Best timeshare you've visited that was NOT at a major tourist destination.

[eal]

Both Kelowna and the Okanagan area in general, and Vancouver Island (Pacific Shores and Ucluelet) are MAJOR Canadian tourist areas, but very very beautiful. We own at Pacific Shores and at Manteo in Kelowna, and go every year, no exchanges for those weeks!

 

[ecwinch]

If you don't need fine dining and shopping and you like the outdoors, you would be fine on Molokai. The Hotel Molokai, kind of a hopping mom and pop spot, is very much a locals place, so I bet it's still going strong and still a good place for dinner and a night out.

I agree - from one vantage point, it is a little more attractive now. So it is still on my list - just slide down a little. In 2005 I was thinking about buying a condo there. I am somewhat surprised that prices have not come down much given all the changes and the overall real estate market. It will be interesting to see what happens on the rental side.

 

[pranas]

Snowater in Glacier, WA. Closest lodging to Mt. Baker ski area. Resort is very nice but the units are rather small.

 

[gailo]

Blue Ridge Village

I found this thread thru a search. Just made a trade to Blue Ridge Village for Sept 27/Oct 3. I have never been there and would appreciate travel advice for restaurants, day trips, etc.
Great non-tourist trades - Riverside in Canada, Esmerelda Beach Club - Calpe, Spain. Alphenhotel - Maria alms, Austra

 

[tombo]

I found this thread thru a search. Just made a trade to Blue Ridge Village for Sept 27/Oct 3. I have never been there and would appreciate travel advice for restaurants, day trips, etc.
Great non-tourist trades - Riverside in Canada, Esmerelda Beach Club - Calpe, Spain. Alphenhotel - Maria alms, Austra

Blue Ridge Village is rustic and I love this resort and area. The 2 bed room units are very large. There is an indoor pool, tennis courts,9 hole putt putt course, free trout fishing lake with free paddle boats,grills, jaccuzzi, and several good organized hikes at the resort. The leaves should be changing or close to changing when you are there (at higher elevations). If the leaves are changing drive anywhere(especially the Blue Ridge Parkway) and enjoy. Leaf peepers come from everywhere to see the yellows, red, and orange colors covering the mountains. Do the linville Falls hike for sure and go all the way to the end because the second falls are much bigger than the first. Go to Blowing Rock and Banner Elk for some really great food. I love the Louisianna Purchase restaurant which is very close to the resort. http://www.bannerelkdining.com/arealinks.htm

Knights on Main Street in Blowing Rock is great and much more reasonable
http://www.knightsonmainrestaurant.com/

Storie Street Grille in Blowing rock is wonderful too
http://www.storiestreetgrille.com/

Here is a site that lists some of the area restaurants
http://www.highcountrydining.com/



Also Boone is the biggest town in the area and worth visiting.

This is a list of some of the fun things I have done in the area:

Here are some local activities not including hikes to waterfalls, hikes to sliding rocks,whitewater rafting, rock climbing, rapelling, and other outdoor activities like golf and mountain biking.

Sugar mountain has chair lift rides on Saturdays and Sundays almost directly across from the resort. You can sightsee or bring a bike and ride up on the chair lift and back down on mountain bike trails. I think you can rent mountain bikes in the area.
http://www.skisugar.com/liftrides/

This is the web site for the Tweetsie Railroad Amusement park about 20 miles away in Blowing Rock.
www.tweetsie.com/

This is Grandfather mountain's web site
www.grandfather.com/

This is the Biltmore house web site which is about 2 hours away
www.biltmore.com/

One of many whitewater rafting, caving, and mountain climbing outfitters. Their office is 1 mile from the resort. We went rafting on the nolichucky which is the most challenging with the most rapids, but they have less challenging rivers.
http://www.highmountainexpeditions.com/

Lake Lure is beautiful and about 30 minutes away. This is a site for tours or Boat rentals.
http://www.lakelure.com/rentals.php

Mast General store in Valles Cruscis has been in operation since the late 1800's. Buy candy out of barrels and take it to the register where they charge you by weight just like the good old days. Get some lye soap, see things you didn't know you could even buy anymore.
http://www.maststoreonline.com/destinations_nchc.cfm

The Blue Ridge Parkway has many scenic overlooks and trails to waterfalls etc. It is beautifull and free.
http://www.blueridgeparkway.org/

Gem mining in Blowing Rock about 20 minutes from the resort.
http://www.blowingrock.com/members.list.php?memcategoriesid=3527

I love the food at daniel Boone Inn in Boone about 20 miles from the room. Southern Family style meals served in bowls on the table with refills included. Biscuits and ham are specialty. Here are some awards:
The restaurant placed third in Southern Living in the reader's choice awards for country cooking restaurants. They also won first place among readers of Our State Magazine for Family Dining/Country Cooking and third place under Best Restaurant in North Carolina.
http://www.danlbooneinn.com/

There are a lot more things to do in the area, but this is more than you can do in a week. Let me know if you have any questions

 

[gailo]

Thanks Tombo
Great post - will definitely keep for reference

 

[tombo]

Thanks Tombo
Great post - will definitely keep for reference

You will love the resort and the area. Have fun.

Tom