Stardust Vacation Club Owner Site

Winter Snows

A steady snow is falling on the Tahoe Basin and we are gearing up for what the weather reporters have been calling ”The Storm of the Decade”.  Who knows if we’ll have storm intensity or just “newscasting” intensity, but it’s better to be prepared, so that’s what we’re doing. 

I found some information  that I thought might be of special interest to you, whether you are among those who see the snowstorms as a bonus to your travel plans… or among those members who want to avoid being here in the thick of the snowfalls.  Caltrans is always an important travel reference, and you can find the latest road conditions at there website:  http://www.dot.ca.gov/cgi-bin/roads.cgi. 

Preparedness goes beyond knowing the road status, however, so here are a smattering of other web references you may find helpful: 

FEMA Winer Preparedness:  http://www.fema.gov/hazard/winter/index.shtm

Tahoe Region Winter Storm Preparedness:  http://www.placer.ca.gov/Departments/CEO/Emergency/CurrentEmergencyInfo/Emergency%20Preparedness%20and%20Emergency%20Background%20Information/Winter%20Storm%20Preparedness%20At%20Lake%20Tahoe.aspx

Current Severe Weather Condtions:  http://www.wunderground.com/US/NV/002.html 

Whether you like to VIEW or EXPERIENCE snowstorms, it’s sure that you’ll enjoy the brilliant white that adorns our entire area after the storms have passed.  If you’d like to come up to see us this winter, for your Member Week or on Bonus Time, just give us a call:  1.800. 262.5077.  We’d love to see you.

Safe and Happy Travels to You,

Kathleen

Remembering Dusty

By now you probably have received our letter regarding the passing of our beloved feline mascot, Dusty.   Dusty was one-of-a-kind and is sorely missed.  Our staff grieves anew every Sunday as check-in day brings a new group of members distraught because Dusty is no longer with us. 

It’s said some peope are “dog people” and some people are “cat people”, but at the Stardust, everyone seemed to be “Dusty people”.  We have many stories about Dusty, and are really hoping you will share yours.  Kenny is collecting stories and photos from our members that we’ll be placing up on our website soon.  If you would like to contribute a story or photo, please send your information to Kenny’s email address; ksutton@stardust-tahoe.com.  Our thoughts go out to those of you who are sorely missing your vacation companion.  You are in our hearts and prayers.

Kathleen

A festivity filled holiday season to you!

Lake Tahoe is in high gear preparing for the many travelers expected through the holidays.  We have extra events planned at the Stardust, and many interesting things to do about town. 

Holiday favorites like a Borges Sleigh Ride or ice skating at the Village Center will be a great accompaniement to your hot chocolate evenings, and to see the professionals at work - a quick ride to Reno brings the Holiday Ice Spectacular (through December 29th at the ElDorado Casino) to you and your family.   

More family entertainment awaits with the magic of Joseph Gabriel in shows at MontBleu from Dec. 26 - Jan. 3rd, or Ricky Nelson Remembered at Harrah’s Dec. 26, and Neil Sedaka at Harrah’s Dec. 29th. 

New Year’s has it’s own set of adult entertainment with celebrations at just about every restaurant and entertainment spot in town.  There’s a New Year’s Eve Cruise on both the M.S. Dixie II and on the Tahoe Queen, special dining at the Fresh Ketch and Edgewood, parties at The Hard Rock Cafe, Mont Bleu, Horizon, Harrah’s, all the night clubs, you name it.

And, as always, your home away from home is there for your rest and relaxation after a day of play.  We look forward to seeing you on your next trip to Tahoe, whenever that may be. 

Many blessings to you and your family through the holidays and into the New Year!

Happy Travels,

Kathleen

Looking forward to skiing… holidays

Dear Owners,

    This week our mountains got a nice coat of snow from a passing storm, just enough to whiten up the profile of the mountains and remind us that MOUNTAIN SPORTING ISN’T FAR AWAY.    Area ski resorts have been filling in with their own snow making efforts and the work is paying off!  Heavenly’s website this morning shows the countdown to snow which, as of this post, reads ”4 days, 16 hours, 17 minutes, 48 seconds”… 47 seconds… 46 seconds… you get the idea.

     Our phones are already active with owners eager for their winter vacations, so here’s a list of links to AREA SKI RESORTS to help you with your planning:  www.skiheavenly.com, www.kirkwood.com, www.sierraattahoe.com, www.northstarattahoe.com, and www.squaw.com. 

     For you owners who are NON-SKIERS, there’s more to see and do at the resorts than just ski or ride.  Hold on while going downhill in a giant doughnut at Sierra-at-Tahoe’s Tubing Hill, or see a Lake Tahoe winter from a completely different height on Heavenly’s Gondola, or view Kirkwood’s  beautiful  meadows by dog-sled… the opportunities for winter fun while staying at your home-away-from-home are practically endless.

     THANKSGIVING WEEKEND is the traditional beginning of events at the ski resorts, but there’s more to do around Thanksgiving at the Lake.  On the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving Christ Botti and Boney James are performing just a lovely lakeshore drive away from us  at the Holiday Jazz Fest in Incline Village’s Hyatt Regency. 

     The FIRST WEEKEND OF DECEMBER brings with it the South Shore’s first Festival of Trees and Lights sponsored by the Barton Foundation and held at MontBleu with 3 days of stage performances and holiday events including Polar Express rides through town, Teddy Bear Breakfasts, a Dessert Buffet and a Concert with the Bay Area’s noted party band, the Cheeseballs.  You can learn more about the specifics of this event debut at www.festivaloftreeslaketahoe.com.

     ARRANGING A STAY with us is easy; if you’ve already used your Member Week, call us at 530.544.5211 about Bonus Time availability.  Right now it looks like we’ll have Bonus Time available through December 18th so give us a call… we’d love to share the Spirit of the Holidays with you.

Happy Travels,

Kathleen

Fall, the locals favorite season

Autumn is the most underrated season at Lake Tahoe for reasons locals don’t understand.

This time of year the entire basin is awash in a spectrum of color that rivals New England. A few maples dot the landscape, but it’s the quaking aspens that stand out in the Sierra.

The green, silver dollar like leaves seem to steal from an artist’s palette when it comes time to changing. Soft hues of yellow transform into vibrant bursts like a ray of sunshine, while orange and red add to the diversity.

Other foliage is turning as well, making for a kaleidoscope of color.

It’s just a short drive or bike ride from the Stardust to capture the wonders of nature. Go in either direction from the property and you won’t be disappointed.

One of the great things about South Lake Tahoe in the fall is the crowds have dissipated. You might have your favorite trail to yourself. And just think, no one will be blocking the view of those aspens. Just make sure the battery in your camera is charged.

Another advantage to visiting Tahoe in the fall is restaurants are less crowded. You aren’t apt to be left hungry if spontaneously you decide to eat out.

The same can’t be said for all the nighttime entertainment options, but it is still easier to get a concert ticket now than it was in the summer.

With it being slower at most businesses, it means calling for a massage last-minute might not be a bad idea, going out to breakfast won’t mean waiting in line, nor will you be stuck in traffic.

Lake Tahoe in the fall is all about falling back into that relaxed state of mind that every day life keeps you from.

Timeshares mean many things

Who doesn’t want a paid vacation? Apparently, people who don’t own a timeshare.

Buying into either the Stardust or Americana properties in South Lake Tahoe means you can vacation in economic times like these. Your lodging is paid for or already part of your monthly expenses. You don’t have to save for a vacation once you have a time-share because the lodging, which is often the most expensive component of travel, is not an issue.

An incentive to get into the market now and start using your time is that many of the restaurants and attractions throughout the Lake Tahoe Basin are offering deals to lure visitors to their establishments.

So many owners at the Stardust and Americana remark on how a sense of community has developed through the years. Families become friends, they see each others children grow-up as they share the same week year after year.

Timeshares mean many things - sharing time away from your primary home, sharing time with new friends, sharing time in a community you call your second home.

It’s definitely not the sterile hotel setting.

What are some of your experiences with owning a timeshare?  Feel free to leave a comment.

Travel with Timeshare

Ever feel like you need a vacation from your vacation? According to the timeshare industry, the top stress points from vacations are:

* planning for one
* agreeing on destination
* cost
* activities to do for everyone in your group
* uncertainty of knowing what your room will look like

How does timeshare provide for a better vacation? When you travel with timeshare, there are no surprises. It takes the stress out of planning a vacation while ensuring that every traveler’s vacation desires are met. Vacationing with timeshare provides for better family time because everyone has a place to unwind and activities to participate in.

Whether reserving a favorite vacation spot to return to every year or looking to trade for a new experience, vacationing with timeshare ensures that you’ll vacation every year. From romantic to rejuvenating to action-packed, vacation ownership products are about investing in a vacation lifestyle that best suits your needs.

With more than 5,000 resorts in 100 countries, the possibilities with timeshare are endless. Your destination, your choice, your vacation.

Private Beach + Labor Day Fireworks = Great Weekend!

After much local maneuvering to get the money needed to finance The Labor Day Fireworks Show at Lake Tahoe, the show will definitely “go on” thanks to a May vote by the South Lake Tahoe Tourism Improvement District (TID).  The TID decision to fund the $65,000 needed to keep the fireworks show at Lake Tahoe opens up a delightful end of summer opportunity for our members.

The fireworks (more formally referred to as a pyrotechnic exhibition) will be launched from several barges just off the South Shore at Stateline.  Musical accompaniment is broadcast locally on radio stations KRLT-FM 93.9 and KOWL-AM 1490.  The visuals and music combine to set the mood for a genuinely patriotic celebration of good, God and country. 

Most fortunately, we have access to one of the best private beach viewing areas for the fireworks display - Lakeside Park Beach.  When you check in for your Member Week or Bonus Time, you’ll be given a pass to the private beach from where you can watch the sky alight with colors and patterns that will dazzle your senses.  The timing of the fireworks display (Sunday) works perfectly for those who like to use the Monday of the Holiday weekend to travel home before starting their work weeks. 

If an end-of-summer getaway sounds right for you, call us 11 days in advance of the date you’d like to check-in and we’ll tell you what we have open for Bonus Time.  As you know, Bonus Time is created when members or exchanges leave early from their Week stays - or - don’t use their reservations at all, and sometimes we don’t know that information until a couple of days before. When you call in the first time, we’ll give you an on-the-spot availability report and book your reservation right then, or, we may ask you to call closer to the Check-In Date to see what’s been made available last minute.  However it goes, we’ll do our best to get you in for an end-of-summer getaway.

KaBoom!

Happy Travels,

Kathleen

Fishing around the Lake

Last week a young friend of my daughter’s came home with some trout he caught specifically for the eagles at the Lake Tahoe Wildlife Sanctuary.  He cleaned the fish up outside, wrapped them and put them in my freezer where they were promptly forgotten as he and my daughter visited.  I moved the frozen package around yesterday, while getting to something else deeper in the freezer, and smiled to myself wishing the fish were for me instead of those eagles!

Everybody’s got a fish story, the favorite from my life: My husband, Rusty, and I are camping on the west fork of the Carson River in Faith Valley… lots of fisherman around us, everyone coming back through camp with empty stringer lines.  We walk out of camp (no poles, no anything) to our favorite swimming hole and, instead of swimming, Rusty leans in over a shadowy flat rock, lets his arm and hand freeze in the cold water until a trout swims by and, fast-as-lightning, Rusty’s got the fish ’round the middle throwing it out of the water onto the riverbank.  What a kick to walk back into camp with our fish strung through a willow branch, showing off our hand-caught catch. I don’t know if the surprised faces of our fellow campers or the taste of the fish was ever so good!

If you want to share some of your own fish stories, please add comments using the button shown below.  This website feature is for our Owners only, and we’d love to have you help us expand our site with your own comments.

There’s a great fishing photo of Arnulfo, Sr. shown in our Weekend Warriors tab - check it out on the menu bar above.  And, to help put you in the mood, here’s another West Carson River story and some links that’ll “wet” your appetite for fishing…

http://www.tahoeflyfishing.com/blog/

http://www.fishingworks.com/lakes/california/alpine/

http://www.tahoesportfishing.com/

http://www.laketahoesportfishing.com/

Until later, happy travels,

Kathleen

Valhalla Boathouse Theatre

Sara and Patrick (two of the 70+ members of the employee team for sister-resorts Stardust and Americana Vacation Clubs) just went to a concert at the Valhalla Boathouse Theatre inspiring me to tell you about the opportunities for an entertaining visit to the historic Valhalla Estate.  Located right off Emerald Bay Road, you wander through easy-stroll paths to the water’s edge where the rehabilitated turn-of-the-century boathouse now houses a theater stage with a Lake Tahoe backdrop.  You actually look past the performers directly at the Lake!  It’s a gorgeous venue to see live performances which are plentiful in the summer.  Here’s a link to the schedule for Valhalla’s Summer Arts Festival which includes Boathouse performances, Grand Hall performances and Estate wide events: http://www.valhallatahoe.com/events.html 

Events are scheduled day and night, including paid performances and free events such as the Wa She Shu It Deh Native American Festival scheduled for Sat/Sun  July 25 & 26th.  It’s a great family event showcasing Native American artists and performers (including traditional dancers and basketweavers) who share their skills on the lawn of the Valhalla Estate.  It’s an easy walk from the lawn to the shores of the Lake and all the way to Kiva Beach and a great way to spend a summer day. 

Even if you don’t catch a production or event, the Estate grounds are definitely worth visiting.  Paths all through Valhalla wind past many different historical buildings with period displays akin to the original contents when the Estate was truly a summer family getaway property.   

If you want more information on the Boathouse or the Valhalla Estate, come see us at the Front Desk or in Activities when you’re in town and we’ll help you out.  And, if you don’t have a Member Week reservation for summer… no problem!  Tahoe is still wide open to you on Bonus Time.  If you call 11 days in advance and it’s not available, make sure to call us Friday morning at 9:00am and we’ll update you with the latest check-out and new availability information.  Then you can visit Valhalla for yourself and experience a piece of Tahoe history.

And for more inspiration from our Tahoe team, click above on the “Weekend Warrior” tab of this Home Page menu bar to see all the things we folks living in Tahoe do with our time away from the Stardust and Americana.

See you in Tahoe,

Kathleen