The July 4^th holiday is about celebrating with family and friends, but what else is it really about? Is it about the fireworks, potato salad, BBQ, bug zappers, and red-white-and-blue party favors? Well, it’s a little bit of all that and more:

• In May 1776, after a year of disputing between the colonists and English Parliament over taxation without representation, the colonies sent delegates to the Second Continental Congress. In June, the delegates realized their efforts were fruitless and formed a committee to draft the formal Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson chaired the committee and submitted the first draft to Congress on June 28, 1776.
• July 8, 1776, in Philadelphia, the first Independence Day was celebrated. The Liberty Bell rang causing citizens to flock to Independence Hall for the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence.
• In May or June 1776, the Congressional Committee commissioned Betsy Ross to sew the first American flag.
• The official event signing of the Declaration of Independence did not occur until August 2, 1776, when 50 men signed it. The last signor was Thomas McKean in January 1777.
• For over six months, the signers’ names remained confidential to protect them from a possible treasonable act; punishable by law resulting in death. This most likely would have occurred if independence was not achieved.
• In 1804, the White House held the first public July 4^th event.
• According to American legend, Uncle Sam probably began in 1812. At this time, Samuel Wilson, a meat packer, provided meat to the U.S. Army. His shipments were stamped with the initials, U.S. An unknown quipped that the initials meant “Uncle Sam.” This tomfoolery eventually led to Uncle Sam symbolizing the U.S. government.
•  July 4^th is one of the few federally recognized holidays that have not been moved to the closest Friday or Monday. Congress declared July 4th a federal legal holiday in 1941.

Have a safe and happy July 4^th. If you’re not already visiting us over the Holiday, consider a quick get away and Book Now online! We’ve got some RED Hot Specials and summer Family Reunion Deals at San Diego Country Estates!

“I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! 
Rah! Rah! Rah! 
Tuesdays, Mondays, we all scream for sundaes, 
Sis-boom-bah! 
Boola-boola, sarsaparoolla, 
If you got chocolate, we’ll take vanoola! 
I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! Rah! Rah! Rah!” (Original song by Howard Johnson, Billy Moll, and Robert A. K. King)

Who doesn’t love that ice cream song? Well, I know for certain our rental guests at San Diego Country Estates and Palm Springs Tennis Club do.

Starting June 1- August 31, 2011, book a rental (two night minimum) at San Diego Country Estates (all week long) or Palm Springs Tennis Club (weekdays only) and you’ll be saying, “Rah! Rah! Rah!” when you get free ice cream upon arrival. Book a one bedroom suite and receive one free pint of ice cream. Book a two bedroom suite and receive two free pints of ice cream.  A screaming deal at two gold crown rated resorts!

Cool off this summer in Palm Springs and North San Diego by relaxing at the pools and enjoying mouthfuls of ice cream. “Boola-boola, sarsaparoolla” if you get a one bedroom, we’ll take a two bedroom! Get indulging now!

Summer officially begins June 21^st (first day of summer), but to some they’ve already kicked off summer fun over Memorial Day weekend. According to AAA, the tourism industry is preparing for an uncertain summer. In summer 2010, the average family spent $809 on its vacation; while AAA is predicting this year’s spending to decrease to $692. AAA’s survey also revealed that many families are expecting to tighten their belts and plan shorter trips.

With summer vacation budgets shrinking, how can you still enjoy a memorable vacation with loved ones and not worry about all of the expenses? Here are some ideas:

1.      Save money by not dining out and purchase groceries at a nearby store. A majority of our timeshare suites, if not all, offer fully equipped kitchens. Perfect for preparing meals on a budget. Also, where most of our timeshare resorts are located, guests can find weekly, local farmers’ markets that offer fresh, seasonal items at reasonable prices.

For instance, in Palm Springs, Palm Springs Tennis Club guests enjoy the Village Fest (every Thursday) with hundreds of vendors. And, Channel Island Shores guests participate in the Channel Islands Harbor Certified Farmer’s Market (every Sunday).  

2.      Entertainment can be the most expensive part of a trip. Consider planning one major entertainment event and make the other days about exploring the resort’s amenities. If planning an entertaining activity, great deals can be found online and this can save you anywhere from $10-$30 per event ticket.

For example, traveling to Aquamarine Villas or the Blue Whale in Oceanside, CA, and want to visit LegoLand and Sea Life Aquarium, view these offers. Or, visiting Magic Tree resort in Orlando and want to take advantage of Disney, Universal Studios, Epcot, and more, view these savings. Magic Tree resort team members can also assist you with local deals.

All of our resorts provide complimentary games and movies. This is an inexpensive way to connect with loved ones and still have fun. Also, some of our resorts provide complimentary bicycles and there’s no better way to cruise all the local spots. Aquamarine Villas is one example that offers no-cost bike rentals. For additional information on amenities, please visit each resort’s website.

3.      Gas prices are soaring and whether you’re driving or flying to your vacation destination, this will impact your wallets. Many online sites provide information on gas stations with the cheapest gas. You just enter the destination zip code and you’ll see local stations’ prices.

When it comes to flying, not much consumers can do about airlines’ gas prices. However, you can cut air travel expenses by packing smart to avoid any excess baggage fees. For airline ticket discounts, visit Southwest Airlines.

4.      Pinch pennies with some free day outings. All of our resort communities offer some free activity:

In Southern CA, leave the credit cards behind.

In Las Vegas, put the wallets away.

In Lake Tahoe, forget the “Benjamins.”

In Orlando, be worry-free.

Now, you can loosen those belts and breathe a little easier when vacationing in summer 2011. We look forward to seeing you soon.

Memorial Day weekend 2011 is from May 27^th- May 30^th (Memorial Day). The Memorial Day holiday is a remembrance and commemoration of members of the U.S.A military, past and present. Unofficially, Memorial Day weekend also signifies the beginning of summer vacation season.

Throughout the United States, Memorial Day weekend is celebrated with many concerts, festivals, performances and special ceremonies. About 37 million Americans plan to travel over the holiday weekend. The following is a list of Memorial Day weekend events in California, Nevada and Florida:

California:
The Smooth Jazz 98.1 Gaslamp Festival- in San Diego’s famous Gaslamp District. A day long concert with good food and music.

The Garden Grove Strawberry Festival- located in central Orange County. This festival has been a Memorial Day tradition since 1958. Carnival rides, parade, floats and plenty of strawberry shortcake.

Fiesta Hermosa- celebrating 38 years of fiestas in Hermosa Beach. A beach-side festival known as the “largest arts and crafts fair in Southern California.”

Vista Strawberry Festival- bike tours, 5K run and yummy strawberries in Vista.  

Nevada:
About 300,000 Nevadans are expected to hit the roads over Memorial Day weekend, and they will pay a new record gas price of approximately $3.73 a gallon.

Rockabilly Rod Reunion- at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. 18 bands, hot rods, racing and more.

Summer of the 70’s Festival & Concert Series- a Freemont Street experience in downtown Las Vegas. See disco diva Gloria Gaynor.

2^nd Annual Love Festival- at the Palms Casino. DJ’s, music and dancing all weekend long.  

Florida:
Memorial Day Weekend Fireworks- at Grande Lakes, Orlando. What a show.

Electric Daisy Carnival- in Orlando. Featuring some of the biggest names in electronic dance music.

Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek- a Summer Blast of events in Orlando. Summer Splash Down, Ducktona 500, fireworks and more.

Thinking of getting away over Memorial Day weekend, see our Family of Resorts in CA, NV and FL. Safe travels!

We are now offering Suite Rental Package Deals at select Tricom managed resorts:

San Diego Country Estates “Vacation & Playcation”: Stay 2 or more nights at San Diego Country Estates and enjoy 2 rounds of golf at the San Vincente Golf Club. The rounds of golf are for after 12 noon and can be scheduled up to 5 days prior to arrival by contacting San Vincente (760) 789-3477. Book Vacation & Playcation Deal Now! 

San Diego Country Estates is nestled against the foothills near the quaint and historic towns of Ramona and Julian. San Diego Country Estates is an award winning, gold crown rated resort with a hospitable guest services team.

Resort guests enjoy “The Good Life,” a perfect blend of active play and total relaxation with a variety of indoor and outdoor activities including a spa, tennis, swimming, golf, bicycling, hiking, horseback riding, basketball and much more. Nearby, guests may enjoy the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, Barona Indian Casino, Pala Casino, Temecula and Ramona wineries, Casey Tibb’s Western Center, and downtown Julian. Or, take a scenic drive to Sea World, Lego Land, Oceanside, Del Mar Racetrack, La Jolla, and the San Diego Gaslamp Quarter. 

San Diego Country Estates is your “home away from home” with well appointed suites, fully equipped kitchens, spacious living areas, in-suite washers and dryers, and cozy fireplaces.

Snow Lake Lodge “Retreat & Eat”: Enjoy 2 or more nights at Snow Lake Lodge and receive a $25 gift certificate to Captain’s Anchorage Restaurant, a Big Bear tradition since 1947. Book Retreat & Eat Deal Now!

Snow Lake Lodge is located in Southern California’s most popular mountain and lake escape destination, Big Bear Lake. Big Bear is a four season resort community that averages 320 days of clear skies and is about two hours away from Los Angeles and Orange County. Summer averages 80 degree temperatures and winter snowfall averages 100 inches with 40 degree temperatures.

Snow Lake Lodge is nestled amongst the forest pines where guests enjoy the crisp mountain air and small town charm of Big Bear. Guests are continuously entertained with year-round activities like skiing, snowboarding, sledding, hiking, mountain biking, boating, fishing, and horse riding. Near the resort, is the quaint downtown Village with boutiques and restaurants, Snow Summit and Bear Mountain Ski Resorts, national and state parks, Moonridge Animal Park, and the largest recreation lake in Southern California.

Snow Lake Lodge is your “home away from home” with well appointed suites, fully equipped kitchens, spacious living areas, and two cozy fireplaces.

Research shows 82% of U.S. citizens book rentals online directly through their home resort website or other popular sites such as Trip Advisor. With the realization that people are booking nightly rentals via websites, Platinum Interchange and Tricom Management have expanded this ability to our owners, friends, and family. By testing our websites, we have seen where this is, indeed, the case. Please view the enhancements on your home resort’s and sister resort’s websites:

aquamarinevillas.net – Southern California Beach, Oceanside

channelislandshores.org – Santa Barbara, Oxnard & Ventura Areas

jockeyclubvegas.com – On the Fabulous Vegas ”Strip,” Las Vegas

thelodgeatkc.com – Heart of Heavenly Valley, Lake Tahoe

thegoodlifelaguna.com – Southern California Beach, Laguna Beach

magictreeorlando.com – Heart of Florida Entertainment, Orlando

palmspringstennisclub.com – Historic Tennis Club District, Palm Springs

sdthegoodlife.com -  San Diego’s Wine Country, Historic Towns of Ramona & Julian

snowlakebigbear.com – Southern California Mountains, Big Bear Lake

Enjoy your 2011 travels. Let us know about your travels by posting a review on Trip Advisor and on Platinum Interchange’s Facebook page.

Suite Rentals Available to EVERYBODY!

A Friendly Reminder . . . You’ve Earned a Vacation!

Is it true you haven’t booked a reservation for 2011? If true, call your home resort and book your use time now! Visit our team members celebrating their 20+ years at your “Home a…WAY from Home” resorts:

Alfred I., Dawn C., James M., Patricia J., Alfredo V., Delorna W., Jay M., Patty A., Amelia R., Donna P., Jose M., Rosa C., Antonio I., Ellen L., Jose S., Ryan M., Araceli C., Francisca V., Larry E., Silvia A., Arnulfo L., Gabriel G., Marcelino M., Silvia C., Carmen C., Gloria P., Maria D., Steven K., Chris B., Hever C., Maria M., Therese G., Curtis S., Imelda I., Monica M., and Tricia D. 

Read more about our Owner Services. 

We are Proud to be an Employee Owned Co.

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