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| Dance Vacation at Scott’s Resort - 2011Kevin & Adrienne Fee will be guest dance instructors at Scott's Oquaga Lake Resort!
So, what is Scott's Oquaga Lake Resort??A few words about Scott's for my dance (and non-dance) friends... My wife Adrienne and I have vacationed at Scott's every year (except last year, but often 2-3 times a year!) since 1996. Candidly, Scott's is hard to describe, and is something that one must experience. To me, Scott's is a terrific vacation value and the only place where I can truly relax. We did a nice cruise, Caribbean resorts, etc., but Scott's just makes you emotionally exhale... Keep in mind, Scott's is not for everyone, so read on to see if Scott's is for you. Scott's offers an old school, Full American Plan Family Vacation whereby all accommodations and food, plus activities, entertainment, etc. are included with your stay. You do pay for incidentals like beer & wine, a riding golf cart, non-meal snacks (they have an ice cream parlor!), and practice golf balls, all with their tipping optional policy. Please understand, Scott's is great for the entire family and to me, It is like visiting your favorite Aunt & Uncle at their beautiful summer home on the lake... FYI - Scott's has been a family operation for over 140 years!! Keep in mind, if you are expecting the plush accoutrements of the Marriott or Hilton, you will be disappointed. However, if you are also anticipating the sterile and boring experience of the Marriott or Hilton (I have...) and (of course) being "nickeled & dimed" for using their facilities, you may be thrilled about Scott's (like me)! Caveats - Keep in mind accommodations and facilities at Scott's do not have air conditioning. They do now have limited accommodations with A/C, but in general a dip in Oquaga Lake will be your best refuge from the heat. So, if you are sensitive to heat and humidity, in all honesty you will not be happy during July & August. On the other hand, Scott's is up in the mountains and it usually cools off nicely in the evenings, which makes for great sleeping conditions. Also, be advised that Scott's accommodations are dated and somewhat rustic. It is relatively clean and comfortable, but don't be surprised if you encounter a leaky faucet, no hot water, dated carpet, or even a chipmunk in the lobby. Scott's is NOT A DANCE CAMP!! As for dance, there are daily (our group will have twice daily) Ballroom dance lessons, plus daily line-square-folk dance lessons (fun!), and nightly Ballroom dancing for 1-2+ hours. The evening Ballroom dancing is to a wonderful 3-4 piece dance band (with occasional guest singers) who really understand proper dance tempos and can play nearly any requested song and certainly any dance style/tempo. With a 3000+ square foot hardwood dance floor (slippery), which is (fortunately/unfortunately?) lightly used; this is indeed a dancers a paradise!! As you all know I love to dance, but dance camps to me are "grueling", and in my experience very little of the instruction is retained in these situations after being inundated with dance steps all day in crowded group lessons or workshops. This to me is not very relaxing, and in fact it is usually frustrating. Tired, flustered & grumpy are often my keywords from a dance camp... However, in contrast, Scott's is a wonderful combination of dance and non-dance activities, which in my mind is ideal. With a lesson (or two) each day and dancing each evening, it is the perfect blend of learning and practicing (enjoying!) in a low-key social environment. Keep in mind, Scott's is about much more than just dance. At the risk of sounding maudlin, Scott's is about connecting or reconnecting with family & friends, and even making new friends for life that you see year after year. Scott's is about relaxing AND participating in a myriad of fun activities. Scott's is about decompressing from the hectic world we live in; it is about (thankfully) being lost in time and not knowing the time of day, or even sometimes the day of the week. Believe it not, until recently when cable TV was added to the rooms, the accommodations had no TV, no phone, and no cell phone reception (there is reception now), which (to me) only added to the ambience and relaxation. I must admit, I do occasionally now enjoy the TV by viewing the Weather Channel or watching some tennis. You want activities? Well, each day there is literally a cornucopia of choices including (but not limited to...) bocce ball, golf, tennis, water skiing, volleyball, Karaoke, talent shows, fishing, water sports, "kids klub", swimming, hiking, biking, canoeing, sailing, site seeing, etc., etc... All of which are INCLUDED!! The only way you can pay extra at Scott's is by renting a riding golf cart (recommended for the "big" course), playing video arcade games in the Playhouse (who would do that??), or by having some ice cream at the Playhouse "soda fountain". In addition, beer & wine are extra. Worried about paying for Golf green fees? Included... Tennis court time? Included... Need a bike? Included... Want to water ski? Included... Well, you get the idea... Keep in mind that all activities are optional! If you want to read a book by the lake instead, that is OK! Oh, but what about entertainment?? The Entertainment values at Scott's are truly amazing! EVERY NIGHT there is first class entertainment that is appropriate for the entire family. Whether it is the TALENTED Scott's Family performing a "Broadway Style" review or musical showcase, or a performance by a fabulous singer, juggler, magician, impressionist, or entertainer (use your imagination)... The guy who plays the "Girl from Impanema" on a kitchen sink (really!!) is hilarious!! Well, you had to be there...;) Oh, by the way the entertainment is included!! Not to mention (or more importantly!), the food is terrific and INCLUDED with your accommodations (with their "tipping optional" policy). As for food, they provide three hearty & delicious meals a day. Here is a quick run down... For breakfast there is a wonderful fruit & cereal bar, along with all the regular egg (made to order) dishes. Also, pancake, French toast and breakfast meat (bacon, ham, sausage) options are all included. Choices for dinner always include beef, chicken, and fish options as well as a vegetarian choice, which includes a variety of sides, a nice salad bar, plus an array of (yummy) homemade desserts. The lunch highlight is a twice weekly trip to "Cook-Out Lookout", where they serve down home favorites like BBQ chicken, burgers, hotdogs, corn-on-the-cob and apple pie (a la mode, of course). In addition, the "cook outs" have a wonderful country style with live entertainment, a beautiful view and even some dancing! Bring the kids for Kids Klub! - So, what is Kids Klub? If you have younger children (4 to 12-ish), you can enroll your children in Kids Klub and then enjoy some time together with your spouse. Whether it is reading a book by the Lake or playing some golf, you can have some space with total peace of mind in the morning between breakfast & lunch and in the afternoon between lunch & dinner. The Kids Klub has a dedicated staff person who ensures supervision for your children along with many fun activities, including sports, games, swimming, and arts & crafts, which are all part of the Kids Klub! If you need childcare in the evenings, staff members are often available (at additional cost). More of my thoughts... Swimming, fishing, sailing, canoeing, or water sports... Oquaga Lake is an ultra-pure spring-fed lake and to me an amazingly refreshing diversion. To be honest, you'll find me in the lake (at least) 2-3 times each day... If you are interested in a Scott's Vacation, please contact me. I am offering an exclusive discount to dancers through my studio for this vacation opportunity, so do not hesitate to take advantage of this great deal. OK, I am interested! How do I sign up? In order to receive the exclusive group rate, you need to register and pay through Dance Harmony. If you contact Scott's directly you will not receive the group rate. To register, please contact me via email. Directions to Scott's We have a back road and highway option to Scott's Back Road Directions
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