Vacation like a Local with Unforgettable Activities in Lake Tahoe

Sometimes planning a vacation seems like work, from booking to travel arrangements, packing and unpacking. However, once you arrive, the real test becomes to ensure that you disconnect, slow down, and just listen. The secret that Lake Tahoe locals will share with you is that the real joy comes in listening to the sound of nature. The serenity that lies in the wilderness around the lake is where you can hear the quiet. It is the whisper of the wind, hearing the trees blow back and forth, that can bring a sense of calm - a feeling you may not have had before, or have not felt in years. It is in the moment you stand on a mountaintop in awe and amazement of all the beautiful landscape, that you will never regret having made the plans to go.

Welk believes in not just visiting a destination, but really experiencing it. With this in mind, we tapped into our expert travel resources - our local Welk family members - and crafted a unique set INSPIRED activities, just for you.

Here are just a few unforgettable experiences awaiting you in Lake Tahoe:

• "Ride with a Local" - Two days a week, our INSPIRED activities manager will take our skilled ski and snowboard enthusiasts to some of the best rideable terrains on the mountain. The experience is free, although guests must buy a lift ticket.
• "Sierra Snowshoe Tour" - Hosted by our INSPIRED activities staff and leaving from the resort, guests will enjoy a one-hour trek into Tahoe's beautiful forested trails, learn about the terrain, and enjoy the peaceful stillness of a mountain landscape draped in snow. This experience is extremely approachable for guests of all ages and abilities.
• Snowmobile Tour - Hosted by our INSPIRED activities manager, Welk guests are taken on a private tour through the Sierra Nevada mountains, accompanied by a "follow-me" drone that records footage as the group charges across the snowy mountain terrain.
  The cost is $160 per sled.

Of course, vacationing like a local can also be a hungry business. Any trusted travel expert will tell you that no destination has been fully experienced until you have sat down and indulged with the locals.

From our favorite burger joints to the hidden-gem wine tasting room, we've put together a list of places that are sure not to disappoint.

• Char-Pit - Locals know, this is the best burger in town!
• Copper Lane Cafè and Provisions - Shop like a local at this new market in the Village
• Bar of America - Happy Hour like a local
• Fifty Fifty Brewing - Drink like a local Truckee brewery
• Truckee River Winery - Cheers like a local in their tasting room!

Start planning your Tahoe escape to disconnect and discover your inner calmness today.

Take a Break from the Day-to-Day in Absolute Paradise

Greg and Rosie Sclank-Lopez are new Welk Owners, having purchased during a recent visit to Sirena del Mar in Cabo this past October.

We asked Greg and Rosie to describe their experience of becoming Owners. Greg tells us, "Although this was our first time to Sirena del Mar, it was not our first time to Cabo San Lucas. We booked our travel through Expedia, as we normally do, but never expected to receive an experience like we received at Welk Resorts.

From the moment we arrived, we were greeted by a very friendly staff willing to help with everything we needed during our stay. Based on this service, I was willing to book a tour to learn more, even though we were hesitant about taking the presentation because we had been to others like it before.

Prior to the presentation, through our gifts, we were able to dine at an amazing local four-star steakhouse, La Vaca Pinta, which we highly recommend. The service and quality there matched the upscale experience at Welk Resorts. We were also able to go sailing with our gift, which was another experience that I will never forget. Sailing on the ocean with the breeze and the views made it all so spectacular. The only way to describe my experience on my entire vacation was that I was "completely taken back" by all of it.

At our presentation, Mike, our tour guide, was very nice and understanding. After a little bit of time talking it over, my wife and I reasoned that since we will be retiring in the near future, we should consider this so we can enjoy it with our family. We want our children and their children to have the same memories we are making right now.

Even though we came on regular vacation, we left as Owners with the feeling of a brighter future. We do not regret making this decision for one minute and becoming part of the Welk Resort family"

The motivation to become a Welk Owner is different for everyone. We asked Greg to tell us one deciding factor that impacted them the most. "There are a lot of reasons, but the feeling of being cared for by the welcoming people from the beginning of our vacation was the most important."

We asked Greg and Rosie if they had any tips for other Owners traveling to Cabo, and how best to make the most of their vacation time. Here's what they had to say:
"A week is not enough time to evaluate what memories can be made. My recommendation is that you stay longer because you will not want to leave. The entire experience really took us back and it really is a home away from home. The villas have everything you need which really leaves time to just enjoy yourself. The sights, the restaurant, the ambiance, the beach, the marina, the mountain landscape, the boating and the pool are all a very nice blend of what you are looking for in a vacation." We asked Greg and Rosie about the best part of their vacation, and to tell us the one reason they will be returning to Cabo. They said, "We will return to get a break from day-to-day life in absolute paradise."

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