Grab Hold of Your Life and Start Living!

Would, coulda, shoulda. Everyone has regrets. Regret is universal, spanning age, culture and socio-economic status. Our most common life regrets center on family, romance, career, education and self. For every choice we make, there are countless other possibilities we will never experience. We are forever tantalized by "the road not taken."

I have just read a fascinating article about regret in the current issue of The AARP Magazine. Written by David Dudley, editor of Baltimore's The Urbanite, the article suggests that America has entered an Age of Regret. (Click here to read the article.) Raised on the unobtainable idealism of the 1960s, Baby Boomers are having a harder time coping with life's regrets than previous generations. The explosion of options available for everything from choosing a cell phone to selecting a prescription drug plan is paralyzing our ability to feel satisfied with our choices. I found it interesting that fewer choices diminish regret and that the inability to undo a choice actually makes us more satisfied with our decision.

The number one regret most people have involves family: My spouse and I don't have enough time just to ourselves. I never have enough time for the kids. I'm missing out on my son/daughter's childhood. Family life is a perpetual blur of carpools, homework, activities and projects -- when do we relax and just have fun?

It seems to me that regret is about unfulfilled dreams. The most productive way to put our regrets behind us is to do something about them. Start fulfilling your dreams today. If you aren't spending enough quality time with your spouse or family, make an investment in your family's future. Buy a timeshare property and lock in a couple of weeks a year when you can focus on just being together and having fun. Stop thinking about all the vacations you haven't taken, all the things you haven't done together and put your regrets behind you. Invest in your family's future, invest in a timeshare, and start building some memories today.

Relax and Recharge on Florida's Sanibel Island

In recent polls of timeshare owners, half planned to vacation in Florida and nearly 60% favored a beach vacation over other environments. In the winter (especially if you live in cold, snowy states), the lure of sun, sand and water is particularly enticing. Florida has much to offer the timeshare vacationer, but its wide, sandy beaches are the prime draw.

If you long for leisurely walks along beautiful sandy beaches, breathtaking sunsets and the opportunity to commune with nature and recharge your batteries, you want to head over the causeway to Sanibel Island on Florida's Golf Coast. Sanibel has one of the best seashell beaches in the world -- 12 miles stretching along the island's south shore -- so be prepared to spend some time doing the "Sanibel stoop" as you search the beach for treasures washed up by the surf. Make time to visit the fascinating Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum. The museum not only houses fabulous informational displays on hundreds of different types of shells and mollusks, but shows the many ways in which humans have used shells over the century: money, jewelry, tools, architecture, art, etc. Children will enjoy the hands-on learning lab.

Another must-see is the J.N. "Ding" Darling Wildlife Refuge which covers nearly a third of the island. The refuge covers 6,000 acres and provides shelter from more than 300 species of birds. A lovely 4-mile drive winds through the park with plenty of pull-outs for observing and photographing wildlife. Ranger-guided tram tours, biking and hiking trails are also available. For those who prefer to explore the park from the water, canoes and kayaks can be rented at the park.

You'll find plenty of fine restaurants and interesting boutiques on Sanibel, but it's the extraordinary natural beauty of the island that draws vacationers. Enjoy everything Sanibel Island has to offer from your spacious condominium at Sanibel Beach Club II. Two-bedroom, two-bath units include a living room with cable TV and DVD player, a separate dining area, eat-in kitchen and full-sized washer and dryer. A gorgeous palm-fringed pool, wide, shallow beach (perfect for shell collecting), bike trails, tennis courts and more provide plenty of activities for the whole family. You'll find excellent golfing, deep sea fishing and boat rentals located nearby. Click here for complete information on Sanibel Beach Club II timeshare condominiums (photos above, left and right) To preview additional Sanibel Island timeshare properties, click to post title.

Snow Adds Magic to Yosemite Winter Vacation

Yosemite in winter? It's time to think outside the box when planning your winter vacation. The sheer cliffs, thundering waterfalls and clear blue lakes of this stunning Southern California national park are, if anything, more breathtaking shrouded in snow and ice. As you cross-country ski toward the spectacular sheer face of Half Dome on your way to Glacier Point, you experience the same awe that must have overcome the first explorers to this part of the Sierra Nevadas. It's just you and nature -- untouched, majestic and silent but for the sound of the wind whispering in the pines overhead.

Many of Yosemite's trails and features are open and accessible year-round. Badger Pass offers downhill and cross-country skiing, snowboarding and snow tubing. You can also try snowshoeing on ranger-led hikes or strike out on your own. The sled run at Crane Flat is an experience as exciting as any roller coaster you've ever ridden. Ice skate in the shadow of Half Dome at the Curry Village rink in Yosemite Valley where folks have been skating since 1923.

There are a number of hiking trails open during the winter. Several of the most notable are paved, wheelchair accessible and stroller friendly. The 1-mile Lower Yosemite Falls loop takes you through Ponderosa pines, incense cedars and canyon live oaks past the base of the falls. The gentle 1-mile roundtrip hike to Bridalveil Falls takes you through pine and cedar-scented forest quite close to the ice-shrouded falls on the shady side of the canyon. A slightly more difficult 3-mile hike to Mirror Lake affords spectacular views of Half Dome and Mount Watkins. Hiking lovers will want to take the Columbia Rock trail, a 3-mile hike that rises 1,000 feet to Upper Yosemite Falls. The panoramic view of Yosemite Valley is magnificent.

After a day of winter fun at Yosemite, return to your cozy Bass Lake, California timeshare (above, right). The 5-star WorldMark property offers spacious, comfortable accommodations with room for the whole family. Cuddle up around the fireplace and sip hot cocoa in the evening while you relive the day's exciting Yosemite adventures. Units are equipped with all the comforts of home, including a fully-equipped kitchen, CD/stereo, cable TV, iron and ironing board, hairdryer and more. Each unit has a washer/dryer so you'll be able to quickly dry out the kids' parkas and snowpants after a day of sledding and tubing. For complete information on WorldMark Bass Lake, click the post title.

Everyone visits Yosemite in the summer. It's the lucky few who savor the park's winter beauty and pleasures.

For New Year's, It's Vegas, Baby

Las Vegas is calling! It's time to make your New Year's reservations. If you want to ring in the new year with glam, glitz and fabulous entertainment, there is no place more exciting than Las Vegas.

Las Vegas offers lots of fun shopping, gourmet restaurants, premium entertainment, world class golf courses, delightful spas and, of course, opulent casinos. You can tour the world from the elegant Italian Riviera to the mysterious Mayan empire by visiting the many themed casino resorts along "the strip."

In Las Vegas, timeshares come in every shape and flavor. From the newly remodeled Jockey Club (right), located right on the exciting neon-bathed strip, to the secluded desert oasis provided by the Cliffs at Peace Canyon (below, left), your perfect New Year's getaway is available on Timeshare Giant. Just click the post title to preview all 30 outstanding Las Vegas timeshare properties.

While the opulent casinos are still the big draw in "Sin City," modern Las Vegas offers so many other exciting attractions that it's become a major vacation destination. You may be so busy going to the amazing shows, shopping in the unique shops, relaxing at the spas, sampling the gourmet fare or soaking up the sun around the pool that you may never shake the hand of a one-armed bandit!

Vegas has been called the adult's "Magic Kingdom," but it offers plenty of family activities and entertainment, too. On the strip you can watch an exciting water battle between pirate ships, paddle through Venice in a gondola, walk the storied streets of New York City, screech down a giant roller coaster, swim amid waterfalls -- if you can dream it, you can do it in Las Vegas!

Make sure you get off the strip long enough to tour historic downtown Las Vegas. You won't want to miss the dazzling light show on legendary Fremont Street. If you need a change of pace, Hoover Dam, Red Rock Canyon, the Valley of Fire, the Grand Canyon, Death Valley and Lake Mead make easy day trips.

Wrapping Up Your Timeshare Gift

A timeshare vacation property makes the perfect holiday gift, but how do you wrap something that is definitely bigger than a breadbox? Don't worry; this is the fun part. It's time to unleash your creative muse and craft a magical holiday moment that will live forever in the annals of family storytelling.

A timeshare vacation property is the ultimate WOW! gift. When you present your gift, you want your children's eyes to light up and give you a smile that stretches from ear to ear. Here are a few suggestions:

• Arrange a timeshare vacation with your children at the new property. As you're all gathered around that first evening, pop open a bottle of champagne, make a toast and casually hand them the keys to their new timeshare.
• If the timeshare is somewhere warm and sunny, give your grandkids beach buckets and shovels and give your children beach wraps. Tuck the keys to the timeshare in the pocket.
• If you're giving your children a ski country timeshare, make up an apres ski gift basket of gourmet coffee and hot chocolate, fancy cookies, nut bread and other tasty goodies. Hang the timeshare keys from the basket handle with a big bow.
• Create a mini road rally for a timeshare within driving distance. Give your children a marked map and a series of envelopes to open at different points along the way. Clues or riddles inside each envelope might direct them to stop at an interesting sight along the way or do something fun or silly. Place the key to their new timeshare in the last envelope.
• Will your children be flying to their new timeshare? Wrap up a carry-on bag. Inside place airline tickets and the key.

Be creative! Have a little fun giving your gift. For tips on timeshare gift giving, read our posts over the past two weeks and visit the Timeshare Giant website (just click the post title). Happy Holidays!

Great Family Timeshare Destinations: Branson, MO

The family that plays together stays together. If you're looking for a special holiday gift with a huge WOW factor, give your adult children and their families the gift of a timeshare property. You'll be guaranteeing them the time and place to spend many happy hours playing together -- now and for years to come.

The Midwest's playground, Branson, Missouri is just one of many great family timeshare destinations we've been showcasing in recent posts. Visit Timeshare Giant to preview hundreds of fabulous timeshare resorts available from coast to coast and all over the world.

If your family likes to play, Branson is the perfect place to vacation. Bicycle trails, boating, sailing, waterskiing, golfing, fishing, scuba diving, tennis, canoing, swimming, horseback riding, hiking -- Branson offers plenty of fun for the whole family. Dubbed the Vegas of the Midwest, Branson offers plenty of first class entertainers and more theater seats than Broadway. You'll have to keep coming back to sample all of what Branson has to offer!

Tucked amidst the verdant Ozark Mountains, the Villas at Lantern Bay (above, right) are situated on the lush, green shores of beautiful Table Rock Lake. From this peaceful scenic oasis, you and your family can easily enjoy the many outdoor delights Branson has to offer. And when the sun goes down, you're just 10 miniutes away from the bright neon lights of 76 Country Music Boulevard, one of Branson's great entertainment districts.

At the Villas at Lantern Bay, you can bring the whole family, Fido included. The Villas are known to be "pet friendly;" however, make sure you notify the resort early that you plan to bring your pet and review the pet policy prior to your arrival to avoid unwelcome surprises. Happy Holidays!

Great Family Timeshare Destinations: Carlsbad, CA

Search your memories with your parents. Parent-child relationships are built on the small things like playing catch, baking cookies, learning to ride a bike, trips to the playground -- all sorts of ordinary, daily activities you did with your parents as you grew up. Those are the things that build the foundation of a relationship. But when most people think back, they first remember those extraordinary times when they and their parents did something unusual together, when their parents' attention wasn't split between work and household chores but was focused entirely on them, when every day was fun and exciting -- they remember vacations.

This holiday, give your grown children the opportunity to start building some great vacation memories with their own children, give them a timeshare property. There are timeshare properties available in every corner of the U.S. that can offer your children and grandchildren delightful opportunities to build memories that will last a lifetime. Visit Timeshare Giant for a complete listing and read our recent posts for a review of some of the country's great family vacation spots.

One of my favorite places to vacation in Southern California is Carlsbad. A short drive north of San Diego, the quaint village of Carlsbad perches on the sun-drenched Pacific coast. Gorgeous Pacific beaches offer plenty of sun, sand and water activities. Spend blissful days playing with your children on the beach or boating along the coast from the Carlsbad Inn Beach Resort (right).

Set amid towering palms and lushly landscaped grounds, Carlsbad Inn Beach Resort is an oasis from the cares of everyday life. A lovely pool and wonderful children's pool offer a pleasant change from the beach, and there's a playground for running off steam and energy. You'll find plenty of family friendly activities within a short drive of Carlsbad, including Knott's Berry Farm, Disneyland, San Diego Zoo, Wild Animal Park, Seaworld and Legoland. Tours to Ensenada, Mexico, the J. Paul Getty Museum and Hollywood are also available from the resort.

Great Family Timeshare Destinations: Lake Tahoe

Only two more weeks until Christmas! Don't panic. You don't need to rack your brains trying to think of something to give your grown children. You don't need to elbow your way through the mobs at the mall trying to find something you're not even sure they'll like. The perfect gift is just a mouse click away. This year, give your grown children and their families the gift of togetherness. Give them a timeshare vacation property.

In recent posts, we've been showcasing some of America's great family vacation spots to give you some ideas for holiday giving. For a complete listing of timeshare vacation properties located across the U.S. and all over the world, click the post title to visit Timeshare Giant.

Straddling the California/Nevada state lines, Lake Tahoe is a year-round vacation wonderland that offers plenty of activities for the whole family. The natural beauty and serene peacefulness of what locals refer to as "The Blue World" has attracted vacationers since the early 1900s. Silver mining may have put Lake Tahoe on the map, but it was the area's scenic wilderness that drew wealthy San Francisco families to her shores as the Comstock Lode dried up. In the mid-1940s, gambling turned the area into a recreational playground, and the 1960 Winter Olympics defined Lake Tahoe as a major skiing center. Today, Lake Tahoe's pioneer charm and restful scenery lure vacationers to relax and play in this fabulous year-round wonderland.

Nestled in the heart of Incline Village, Nevada on Lake Tahoe's north shore, the Hyatt High Sierra Lodge (left) is a leisurely stroll from the shores of Lake Tahoe, minutes from the areas best ski slopes and mere steps away from the fabulous Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort and Casino. Hyatt High Sierra Lodge offers beautifully appointed two-bedroom, two-bath units with a toasty fireplace for warming up after a day spend hiking or skiing. All the fun of Lake Tahoe is within easy reach: bicycle trails, fishing, racquetball, boating, golf, horseback riding, skiing, scuba diving, tennis, swimming, waterskiing, and more. There's always something exciting to do at Lake Tahoe. Spend the day in outdoor play, then come indoors at night to enjoy Lake Tahoe's fabulous casinos and live entertainment.

On Lake Tahoe's southern shore, the Tahoe Beach & Ski Club boasts a luxurious 400-foot private beach along the lake. Beautifully appointed rooms offer stunning vistas of the mountains or the lake. The famous ski slopes of Heavenly Valley are just a mile away, and vacationers can also enjoy cross-country skiing, great sledding and snowmobiling. Summer pursuits include fishing, sailing, scuba diving, river rafting, golfing, horseback riding, biking and hiking. At Tahoe Beach & Ski Club you can swim in the outdoor heated poor year round or relax your muscles in the sauna or hot tub. If you crave a little nightlife, the casinos and exciting live entertainment are nearby.

Great Family Timeshare Destinations: Florida

As a parent, you've been there yourself. You know how it is when your family is young and you're struggling to climb the corporate ladder. There's never enough time to do all the things you need to do, much less all those things you'd like to do. Family time is a jumble of hurried schedules, activities and chores. It's hard to find time to just sit back, relax and enjoy being with your spouse and your children. So this year, give your grown children and their families what you couldn't afford back then. Give them the gift of time together. Give them a timeshare vacation property.