TimeSharing Today | Sep / Oct , 2024 Page 22
OWNERSHIP & TRAVEL
Florida strawberry Festival . Grand Lake Resort , Kissimmee , FL . also close to my favorite Orlando area golf course . Fore !
Our fourth nother 7Across exchange that found us just two miles down the road at Grand Lake Resort . Located on the shore of Lake Wilson , Grand Lake is a terrific lakefront resort with paddleboats , a canoe , and fishing equipment as part of the amenities available for their modest $ 50 resort fee .
They also have a pool and tennis court . Grand Lake was friendly and peaceful . From our screened lanai , we could enjoy the Spanish moss hanging from the trees , framing beautiful lakeside sunsets . Because we liked the resort so much and had a Sunday check-in the following week , we extended our stay an extra day . We were even closer to golf !
Unexpected changes and enjoyable stay
We had planned to spend February 17 at the Osceola County Fair , as we have a couple of times in the past , but steady rainfall spoiled our plans . Instead , we drove to New Smyrna Beach and checked into our RTX exchange at Coconut Palms II Resort for week 5 .
When I unpacked in the rain and dragged our luggage cart into the lobby to check in , I learned that we were on the 4th floor , oceanside , and that the elevator was down . Given Dee ’ s knee surgery , you can imagine my dismay . The assistant general manager
noted it and was kind enough to move us to a ground-floor , one-bedroom bungalow .
The move made all the difference ! We were now a short walk ( even with new knees ) to the beach , cabanas , two pools , and the beachfront lounging area . We couldn ’ t be more grateful .
Our 6th week found us as guests of Capital Vacations at their Calypso Cay property in Kissimmee . I had won the free stay at the Las Vegas TBMA conference in 2023 . Calypso Cay is a compact Caribbean-themed resort with three large pools , an adventure park with a ropes course and zip-line , sand volleyball , tennis , and pickleball all close by .
It also has a poolside bar and dining , and the Calypso Cay Market for those items that I refuse to brave traffic hassles for .
There was a resort fee , but it was waived for us . Our unit was terrific , a large , comfortable one-bedroom with a lanai and laundry .
While at Calypso Cay , we drove to Plant City for a day at the Florida Strawberry Festival for strawberry and pineberry treats , fun , and really good free music . Oh yeah , I golfed .
Seafood delights and final stays
Back to the beach for week 7 at Coconut Palms II after a side trip to the Grant Seafood Festival for all things seafood . I ate shrimp , crab , scallops , oysters , clams , and maybe fish . Noting how happy we
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were earlier , we received a similar bungalow this week . Thank you ! Thank you !
We enjoyed more beach weather and a second week at the excellent New Smyrna Country Club .
Weeks 8 and 9 were spent at the Perennial Vacation Club at Daytona Beach , a 7Across exchange . We had a spacious two-bedroom unit . The resort features a heated swimming pool , BBQ grills , and picnic tables , as well as the friendliest , most accommodating staff you could imagine .
We shopped the Flea Market ( jams , jellies , and salad dressing ), I played the 36-hole Daytona Beach Golf Club twice , and we made a day trip to Cassadaga .
Week one at Daytona was the last week of the 12 days of Bike Week . While most bikers are courteous , several groups refused to stop for red lights — I ’ ll check the calendar more closely next time .
We were overwhelmed by the hurricane destruction still evident after 18 months . We saw several empty spaces where resorts had been and many resorts still repairing sea walls , swimming pools , decks , and beach access . It was a sobering explanation of why timeshare insurance premiums have skyrocketed .
We left Florida on March 23 , getting ahead of the real snowbirds and their expiring leases . After a side trip to Iowa for lunch with our college student granddaughter , we returned on March 26th , just in time to clear our driveway of the only significant snow that fell in our absence . Geez !