Stardust Vacation Club Owner Site

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

Summer To-Do’s (fun things around Tahoe)

So, you’ve owned with us for 27+ years and are looking for new things to do on your trip to Tahoe.  Well, besides hanging out with us at the resort (and we ARE a blast to be with!) we’ve got a wealth of information on things you can do around town.  Start here by checking out summer summer attractions that we link to on our rental room night marketing website, Go To Tahoe:  http://www.gototahoe.com/category/lake-tahoe-attractions/summer-activities . 

We link our local activitity information to the room night website to maximize our link traffic and help search engines see us in the hopes of getting rental income for our owners who have put their week up for rent.  Prime weeks have the most rental opportunities for our owners and if you want more information on how to rent your week out, just contact reservations and they’ll send you a packet we’ve prepared on the subject.  Email reservations at res@stardust-tahoe.com or call Linda - Monday through Friday - at 800.262.5077 and she’ll give you the details you’re looking for.

Also, here’s the latest on the results of the undersea exploration of Lake Tahoe… seismic faults - new animal - very interesting… click here for more.  http://www.tahoedailytribune.com/article/20090605/NEWS/906059980&parentprofile=search

Until later, happy travels.

Kathleen

Memorial Day thoughts

Our deep appreciation goes out to all our Members and their families who have lost loved ones in military service.  Your service to your high ideals and fellow countrymen are much appreciated.  Much love and well wishes to you this Memorial Day weekend. 

With heartfelt gratitude,

Kathleen

Lake Tahoe Undersea Exploration begins Thursday (through May)

This Thursday, April 30th, marks the beginning of an underwater exploration project wherein Lake Tahoe’s three tsunami-producing fault lines will be evaluated.  The Undersea Voyager Project, an ocean exploration team from Southern California, will use a submarine and remotely operated vehicle to study the lake bottom of both Lake Tahoe and Fallen Leaf Lake before beginning a five-year expedition to study the Earth’s oceans.  Lake Tahoe’s clarity provides excellent diving conditions for the crew who will conduct dive projects through May.

A news article on the project reported UVP captain and CEO, Scott Cassell as saying “Our mission is to learn more about Lake Tahoe’s health, so its beauty can be preserved for future generations. If we can’t save Lake Tahoe, how can we save the world’s oceans?” 

Our town is preparing for the arrival of the Undersea Voyage Project and I will share more of the project findings in future posts.  To find out more information on the aquatic exploration of Lake Tahoe click here:  http://underseavoyager.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=67:depths-of-lake-tahoe-to-be-explored-by-undersea-voyager-project&catid=1:latest-news.

Want to be closer to the action?  Contact us at 530.544.5211 for Bonus Time.  We’d love to have you visit us in Tahoe.

Kathleen

Mountain Springtime with amazing local bargains

Well, today I could tell it was really spring in Tahoe.  The last of the snow is melting off but the spring flowers are not yet in bloom.  That sort of middle ground repeats itself in most areas of everyday life up here.  No more bulky coats but an abundance of knit hats, cyclists on the roads but sweaters still on the dogs, Easter Egg hunts scheduled along with the last of the ski events… yes, it’s spring at the South Shore.

While overall travel to Tahoe may be waning with the economic conditions, many of our owners have figured out a thing or two and are making repeat trips to the resort on Bonus Time.  I’ve been telling you for a long time that Bonus Time is available, and I think some of you still don’t believe it, I still hear people saying “Maybe it’s available, but not the weekend.”  WRONG.  Changing to the Sunday-Sunday reservation week opened up weekend Bonus Time within the first month and it’s been available ever since.  If you don’t believe me - call.  I dare you.  Okay, maybe that was too juvenile, but I’m telling you the truth about this, so you may as well try it for yourself.

And, with local business competing for a now smaller tourist base, deeper discount offers are hatching just like baby chicks.  The paper is full of advertisements for great specials on dining and entertainment events and we’ve negotiated some great bargains on your behalf - so it’s the perfect time to do a lovely getaway for an exceptionally low cost all the way around. 

If using the pool is important to you - call reservations to work around our annual maintenance.  We’ve got a short window to do our necessary maintenance items, but we’ll give you the information we have so you can make the best travel decision for yourself.

Happy Easter, Blessed Spring, and many good wishes for a blossoming year!

Kathleen

Annual Board of Directors Election coming soon

While the resort is functioning as usual and Spring Skiing is all the rage (the snow’s great), we’re gearing up with all the preparations for this year’s General Election. 

Sometime this week you’ll be receiving an envelope with all the information pertinent to this year’s Annual General Election of the Stardust Vacation Club Board of Directors.  The Member Meeting will be Saturday, May 16th at 1:30pm, but you do not have to attend to vote.  A Proxy Ballot is included in the mailing and by filling out that ballot and mailing it in as directed, your vote will be cast at the meeting.

Kenny Sutton is our Election Coordinator, so if you have any questions about the ballot, please don’t hesitate to give him a call at 530.544.5211.  

Hope you are all adjusting well to the Daylight Savings Time change.

Happy Travels,

Kathleen

XOPXOPXOP Hugs, Kisses and Presidents

Today is Valentine’s Day, a big day in Tahoe this year because Valentine’s Day is falling on the Presidents’ Day Holiday Weekend.  People are giddy today for all kinds of reasons - they’re with there loved ones, they’re in our beautiful winter wonderland AND they’ve got three day weekends.  No wonder there are so many smiles about the property!

I was going to write a little about the two holidays, but the History Channel’s website has so much information - I’m pointing you in that direction.  Check out this article on the History.com site:  http://www.history.com/content/valentine/history-of-valentine-s-day. 

History.com also has a wonderful video prepared for Presidents’ Day… here’s the direct link to watch it:  http://www.history.com/video.do?name=presidents&bcpid=1766638505&bclid=8696193001&bctid=1416853180 .  Remember when you knew the dates of Lincoln’s Birthday and Washington’s Birthday?  I don’t think I know more than those two, but there’s a great American President’s Gallery on the History.com site if you want to refresh yourself. 

Enjoy the holidays and many hugs and chocolate kisses from Kenny and all of us here at the Stardust.

Kathleen

Football Sunday

As I write this post, Joe Santalla, our Activites Supervisor, is busy getting everything ready for today’s Superbowl Party.  We’ve got owners who come in every year to be part of the excitement in the Activities Center with Board Member Rick Lehr among the returning Stardust fans.  What a great way to get to know fellow owners - hooting and hollering together watching the game!  Consider coming up next year, it’s a lively event.

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Snow and snowpack is a big deal around here - and not just from the winter sports perspective.  This week the official second snowpack measurement of the winter season occurred, with water content results being reported by California water scientists at 61% of historical average. 

It’s amazing to consider that our beautiful Sierra mountain snow, lakes and rivers serve as the water supply of hundreds of thousands of people. Many a time when my husband and I have been hiking off trail we’ve come upon the public utility markers and equipment that control the delivery of mountain water to the lowlands.  We’ve even occassionally spoken with hydrologists and water managers who keep a close eye on the water accumulation up top that feeds the cities and farmlands far below. (Boy, what dream jobs… hiking through the mountains for a living.)

You can read for yourself what the Ca. State Hydrogologists are reporting in the following articles:

http://www.tahoedailytribune.com/article/20090130/NEWS/901309995&parentprofile=search

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-snowpack30-2009jan30,0,523320.story 

Also, if you’re interested in knowing more details about water reservoirs and the rivers that feed them, you’ll like the data provided on the  Ca. Department of Water Resources website:

http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/reports/EXECSUM

Appreciating the beautiful ”water” and the practical application of the necessary ”water” never ceases to amaze me!

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If you want to see our snowpack… roads are clear and mountains are gleaming white.  Come visit on Bonus Time… just give us a call Kenny and the Front Desk crew at 530.544.5211 eleven days in advance of your travel dates.

See you in Tahoe.

Kathleen

Harrah’s South Shore Room Concert Series - 50th Anniversary

From what I’ve been reading lately, Bill Harrah was ahead of his time when he built Harrah’s South Shore Room.  Name acts who performed in the opening years said the South Shore Room was THE place to play.  There’s a great article about those early days in the Sacramento Bee… click here to read the article.  http://www.sacbee.com/122/story/1510011.html.

This year’s concert series celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the South Shore Room and features 12 performances including Dave Mason (Jan. 17), Don Rickles (Jan. 23&24), Smokey Robinson (Feb. 7) and Styx (February 20).  You can find the whole roster of performances at www.southshoreroom.com.  You can use that link to purchase tickets for the events online or you can call Harrah’s Box Office at 1.800.786.8208. 

Another good reason to come to Tahoe on Bonus Time!

Happy Travels,

Kathleen

Happy New Year!

Here in Tahoe the year is beginning with a BANG.  No, that’s not the sound of fireworks (although there were a lot of those on New Year’s Eve).  That “BANG”, well maybe it’s more like a “BOOM”, is the sound of avalanche control as the mountains are being made safe for travelers.

Skiing and Boarding are definitely the activities of choice for the majority of people in town today.  Folks at the Stardust are walking right across the street to the Heavenly Gondola to start their day with an adrenaline rush down the mountain.  From my perspective in office space on Ski Run Boulevard, I see car after car loaded with gear going up the road to Heavenly’s California Lodge.  This is not a honking-horns bunch,   it’s more like a “can’t wait to fly down the mountain” amusement park line.  

In the summer, you can’t see it - but now, well NOW, we’re the ski town real deal… people walking everywhere with skis or boards across their shoulders, gear-laden cars, families laughing together, snow balls ripping through the air towards unsuspecting friends and smiling, smiling, smiling everywhere.  People can’t wait to get out on the snow.

Heading out of town, as I was coming in, were the snowmobilers going to their favorite Sierra riding areas with machines in tow and gloves on the dashboard.  I also passed a runner in winter undies going full out on the snow next to Highway 50.  Yesterday, it was the gleam from a cross-country skier’s goggles that got my attention.  Whatever your winter sport, it’s a great time to be outdoors in Tahoe.

Of course, Kenny Sutton, our Resort Manager, has got his shorts on today, like always…  he’s as comfortable wearing shorts in the Winter as he is in the Summer.  At least that’s what he tells everyone and with his Nordic look and twinkling blue eyes, I think he’s telling the truth. 

So, as cars continue to go up Ski Run toward Heavenly, I sign off to get some other things done; looking forward to the time I’m among those playing in the snow!

Many joyful and loving moments to you in this New Year!

Kathleen