Vacation Road Trips Start at the Dentist

By Gail Adair
Published: 04/01/10 Topics: Comments: 0

A Trip to the Dentist

I casually picked up a magazine while in the waiting room for my morning dental appointment. Coffee in one hand, I picked up "Seattle Metropolitan", Road Trips, a magazine with subject matter which sounded worthy of noting, and a great way to get my mind off of dental procedures in general.

Quickly I turned the thick, colorful pages, afraid my name would be called before I had a chance to pause on something appealing. An article that appeared short, to the point, and within the time frame before I was to be called into the chair, caught my eye. "Sequim in a Sports Car", was the title by Christopher Werners. Hmmm, I thought. I could picture myself already half there.

Dust Catcher Car

You see, I had the sports car. It’s a dazzling retro Ford Thunderbird blue 2-seater convertible. Normally, it is a dust catcher in our garage. I had always wanted to visit Sequim, Washington State to see what the "banana belt" was all about. The dentist’s office waiting room gave me my chance. I breezed through the article before the hygienist called my name. Then, while under a gentle dose of nitrous oxide, I told myself I had to make this trip a reality.

When we saw a hermit crab looking for a "larger house", amongst the snail shells, this further enveloped us into their small world stage. This was the only world they knew. We engaged fully into the activities within the simple life of a tide pool. The simplicity desired by many, in an ever complicated life, will bring us back to a Sequim vacation rental again and again.

From there, it was off in our sports car to the Hoh Rain Forest within the Olympic National Park. We might have visited on the only day it didn't rain. It was even a warm day. Our convertible top was let down and we drove through the forest able to look straight up into the moss covered branches which umbrellaed the road ahead of us. We were able to get up close and personal with 600 year old trees. What a road trip!

We completed the loop back to Seattle through the destination of Ocean Shores, convertible top down most of the way stopping only to take a long walk on the sandy ocean beaches. Hard to believe it was April and 72 degrees.

We will definitely be looking forward to our next Washington Road Trip, enabling us to visit unique vacation rentals in towns that welcome this tourist option. I don't think there is any better way to travel whether you’re reading about it in a dental office or making the trip an immediate reality.

 

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Gail Adair, is Vice President of The Vacation Rental Association (Vrai.org)Vrai.org in charge of Legal Affairs. She is also a vacation Rental Owner. VRA is a worldwide not-for-profit trade association comprised of Owners, managers, Suppliers and Website Publishers worldwide.

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Author: Gail Adair, Moses Lake Vacation Rentals
Blog #: 0155 – 04/01/10

Sunbanks Resort - Little known Secret Location

By Penny L. Taylor
Published: 03/31/10 Topics: Comments: 0

The weather warmed up so I took a drive over to Banks Lake a few days ago. Never heard of it? Well I would like to introduce you to a location you might never know about but really should visit one day. It is a really stupendous summer destination. Let me give you the details:

• Sunbanks Resort is smack dab in the middle of Washington state. An easy drive from Western Washington and anywhere in the Northwest.

 

• On a lake the size of Lake Washington. A Mecca for swimming, water skiing, personal watercraft, fishing and power boating.

 

• The terrain looks like the great Arizona desert destinations with sheer granite walls all around.

 

• Summers are toasty hot, but the big draw is that the lake water is amazingly warm. Far warmer than Lake Chelan or the Columbia River lakes.

 

The resort has big new villas, cabins and even some camping. And you can see them all at this website (SunbanksSunspots.com)SunbanksSunspots.com. >There are photos from every angle and good rates. Give Sunspots a call 8am and 8pm everyday of the year. 888-628-8989.

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Author: Penny L. Taylor, Istay Organization
Blog #: 0146 – 03/31/10

Become a Vacation Rental Angel

By William May
Published: 03/01/10 Topics: Comments: 0

Operating a vacation rental business can be fun and profitable but it is also an opportunity to do some good in the world. Now property owners and managers can do that by participating in a public program that offers unused vacation rental nights to charitable causes through the Vacation Rental Angels Website.

The program is administered by the Vacation Rental Association (Vrai.org) a not-for-profit trade association offering membership services to owners, managers, suppliers and website publishers.

"Every now and then we see a property or manager who is inaccurately portrayed in the media", says William May, President volunteer Executive Director of VRA, "And we thought it was high time that the public understands the millions of dollars that owners donate to good causes."

VRA offers inspections and verifications of properties to assure the traveling public of property quality. Members of VRA subscribe to a Code of Ethics and the vast majority of properties are well run, even luxurious. Guest complaints are almost non-existent for VRA members, who take their responsibilities seriously.

Participation in the Angel program is open to all VRA members and there is no cost or rigid rules for donations. Members who agree to offer at least one week per year free to charities may join the program and have their properties and their donations listed on the VacationRentalAngels.com website.

"Limiting how and when donations, or forcing owners to use the site for giving, would only serve to lessen donations," said May, "And that would defeat the entire idea. This program says give first and then get a little recognition later".

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Vrai.org operates the world's first Multiple-Listing-Service (MLS) for Vacation Rentals at www.VRMLA.org. VRA member can easily post their property to the VacationRentalAngels.com website along with subscribing to many other paid and free websites. Vacation Rental Owners and Managers, not already VRA members, can join the group and become Angels by visiting www.Vrai.org to join.

 

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Author: William May – Volunteer, Vacation Rental Association
Blog #: 0138 – 03/01/10

Become a Vacation Rental Angel

By William May
Published: 03/01/10 Topics: Comments: 0

Operating a vacation rental business can be fun and profitable but it is also an opportunity to do some good in the world. Now property owners and managers can do that by participating in a public program that offers unused vacation rental nights to charitable causes through the Vacation Rental Angels Website.

The program is administered by the Vacation Rental Association (Vrai.org) a not-for-profit trade association offering membership services to owners, managers, suppliers and website publishers.

"Every now and then we see a property or manager who is inaccurately portrayed in the media", says William May, President of Sunspot Resorts and volunteer Executive Director of VRA, "And we thought it was high time that the public understands the millions of dollars that owners donate to good causes."

VRA offers inspections and verifications of properties to assure the traveling public of property quality. Members of VRA subscribe to a Code of Ethics and the vast majority of properties are well run, even luxurious. Guest complaints are almost non-existent for VRA members, who take their responsibilities seriously.

Participation in the Angel program is open to all VRA members and there is no cost or rigid rules for donations. Members who agree to offer at least one week per year free to charities may join the program and have their properties and their donations listed on the VacationRentalAngels.com website.

"Limiting how and when donations, or forcing owners to use the site for giving, would only serve to lessen donations," said May, "And that would defeat the entire idea. This program says give first and then get a little recognition later".

Vrai.org operates the world's first Multiple-Listing-Service (MLS) for Vacation Rentals at www.VRMLA.org. VRA member can easily post their property to the VacationRentalAngels.com website along with subscribing to many other paid and free websites. Vacation Rental Owners and Managers, not already VRA members, can join the group and become Angels by visiting www.Vrai.org to join.<p/P

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Author: William May – Volunteer, Vacation Rental Association
Blog #: 0141 – 03/01/10