In the US, there are 155 National Forests containing almost 190 million acres of protected land and 20 National Grasslands that include nearly 4 million acres of protected land. While lodging in National Forests varies (some areas permit resorts to be built within the protected forest area) when vacation accommodations are not available with the Forest or Grassland, you will find timeshare resorts nearby, and in some cases, built at the perimeters of the nationally protected land. In addition to giving you and your family a chance to get outdoors and enjoy some of America’s most scenic and natural terrain, vacation spent in a National Forrest or Grassland is as good for the US economy as it is for your body, mind, and spirit.

Thanks to the bloggers at GetOutdoors.com for this helpful information:

• Recreation activities within National Forests and Grasslands sustain 223,000 jobs in the rural communities within 50 miles of the protected land. These jobs include providers of whitewater rafting equipment, fishing tackle, bike rentals, game hunting equipment, even the groceries you might need to make your vacation complete.
• $13 billion is spent by visitors to National Forests in the communities within 50 miles of the park property. Flowing into the communities, these dollars generate another $14.5 billion in economic activity.
• Visitors to National Forests and Grasslands areas are culturally and economically diverse.
• While 98 percent of all National Forests offer free entry, 83 percent of visitors that pay to enter a National Forest say they are satisfied that they received value for their money.
• In 2009, despite the down economy, the US National Forest system lands saw over 170million visitors; 94 percent of the visitors say they are highly satisfied with their experience.

Simple, powerful message as you plan rejuvenating vacation time: America’s National Forests and Grasslands offer you the opportunity to explore the natural beauty of this country. When teamed with a timeshare rental or timeshare resale, they also afford you excellent opportunities for a value-priced vacation or holiday.

Do you feel as if this summer is passing you by? That you’ve failed to make vacation plans thus far, and now have little hope of working one in before the kids go back to school and you’ve put away your flip-flops for the season?

Not to worry! You can still work an affordable last-minute vacation into your plans and the opportunities in timeshare rentals have a lot to do with making this possible. Here’s how it works: Every year some timeshare owners find they cannot use their timeshare holiday. Sometimes the reason is illness, sometimes it is a scheduling snafu with their work responsibilities—maybe they are even in the midst of a job relocation, divorce, or other life issue. They wind up not using their timeshare and not banking it to use in the future …But they are glad to rent it!

5 Reasons Timeshare Rentals are Your Vacation Solution

Timeshare rentals are one of the ways you can genuinely benefit from timeshare as a vacation product. Here are 5 reasons why a timeshare rental may be your answer to a 2010 summer vacation:

1. Timeshare rentals can be booked in advance, but are also available on short notice for last-minute vacation scheduling.
2. Timeshare rentals may be available in increments of less than a week, for those times when your schedule only permits a shorter stay.
3. Booking a timeshare rental is as easy (and sometimes easier) than booking a hotel room. The “Book it NOW” feature at Sell My Timeshare NOW, is one option for timeshare rental that lets you book online, with immediate confirmation by email, providing you with your unique booking number.
4. Timeshare rentals are available worldwide. You can travel the globe, but you can also plan a relaxing drive-to vacation, which eliminates the expense and hassle of booking last minute air travel.
5. Timeshare rentals can be negotiable. Oftentimes you may find that the closer it gets to a timeshare’s usage date (in other words, the more last minute it is) the more flexible the timeshare owner may be on pricing.

Let’s face it; “staycations” are nobody’s idea of a real holiday. Before you give up all plans of vacationing this summer, look into the reasonable and easy-to-book opportunities in timeshare rental.

The timeshare blog world welcomes Festiva’s newest blog: Festiva’s St. Maarten Blog, where they are “living life on island time.”

Festiva Resorts, as you may know, is a vacation ownership company, headquartered in Asheville, North Carolina. They offer a network of timeshare resorts throughout the Southeastern US, the Midwest, and the Caribbean. Some of the most popular Festiva timeshare destinations include Nassau in The Bahamas; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; and Branson, Missouri.

But if you want a first-hand report from the Festiva Resort in St. Maarten’s, the Atrium Resort on Simpson Bay Beach, look for updates from two Savannah College of Art & Design students: Caroline, a film major from Winter Park, Florida and Claire, a professional writing student from Asheville, North Carolina who are blogging on Festiva’s St. Maarten Blog.

You’ll also find some interesting reading on the island of Sint Maarten/St. Martin that has, for some 350 years, been divided between the Netherlands Antilles and France by following this link to: “St. Maarten / St. Martin Timeshare Resales and Rentals”

Bluegreen Corporation, known as being a provider of “colorful places to live and play,” has been honored by Cintas Document Management with the 2010 Environmental Award. Bluegreen, which develops both
Bluegreen timeshares and Bluegreen residential communities, is based in Boca Raton, Florida. In 2009, the timeshare and residential community company provided more than 225 tons of paper for shredding.

Environmentalists estimate that each ton of paper shredded translates to 17 trees, 380 gallons of oil, 7,000 gallons of water and three cubic yards of landfill space. In other words, Bluegreen is responsible for saving 3,825 trees, 85,500 gallons of oil, 1,575,000 gallons of water and 645 cubic yards of landfill space, last year alone.

The timeshare developer’s actions have more than a powerful environmental benefit. Every time a corporation commits to consistently shredding documents, it increases the likelihood that your personal information remains personal, a responsibility that timeshare companies, as well as service providers in any field, must take very seriously.

Bluegreen’s Senior Vice President, Chief HR Officer, Susan Saturday says, “Bluegreen takes special pride in its environmental commitment and we are proud to be acknowledged by Cintas Document Management for our efforts in recycling. We are dedicated to doing what we can through our land development and various ‘green’ operating practices in our resorts to preserve and protect our environment and will continue to take the necessary measures to help promote environmental conservation.”

Congratulations Bluegreen on the award and thank your commitment to the environment we all share.

Learn more about Bluegreen timeshare rentals.