfront, the Outer Banks, or Monticello in
nearby Charlottesville. Let history be your
guide in historic Williamsburg.
Fairfield Harbour (NC) New Bern offers a
full schedule of spring activities to keep you
occupied. Don green and head to Emerald Isle
for the St. Patrick’s Day Festival March 12 with
music, over 75 craft vendors, green beverages,
corned beef and cabbage and more. • Thomas
the Train and friends visit the Carolina Coastal
Railroaders Model Train Show at New Bern
High School March 12-13, where several operating train layouts will be displayed. • You’ll
love the New Bern Preservation Foundation
Antiques Show & Sale March 19-20, displaying
18th- to early 20th-century furniture, clothing
and collectibles. • The Decorative Arts
Symposium hosts nationally recognized speakers March 20-22 at Tryon Palace, featuring
meals, social events and special tours. • New
Bern’s historic homes, churches and landmarks
open for guided tours April 8-9 during Spring
Historic Homes and Gardens Tour, an event
concurrent with Tryon Palace’s Gardeners’
Weekend April 8-10. Enjoy a free stroll
through the gardens’ tulips and other spring
blooms, peruse the Heritage Plant Sale April 89, and gather spring planting ideas at the Crafts
and Garden Shop’s open house April 8. • Let
the kids loose on a 60-foot obstacle course at
Festival of Fun April 16, also featuring train
and pony rides and exhibits at Union Point
Park. • Look to the big blue (sky) for the
famous MCAS Cherry Point Air Show in
Havelock May 6-8 with kids’ activities, concerts, the flying feats of the Blue Angels and
other aerobatic acts. With the Outer Banks and
Beaufort Inlet a short drive away, this is the
perfect place to unwind.
Fairfield Mountains (NC) Outstanding
scenery, roadside wildlife and recreational
opportunities make visits to the Blue Ridge
Parkway a favorite family outing. Stop at
Shining Rock Wilderness for a hike on one of
its 25 miles of trails, picnic at Craggy Gardens
or visit the highest point in the eastern U.S. at
Mount Mitchell. • “Mountain Opulence”
showcases the grand resort hotels of western
North Carolina during the late 19th century at
Asheville’s Smith-McDowell House Museum
beginning March 1. • Take the family on a
guided hike and learn about reptiles, wildflowers and animal tracking at Chimney Rock Park.
Its Annual Sunrise Service March 27 will leave
you with a memorable Easter experience. •
Over 30 creatively designed full-size bears are
displayed along Main Street during Bearfootin’
in Hendersonville starting April 23. Enjoy the
costumed banjo and fiddle players along
Hendersonville’s sidewalks at the Olde Tyme
Music Festival May 7-8. • BoogieFest invites
everyone to dance the night away to music
from the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s at the Foundation
at Isothermal May 14. • Take in a weekend of
wine tasting, cooking presentations and jazz
during Biltmore Estate Winery’s Alfresco Jazz
Weekend May 28-29. • Heritage Alive! Festival
Memorial Day weekend features military
encampments from 1750-1948, award-winning
barbeque and craft demonstrations at SmithMcDowell House Museum. • Stoneleaf: A
Festival of North Carolina Theatre will be hosted at multiple venues in downtown Asheville
and the Folk Art Center on the Blue Ridge
Parkway with diverse live performances May 27
to June 5. • The Folk Art Center offers daily
craft demonstrations and education events
beginning in March. Let the split-rail fences,
old farmsteads and sweeping mountain vistas
carry you away to North Carolina.
Photo: NC Division of Tourism
The Blue Ridge Parkway’s flowering shrubs put on a springtime show for visitors.
Fairfield Sapphire Valley (NC) Spring arrives
in the mountains with a rush of colorful, fragrant blossoms. See the striking tulip display in
the Biltmore Estate’s Walled Garden at Festival
of Flowers April 2 to May 1. Enjoy native and
exotic blooms along the walking trails and natural gardens, dancing and whimsical skits
weekends at Biltmore, and wine programs and
music at the winery with weekend children’s
activities. • Ignite your taste buds at the Annual
Chili and Salsa Cook-off at the Highlands
Conference Center March 5, featuring zesty
chili and salsa sampling, live entertainment and
dancing. • Franklin’s Go Fly a Kite Festival
takes off at Macon County Recreation Park
April 2 with family fun for all. • Hundreds of
cyclists from across the country converge on
Cashiers April 17 for the annual 100-mile Tour
de Cashiers. • Just north of Franklin the
famous Cowee Valley lures thousands to its
mines each year. Interest in its native jewels —
rubies, sapphires and garnets — has spawned
several festivals including the Mother’s Day
Gemboree at the Macon County Community
Building May 6-8. • Enjoy the off-beat White
Squirrel Festival in downtown Brevard, offering
fun for the whole family with live entertainment, antique show, juried arts and crafts festival, white squirrel-spotting walking tours and
parade May 28-29. • Then experience the rural
beauty of historic Franklin during its 150th
anniversary celebration May 28-30. Let nature
inspire and revive you in beautiful western
North Carolina.
Photo: Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce
Known as the “Seaside Golf Capital of the World,” Myrtle
Beach boasts more than 100 championship courses.
Fairfield Myrtle Beach (SC) Myrtle Beach is
buzzing with activity this spring. Taste local
restaurant seafood favorites at Seafare &
Sunshine Festival March 19 at the Grand Prix
North Myrtle Beach while the kids play next
door at the Grand Prix Fun Park. Or enjoy the
music, wine tastings and vineyard tours at
Spring Swing/Big Band Fest at La Belle Amie
Vineyard March 19. • Take in one or more of
the area’s superb shows like Alabama Theatre’s
“The ONE Show,” or enjoy a musical like
“Chicago,” playing March 8-13 at the Palace
Theatre. • Watch as top dancers of the shag,
South Carolina’s state dance, are selected at the
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National Shag Dance Championship finals
March 10-12 at Myrtle Beach Pavilion’s The
Attic. • The 44th Annual Canadian-American
Days Festival on the Grand Strand March 1220 offers a plethora of events including Little
Olympics, South Strand Wildlife and History
Day, International Kitefest, concerts and riverboat tours. • Wear green March 12 for the 17th
Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Festival featuring entertainment, children’s area and crafts
on Main Street, and fireworks over Lake
Broadway March 19. • Try out the latest in golf
equipment and enjoy celebrity appearances and
prizes April 11-16 at Golfapalooza, a golf celebration at area courses, with a Hootie & The
Blowfish concert the day after the Masters at
the House of Blues. • Bikers, take your ride to
Myrtle Beach’s Spring Bike Week Rally May
13-22 and enjoy vendors, music, street parties
and ample riding area along the Grand Strand.
• Entertainment, arts, crafts and more await
you at the 24th Annual Little River Blue Crab
Festival on the historic Little River Waterfront
May 14-15. • Wind down for a day at the
32nd Annual Art in the Park at Chapin Park,
April 30 to May 1, or with a tour of beautiful
Brookgreen Gardens. If relaxing is your priority, Myrtle Beach is the place to be.
Fairfield Ocean Ridge (SC) Your options this
spring are endless. Choose a Charleston walking tour through historic Colonial neighborhoods at the 58th Annual Festival of Houses &
Gardens, featuring 150 historic houses and lectures March 17 to April 16, or at the 70th
Photo: Charleston Area CVB
Drayton Hall, the only Ashley River plantation house to
survive the Civil War, is just an hour from Edisto Beach.
Annual House & Garden Tours March 19-26.
• Join thousands for food, music and fun at the
Flowertown Festival April 1-3 at Summerville’s
lush Azalea Park, where over 200 artisans display their crafts. • Whether it’s the huge
steamed crawfish, spicy jambalaya or hipswinging Cajun and Zydeco music, the 13th
Annual Lowcountry Cajun Festival at James
Island County Park offers fun for all April 3. •
For a taste of local arts, visit the Spring Art
Guild Show & Sale at the Edistonian General
Store April 10. • Enjoy great food, music, wine
13
in downtown. • The outdoor Who-Fest proudly displays unique and imaginative art by more
than 75 folk, self-taught and visionary painters
and sculptors at the Spruill Gallery May 14-15.
• Host to the world’s greatest jazz legends, the
Atlanta Jazz Festival May 28-30 features eclectic jazz, educational and workshop series and
artist market at venues throughout Atlanta. •
May 27-30, honor our military personnel as
Photo: Georgia Dept. of Economic Development
The Atlanta Dogwood Festival officially kicks off the spring
season April 8-10 in beautiful Piedmont Park.
tasting and antique cars at the Soft Shell Crab
Festival in Port Royal April 23. • Then let a bit
of history seep into your schedule for the 225th
Siege of Charleston, featuring re-enactments at
Drayton Hall Plantation, Magnolia Plantation
and Gardens, and Middleton Place Plantation
May 13-15. • Celebrate Lowcountry culture
and heritage at the Gullah Festival with authentic arts and crafts, music, workshops and
regional food May 27-29 in downtown
Beaufort. • Piccolo Spoleto, May 27 to June
12, features regional talent with an exciting
theatre series, ethnic cultural presentations, new
exhibits at the City Gallery at Waterfront Park
and free pops concerts by the Charleston
Symphony Orchestra. But don’t miss parent
festival Spoleto Festival, May 28 to June 13,
labeled one of the best arts festivals in the
country, featuring over two weeks of worldclass performances in classical music, ballet,
opera and jazz in Charleston theatres and
churches, special exhibits and an arts and craft
fair. Come on over. The Lowcountry is waiting.
Fairfield Plantation (GA) Gorgeous blossoms
are the centerpiece for Atlanta’s Southeastern
Flower Show featuring more than three acres of
landscape ideas and floral exhibitions March 26 at the downtown Georgia World Congress
Center. • Also downtown, see one of the
longest-running parades in the country, the St.
Patrick’s Day Parade, bringing together 20
major floats, bagpipe and drum corps and Irish
dancers March 19. • See hot-air balloon racing,
over 240 exhibitors at the famous Artist’s
Market, concerts and children’s parades at the
69th Annual Atlanta Dogwood Festival April 810 at Piedmont Park. • A full day of food and
entertainment awaits at Villa Rica’s 15th
Annual Springfest April 23 at Gold Dust Park.
• Impress mom with a trip to the “Gardens for
Connoisseurs Tour,” featuring some of Atlanta’s
most beautiful private gardens May 7-8, sponsored by Atlanta Botanical Gardens. • Sweet
Auburn SpringFest 2005 is known as the
largest street festival in the Southeast with several stages of live entertainment, International
Craft Marketplace and Film Festival May 6-8
Experience life as the Shakers did at Hancock Shaker
Village, one of the Berkshires’ National Historic Landmarks.
Stone Mountain Park celebrates its 20th
anniversary with a new patriotic show, “Salute
to the Troops.” See the park’s other events like
the Kids’ Spring Break April 2-10, Latino Fair
April 23-24, New Cool Car Fest April 30
through May 1 and Georgia Frontier Days May
5-8. Atlanta is bursting with culture this spring.
N O R T H E A S T
Fairfield Berkshires (MA) Blooming trees
and daffodils signal the onset of spring in the
Berkshires. Set your watch back a couple of
centuries as the Hancock Shaker Village comes
to life through vibrant programs such as Sheep
Shearing Day April 23, and hands-on activities
like greeting the new baby farm animals April
9-24. • Learn about the area at the Berkshire
Museum’s new exhibit, “The Power of Place:
The Berkshire Hills and Beyond,” opening
May 14. Take the kids along for “Reptiles: The
Beautiful and the Deadly,” a natural habitat
exhibit with exotic snakes, crocodiles and
lizards now through May 8. • Spring brings
culture to the forefront at the Clark Art
Institute, Shakespeare & Company, Berkshire
Theatre Festival and Barrington Stage
Company. The magnificent Norman Rockwell
Museum, in the quaint town of Stockbridge,
displays Rockwell’s original paintings and
Saturday Evening Post covers. The “Once Upon
a Time: The Picture Book Art of Creative
Editions” exhibit showcases 16 works from the
most highly acclaimed international children’s
book illustrators, March 5 to June 12. • Ready
for some imaginative art? Visit Massachusetts
Museum of Contemporary Arts (MassMoCA)
for Natalie Jeremijenko’s “Tree Logic” — her
trees grow upside down and change with the
alive with colorful spring flowers. You’ll love
America’s First Resort City this time of year!
Get a taste of Newport’s yachting lifestyle at the Newport
Spring Boat Show, May 19-22 at the Newport Yacht Center.
seasons! • Take in a jazz film, a jazz ensemble or
a swing class during the Williamstown Jazz
Festival April 13-17. Enjoy the sweet smell of
spring’s first blooms in the Berkshires.
Fairfield Newport (RI) Newport Preservation
Society celebrates its 60th anniversary with a
yearlong calendar of events and tours. Explore
11 mansions representing over 250 years of
social and architectural history. • Join the celebration of Newport’s Irish Heritage Month in
March with a number of exciting events including the 6th Annual Kinsale/Ireland Festival of
Fine Food, Jameson Irish Whisky tastings and
the nation’s longest-running St. Patrick’s Day
Parade, which marches from City Hall to
Augustine’s Church March 12. • “Jet Set to
Fairfield Ocean City (MD) Ocean City’s
charm radiates both traditional and present-day
appeal. March 12 is the 25th anniversary of the
St. Patrick’s Day Parade featuring marching
bands, local celebrities and a festival of food,
music and more. • The convention center hosts
several big events — the Easter Art and Craft
Fair March 25-27, with exhibitors displaying
unique handcrafted items like wearable art, garden and lawn décor and toys; Cruisin’ Ocean
City May 19-22, showcasing over 3,000 hot
rods from custom to classic; and the Spring
Arts and Crafts Show May 28-29 with homemade quilts, jewelry and
country crafts. • The
Maryland International
Kite Exposition goes
beachside with internationally known kite flyers, kite
competitions and displays
April 29-May 1. • Historic
Berlin represents nearly
two centuries of architectural heritage. Local artists
showcase their work in participating shops and galleries
for Spring Arts Night May 6. •
Springfest, held May 5-8 on the Boardwalk,
features two stages of live entertainment plus
180 crafters and food in two big-top arts and
craft tents. • Children will have a blast May 21
at Children’s Discovery Day at Julia A. Purnell
Museum in Snow Hill, learning with historythemed crafts, scavenger hunt and more. •
Honored by the Travel Channel for having one
of the “Best American Boardwalks,” Ocean
City’s Boardwalk offers quaint shops — and its
steamed crabs, crab cakes and Maryland fried
chicken will make you come back for more!
M I D W E S T &
P L A I N S
A visit to Ocean City’s world-famous Boardwalk, with its
steamed crabs and crab cakes, is a must-do activity.
Jeans: The Wardrobe of Doris Duke” opens
April 14 in Rough Point, displaying the highfashion clothing tastes of “the richest girl in the
world.” • Kick off the 2005 boating season in
style at the Newport Yachting Center with the
Newport Spring Boat Show May19-22. Over
150 exhibitors, hundreds of new, demoed and
previously owned powerboats, sailboats, multihulls and dinghies will be on display. • Enjoy
the fresh sea air aboard a narrated seal-watching
cruise, now through April 25 at Sayer’s Wharf
or Bowen’s Wharf. • Newport for Kids Fest
April 15-24 features children’s activities during
spring vacation citywide. • Enjoy strolling
through the waterfront shops, galleries and
eateries of historic Bowen’s Wharf as it comes
Fairfield Wisconsin Dells (WI) Spring in the
Dells presents new adventures in the great outdoors. The newly opened Riverwalk features a
scenic walkway along the Wisconsin River with
a bicycle route, benches, picnic table and game
tables for all to enjoy. • The Crystal Grand
Music Theater presents an exciting lineup this
season including Sawyer Brown March 5; Mel
Tillis April 2; John Gorka April 8, whom
Rolling Stone calls “the preeminent male
singer/songwriter of the new folk movement”;
The Lettermen April 9; Spirit of Ireland Dance
April 30; and Ray Price May 14. • Stroll
through the largest winery in Wisconsin at the
Wollersheim Winery Open House March 5-6,
with acres of scenic vineyard, wine cooking and
demonstrations scheduled twice daily. • On an
international note, the Teocalli Trio brings new
life to perfomances of chamber music March 5
at the Al Ringling Theatre. • Polka music,
dancing, hop lessons and two rooms of music
draw fans to the Spring Polka Fest April 15-17
at the Howard Johnson Hotel and Conference
Center. • Automotion 2005, May 21-22, showcases over 900 cars including antiques, street
machines and classics with live entertainment
and children’s activities at Noah’s Ark
Waterpark. • Wisconsin Dells hosts an impressive collection of 18 indoor water parks including Kalahari, the largest indoor park in the
country, providing hours and days of fun.
Whatever you decide to do, you’re destined for
a great time in the Dells.
M I D S O U T H
Fairfield Smoky Mountains (TN) The
“Crown Jewel” of the national park system,
the Great Smoky Mountains National
Park hosts
abundant
wildlife and
the most
diverse flora in
North America.
The park joins with
Gatlinburg’s Convention
Center to host the 55th
Annual Spring Wildflower
Pilgrimage April 25 to May 1,
offering plant and wildlife demonstrations, lectures, natural history walks, motorcades and art classes. • Don’t miss the countywide (Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville)
Third Annual Springfest, March 9 through
June 10. It kicks off with the 11th Annual “A
Mountain Quiltfest” March 9-13, an awardwinning event featuring more than 200 handmade heirlooms, seminars and lectures at the
Smoky Mountains Convention Center. • Next
visit Dollywood’s Festival of Nations March 26
to May 8, featuring over 200 international
Photo: Wisconsin Dells CVB
Starting in early April, you can explore the sculpted sandstone bluffs that give the Dells their name by boat.
entertainers and craftsmen, and don’t miss
Pigeon Forge’s 20th Annual Dolly Parade April
1 with floats, marching bands and area celebrities. • Come hungry to Ripley’s Aquarium of
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the Smokies Plaza for the 4th Annual Rib Fest
April 21, with ribs from the area’s finest restaurants plus entertainment, horticulture vendors
and planting technique programs. • Townsend
in the Smokies Spring Festival, April 29 to May
7, celebrates mountain culture with bluegrass
music, storytelling, Appalachian demonstrations and a barbecue cook-off at Townsend
Visitor Center (half an hour from Sevierville). •
Catch the Gatlinburg Fine Arts Festival downtown May 21-22, with an art exhibit, entertainment and food at Ripley’s Aquarium. • Join
in the highland games and dancing at the 24th
Annual Gatlinburg Scottish Festival & Games,
May 20-22 at Mills Park, with whiskey tasting,
bagpipe bands and food vendors. • Sevierville’s
Bloomin’ Barbecue & Bluegrass Cook-off May
20-21 will tantalize your taste buds with
Photo:Tennessee Dept. of Tourist Development
Fall Creek Falls State Resort Park, located between Nashville
and Fairfield Glade, is one of America’s most scenic parks.
mouthwatering barbeque, mountain music,
crafters and more. Share in the beauty and awe
of the Smoky Mountains this spring.
Fairfield Glade (TN) Fairfield Glade explodes
in a profusion of wildflowers this spring — a
spectacular time of year to enjoy some of the
nation’s most unspoiled beauty. Take a wildflower hike through Frozen Head State Park or
to the 110-foot Ozone Falls State Natural Area,
easily accessible from Interstate 40. • If you’re
more adventurous, trek America’s newest
national parkway along the Black Mountain
Trail, or catch a glimpse of the distant Smoky
Mountains from the Mount Roosevelt Wildlife
Management Area, popular with photographers
and hikers alike. • Fall Creek Falls State Resort
Park provides a scenic recreation spot and
boasts the highest waterfall east of the Rocky
Mountains — Fall Creek Falls at 256 feet —
and other impressive falls like Piney and Cane
Creek Cascades. • Take a short drive to the
Mennonite community of Muddy Pond, where
you’ll find a general store that sells fresh-baked
bread, jellies, orange juice cakes, handicrafts
like wooden birdhouses and some of the
world’s finest quilting produced by and for the
Mennonite communities scattered throughout
the region. • Then visit Crossville’s Arts &
Craft Show April 8-10 at Cumberland
15
Mountain State Park Lodge, and its Spring
Flower & Garden Show April 22-25 at the
Cumberland County Fair Grounds. • Join in
the music and dancing at the 31st Annual
Festival of British and Appalachian Culture in
historic Rugby, with traditional art and crafts,
storytelling, historic tours and great food May
21-22. • Celebrate Cumberland County
Playhouse’s 40th anniversary and enjoy its
phenomenal musicals — “The Spitfire Grill”
now through June 4, “Big River” March 24 to
April 30, “Ain’t Misbehavin’” opening April 21
— and concerts including the St. Petersburg
Classic Ballet featuring some of the best international artists in dance March 12, plus the
world-famous Glenn Miller Orchestra May 2627. From culture to crafts to concerts, you’ll
find your kick-back spot at Fairfield Glade.
Fairfield Nashville (TN) From the legendary
Grand Ole Opry shows on Friday and Saturday
evenings to the Tuesday Night Opry shows that
begin April 12, you’ll have a ball in Nashville.
See country great George Jones entertain
March 12, and Amy Grant and Vince Gill perform at the 7th Annual Jammin’ to Beat the
Blues concert April 2 at Ryman Auditorium. •
Don’t Miss “A Tribute to The King,” the
longest-running musical performance paying
tribute to Elvis in Music City, at the Texas
Troubador Theatre. • Stroll through historic
Belle Meade Plantation for the Civil War reenactment “Rally Round the Troops” April 1-2,
or immerse yourself at the Country Music Hall
of Fame and Museum and discover country
music’s earliest beginnings. • There’s nowhere
like Tennessee for unusual dinner theatre such
as that found at “A Cowboy Town,” where
you’ll enjoy a Western cookout, singing around
the campfire and an Old West gun fight. Or,
stop by Rattlesnake Saloon after horseback riding through the hills of beautiful Tennessee. •
Less than 30 minutes away in historic Franklin,
enjoy the St. Patrick’s Brew, Stew & Stroll
March 12 with Celtic entertainment and Irish
beer tasting in 20 shops along Main Street.
Also in Franklin, catch the award-winning
Main Street Festival April 23-24 with music,
international food court, special Kids’ Street
area of activities, and over 200 vendors of
handmade artwork, furniture and home and
garden accents. • Enjoy over 200 contemporary
and traditional craft artists, demonstrations,
live music and food at the 34th Annual TACA
Spring Craft Fair May 6-8 at Centennial Park.
• Less than an hour from Nashville, witness
old-world Southern heritage at Mule Day in
Columbia March 31 to April 3. Experience the
mule sale, mule pulling, pancake breakfast, flea
market and parade. Tap into your country roots
with a visit to Nashville this spring.
Fairfield Bay (AR) This April and May, tour
the Ozark countryside by bus to Blanchard
Photo:Arkansas Dept. of Parks & Tourism
Just an hour from Fairfield Bay, Ozark Folk Center in
Mountain View is a “living museum” of pioneer ways.
Caverns, Branson, Little Rock Dinner Theater
and Graceland in Memphis. • Heber Springs’
Gem Theater joins in the festivities with the 1st
Annual Folk Festival March 17-20, with a craft
and folk music street fair. The town also hosts the
Ozark Foothills FilmFest featuring eclectic film
art April 1-17. While in Heber Springs, don’t
miss the 18th Annual Springfest with handmade
crafts, Artist and Authors exhibit and pet parade
in Historic Spring Park April 23-24. • The Ozark
Folk Center auditorium and grounds host the
Mountain View Bluegrass Festival March 10-12
with all-acoustic bluegrass and gospel music, tasty
food and children’s games. Don’t miss their Folk
Festival Open House April 15-17 with free
admission to the Crafts Village, the Heritage
Herb Gardens and pioneer craft-making demonstrations; and see thrice Grammy-nominated
American Folk duo Norman & Nancy Blake
April 16. Then let the lively music of the Annual
Dulcimer Jamboree lift your spirits with work-
Photo: Silver Dollar City
Come experience cultures and food from around the world
at Silver Dollar City’s World-Fest, April 7 through May 15.
shops and some of the best dulcimer musicians
in the world April 19-23. • Take in a beautiful
guided wildflower walk, demonstrations and slide
show April 2-3 at Wildflower Weekend at Petit
Jean State Park. • Mountain View’s Courtsquare
hosts music, crafts and a parade at the 43rd
Annual Arkansas Folk Festival April 15-16. •
Visit Greers Ferry on Memorial Day weekend for
the 15th Annual Car Show and Street Dance
May 28. • Then head to Little Rock (75 minutes
away) for the Riverfest Arts & Music Festival
May 27-29 with nearly 100 musical acts, food,
art show and fireworks on the river. While there,
visit a full-scale replica of the Oval Office, interactive learning stations and more at the newly
opened Clinton Presidential Library and
Museum. The natural beauty of the Ozarks will
make it hard to leave.
Fairfield Branson (MO) Dubbed “live entertainment capital of the world,” Branson is sure
to bring excitement on your next vacation.
Branson Fest kicks off its 13th year April 5-9 at
the Welk Resort Theatre with an expo area
showcasing new shows, concerts, arts, culture
and heritage displays and food. • World Fest at
Silver Dollar City features America’s largest
international festival with food, dance and performances by German stilt jumpers, Trinidad’s
Steel Drums, the Scottish drum line and much
more April 7 through May 15. Enjoy spectacular rides, attractions and shops during Family
Spring Break Days at Silver Dollar City March
17-26. • From antique to collectible to custom,
300 cars will be showcased April 15-17 at the
Branson Collector Car Show & Auction at
Celebration City. • Enjoy the poker runs, field
games, bike show and live music of the
Branson Motorcycle Rally May 19-22. • Come
celebrate great bluegrass music and delicious
Texas and Memphis-style barbeque at Silver
Dollar City for the Bluegrass & BBQ Festival
May 21 to June 5. Then head downtown to
Plumb Nellie Days, 32nd Annual Hillbilly
Festival & Craft Show Festival offering 150
Midwest crafters, outdoor entertainment, dog
show and games along Main Street May 20-22.
• Escape the crowds for a quiet hike, backcountry jeep tour or some trout and fly fishing in
Dogwood Canyon. Whether it’s to see or count
stars, Branson is your spring haven.
Photo: New Orleans Metropolitan CVB/Ann Purcell
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and its
Louisiana Heritage Fair take place April 22 to May 1.
G U L F
S T A T E S
Fairfield New Orleans (LA) With azaleas in
full bloom and cool evenings about, early
spring is a pleasant time to vacation in New
Orleans. Enjoy a free concert at the Mint with
some of the city’s finest in jazz, R&B and funk
on the edge of the French Quarter March 5. •
See, touch and smell the exquisite designs of 18
gardens in Uptown New Orleans at the Secret
Gardens Tour March 12. • Take part in the
Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary
Festival honoring the legendary playwright
March 3 to April 3, with national and regional
scholars, panel discussions, theatrical performances, walking tours and a book fair at Le Petit
Theatre du Vieux Carré. • Try some tempting
crawfish dishes at the Crawfish Festival at St.
Bernard Parish Civic Center, offering dozens of
game and attraction booths March 31. • Take
in the 150 musical performances and nearly 60
food booths offering everything from étouffée to
crawfish crepes at the French Quarter Festival
located in Jackson Square, Woldenberg
Photo: San Antonio CVB/Al Rendon
A highlight of Fiesta San Antonio is “A Night in Old San
Antonio” at La Villita, the Alamo City’s original village.
Riverfront Park and the Old U.S. Mint April
8-10. • Spring Fiesta presents the 69th Annual
Historic Home Tours of Audubon Boulevard,
the French Quarter and the Garden District
with exploration of enchanting courtyards and
gardens, and a horse-drawn carriage parade
through the French Quarter April 15-17 and
23-24. • Then witness the exciting lineup at
the 36th Annual New Orleans Jazz & Heritage
Festival April 22 to May 1 including Dave
Matthews Band, The Neville Brothers and B.B.
King, with music ranging from jazz to gospel to
Cajun. The Festival’s Louisiana Heritage Fair,
held at the Fair Grounds Race Course, hosts
booths filled with Cajun and Creole food and
the state’s finest craftsmen display their wares
April 22-24, 28-30 and May 1. • The New
Orleans Wine & Food Experience combines
the city’s indigenous cuisine with more than
800 international vintages to be poured at several city events May 25-29. The sultry streets of
New Orleans await you.
Fairfield San Antonio (TX) The nicknames
Fiesta City and Alamo City aptly characterize
San Antonio’s history and flair. Take the family
to Six Flags Fiesta Texas, opening March 12, or
SeaWorld San Antonio, opening March 5, for a
new season of thrilling rides, attractions and
shows. • Listed by Michelin Travel Publications
as one of the “50 most significant, special
places that help define our country,” the Alamo
recalls the sacrifices made through battle reenactments at Alamo Plaza during Remember
The Alamo Weekend March 5-6; also discover
educational programs about the battle at Dawn
At The Alamo March 6. • Come to the Dyeing
O’ the River Green Parade March 11 as floats
release environmentally safe green dye into the
San Antonio River for its St. Patrick’s Day celebration. • In its 114th year, Fiesta San Antonio
draws 3 million spectators from around the
world with a citywide celebration that includes
more than 150 unique events from April 1524. These include three parades (one on the
river); a Children’s Festival; a Mariachi Festival;
and live music and ethnic costumes at the
nation’s largest historic preservation festival, A
Night in Old San Antonio in Alamo City’s La
Villita April 19-22. • Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Mexican Army’s defeat of the
invading French at the Battle of Puebla with a
festival of food and music in Market Square
April 30 and May 1. • Then enjoy live Tejano
and Conjunto performances at the Tejano
Conjunto Festival with exhibits, food, games
and lots of dancing at Guadalupe Campus and
Rosedale Park May 4-7. • Browse through
dozens of shops at Market Square May 28-30
as “The Return of the Chili Queens” pays tribute to a time when the Chili Queens sold their
traditional foods in the open plazas. Don’t miss
the festivities this spring in San Antonio.
Photo:The Springs Resort
The source of the waters at The Springs Resort is the Great
Pagosa Aquifer, the world’s largest hot mineral spring.
W E S T
Fairfield Pagosa (CO) Springtime in the
Rockies brings outdoor activities like rafting
and horseback riding. Over two dozen spectacular waterfalls await discovery including nearby
Piedra Falls, whose strength gathers from spring
water runoff before thundering off a cliff into
the canyon below. • Wear your green to the St.
Patrick’s Day Parade and Feast March 17 with
prizes awarded for Best Float, Most Bizarre
Float and others. • Home to the ancestors of
the modern Pueblo Indians, the Chimney Rock
Archeological Area provides a Full Moon Tour
May 23 with a spectacular moonrise at the
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Great House Pueblo. • Enjoy the plentiful fishing in the streams and lakes of Pagosa country
such as Piedra River, San Juan River and Big
Meadow Reservoir. Then reenergize at The
Springs Resort, which is emerging as one of the
top hot springs in the world with its 17 pools
of therapeutic mineral water, said to enhance
brain activity, reduce stress and boost the
Historic downtown Durango is set in the shadows of the
rugged San Juan and La Plata mountains.
immune system. What better way to relax than
in the great outdoors of Pagosa!
Fairfield Durango (CO) Enjoy horseback riding, the year-round tours at Mesa Verde, excellent spring fishing and great whitewater rafting
in the Durango area. • The 5th Annual
Durango Film Festival features over 100 independent films, animations and shorts from
around the world March 4-13. • Catch the traditional Celtic music of Calcannon March 5 at
Fort Lewis Community College Concert Hall;
renowned jazz group Brubeck Brothers Quartet
March 19; or the sultry voices of swing with
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy March 24-25. •
Browse the regional collection of traditional
and antique reproduction quilts at the Durango
Arts Center March 27 to April 2 in conjunction with Quilt Durango Conference March 30
to April 2, offering workshops and an outdoor
quilt show. • Head to the coffee houses, restaurants and hotel lobbies around town for the 8th
Annual Durango Bluegrass Meltdown with
thigh-slapping bluegrass music April 8-10. •
Then celebrate Cinco de Mayo May 7 with
dancing, crafts and food at Santa Rita Park. •
Enjoy Narrow Gauge Days with free barbecue
and entertainment at the Durango train depot
May 6. On May 7 the Durango & Silverton
Narrow Gauge Railroad, once used to haul
mined silver and gold ore, kicks off the season
of daily trips through the breathtaking San
Juan Mountains to historic Silverton with
“Silverton Salutations,” featuring continental
breakfast and the Silverton brass band. •
Downtown hosts Taste of Durango, a food festival featuring local restaurants, cooking
demonstrations and live music on May 22.
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Fairfield Flagstaff (AZ) Spring ushers in the
beginning of prime rafting season on the
Colorado River at the base of the Grand
Canyon. Flagstaff ’s natural beauty is best seen
hiking through the expansive sunflower fields
of Buffalo Park, or exploring national monuments like Wupatki and Walnut Canyon, populated nearly 1,000 years ago. • The Museum
of Northern Arizona presents “Arizona: A View
from the Mountains,” an exhibit featuring 76
landscape images of 10 Arizona mountain
ranges by local photographer Michael Collier,
through April 17. • March 4-6, Bluegrass on
the River presents great bluegrass along the
Colorado River as well as arts, crafts, RV and
classic car shows, raffles and more at La Paz
County Park. • Soar into the spring Kite
Festival April 23, featuring kite creation workshops throughout the day at Foxglenn Park
with entertainment and children’s activities. •
The Heritage Square Trust Summer Concert
Series offers free summer concerts May 21-22
and May 28-30 with regional and local musicians and dancers. • Discover American cowboy
roots at the 16th Annual Trappings for the
American West Exhibition with art, music, lectures and cowboy poetry at the Coconino
Center for the Arts, May 27 to June 19. •
ing May 13; and the Starlight Express evening
ride May 28. The train affords patchwork views
of colorful cactus blooms and wildflowers
March through June en route to the ghost
ranch of Perkinsville from Clarkdale, just 25
minutes from Sedona. • You’ll enjoy Red Rock
State Park’s naturalist-led walks and hikes, and
its programs on wildlife, history, archaeology
and geology. The daily movie showing of “The
Natural Wonders of Sedona — Timeless
Beauty” reveals why Sedona and Oak Creek
Canyon were voted the “most beautiful place in
America” by USA Weekend. • The Verde Valley
Birding & Nature Festival in Cottonwood
offers guided nature walks, workshops, tours,
trail rides and live entertainment at Dead
Horse Ranch State Park April 21-24. • Admire
the nearly 100 national artists of bronze, clay
and marble sculpture and oil, photography and
glass mosaic at the 17th Annual Sedona Art &
Sculpture Walk, April 29 to May 1 at the
Shopping in Las Vegas is unsurpassed, with offerings like the
Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian.
Photo: Flagstaff CVB
Visit Wupatki National Monument to see how the settlement
looked before Sunset Crater Volcano erupted in about 1064.
Lowell Observatory celebrates Memorial Day
Star Fest May 29. Be inspired by Arizona’s
history and grandeur this spring.
Fairfield Sedona (AZ) Get a true cowboy
experience with a day of horseback riding and a
real round-up with “A Day in the West.” • The
International Film Festival & Workshop features films of all genres, panel discussions and
filmmaker workshop at Harkins Theatres
March 3-6. • You’ll enjoy Sedona’s St. Patrick’s
Day Parade on March 12 with beautiful floats,
fantastic food and fun for everyone. • Verde
Canyon Railroad offers several themed rides
like its Lucky Leprechaun Express March 17;
Cinco de Mayo Fiesta May 5; Throw Mama
On the Train with a free gift for mom May 8;
an evening Grape Train Escape with wine tast-
Radisson Poco Diablo Resort. • The Fry Street
String Quartet’s magical chamber music
delights guests at Tlaquepaque arts and crafts
village May 6. • Then catch the Sedona Arts &
Heritage Days, featuring concerts, old-time
demonstrations, food and entertainment May
7-8. • The Spring Antiques Show & Sale offers
arts and crafts by local artisans and homemade
goodies May 14 at the Sedona Heritage
Museum. Nature is just outside your door in
beautiful Sedona.
Fairfield Las Vegas (NV) The time to be in
Vegas is May, when the city marks its 100th
anniversary. Not to be outdone, Las Vegas is
planning a Centennial Celebration that boasts
to be the largest in America. The yearlong
celebration shifts into high gear with the
Centennial Fly-By Air Show on May 7 beginning at 11 a.m. More than 100 vintage aircraft
will fly over the famous Las Vegas Strip. • On
May 14, you can look forward to the revival of
the Helldorado Days Parade, a downtown tradition that ran from 1934 to 1997 and features
a rodeo, Western village and spectacular parade.
The Helldorado Days Western Village, which
runs from May 10-15 in the south Main Street
Station parking lot, will include daily entertainment, food and beverages, the Whiskerino
Contest, Kangaroo Court and more. • To mark
the day that Las Vegas officially turns 100 on
May 15, the Centennial will beat a long-standing Guinness world record for the largest birthday cake ever made at more than 130,000
pounds! The cake-cutting ceremony will take
place under the canopy of the Fremont Street
Experience beginning at dusk, and everyone
gets a piece! • Enjoy the Busch Series races with
a free three-day Race Jam extravaganza at the
Fremont Street Experience featuring the best in
classic country hits and good ol’ rock ’n’ roll
March 11-13. • Jazz musicians from all over the
country gather for food and fun at Hills Park
in Summerlin for the 12th Annual City of
Lights Jazz and Rhythm & Blues Festival, April
22-23. Also on the 23rd, the International
Food & Folklife Festival at Clark County
Government Center highlights folk artists and
cultural groups from the area with demonstrations and sale of handmade crafts and ethnic
food. • Vegas has no shortage of casinos, concerts, shows and quality entertainment — from
comedy to music to acrobatic and performing
arts. Whatever you want to do on vacation, Las
Vegas can offer tenfold.
Fairfield Anaheim (CA) Witness the unique
vibe of the West Coast in Anaheim this spring.
Enjoy ocean-themed activities, carnival and art
fest March 5-6 and March 12-13 at the 34th
Annual Festival of Whales, centered around the
California gray whale’s migration from Alaska to
Baja and back at Dana Point. Whale Watching
Cruises continue through April 30 daily with
fully narrated, two-hour trips. • The traditional
Photo: Anaheim/OC Visitor & Convention Bureau
Celebrate the return of the California Gray Whales at the
Dana Point Festival of Whales in early March.
ringing of the Mission Bell heralds the swallows’
annual return to Capistrano for Return of the
Swallows Celebration at Mission San Juan
March 18-20. • Head to the Old Town
Temecula Bluegrass Festival for toe-tapping bluegrass bands and fiddle playing March 19-20 on
Old Town Front Street. While there, visit the
Old Town district’s historic buildings with over
640 antique dealers, unique shopping and
restaurants. • Unwind with some all-American
Anaheim Angels baseball, whose season opener is
April 5. • The Fashion and Lido islands welcome
the Newport Beach Film Festival, with over 350
international independent and studio films and
filmmaking seminars, April 21-30. • What
would spring in California be without visits to
theme parks? Knott’s Berry Farm’s Winter
Coaster Solace event features Mrs. Knott’s
Chicken Lunch, Thrill Seeker’s Raffle and
“Behind the Scenes” tour of Knott’s newest
coaster, The Silver Bullet, March 12. Legoland
introduces its new cutting-edge robotics adventure, “Knights’ Tournament,” May 30. And
don’t miss Disneyland Resort’s 50th anniversary
blowout starting May 5, featuring all-new or
improved attractions, shows and features at all
Giving or receiving a flower lei encompasses the true spirit of
Aloha. Learn how to make a lei when you come to Hawai‘i.
locations. If fun is on your agenda, Anaheim is
your front-row seat.
H A W A I ‘ I
Fairfield Hawai‘i (The Big Island) This spring
vacation in a timeless paradise. With the return
of humpback whales, it’s the perfect time to
depart Kailua pier for a Whale Watch/Floating
Concert Cruise with entertainment by slack
key master John Keawe and hula performance
by Hope Keawe March 6. • Kailua’s shores are
the perfect setting for the Kona Brewers
Festival featuring 60 types of beer, local tropical
culinary creations, music, hula and fire dancers
March 12. Also on the 12th, the Ukulele
Festival honors Hawai‘i’s most renowned
instrument with ukulele musicians and
master ukulele makers at Kings’
Shops in Waikoloa. • If you like
hula you’ll love the Merrie
Monarch Festival in Hilo
March 27 to April 2, opening
with a Ho‘olaule‘a on
Sunday, a free exhibition
night Wednesday, solo Miss
Aloha Hula competition
Thursday, group Kahiko
and Auana hula competitions Friday and Saturday, and a
grand parade through Hilo
Saturday morning. • Hulihe‘e After Dark 2005
at Kailua-Kona’s historic Hulihe‘e Palace will
feature culinary tasting stations, entertainment
and silent auction April 2. • Witness the 23rd
Annual Keauhou Kona Triathlon May 29 along
Kona’s famous Ironman World Championship
Racecourse, concluding at the Keauhou Beach
Resort. • Lei Day, May 1, celebrates the making of the lei, one of Hawai‘i’s most beautiful
ancient art forms. • Learn lei making and enjoy
craft-making demonstrations, workshops and
woodcarving at Pu‘ukohala Heiau National
Historic Site Cultural Day May 21, honoring
Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month. Your
perfect spring vacation awaits you on Hawai‘i’s
balmy beaches.
C A R I B B E A N
Fairfield St. Thomas (USVI) St. Thomas’ reputation as the duty-free shopping mecca of the
West Indies includes former Danish outpost
Charlotte Amalie, where centuries-old warehouses now host charming boutiques and sidewalk cafés. • With nearly 100 entries, the
International Rolex Regatta provides hours of
sailing, dancing and food festivities March 2527 at St. Thomas Yacht Club. • With costumes
prepared and parades rehearsed months before,
the St. Thomas Carnival explodes into frenzied
celebration with the Calypso Revue April 23
and Steel Pan Jamboree April 24, both at Lionel
Robert’s Stadium; Jambi’s Island Produce
Market food fair at Emancipation Garden April
27; j’ouvert late night party on the Charlotte
Amalie waterfront April 28; and children and
adult parades on Charlotte Amalie’s Main Street
April 29 and 30, respectfully. • See some of the
hottest female blues stars in the country, like
Shemekia Copeland and Renee Austin and
other guests, on neighboring island’s St. John
Blues Festival March 23-27 in Coral Bay and
Cruz Bay locations. • One of the world’s premier triathlons, St. Croix’s Half Ironman
Triathlon May 1, is known for its legendary
bike climb “The Beast.” • Reichhold Center for
the Arts proudly presents Freddie McGregor &
Inner Visions, a 40-year reggae veteran, March
5 and Lily Cai Chinese Dance Company performing court dances, classical Chinese dance
and ballet fusion May 14. • Bring a blanket
and enjoy St. Croix’s Sunset Jazz in
Frederiksted Park with local and
international jazz musicians the
third Friday of each month. •
Enjoy Classics in the
Garden’s Ellis Marsalis
Concert at Tillet
Gardens March 30.
From carnivals to
concerts, St.
Thomas provides
relaxing venues for
everyone.
18
the people you meet
19
the people you meet
S
ome people are blessed with attentive family and
friends who visit all the time. Some people have a fast-paced
social life and are constantly on the go. Others manage busy
careers, run businesses and travel for work. But we all have
one thing in common: not enough time to relax.
Whether you’re a stay-at-home mom or a corporate
executive, we face plenty of pressures every day, and we all
desire a little room to breathe. Ask nearly any successful
person why they can’t take a break, and you’ll be listening for a
very long time.Turns out, Americans
are good at coming up with excuses:
we’re taking less time off than ever
before and we fall behind all other
industrialized nations in the pursuit of
leisure. But as a timeshare owner, you
are way ahead of the curve.You probably already know that
taking vacations not only helps you relax, but improves job
satisfaction, reduces mental strain and improves your health.
Just a small dose of “vacation therapy” goes a long way. One
recent study showed that women who vacation at least twice
a year have 50 percent less chance of developing coronary
heart disease than women who vacation once every six years.
Men who take more frequent vacations reduce their risk of
dying of heart disease by nearly 30 percent.
Joanne Engle of Rhinebeck, New York, knows this firsthand.Thanks in part to the many restful vacations they took
together through Fairfield, Joanne’s late husband, Richard C.
Skaretka, recovered from a cardiac arrest that had put him in
a coma for three days.
Richard died this past August at age 62.“People said he
wouldn’t live six months but we had 12 more wonderful years.
We felt so comfortable with Fairfield
and the support systems there, it was
like a family experience and it really
formed the basis of our life together,”
says Joanne. One especially
therapeutic vacation was the time
they went to Cape Cod through an external exchange.
“Richard had an episode and his defibrillator fired. A few
minutes later we were resting on a secluded sand dune.
Richard loved the ocean. It was so healing to be sitting in the
warm sand listening to the waves. I really believe it was
conducive to living longer.” They also traveled to Vail, Colorado,
for a ski week.“Richard had been a gymnast and exercised
Just a small dose of
“vacation therapy”
goes a long way.
As a Fairfield owner you’ve likely come to realize that timeshare is the
perfect vacation regimen, continuously providing that essential dose of
rest, relaxation and rejuvenation year after year — along with the
SM
health benefits that follow. Fairfield recognizes this as well, and we’ve
coined the phrase “Vacation Therapy” to refer to the wellness activities
you’ll find at various resorts — from activities like step aerobics, organized walks, massage and yoga, to wellness
demonstrations such as heart-healthy cooking classes. So look for this logo when you visit.We hope you’ll continue to find vacation ownership an invaluable tool for healthy living!
20
the people you meet
Joanne Engle talks about the good times she and husband Richard shared.
quite frequently, and was so ready to do everything. He even
skied Lion’s Head one-on-one with his nurse! For him to
know that he could still be on an adventure was very
important,” says Joanne.
The decision to take a vacation is a
distinctly personal one. Figuring out
what’s motivating you should be your
starting point. For Joanne and Richard,
vacations became a way of coping with
illness and regaining physical strength. For
others, it’s simply a way to decompress from work.That’s the
case for Dianne and Tony Keene of Ontario, Canada. As a
reservist in the Canadian Forces,Tony is forever on call and
spends long periods away from home. Dianne, a substitute
teacher, never knows where she’ll be teaching from one day to
the next. Both must pick up and go on a moment’s notice.
“It can be stressful,” says Dianne.“The trick is to be away
for more than one week because it takes us time,
psychologically, to slow down.We move so fast in today’s
society, we have to consciously relax and say,‘This is my time.’
For us, vacations are a necessity.” Dianne and Richard always
schedule long blocks of time, typically two to three weeks, to
turn off the cell phone and leave work behind.They recently
stayed at Fairfield’s SeaWatch Plantation in Myrtle Beach, a
resort that boasts windsurfing, snorkeling, water-skiing and golf,
but you’d hardly know it by talking to them.“We went for long
walks on the beach, caught up on our reading and spent days
by the pool,” says Dianne.“When we stay in hotels we end up
doing a lot, but we come home exhausted and don’t want to
go back to work. At SeaWatch we were able to take time to
smell the roses.We came home refreshed and ready to tackle
new things.”
Dr. Mel Borins, author of “Go Away: Just for the Health of
It,” suggests making a checklist of priorities when planning your
getaway:“There are certain questions to ask yourself. Do I
want stimulation or relaxation? Do I want time to flop down
and do nothing or busy myself with activities?” Use your
vacation to balance out your life, he advises.
One of the benefits of Fairfield is that whatever your
gripe in daily life — not enough down time, a monotonous
workweek — you’ll find a vacation that solves it. Debra and
Charles Poston of Pamplico, South Carolina, have the same
“complaint” Dianne and Tony do: too much work stress. But
their solution couldn’t be more opposite. For four-and-a-half
years, Debra and Charles ran a children’s home and felt as
though they were working 24/7. But instead of getting off the
fast track, Debra and Charles put the pedal to the metal.They
travel around the country dancing, shopping and golfing.
They’ve visited Lake Lure in North Carolina, Gatlinburg in the
Smoky Mountains, and Destin in Florida, and there’s never a
dull moment.“Through Fairfield our trips have been so easy
and enjoyable we want to go all the time,” says Debra.
The good news is with Fairfield, they can.While vacation
time is shrinking for most Americans, it’s
expanding for timeshare owners.
“There’s some evidence that people
who own timeshare take more frequent
and longer vacations than people who
don’t,” says Dr. Borins.“When you’ve
made an investment, you are much more likely to take time
off. And with a timeshare, you’re more assured of a high-quality
experience.”
Tieah and Will Gunnison, new owners, know that if they
didn’t invest in Fairfield, they would never take a vacation.
“This is my time.
For us,vacations
are a necessity.”
21
Tieah Gunnison says the only way to truly unwind is to go away.
the people you meet
Tieah, 30, and Will, 32, run a 200-acre apple orchard in upstate
New York that has been in Will’s family for six generations.
“We’re married to the biz. My husband works 85 hours a
week and I’m around 60.We can’t take time off and just stay
at home, we need to actually go away.When harvest ended in
the fall we jumped on a plane to Orlando,” says Tieah.They
wanted their four-year-old daughter, Mickaela, to have some
quality time with her cousins who live in Wisconsin, so they all
met up at Walt Disney World.“It enabled us to spend family
time together. Some days we just relaxed and watched our
daughter have a blast. Other days were packed with activities.
Planning a vacation is stressful enough but when you throw a
four-year-old into the mix — that is really stressful. Fairfield is
great because it’s very flexible and everything was so easy.We
enjoyed our vacation so tremendously, it wasn’t so hard
coming back,” says Tieah.
For a lot of us, however, it can be difficult to return back
home and into the same old routine. Dr. Borins calls this
feeling Depression on Arrival, or “D.O.A.” To combat postvacation blues, Dr. Borins recommends planning your next
vacation as soon as possible so you have something to look
forward to.Think of it as a prescription to daydream about
pristine golf courses, idyllic beaches and sparkling rivers. Just
what the doctor ordered.
Freelance writer Grace Axene lives in Los Angeles and has written
for Money, Glamour, PC Magazine, Working Woman and
other magazines.
Photo:Tony Keene
Dianne Keene, her daughter Michelle and friend Joan Williams enjoy walking
the historic streets of New Bern during their stay at Fairfield Harbour.
Family physician, world traveler, photographer
and writer, Dr. Mel Borins prescribes vacations for
what ails us. Research has shown that vacations
decrease stress and burnout,
and when people go away, he
explains, they come back
more refreshed.With batteries
recharged, their life satisfaction
increases and their job
efficiency actually improves.
In his book “Go Away:
Just for the Health of It,”
Dr. Borins talks about
“preventive breaks” and
their importance. “The
body, in its wisdom, gives
you messages to slow down. If you ignore these
messages and keep overworking, or maintain a
stressful lifestyle, you may well get sick and be
forced to slow down — for a long time.Taking a
vacation is the best way I know to break the
pattern of daily stress.”
A timeshare owner himself, Dr. Borins offers
several tips to maximize the restorative power of
vacations. He says that the best time to plan your
vacation is when you’re on vacation.“Begin dreaming
your next vacation. Choose a date and place in your
mind.The longer in advance you’re thinking about it,
the more likely you can make it happen.”
He also recommends starting a travel diary.
“You don’t really travel to change, you change
because you’re traveling. Keep a diary to record
your dreams, goals, thoughts and innermost feelings.
It can help you get the most out of your holiday
and be a treasured record of your memories that
can complement any photo album.”
To avoid feeling overwhelmed and becoming
depressed on return, he suggests pacing yourself
and scheduling some things you love doing your
first week back, like meeting a friend or getting a
massage. He also advises getting your photos
developed right away and showing them to your
friends and family.“In this way you remember your
holiday and the good feelings return.”
Dr. Borins is an Assistant Professor in the
Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto and
on staff at St. Joseph’s Health Center in Toronto.
22
the places you go
David Mozena and kids ride the
steam train in Durango.
Janice and Sam Ware remember
the good times in Colorado.
The Davidsons’ four children and their spouses
enjoy backpacking in the mountains.
from page 2
mining town of Silverton.“We’ve done it at least three
times,” she recalls.“We enjoy the old towns with so many
original buildings still standing. Over the years, we’ve also
done fun things like balloon rides and taking a stagecoach
to a barbecue steak dinner in a log cabin in the hills.
The ride is even better in the winter when you get there
by sleigh.”
“When we were younger, we came in winter to ski,”
adds Lynn.“Wolf Creek Resort is just 25 miles away and it’s
said to have the most snow in Colorado. Now we tend to
come in spring and early fall.The back roads are breathtaking
in early October when the aspens turn to gold. And Pagosa
Springs is a non-commercial little town that we’ve come to
love. Anyone who remembers the comic strip ‘Red Ryder and
Little Beaver’ should not miss a stop at the Fred Harmon Art
Museum, where you can see Harmon’s cartoon drawings and
his paintings of the West.The museum is run by his son, who
is a great storyteller.”
“The solitude at Pagosa is lovely,” agree Sam and Janice
Ware of Monroe, Utah.“We appreciate the fact that Pagosa
Springs is not crowded,” says Sam.“And we enjoy the hot
springs,” chimes in Janice.“Soaking
in the baths is such good
therapy, you forget about
your cares.”
“Heading north toward Durango, the drive is wonderful,”
they remember.“In Durango, we’ve ridden the train — such a
nice experience — and we had a great time at the Bar D
Chuckwagon Suppers, a down-home barbecue in a canyon setting with Western entertainment.”
David Mozena, who lives in Iowa City, Iowa, picked
Durango for a rare father-and-the-kids vacation with his three
teenagers, 16-year-old Joseph and Elise and Valerie, 15-year-old
twins.“My wife, Jo Deen, isn’t into hiking and that kind of
thing,” he explains.“She likes Florida, where we go often and
all enjoy it. But my kids and I wanted to see the West.We
wanted to go rafting and we had read about the Durango &
Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad.
“The town was a blast.The best part was staying right
downtown where we could walk to everything.You can be
spontaneous, one day hiking into the mountains, another day
walking around town, one day on the train and another day
rafting.And one day we drove to Mesa Verde, where the cliff
dwellings were amazing.
“The steam train ride was really fun,” David recalls,“chugging up the mountain with cinders flying.The tracks run above
the Animas River, through canyons and woods where we saw
deer and all kinds of birds.And you have two hours to walk
around Silverton, an old mining town that was really neat.
“Durango was fantastic,” David concludes.“I’d like to
go back.”
It’s a sentiment most visitors to Pagosa and Durango
seem to share.
Freelance writer Eleanor Berman lives in New York City.
23
fairfield programs
Consumer Alert!
If you’ve ever had questions about adding more points to your
membership but didn’t have plans to visit a resort any time soon, you now
have access to a new Fairfield program that allows you to “shop from home.”
Ask A Specialist was created to help you learn about vacation
ownership at your own pace, on your own schedule.When you call to “Ask
A Specialist,” it means you’ll be working with an expert who's trained to
answer all of your questions — about properties, ownership benefits or
anything else.
In this and future issues of Fairfield Faces & Places, we’ll be providing
examples of the types of questions we receive from owners every day along
with the answers.To learn more about any of our new or existing resorts, or
to add more points to your membership, please contact the Fairfield Resorts
Corporate Direct Sales team at 1-800-786-4476 or send an e-mail to
[email protected].
Q. When I’m making a purchase, does it really matter where I have
A.
my ownership?
Yes and no. It all depends on how you intend to use your ownership
and how far in advance you plan on making your reservations. An Ask A
Specialist representative can give you an answer based on your family’s
specific needs.
Q. Is this new “shop from home” program available only to owners or can
people we know take advantage of it as well?
A. A relative, a friend or a business associate may also take advantage of
discussing their vacation needs while inquiring about Fairfield Resorts
with an Ask A Specialist representative.
This advertising material is being used for the purpose of soliciting
sales of timeshare interests.
Over the last few months, several
owners have notified us that they have
been contacted by third-party resale
companies who indicate they are working
with Fairfield (or that Fairfield has provided these companies with the owner’s
contact information) in order to obtain
resale or rental listing agreements. Any
person who says that they are affiliated
with Fairfield or Cendant for this purpose is incorrect.
Fairfield does not share your information with these companies. Because your
purchase of a timeshare interest is, in most
cases, a matter of public record, it is possible for them to obtain your information
and contact you without our assistance.
Also, Fairfield does not recommend
any particular resale company or individuals. A good source for additional information on this topic can be found online
at www.arda.org/consumer/resale/resale.htm.
from page 4
For owners at the following resorts
with any maintenance fee billing or
collections questions, either e-mail us at
[email protected] or
call 877-820-6206.
Club Lakeridge
Dolphin’s Cove
Equivest
Vacation Club
Heidelberg Inn
Inn at Silverlakes
Kona Hawaiian
Village
Havasu Dunes
Laguna Surf
Mauna Loa Interval
Park Regency
Plaza VIP
St. George’s Club
Vista Mirage
The following terms and conditions apply to the Destination Deal offers on the back page.
Terms & Conditions: Must travel (with spouse, if married) and attend a sales presentation (lasting 90 or 120 minutes depending on destination) on the benefits of acquiring ownership in a Fairfield timeshare resort. You must either
be a Fairfield owner or 21 years of age, employed full time or retired, have a minimum annual household income of $50,000 and have not visited a Fairfield resort within the last
6 months.Transportation, airfare, meals not specifically included, room taxes (of $4-$17 per night) and incidental such as phone calls and gratuities are not included. Offers expire
and travel must begin by 12/31/05. Inventory offered may vary. A fact sheet on the facilities including association assessments is available. Harold H. Johnson, Real Estate Broker,
N.P. Dodge Company.The price range of the interests offered varies from $11,340 - $40,500 and is subject to change without notice.WA UBI #601 892 544. Bonnet Creek. Grand
Desert Resort. Daytona Beach at Ocean Walk. NJ Reg NO 03/4-917/NJREC. NJ Reg NO 99/38-007/NJREC.Void where prohibited. Additional terms and conditions may apply.
Please call for details. This is not an offer to residents in any state where registration requirements have not been met. Fairfield Resorts, Inc., 5259 Coconut Creek Parkway,
Margate, FL 33063. Nevada Seller of Travel Registration No. 2003-0261.
The complete offering terms are in an offering plan available from the sponsor.
24
service corner
contact information
Us Online at:
➚ Visit
www.fairfieldresorts.com/member
☎ Call 800-251-8736
Press 1 for Reservations & Vacation Planning
Mon.-Fri. 8 am-10 pm EST; Sat.-Sun. 9 am-6 pm EST
FairShare Plus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Press 1
Discovery Vacations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Press 2
FAX Exchange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Press 3
Press 2 for Financial Services*
& Title and Ownership Changes
Financial Services: Mon.-Fri. 8 am-7pm EST
Title: Mon.-Fri. 8 am-5 pm EST
Loan Servicing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Press 1
FairShare Plus/Leisure Plan Fees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Press 2
Title & Ownership Changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Press 3
Press 3 for Owner Relations & Ambassador Rewards
Mon.-Fri. 8 am-8 pm EST; Sat. 9 am-6 pm EST
Owner Relations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Press 1
Ambassador Rewards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Press 2
✆ Other Important Numbers:
New Owner Welcome. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-922-0855
FairShare Plus VIP Reservations Hotline . . . . . 888-884-4321
Spanish/English International Services . . . . . . . 954-935-4382
Japanese International Services . . . . . . . . . . . . 808-921-1044
Vacation Break Travel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-732-0203
☛ Maintenance Fee* Questions:
Fixed Week Owners at Palm-Aire, Santa
Barbara, Ocean Palms, Orlando
International Resort Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-633-4339
Fixed Week Owners at all
other resorts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Call your home resort
✉ Owner Relations by Mail/Fax:
Fairfield Resorts, Inc.
8427 SouthPark Circle, Suite 500
Orlando, FL 32819
Fax: 407-370-6328
✉ Financial Services by Mail/Fax:
Cendant Timeshare Resort Group - Consumer Finance
10750 West Charleston Boulevard, Suite 130
Las Vegas, NV 89195
Fax: 702-304-4215
* Maintenance fees are for operating your home resort association. FairShare Plus fees
are for the FairShare Plus Program Assessment fees, which include reservation fees,
housekeeping credits, administrative costs, etc.
25
Jennifer Jacklin:
Exemplary
Customer Service
World-class service isn’t just
a catch phrase for Jennifer Jacklin.
Since her recent promotion to
Financial Services Supervisor for
CTRG Consumer Finance in Las
Vegas, Nevada, she has clearly
defined a superior standard in customer service, inspiring
her team of 13 to do the same.
Working closely with other departments, Jennifer
works quickly to resolve customer issues.“To paraphrase
Atticus Finch in ‘To Kill a Mockingbird,’ you have to get inside
the other person’s skin and crawl around in order to truly
understand and empathize with them,” says Jennifer.“We
should strive to provide our owners with service from
this perspective.”
In a recent letter praising Jennifer for her assistance, one
owner writes,“Jennifer Jacklin not only promised an answer,
she found one. She called us back right away with an update
and membership number, and provided information to verify
it all in the system.”
Jennifer’s six-year background in customer service
includes two years at Williams-Sonoma. She began with
Cendant in 2002 and played an integral role in implementing
Jacada, a system that improves agents’ processing time while
on a call.
Jennifer attributes skills like setting production goals to
her bachelor studies in special education at the University of
Nevada, Las Vegas, which she’ll complete this year.
Her nurturing instinct and dedication to her team
have inspired them to improve in ways not thought possible
before — traits further enhanced by the expected arrival of
her and husband Tono’s first child this April.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that Jennifer will
continue to flourish in her new role as Supervisor and
add value to both the employee and customer experience
daily,” says Jennifer’s supervisor, Financial Services Manager
Christie Cullors. With the high standards and heart Jennifer
employs, she is indeed a precedent to follow.
To update your mailing address,
change your profile or ask about your points,
call 1-800-251-8736, or visit our Web site at
www.fairfieldresorts.com/member.
vacation trends
Timeshare May Enhance
Known Health Benefits Of Vacations
Can timeshare actually help improve your health?
According to doctors, the answer might be yes!
Medical research has established that taking regular
vacations can have a variety of health benefits, including a
decreased risk of dying of coronary heart disease.According
to Mel Borins, M.D., an assistant professor in the Faculty of
Medicine at the University of Toronto and a staff member at
St. Joseph’s Health Center, research shows that these health
benefits are enhanced when people take more vacations, and
longer vacations.
“There’s a crisis in the U.S.,” says Dr. Borins, author of
the book “Go Away: Just for the Health of It.” “People are
increasingly cutting back on vacation time despite the fact
that results from the Framingham Study1 show that women
who took a vacation at least twice a year had a 50 percent
lower chance of developing coronary heart disease than
women who took a vacation once every six years or less.
For men, more frequent annual vacations reduced the
relative risk of dying of coronary heart disease by almost 30
percent. I advise my patients to find ways to ensure that they
are maximizing the impact of their vacations on their health.
One simple way to do this is to own a timeshare.”
Research into vacation ownership conducted by Ragatz
Associates, a research division of RCI, suggests that timeshare
owners take more frequent and longer vacations, and utilize
more of their available vacation time compared with nontimeshare owners.2
“Heart disease or stroke claims the lives of about
950,000 Americans every year,” says Dr. Borins.“Studies by
researchers have shown that vacations may relieve stress,
decrease burnout, improve life and job satisfaction, and
strengthen family bonds. I believe that anything that
makes you take longer or more vacations will help
enhance these benefits.That’s why I’m an advocate for
vacation ownership.”
As to possible reasons why timeshare owners take
more vacations than non-timeshare
owners, one likely explanation arises
from the fact that owning
timeshare creates a structure for
vacationing in people’s lives. It
usually involves membership with
an exchange company such as
RCI, which is regularly in contact with members, offering
many benefits that help make vacations a more prominent
and convenient part of members’ lives.
Between the economy, layoffs and work pressure, more
and more Americans are taking less time off. One wellpublicized study3 found that 47 percent of business
executives expect that they will not use all of their available
vacation time this year, but timeshare owners are doing just
the opposite. According to the Ragatz study, timeshare
owners expect to use 17 percent more of their paid vacation
time this year than non-owners. Furthermore, 66 percent of
timeshare owners reported being very satisfied with the
amount of paid vacation time they will use throughout the
year, compared with only 56 percent of non-owners.2
These findings suggest that timeshare ownership
facilitates the use of available paid vacation time.
Characteristics of timeshare ownership that would tend to
encourage vacation time usage include convenience, having
already paid for the accommodations, having a week or time
period specifically designated, and encouragement to use the
time by the resort management or exchange provider.
Framingham Heart Study, 1992
Ragatz Associates, 2004
3
Management Recruiters International
1
2
26
only
$129
ALEXANDRIA
3 Days & 2 Nights Escape
• 2 nights accommodations at the Radisson
Hotel Old Town, Hilton Alexandria Old Town or
per package
comparable area hotel rated 3 stars or higher for
2 adults and 2 children (under age 18)
• $100 worth of Dining Choices rebate coupons
PLUS,YOUR CHOICE OF ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
• 2 Tickets to George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate & Gardens
(retail value $18) OR
• 2 Tickets to the International Spy Museum (retail value $26) OR
• 2 Tourmobile Sightseeing Tour Tickets (retail value $31) OR
• 2 Tickets to Six Flags America (retail value $76)
Mention Offer Code: OWN1676
Save up to $503 Retail value: $364-$632
starting at
$59
PALM SPRINGS
3 Days & 2 Nights Escape
•
per package*
2 nights hotel accommodations at the Spa Resort
Hotel or comparable area hotel for 2 adults and 2
children (under age 18)
PLUS,YOUR CHOICE OF ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
• 2 Adult Tram Tickets (retail value $41) OR
• 2 Admissions to Knott’s Soak City; seasonal (retail value $49) OR
• $50 Dinner Certificate to a popular area restaurant such as The Grand Palms
Buffet, Oasis Buffet, Roppongi, Prime 10 Steakhouse, Maraskino or the Stage
Deli & Café located in the Spa Resort Hotel and the Aqua Caliente Casino OR
• $50 in Casino Credits OR
• 2 Taking of the Waters Spa Gift Certificates. Enjoy a spa treatment consisting of sauna, steam, inhalation therapy and a mineral water soak at the Spa &
Fitness Center in the Spa Resort Hotel (retail value $70).
depending on room availability, incentive and travel dates selected
Mention Offer Code: OWN1680
Save up to $389 Retail value: $159-$448
depending on room availability, incentive and travel dates selected
*$99 per package for travel in the months of January through May
only
$89
ORLANDO
3 Days & 2 Nights Escape
• 2 nights accommodations at a Fairfield Resort (if
available), the Wyndham Orlando, Radisson Barcelo or a
comparable area hotel rated three stars or higher for 2
adults and 2 children (under age 18)
• $100 worth of Dining Choices rebate coupons
per package
PLUS,YOUR CHOICE OF ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
(Retail value $116)
• 2 Tickets to Universal Studios Florida® or Universal’s Islands of
Adventure® OR
• 2 Tickets to any Walt Disney World® Theme Park OR
• 2 Tickets to SeaWorld® Adventure Park
Mention Offer Code: OWN1678
Save up to $429 Retail value: $352-$518
depending on room availability, incentive and travel dates selected
only
$69
3 Days & 2 Nights Escape
• 2 nights accommodations at Fairfield Pagosa (if
available), the Pagosa Inn & Suites or comparable area
hotel for 2 adults and 2 children (under age 18)
• $25 Dinner Certificate to a popular area restaurant such as Ramon’s
or Montezuma’s
perper
package
person*
PLUS,YOUR CHOICE OF ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
• $50 Fairfield Activity Voucher valid for various activities such as hot-air
ballooning, rafting, hot springs tickets, train trail ride, merchandise, arts & crafts
class, painting class or exercise class OR
• Two Rounds of Golf, including golf cart, at the Pagosa Springs Golf Course
valid April through November (retail value $94) OR
• Two Wolf Creek Ski Tickets valid December through April (retail value $86)
Mention Offer Code: OWN1679
Save up to $300 Retail value: $215-$369
only
$79
ROCKY MOUNTAINS
MYRTLE BEACH
depending on room availability and travel dates selected
3 Days & 2 Nights Escape
• 2 nights accommodations in a 1-bedroom unit at a
Fairfield Myrtle Beach resort (if available) OR at the
Patricia Grand, Courtyard Marriott or a comparable
area hotel rated 3 stars or higher for 2 adults and 2
children (under age 18)
• $50 Dinner Certificate to a popular area restaurant such as Spring House,
House of Blues, Mad Boar Brewery, Preston’s Seafood or Miyabi
• 2 Show Tickets to a popular area show such as Alabama Theatre or Legends
in Concert (retail value up to $126)
per package
Mention Offer Code: OWN1677
Save up to $443 Retail value: $188-$522
depending on room availability, incentive and travel dates selected
This advertising material is being used for the purpose of
soliciting sales of timeshare interests.
Call 800-274-4001
to make your reservation and mention the offer code.
Actual available offers depend on state of residence. See page 24 for terms & conditions.
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
PRESORTED STD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
5259 Coconut Creek Parkway
Margate, FL 33063
ORLANDO FL
Permit 2642