March-April suggestions.

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

Hi.

I´m trying to plan a trip with family and we want to go somewhere in the off season that is not frozen like a popsicle but not beachfront. Any suggestions of easy to exchange places with some interesting things to do. I want to exchange a 1 bedroom florida beach timeshare for a 2 or 3 bedroom somewhere with things to go visit. Is Vegas considered off season for March? I´ve also got some RCI points to burn and can also do a Wyndham points deposit. How about California? Is that low season for CA? Is Oregon real cold in March? I´m kind of leaning to the west coast but am open to anywhere that makes sense.

As much as I´ve travelled I´m kind of at a stand still on this one for some reason.

Where would you guys suggest we go? It will be 4 adults in their 40´s and 50´s and an older teen. Thanks.

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

April is actually a nice time to visit Lake Lure, North Carolina - Foxrun Resort 2BR/2Ba sleep 6 - Fairway of the Mountains has 1BR sleep 4 or 2BR sleep 8 - and there is another WYN resort there as well.
There is golf and boating and a BIG lake with lake activities as well as pools and a small water play area for kids.

Fox Run Townhouses - Fairways of the Mountains - VRI
Explore Asheville, NC | Asheville, NC's Official Tourism Web Site
Chimney Rock Park | North Carolina hiking trails with incredible mountain views
The Town of Lake Lure Official Website
Chimney Rock, Lake Lure North Carolina Mountain Vacation Packages

April is also nice for Hilton Head and there are lots of nice 2 and 3BR units there.

April is still very nice in Palm Springs but past high season - again allowing u to get a bigger unit.

edit - just saw the ages - I think you would all like Palm Springs and also Lake Lure....obviously HHI is beachfront!

[sue1947 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close sue1947]

March is a good time in Vegas

In addition to the casinos, the desert flowers are blooming in March so there is quite a bit to see and do besides the casinos. I was able to trade a studio for a 2 BR several years ago the last week of March. We used it as a base to see the spring flower bloom in Death Valley, Lake Mead, Valley of Fire State Park and Red Rock park. The temps weather was perfect; not too hot yet. Red Rock park just out of town might interest the older teen with the hiking/rock climbing/biking options.

March is still pretty rainy and cold in Oregon. March is also spring break for most Oregon schools so there will be more competition for what is available.

Sue

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

April is actually a nice time to visit Lake Lure, North Carolina - Foxrun Resort 2BR/2Ba sleep 6 - Fairway of the Mountains has 1BR sleep 4 or 2BR sleep 8 - and there is another WYN resort there as well.
There is golf and boating and a BIG lake with lake activities as well as pools and a small water play area for kids.

Fox Run Townhouses - Fairways of the Mountains - VRI
Explore Asheville, NC | Asheville, NC's Official Tourism Web Site
Chimney Rock Park | North Carolina hiking trails with incredible mountain views
The Town of Lake Lure Official Website
Chimney Rock, Lake Lure North Carolina Mountain Vacation Packages

April is also nice for Hilton Head and there are lots of nice 2 and 3BR units there.

April is still very nice in Palm Springs but past high season - again allowing u to get a bigger unit.

edit - just saw the ages - I think you would all like Palm Springs and also Lake Lure....obviously HHI is beachfront!

Thanks Pat.
This might work. Do you think there is snow in March in North carolina mountains. I´m not a good snow driver. I panic too much when the car slides and obviously since I live in Miami don´t have snow tires. If we do the Carolinas I will just drive there. It´s easier than flying and renting.
Hilton head might be an option since I still have DVC points left over and I´ve wanted to visit that resort anyway. THanks. That actually sounds like a doable option between all my stuff I´d probably get something nice.

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

In addition to the casinos, the desert flowers are blooming in March so there is quite a bit to see and do besides the casinos. I was able to trade a studio for a 2 BR several years ago the last week of March. We used it as a base to see the spring flower bloom in Death Valley, Lake Mead, Valley of Fire State Park and Red Rock park. The temps weather was perfect; not too hot yet. Red Rock park just out of town might interest the older teen with the hiking/rock climbing/biking options.

March is still pretty rainy and cold in Oregon. March is also spring break for most Oregon schools so there will be more competition for what is available.

Sue

Thanks Sue,
So Oregon is out. I certainly don´t want to chase the rain. I get enough of that here.
Is Vegas high season in March? I´ve only been to Vegas in May and June. It would be nice to go when it´s not so hot.

[SallyHoover Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close SallyHoover]

Texas might be nice in March

I think Wyndham and Worldmark have some nice resorts in the San Antonio area. I've been to Austin at that time a year and it can be quite nice.

[BoardGirl Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BoardGirl]

I also was thinking mountains of NC. I don't think it would be snowy at that time.

Make plans to visit Biltmore in Asheville.

[vintner Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close vintner]

If I remember from specials I have seen on tv (Norm Abrams did a woodworking show based on a tour he did there), Biltmore is an interesting place to visit.

[Hobbitess Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hobbitess]

Biltmore Estate is stunner anytime of year, and they have a "Festival of Flowers" in April so I'm guessing the grounds are particularly nifty then. I think it's a terrific place but everyone I know who has gone there has loved it as well - although admittedly I'm talking all adults. Not sure I'd take younger ones through the house tour, although there's stuff there they'd enjoy. Some older teens would like it for the sheer spectacle; you'd probably have a better grasp of whether that's the case when it comes to your particular guest.

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

March is very nice in NC - it is just April is better...LOL

Knowing where you live, is why I suggested NC - and that time of year should be an easy (is aything every easy anymore?) RCI trade as they have a lot of inventory in that area.
FXR can also be gotten thru II.

[JWC Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close JWC]

March and April, especially March, can be quite iffy for coastal California. March is one of the wettest months of the year however is still fairly dry by most standards. Palm Springs would be great but you are in prime season so probably wouldn't get much. Las Vegas may or may not be pretty cool.

I definitely would stay away from anywhere north of California at that time of the year.

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

I also was thinking mountains of NC. I don't think it would be snowy at that time.

Make plans to visit Biltmore in Asheville.

If I remember from specials I have seen on tv (Norm Abrams did a woodworking show based on a tour he did there), Biltmore is an interesting place to visit.

Biltmore Estate is stunner anytime of year, and they have a "Festival of Flowers" in April so I'm guessing the grounds are particularly nifty then. I think it's a terrific place but everyone I know who has gone there has loved it as well - although admittedly I'm talking all adults. Not sure I'd take younger ones through the house tour, although there's stuff there they'd enjoy. Some older teens would like it for the sheer spectacle; you'd probably have a better grasp of whether that's the case when it comes to your particular guest.

Can't believe I forgot this link!

BILTMORE in Asheville, North Carolina, Americas Largest Home and More!

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

Thanks guys,

I love San Antonio but we went last year so we don't want to repeat.

North Carolina is looking promising. I've already been a few times but always in the summer so wasn't sure about March. Now they are saying they want to go end of February beginning of March instead of March April as previously planned to now not sure if NC is still a good choice.

I love the Biltmore. I guess I hadn't thought about it since I've already been twice myself and was hoping to go somewhere I have not gone but unfortunately I'm running out of new places nearby. That's why I was considering doing a west coast trip since I hardly get out west since it's such a trek and I always lose 2 days going west.

Maybe I could swing by Hilton head on the way up. Is there anything to do in HHI end of Feb. beginning of March? We don't golf so wasn't sure it's a place I'd be too interested in outside of the summer for the beach.

Is Williamsburg real cold at this time? I know there are lots of TS in Wiliamsburg. I wonder if Busch Gardens would be open then. We just want to go somewhere pretty with beautiful scenery. Not really lots of activities but maybe some antiquing, museums, historic sites and possibly a theme park if they are open that time. Also don't want hordes of people so don't want to do a high season place either.

Am I looking for the impossible? Am I going to end up in Orlando again?
Maybe I should do a cruise. Just thinking out loud but I'm losing my touch with the planning. Usually I'm much more decisive.

[Hobbitess Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hobbitess]

Now they are saying they want to go end of February beginning of March instead of March April as previously planned to now not sure if NC is still a good choice.

I think you'd be dealing with highs in the fifties toward the end of February in the NC mountains. Williamsburg would be a touch warmer, maybe upper fifties. Hilton Head Island in the lower- to mid-sixties. Coming from the Michigan border, that sounds pretty nice for end of February - coming from Florida, probably not as appealing.

When I hear "Hilton Head Island," my first thought is Gullah culture, so I'm guessing it does have more to offer than golf and the beach. The local museum offers historic and nature tours, so that might be something to look into. Themes for tours include History, Nature, Gullah Heritage, etc. Their schedules aren't up for next year but you could call. I would guess they have them in Feb/March, since they've got a good number of choices in November and December, so if they just cut back a bit there'd still be options.

Coastal Discovery Museum ~ Tours and Cruises ~ Hilton Head Island SC

Hilton Head is less than an hour from Savannah, GA to the south, which is a pretty place as I recall, historical sites and whatnot. To the north, a bit more than an hour away, is Hunting Island State Park, which has a lighthouse if you're into those and an interpretive center I think. For that matter, there's a refuge on Hilton Head that's supposed to be pretty neat.

Man, now I want to go to Hilton Head, when it really wasn't on my radar before.

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

Fifties I can deal with. I've got plenty of warm clothes. Actually it would be a nice change of pace. Just don't want to drive in snow.

Gullah I've not heard of. Actually I think I remember seeing something on the History channel about them but when I went to HHI I don't remember seeing anything that referred to Gullah but I was only there 1 day so maybe I didn't have time.

I like Savannah but don't remember seeing any timeshare there. I think there might be some on Tybee island but not sure. Haven't looked into it yet.

Unfortunately my Aunt died this weekend so it's really complicating our plans. She was the mother of my 2 cousins that were going to go so I guess my plans are on hold until they feel like vacationing again.

Life just keeps happening.