EXPERIENCES

Experiences Collection Offers Welk Owners Sandy Beaches, Standout Accommodations

We recently had the opportunity to speak with Robert and Kay Scales, Owners with Welk Resorts since the 1970s. Kay Scales tells us of how she came to find out about the Experiences Collection.

"I called in to Owner Services because I knew I had Points left to use at the end of last year. The gal on the phone was very nice and asked me if we were interested in staying at the Four Seasons Aviara Resort in Carlsbad, CA over New Year's Eve week. We couldn't believe what we were hearing and accepted right away!"

The Scales are from Hemet, which is just about an hour and a half drive to Carlsbad. Being within driving distance was a big bonus for them. They also have children and grandchildren who live in Encinitas and Oceanside, neighboring cities to Carlsbad. Kay tells us, "We knew right away this was going to be a great trip on short notice. We had used our Welk Ownership to exchange into the Four Seasons Aviara in the early 1990s. We immediately saw the value in being given the opportunity to return without the added work to exchange and pay the exchange fee."

Since Robert and Kay knew the area from a previous trip and had been to the sandy beaches just a few miles away from the resort, we asked Kay to describe what stood out to her most about her stay.

"The resort and the service were outstanding! We never wanted to leave the resort. The area that our room was located in had a lot of tall pine trees, like you were in the woods. We were surrounded by lush vegetation and the grounds were very well kept. The beds were delightfully plush, fluffy and just so very comfortable. The dining room table sat eight people with an exquisitely beautiful chandelier hanging above it. The fireplace made the room extra cozy. The master bedroom was very spacious with a couch that opened into a full size bed. Our whole family came to stay and celebrate New Year's Eve with us!"

We asked Kay if she had any tips for Welk Owners planning to visit the Four Seasons Residence Club Aviara. She told us this, "All of the food and the extensive wine list there is amazing. We enjoyed the fish and chips with pear coleslaw on a beautiful sunny day at the pool. Also don't forget to try the Surf and Turf quesadilla!"

Kay Scales has already booked a stay back to the Four Seasons Residence Club Aviara, where her whole family will be joining her to celebrate her 80th birthday in February.

OWNER STORIES

The Dixon Family's Desert Oasis: Vacation Home Away from Home

When the Dixon's daughters were young, there was a stack of reasons why they did not see traveling as a possibility. The major obstacles included both parents working full-time jobs, busy schedules and not a lot of extra money lying around. The cost of plane tickets for a family of four and accommodations large enough to travel comfortably just seemed out of reach.

Now almost 30 years later, Dorothy Dixon tells us her Welk Ownership made the impossible possible for their family. At the time, she did not realize just how cherished these memories would become. Dorothy tells us, "It was a purchase we were always very happy with. People don't realize how important vacations are. When you have children, you have to make memories, and our Ownership made us do that."

The Dixons are from Riverside and made the Welk Resort Desert Oasis their vacation home away from home. "Being able to drive to the Desert Oasis from our home gave us the freedom to travel on our own schedule. As my children grew up, staycations became our tradition. We were always very happy with the large accommodations, well-kept property and friendly staff. We even held our daughters' high school graduation parties in the banquet room on the second floor."

Dorothy tells us of the time when her daughter and three of her high school friends wanted to head down to Mexico for a fun- filled graduation trip. Through Dorothy Dixon's Welk Ownership, she was able to take the group to an all-inclusive property, which awarded her peace of mind while she chaperoned. This particular trip became a cherished memory to Dorothy and remembered as one of her daughter's favorites. The day we spoke to Dorothy was her daughter's birthday, who would have been 28. She was lost in a tragic car accident just three years ago. Dorothy said she will never forget that her daughter told her, "It was the best trip ever, Mom."

The Dixon's family story brings to light just how precious is family time together and how important the traditions we are making now will become later. In a world that seems ever on fast-forward, take the time to slow down, look around and make a memory that will last a lifetime.

TIPS & TRICKS

Live Like a Kama'aina (Local): The Cliffs at Princeville on Kauai

As part of our "Live Like a Local" series, we reached out to Welk Owners Mike and Penny Cook to navigate us through the North Shore of the garden island of Kauai. The Cliffs lies within the Princeville Resort on 22 acres of lush tropical gardens, and is so called because of its commanding situation on a high bluff overlooking the north Pacific.

Mike is on the board at The Cliffs at Princeville, which makes this property near and dear to his and Penny's hearts. Their experience in the area lends to giving tips and tricks on how to enjoy this destination "off the grid," like the locals do.

Q. Imagine you are Anthony Bourdain walking with your dearest friend down a street that only locals know about for food and/or drink. Where would you take them that really represents the area well?

A. On the North Shore of Kauai lies the town of Kilauea, famous for its lighthouse and sea bird sanctuary. The Bistro is a popular local eatery located in the historic Kong Lung Market Centre. The daily happy hour from 4–6pm offers drinks at half price and is frequented by the locals. It offers superb happy hour bar snacks, but also has a fabulous restaurant offering a variety of well-priced quality items. Our particular favorite is the prawn pasta. The sign above the door reads "A small restaurant serving moderately priced meals in a modest setting."

Q. Can you recommend a hike that would require a magnifying glass to locate on the map? We are looking for a truly spectacular experience that only a local would know about. What would we see there that you can't find anywhere else on the island?

A. The Sleeping Giant Trail is one of three Nounou Mountain trails. The profile of the "giant" is clearly visible from the town of Kapa'a. There is the very enjoyable two-mile Hardy Family Trail right to the summit. The trail rises to about 1,000 feet along a series of switchbacks. There is a picnic shelter at about 1.75 miles up with great views. I would advise not going any further than this, as the trail continues along a narrow ridge with an almost vertical drop of 500 feet! If you do choose to go beyond this point, then you need to scramble up about 50 feet on hands and knees to the "Giant's Chin." Pen was one of those "stupid enough to do it."

Q. What can you share about the local heritage and history of the island that will deepen the appreciation of this place for a fellow traveler?

A. Each August there is a fantastic Tahitian Cultural Festival (Heiva I Kua'i) in Kapa'a. It last for two days, taking place at Kapa'a Beach Park with folks from all the islands competing with each other. The dancing and drumming are quite spectacular. There is also an interesting array of Polynesian artwork and food. If you can't make it in August, we suggest Smith's Luau. It is located alongside the stunning Wailua River and features a delicious buffet feast and a pageant describing the initial colonization of the islands by the Polynesians and subsequent history.

Q. Can you tell us about an interesting way the locals share their art and culture?

A.On the west side lies the quaint town of Hanapepe. It is only half a mile long and looks rather like an old Western ghost town. Each Friday evening, they host a festival and art walk (Hanapepe Art Night) from 6–9pm. It really is a hidden treasure. There is everything from local musicians, art galleries, sculptors, photographers and craftsmen along with street food and so much more. We bought a beautiful photograph from Arius Hopman, which now takes pride of place in our dining room. This town is the soul of Kauai's artist community and has local charm and the aloha spirit.

Q. Where is one place we can go to experience the wildlife and nature in all of its glory?

A. On the North Shore lies Hanalei Bay. At sunset this has to be one of the most spiritual experiences on the island. As the sun goes down over Bali Hai (made famous in the 1958 musical "South Pacific") the surfers and paddle boarders are silhouetted against the fading light. In the foreground is the "Magic Dragon" referred to by Peter, Paul and Mary in the 1963 song "Puff the Magic Dragon." The best place to view the magic is from the end of the short Hanalei Pier, again made famous in the movie.

Our hope is that with this information, you'll be able see more of the island, whether it's your first or fifth time. Our "Live Like a Local" series aims for experiences through the eyes of someone that lives there. The beauty and awe found through experiences that continue to amaze locals are those to be treasured.

NEWS YOU CAN USE

Experience Collection: Reimagine Travel Anywhere in the World!

Regardless of how long you have been on this journey with us, we want you to know that it's time to let go. It's time to let go of traditional timeshare travel as you know it. Welk Resorts is changing from the inside out. We care about the relationship we have with our Owners, as well as the relationship you have with your own wandering hearts. We are leaning in to listen, because we know the break you take from your normal day-to-day life deserves to be extraordinary.

The Experiences Collection is rethinking and reimagining how we select the destinations to offer — because ultimately, it will shape how you experience life. We developed The Collection to add more destinations for you to explore, in new locations that offer amazing new experiences to savor. We have scouted only high-quality recommendations in some of the country's most sought-out travel locations.

Now we want to hear from those Owners who have had real experiences and found destinations that are worthy of praise on the Travel Channel. We want to be your exclusive travel guide, walking you down a path of real experiences you never thought you would go. A path that only exists because a local told you this is where you can truly find something spectacular!

Tell us where you would like to visit next, whether it is an exotic destination, like the Maldives, or a more luxurious destination, like Vail, CO. We want to hear from you! Whether you're the type of traveler who's happiest exploring the sights, tastes and sounds of a new place, or the kind who just wants to sink into a hammock and unplug for a while, your vacations just got a whole lot more interesting...

The Experiences Collection already includes the ability to stargaze in Scottsdale and hike the waterfalls of Kauai's legendary North Shore. The opportunities are endless, and now they're at your fingertips, for no additional cost as a Welk Owner.

While these properties are not currently part of the Platinum Program, all of the Collection properties are available now using your Welk Platinum Points with no exchange fee, subject to availability. Get ready to get more out of your Welk vacation ownership. You can find details on room types and resort amenities by visiting www.thecollection.welkresorts.com