Vacation Home Swap Opportunities in St. Augustine with The Vacation Exchange Network

In yesterday’s blog post about St. Augustine, we highlighted the variety of sights to see and activities the oldest city in the United States offers to its visitors.

What better way to visit St. Augustine than with a home exchange?  The Vacation Exchange Network has many beautiful homes available for swap in St. Augustine and the surrounding area.  Here are just a few:

This modern oceanfront St. Augustine, Florida vacation home is steps away from beach and may be the perfect property for your next home exchange.  Stunning wrap-around deck has private hot tub.  The kitchen is modern with granite counters and upgraded Viking appliances.  Vacationers can collect sharks teeth, surf, fish, charter a deep sea fishing boat, rent jet skis, para-sail, scuba dive, and rent ocean kayaks.   The restaurants and culture of St. Augustine are less then 5 minutes away.

This ocean-side 2 Bedroom, 2 Bath condo in St. Augustine is 50 yards from the beach.  Available are 2 pools and tennis courts, property is located across the street from the intracoastal waterway.  Come to sail, tour, windsurf, surf, play golf, or just relax.

This ocean view condo has private beach access.  The 2 bedroom, 2 bath home is newly remodeled and sleeps 7.  The complex is gated, has 2 pools, tennis, a hot tub, and shuffle board.   The property is just minutes away from Historic Old St. Augustine, Sawgrass, (home of Tournament Players Club), and the World Golf Village.

Home Exchange with The Vacation Exchange Network

Remember that with The Vacation Exchange Network, you always have the choice of mutual (direct) home swaps or non-mutual (indirect) home swaps.  Browse our vacation home listings, or contact one of our Exchange Coordinators to find your next vacation!

Come back to our blog tomorrow for members’ reviews of St. Augustine golf and restaurants!

Sullivan's Island, South Carolina Vacation Home Available for Home Exchange

Another New Vacation Home Exchange Opportunity

Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina may just be one of the world’s most perfect summer vacation spots.  You’ll find a combination of charming neighborhoods, quiet yet family-friendly beaches, and the rich history and culture of nearby Charleston, South Carolina.  You’ll find an aquarium, a pirate tour(!), and the island’ s very own lighthouse.

Inviting, Spacious Home Dressed in Relaxing Tones Makes for a Relaxing Vacation Home Base

This new addition to The Vacation Exchange Network has 5 bedrooms and 3 baths.  It is located across the street from the beautiful, wide Sullivan’s Island Beach.  And speaking of Sullivan’s Island Beach, this beach will quickly become a favorite of shell seekers.  Unbroken shells, sea stars, and sand dollars commonly found.

This spacious yet cozy vacation home is typically available for home exchange all year, except Christmas through New Year’s Day.  Contact The Vacation Exchange Network to help you arrange your home swap.

Family vacations and home exchange go hand in hand.  And, those interested in making travel affordable will find that home swaps are the ideal way to do just that.  Your next perfect vacation is sure to be a home exchange.

Add your comments below, and share your home swap experiences or your idea of the perfect summer vacation!

A New Vacation Home Exchange Opportunity

At The Vacation Exchange Network, we have many, many beautiful and one-of-a-kind homes listed for home swap.  One such home has recently been added to our Network….

Lotus Lake House in Grass Valley, California Available for Home Exchange

Lotus Lake House is an award-winning, eco-friendly lakefront retreat.  A home exchange at this home would truly be a one-of-a-kind experience.

A One-of-a-Kind Experience — Available for Your Next Home Swap Vacation

Situated on 8 acres of private and secluded forested property in California Gold Country, the owners of the Lotus Lake House say they’ve cleared just enough trees to have fabulous views of Rollins Lake.   Speaking of the lake, this home boasts a lake view on three sides.  The massive deck wraps around the house and features several dining areas, a new Weber BBQ gas grill, and rockers and loungers.   The home’s glass walls open up to the deck, transforming it into one large indoor/outdoor space.  This blend of indoor and outdoor living  makes the house feel quite large and enhances the experience of being a part of the serene, natural environment.

Lotus Lake House is secluded enough for that quiet or romantic getaway that you’ve been dreaming about, yet it is close enough to a variety of activities that you can fill your days any way you choose.  A private trail takes visitors to the lake, where kayaking, sailing, swimming, and water skiing, jet skiing, and many more outdoor activities are available.  Some of the best hiking in California can be found nearby.  If you’d like to explore the greater area, Lake Tahoe skiing and sightseeing, historic Gold Rush towns, antique shops, and several wineries are all close, along with a variety of restaurants, shopping, and sightseeing locales.  You certainly won’t run out of things to do in this neck of the woods.

Award-Winning Architecture Meets Eco-Friendly Design

Award-Winning Architecture of Lotus Lake House

This ultra-modern, entirely “green” home was designed by award-winning architect Michelle Kaufmann and debuted on the front lawn of San Francisco’s City Hall for the 2007 West Coast Green conference in San Francisco.  The home has been featured in Sunset Magazine, Inhabitat, EcoGeek.com, and FineHomeBuilding.com.

This completely “green” contemporary house has a sleek modern design, lots of windows, and cool welcoming tones.  Wood flooring throughout is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.  The shower and bathroom flooring are made from recycled glass.  Those who are interested in reducing their vacation carbon footprint will be thrilled to learn that the home is  completely off-grid and has 145 points from “Build it Green” certification and a “Keep the Sierra Green” Certification.  Solar panels provide the energy required for radiant-floor heat, heat-pump air conditioning, and Energy Star appliances.

High-end modern furnishings compliment the Lotus Lake House

Brand new, high-end furnishings compliment this ultra-modern, eco-friendly home.

Exchange Homes Where Outdoor Meets Indoor at the Lotus Lake Home

How Your Next Vacation Could Be a Home Exchange at the Lotus Lake Home

The Lotus Lake Home in Grass Valley, California could be your next vacation destination!  With The Vacation Exchange Network, vacation and second home owners can travel affordably by swapping a stay at their home for a stay at someone else’s home.  The uniqueness of our Network is that you can exchange when and where you want, without having to find someone to use your home.  If you stay at someone else’s home, and they aren’t interested in your home, they receive an Exchange Credit, which they can use for a future home exchange.  Our home exchange coordinators can help you arrange your next home swap.  If you are not already a member of The Vacation Home Exchange Network, join our home swap program today!  Membership is free for the first year!

Ski conditions.  These are in the eye of the beholder.  I learned this on a ride up a chair lift on a recent February ski trip.

It was snowing – a lot – and there was gorgeous powdery snow covering the entire mountain.  The evergreen trees were caked in what looked like confectioner’s sugar.  My family and I couldn’t get over the still, quiet beauty of the mountain.  Every run had several inches of fresh powder.  Any skier would have been in heaven, right?  Well, not my family.  Having skied on the over-skied mountains of the East Coast for our whole lives, this powder was more than we could handle.  Our skis seemed to feel every bump in the snow, twisting and turning our skis in unexpected and not always controllable ways.  We wondered when they’d groom some of those intermediate and easier expert runs so that we could enjoy this blissful day without any broken ankles.

We were on our way up to the top of the mountain to give it another try.  A snowboarder sat with us on the lift.  Upon overhearing us talk about how much powder there was on our last run, he added, “Yeah, it’s perfect today, isn’t it?  I’m sure by tomorrow they’ll have groomed the whole mountain, and you can forget about these great conditions.”  As we’re lamenting the fact that the powder is giving us too bumpy a ride, this guy can’t get enough of it.  All we could do was laugh.  Ski conditions – in the eye of the beholder.

Spring skiing conditions are variable, of course, depending a great deal on temperature and the freeze-melt cycle.  Sometimes spring skiing mimics the well-groomed runs that I seek, sometimes it can be powdery, and most often the snow in spring takes on a great character all its own.  You certainly can’t beat the warm sunshine and skiing in sunglasses and a fleece.  Many mountains also have fun family events and music at the base, and lift tickets are often cheaper.  You can take nice long lunches on the deck of the lodge and ski for several hours after lunch, thanks to those longer spring days.

We have many vacation homes available for home exchange in spring skiing areas during the months of March, April, and May.  I have highlighted few below, but this list is by no means complete.  To browse through the vacation homes listed in our home exchange network, please visit us at www.thevacationexchange.com.

Custom waterfront home in South Lake Tahoe, CA available for home swap

Lake Tahoe, California boasts 7 ski mountains, and we have lots of vacation homes in both North Lake Tahoe and in South Lake Tahoe.

This home in South Lake Tahoe, CA has 4 bedrooms and 2.5 baths and sleeps 10.  It has a large boat dock, a hot tub, and a panoramic view of Heavenly Ski Resort.  Skiing is only 3 miles away.  For information about how to become a member of The Vacation Exchange Network and vacation in homes like this by traveling the home swap way, check out our discussion of how to arrange a home exchange.

Ski home in South Lake Tahoe, CA available for home swap March 21st - May 26th

This California ski home, also in South Lake Tahoe, CA has 3 bedrooms, a circular fireplace, redwood decks, and a hot tub.  It is located 11 miles from skiing.  It is available for home swap March 21st – May 26th.

We have a number of homes available for vacation exchange in Colorado, including homes close to Breckenridge, Crested Butte, Vail, Keystone, Steamboat, and Copper Mountain. Here’s just a sampling:

Ski-in/ski-out condo on Steamboat Mountain in Colorado available for home swap March - May

This ski-in/ski-out condo on Steamboat Mountain sleeps 8 and offers maid service.  It is available March through May for home exchange.

Mountain home in Crested Butte, CO available for home exchange in April.

This 3 bedroom, 3 bath home in Crested Butte, CO is on the mountain and boasts gorgeous panoramic views.  5 minutes from skiing, this vacation home is available for home exchange during the month of April.  Check out our many vacation homes in Crested Butte, CO at www.thevacationexchange.com.

Rustic yet elegant log home near Utah ski resorts available for home swap in April & May

This log home in Midway, Utah is secluded among the pines and aspens and yet is close to both Park City and Deer Valley ski resorts.  This stunning home boasts 4 bedrooms and 2.5 baths.  It has all amenities, including both a gas fireplace inside and a log fireplace outside on the deck.  Read a great Utah ski blog at www.skiutah.com/winter/blog.

I’ve highlighted a few opportunities for spring skiing here.  Be sure to check out all of our vacation homes available for swap.  To learn more about what makes The Vacation Exchange Network a unique home exchange program or to join our network, please visit  www.thevacationexchange.com.

For great discussions of skiing in Colorado, Utah, and California, check out these blogs:  cosnow.com, www.skiutah.com/winter/blog, and skiing-blog.com.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on spring skiing and hear about your experiences.  Please add your comments below.