Snowbird Lifestyle, Cuisine, Entertainment and Travel
BE THE SNOWBIRD WHO IS WELCOME BACK How to Be Irresistible to Your Hosts Snowbirds who rent their winter residences are plentiful and there is typically not a shortage of guests who want to stay in a great property, which means it is important to …
Map of The Emerald Coast, Southern Alabama and Northwest Florida LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION Peak vs. Off Peak Affects the Cost of Housing As snowbirds return home to begin the off-season, much reflection goes into what can be done differently for the next season. Life changes …
Travel and snowbirds are synonymous. Snowbirds by definition seasonally migrate to a warm climate and for many that means selecting a place to stay with very basic information such as online photos, reviews and a description of the property. From personal experience, before ever selecting our snowbird community in Northwest Florida, I looked at hundreds of properties online via specialized travel sites. The photos that got my attention were taken by professionals, had great lighting and flattering angles.
I consider myself to be rather astute evaluating a property from afar, whether hotel or other type of rental; however, every once in awhile there are blunders. My sister and I spent time in Saugatuck Michigan and selected a specific, beautifully decorated ground floor suite of an expensive boutique hotel based on photos, reviews and web site. Prior to arrival we envisioned ourselves walking from the porch of our suite across the expanse of lawn and reading books while seated next to the lovely lake. Wrong. Upon checking in, we discovered the enclosed porch does not have an exterior door, a road separates the lake from the hotel and the expanse of lawn is actually not part of the hotel's property. Worse, a new residence was under construction directly across the street from our hotel. Not only was it noisy, the new home completely blocked 50% of our view of the lake. We loved the hotel and had a great weekend regardless, but finding out about a blocked view from online photos that had not been updated was not fun.
I've compiled 11 categories below to assist with selecting a rental, whether during snowbird season or the off season. As always, careful research can result in the best success.
Once you've narrowed down your top options, look at an online map and compare the distance of the property address with the online photos. Look at both 360 degree street view and the overhead bird's view. Is it physically impossible to see a great view from inside the unit, such as the water or mountains? Many times a rental listing will show supporting photos that are not actually views from the rental unit itself, but are from around the resort property or neighborhood. Just about every listing for a rental near a beach will show an image of the beach, yet the view shown in the photo isn't necessarily what you will actually see from your kitchen, living room or balcony. Same for mountains, rolling hills or even the community pool.
Of course every rental owner wants to show their listing in the most flattering manner, which usually includes professional photos that have been lightly retouched for brightness and color. Now compare those photos with actual photos guests have posted online, if available. If the decor and images tell the same story, it's a good sign. Remember, guest photos may not reflect the most current version of the property and the reverse may also be the case: the rental photos may not be current. Guest photos are likely taken with clutter in them or poor angles and/or lighting, which is to be expected. Guests typically want to share their enthusiasm for a place, but don't forget motive. If a guest is unhappy, they may unfairly post photos and reviews that show the worst or exaggerated attributes of a property.
Online reviews, when available, can reveal details that may not be obvious from the photos. Typically this might include clarification that a view is partially obstructed, that the water is much further away than it appears, that the unit's space is much smaller than it looks or that there is a road in-between the property and the beach. Most owners do not intentionally mislead their guests or do not realize that guests who have never been to the area don't have the personal experience of having seen the neighborhood in person. If there is a valid suggestion that can privately be sent to the owner to improve their listing, that is always appreciated. As mentioned before, remember the motive for reviews. If a review seems unfair or one-sided it may be because of an unhappy guest who does not have the best intentions.
Drone photos showing the bird's eye view are great for getting an overview of an area, particularly in relationship to a particular feature, such as a body of water. Be realistic of where the property you are considering actually is and what obstacles will be in the way of your rental compared to the feature shown in the photo. You are not going to be in a drone looking at the view, so don't confuse the purpose of the drone photos.
I know first-hand of guests who rented a private home with fenced private pool directly facing the gulf and beach with just a road in-between. What isn't obvious is that because of the fence, to get from the home's pool to the beach, it's necessary to walk a block West down the street to exit the housing addition, walk over and cross the main road and then walk back East another block to get to the neighborhood's beach access point. Because of the fence, it isn't as quick or simple as merely walking across the street.
Many times photos are stretched on purpose or inadvertently which causes the space to look much larger than it is. Be aware of stretched photos that may have unnatural proportions of the items that you can see are wider than taller, such as appliances. Misconceptions about the size of a space are likely to cause the most distress upon actually renting a place only to find it's smaller than they realized.
Photo angles are a legitimate method of showing the expanse of a space, but recognize that angles also can make an object appear much larger than it actually is. This is especially apparent with angles used to show features such as a yard, swimming pool or interior rooms of a home or condo. Low angles or cameras mounted on the ceiling looking downwards can make a room or feature seem much larger than it is. When you are actually in a space, you will not have the same "fly on the wall" or "worm's" view which means the space will not look as large as it does in the photos.
It's frustrating to see listings promoting rentals that don't accurately portray the property. As an example, I commonly see photos of "gulf view" properties that actually have a side view of the water from way back in a condo complex. An unsuspecting guest may not realize the view from the interior of the unit is going to be of the homes adjacent to the unit, not the water. The only way to see the gulf is by stepping onto the balcony and looking into the distance. Technically, it is a gulf view, but there is a huge difference in what that gulf view is compared to a unit where you can directly see the gulf from the interior rooms and the balcony. Ground floor units that promote themselves as "gulf view," present a different challenge. Be aware of what that gulf view might actually be. For anyone not familiar with ground floor units, your actual view may be a sliver of the gulf due to natural topography where the ground floor unit is lower than the dunes next to the gulf and it results in limited views. If you aren't sure of what view you are getting, ask for photos that are not "zoomed in."
Visual cues provide a wealth of information. Look for hints in the listing photos that show the balcony railing in the foreground and other details such as the pool, road and beach in the background. High rise photos typically show great views looking across the water and/or other natural features. However, the view looking down from say, the 11th floor, may be terrifying for you, your pet or guests. I have friends who stayed on upper floors of high rises just one time. It was too much and they returned to the same complex only in a lower location. Visual cues can indicate the distance from your potential rental unit to get to the nearest parking lot, pool, attraction such as golf course or body of water. There are many great rentals in buildings that are second or third row to the beach, just make sure you are aware of it from studying the photos.
I've seen plenty of online photos of beautifully staged rentals with props that are not likely included in the rental. This may be items such as dishware or glassware, food, beverages, napkins, accessories, beach equipment and much more. If a staged photo shows these excluded items, it should specifically say on the photo "Food and beverages are not included" to make the potential guest realize the photo is for illustrative purposes. I have also seen rental photos with items such as laundry soap, beach towels or high end barware and the description does clarify that the soap, barware and beach towels are indeed part of the rental. To be sure, read the fine print or ask the owner or property manager.
As is commonly known in psychology, don't be distracted by dazzling photos, pay attention to what is not being said or shown. Prime photos, also known as "Hero" shots might show an amazing view looking in one specific direction. However, what is to the left or the right that is not shown in the photo? Telephone poles? A privacy fence, dumpsters or other obstruction?
Does the rental have a dishwasher or washer and dryer? Photos of appliances such as an in-unit washer and dryer may or may not be shown online for various reasons, so you should clarify what is available. If in-unit washers are lacking and there's no visual cue from a listing photo, it can easily be missed prior to arriving and realizing coin-op laundry facilities are located in a common area. Similarly, distance to parking, dumpsters, elevators, stairways and much more may not be photographed. Always ask for clarification.
Don't assume every room has a nice or any view. The bedroom window in our condo looks at a covered walkway and swaying palm trees. The bedroom of the unit directly next door looks at a covered walkway and a dark stairwell. I cannot say it enough, "Pay attention to what is not being said or shown." It's ok to ask for photos showing each view or all perspectives of the rental so there's no surprises.
It is expensive to hire a professional photographer, but current photos that accurately portray a property are invaluable for potential guests as well as owners. Professional photos are designed to dazzle you, however, don't overlook the gems that may be bypassed due to poor quality photos. Over time, furniture, appliances, rugs, lighting and decorations change. If you aren't sure of how recent the photos are, don't hesitate to ask.
Overall, take your time to carefully study the promotional photos, reviews and then make an informed decision. If necessary, try out different places until you find the one you want to return to over and over again.
-- Bruno Barbey, French Photographer
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The December holidays are all about something extra: extra festive, extra special and hopefully not too much extra work. Our city's Parks and Recreation Department offers community cooking classes and I was once again fortunate to learn from one of the
area's best instructors, professional chef Patrick Whetstone.
The small bite hors d'oeuvres we learned to make are beautifully presented, which is much of what makes this time of year so special. Everything is more sparkly and has an element of being that much better. More flavor, high quality ingredients and extra attention to make the presentation gorgeous. These small bite recipes accommodate a variety of dietary requests: plant-based, meat eaters, cheese lovers and keto-friendly. You can adjust the quantities to your preference, the number of pieces is only an estimate, subject to many variables. For less stress, make at least some of the components a day or two in advance or purchase items you prefer not to make such as Parmesan crisps. Chef's tip: cooked food that will be chilled, such as the beef tenderloin and butternut squash relish can be a little more over seasoned when heated because it will become more subdued when chilled.
All four recipes are delicious, easy and most definitely suitable for snowbird entertaining. Not only are these hors d'oeuvres festive for the holidays, they are great for any event year round. The recipes shown here are written based on my notes from the class presented by Chef Whetstone. Bon appétit!
Snowbird meals tend to be much simpler, using fewer ingredients and a very limited selection of appliances and gadgets to prepare them. Choose the freshest, highest quality ingredients and find alternate ways to make your favorite recipes. Forget about what you don't have to cook with, instead focus on what you can accomplish with what you do have. - Midlife Snowbird
24 - 36 Parmesan crisps, homemade or purchased
2 - 3 oz Prosciutto ham, torn into pieces
1/3 cup orange marmalade or apricot preserves, or to taste
Celery leaves for garnish
*Pre-made Parmesan crisps are typically available in the cheese or deli section of the grocery or specialty food store
Homemade Parmesan crisps recipe or use pre-made crisps from the grocery
Assemble Prosciutto ham piled on the Parmesan crisps, then top with a dollop of preserves and a celery leaf for garnish. Serve at room temperature.
6 oz. beef tenderloin, room temperature
4 oz. blue cheese wedge or crumbles, room temperature
1/4 c. heavy cream
2 - 3 t. fresh chives or to taste, sliced thin
2 T. canola oil, approx
Fresh cracked black pepper to taste
Kosher salt to taste
ALTERNATE CHEESES: Brie, goat or fresh mozzarella
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
In a small bowl, combine blue cheese and heavy cream. Set aside.
Heavily coat all sides of the beef tenderloin with salt and pepper.
Heat oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Add oil and bring to temperature.
Sear tenderloin in hot oil on all sides until there is a crust on every surface.
Place skillet with beef tenderloin in oven to finish cooking, about 5 to 7 minutes. Use a meat thermometer to check until it reaches the desired temperature: rare, medium rare, medium, well done etc.
Remove meat from oven and let it rest about 5 - 10 minutes.
Slice beef tenderloin against the grain into 1/4" wide pieces.
Pipe or spoon blue cheese mixture into the middle of each slice of tenderloin. Fold over and place mini plastic fork into it to hold it in place.
Garnish with fresh chopped chives.
Serve chilled or at room temperature.
*Mini plastic party forks can be purchased at party supply stores such as Party City
1 - 2 English cucumbers
Honey ginger balsamic vinegar to taste
3/4 c. cream cheese, room temperature
1/4 c. heavy cream
Zest from one lemon
Zest from one lime
Fresh chives to taste
Fresh cracked black pepper to taste
Kosher salt to taste
Combine cream cheese and heavy cream, then add salt and pepper to taste plus lemon and lime zest. Set aside.
Remove ends and 50% of the peel from cucumber/s, slice into approximately 1/4" rounds.
Pipe or spread a dollop of the whipped cream cheese onto the top of each cucumber slice.
Top with fresh chives. Drizzle with honey ginger balsamic vinegar or a flavored balsamic vinegar of your choice.
Serve chilled or at room temperature.
One loaf pre-sliced baguette bread
1/4 c. Extra virgin olive oil or as needed
Kosher salt to taste
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Brush tops of sliced baguette with olive oil
Bake on sheet pan approx 3 - 5 minutes or until toasted, the center of the bread should be soft. Do not over bake.
Remove from oven, sprinkle with Kosher salt, set aside to cool
3 cups fresh butternut squash, small diced
1/4 c. red onion, diced fine
2 T. Balsamic vinegar
2 T. Extra virgin olive oil
Fresh basil, approx 5 - 6 leaves, sliced chiffonade style
Kosher salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste
Preheat skillet to medium-high. Add oil to skillet and allow oil to get hot.
Pan fry butternut squash in skillet until it is softened and brown, approx 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from heat.
Add onions to squash, season with salt and pepper to taste. Chill mixture in the refrigerator.
Prior to serving, add balsamic vinegar to the butternut squash mixture. Re-season if necessary.
Set basil chiffonade aside until ready to assemble.
2 T. butter, room temperature
1 T. garlic, chopped (from a jar has stronger flavor)
1/2 c. onion, diced
2 fl oz. white wine
1 can (15 oz) garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
1 1/2 c. vegetable stock
3 c. arugula
Kosher salt and fresh cracked black pepper to taste
Sweat onions and garlic in butter in saute pan.
Add garbanzo beans and white wine, cook until wine reduces.
Add stock, let simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. Strain liquid into bowl and reserve it.
Puree bean mixture with arugula until smooth in food processor OR use an immersion blender. Add reserved liquid as needed to achieve a spreadable texture. The desired consistency is wet sand, it should not be runny. Adjust reserved liquid if more is needed to obtain the proper thickness. Re-season as necessary.
Chill mixture in the refrigerator.
Assemble crostini with a thick slather of the Arugula hummus mixture. Top with butternut squash relish. Garnish with basil chiffonade. Sprinkle with kosher salt.
Serve chilled or at room temperature.
-- Jack Fitzgerald, Canadian Author
The best place to start meeting people is in your own neighborhood, whether at the pool, community center or walking your dog How to Meet People in Your Snowbird Community Ideas for new and seasoned snowbirds Recently I was contacted by a reader who is …
Autumn Tour of Saugatuck on Lake Michigan’s Eastern Coastline A Nostalgic, Romantic, Artsy Waterfront Vacation Destination When my twin sister first announced she was coming home to the Midwest from Hawaii, she invited me to go on a “mini vacation within a vacation.” We have …
Pet friendly hotels are becoming increasingly popular and the internet and web sites such as bringfido.com makes it much easier to find them. Typically, these are going to be the "highway hotels" rather than the upscale beach resorts and five star luxury properties. Some hotel brands, such as Best Western and La Quinta, promote their properties as pet friendly. Be open to all options when looking for a place to stay, you never know when you might find a hidden gem, as we did.
One year, we knew we would be in transit to our snowbird destination for our wedding anniversary, so we decided to make a small detour and spend the night along the water if there were any good options. At the time, it was difficult to find online information for the independently operated waterfront hotels in the area I was searching, so I began calling each one to inquire. I used Google Maps and went right down the line until finally, I found a pet-friendly property in Gulf Breeze, Florida. Not only did they accept our dog, but the Pensacola Bay waterfront location was outstanding! The Quality Inn on the Bayfront in NW Florida was exactly what we wanted: Gorgeous view, a decent room for a reasonable price and onsite restaurant with patio dining so our dog could be with us. It was the perfect place for us to celebrate our anniversary.
No matter what your ideal hotel is, make sure the property you are considering accepts the size, weight and type of breed you have. Check into any other restrictions, such as only registered service pets or whether there are limited pet-friendly rooms that may or may not be available.
Inquire about how much the additional fee will be. Do not try to sneak your pet into the hotel to cut costs or think you won't be found out. Cameras are everywhere these days and it is unfair to the hotel and your dog. Not paying for your dog is a quick way to either be asked to leave and/or put on a "do not return" list. Yes, these lists exist. Remember, some guests refuse to stay in a hotel or hotel room that allows pets due to allergies, dander and the possibility of fleas, so the hotels have to enforce their pet policies to avoid potential problems with their guests.
Travelling with a pet, whether near or far, is stressful for all involved. Concerns such as safety are always top of mind. No one wants their pet to accidentally escape or make themselves sick with anxiety. Don't take unnecessary chances, be overly cautious and it is possible to have an enjoyable time with your dog. These are my personal strategies that can help pet parents and their fur babies have a better experience when staying in a hotel.
1. If your dog isn't already micro-chipped with current contact information, talk to your vet and get the procedure done well in advance of your travel dates. You need adequate time for the micro chip to be properly registered. It is well worth the cost and inconvenience.
2. Prior to travelling, make sure your pet is current with all vaccines, kennel cough, flea and heartworm treatment and bring your up-to-date veterinary records showing the information if needed.
3. Your dog needs to wear a collar with current tags at all times. No exceptions.
4. Always keep your dog on a leash when outdoors. Even normally calm dogs become nervous and skittish when in an unfamiliar environment. Most hotels and public spaces require a leash and it would be devastating for an off-leash dog to get spooked and run into traffic, scare fellow guests or chase something, never to be found again.
5. Make sure your dog wears a distinguishing collar and perhaps an additional item such as a bandana when traveling. Make sure you have quick access to a recent photo of your pet. If your pet somehow gets loose, it's easier to find a dog with a photo and full description such as 80 pound, male, chocolate Lab with blue collar and bright red bandana around his neck.
6. Mature dogs make better hotel guests. If your dog is accustomed to hotel stays, that is a huge advantage for you and your pet because they will acclimate more quickly.
7. If you have a house-trained puppy and must stay in a hotel to/from your snowbird destination, take every precaution to ensure the puppy is safe, can't escape and isn't going to destroy the hotel property or furnishings. Bring a crate if the puppy is crate trained. Distract from noises. Puppies tend to bark and react to every creak or sound in the hallway, which is not easy for owners or puppies to deal with. If possible use white noise to distract from other guests talking in the hallway or doors opening and closing. Bring your own fan or play "sounds of nature" or other soothing music on your portable device. Let the puppy know right away that barking won't be tolerated. They do learn. Our now five-year-old Golden Retriever has dramatically improved from his original skittish puppy behavior in hotels.
8. Prior to bringing your dog into the room, visually sweep every nook and cranny of the room for items that may be under the bed or within reach of your dog. You don't want your curious dog to find a pill or sharp object before you do.
9. Put the "Do Not Disturb" sign on your exterior doors and keep them there for the duration of your stay. Housekeeping won't inadvertently be confronted with an unpredictable pet or worse, the pet escapes due to the simple act of accessing the room.
10. Make sure the door is secured and locked for the duration of your stay, regardless of having a pet with you.
11. Keep the bathroom toilet lid closed at all times for sanitary reasons, no dog should be exposed to a toilet bowl.
12. Place the waste baskets out of reach of your dog if s/he is prone to digging through the trash. If necessary, keep your glasses, keys, shoes, socks, clothes, wallet or purse out of reach of your pet.
13. Familiarize yourself with the exits. We stay in a highway hotel that has hallway doors to the guest rooms. At first, this may seem safer than hotels with rooms that open right to the parking lot. However, the hotel has lobby doors that automatically open when anyone, including a loose pet, steps on the sensor. It would be an easy escape down the hall and right out the hotel's front doors before anyone can react. An alternate option is to request a room on an upper floor so there are fire doors in between your room and the outdoors.
14. If you stay in a room with a door that opens directly to the parking lot, leash and/or hold onto your dog's collar every single time the door opens. You don't want a panicked dog to dart out! Your dog will be afraid of being abandoned and their behavior may change for the worse if they think they are being left behind.
15. If you and your dog need the convenience of a ground floor room due to navigating stairs or elevators, then be extra cautious your pet doesn't escape.
16. Be careful when entering and exiting elevators. Do everything possible to swiftly enter/exit and avoid having the leash extended in front of you. Elevators and pets are not ideal, there's many safety issues to consider, including pinch points, navigating thresholds and becoming separated via closing doors. Research your own options for safely navigating elevators so you can avoid disasters.
17. Make your dog as comfortable as possible in the hotel room. We bring our dog's large, heavy bed in and out of each hotel room because it's important that our dog sleeps as well as possible. Everyone is road weary when travelling for multiple days at a time. If the hotel has a cart, it's much easier, but make sure your dog has a comfortable sleep space. Many hotels do not allow owners to permit pets to be on the linens or furniture, so if your dog likes to sleep in bed with you, bring your own sheet/s to cover the hotel's linens.
18. Position the dog's bed so they can keep an eye on you as well as the door.
19. Place the water bowl in a low traffic area where it won't get spilled.
20. Put the leash on the doorknob so you easily can find it, especially in the event of a fire or emergency.
21. Avoid leaving your dog alone in the room if possible. If you are travelling solo, take the pet with you if you need to leave the room, it will help keep them calmer. If you travel with a spouse or partner, take turns for trips to the breakfast buffet, pool, spa, lounge, lobby, your car or going outdoors to smoke. It's not ideal, but your pet is a higher priority than almost anything else.
22. Exercise your dog with a walk in the designated areas. Pets who are crammed into a packed vehicle need to stretch and unwind after a long day of travel.
23. Promptly pick up after your pet. We bring our own plastic grocery bags to take care of the pet's business and properly discard the waste in an exterior trash can.
24. If no pet-friendly onsite restaurant is available, order pizza to be delivered or hire a service to bring your food directly to your room so your pet isn't left alone.
25. Spoil your dog more than usual when staying in a hotel. Give them special treats and extra attention. Help reduce their stress by speaking in a calm voice and keeping the TV volume lower.
26. If the hotel offers breakfast included, bring a plate of extra food back to the room. Our dog gets a hard boiled or scrambled egg, yogurt, sliced bananas or fresh blueberries and a low fat protein. These are all part of the start to a good day for you and your dog. Perhaps reward your dog with a few tiny bites of a powdered donut. It's better for your dog to eat a little too much and have extra energy than have a stressed out dog who is not able to eat at all.
27. Do not allow your dog to go into restricted areas such as the food service areas, pool or surrounding deck or housekeeping closets.
28. If no professional pet sitters are available and it isn't against the hotel's policy, plus the hotel isn't especially busy and you've verified management is ok with it, there is one strategy we have used when leaving our mature, experienced and acclimated dog unattended in a hotel. The key words here are mature, experienced and acclimated. We set up a laptop computer to monitor our dog through the computer's built-in camera. My husband sets up a Go To Meeting or a Zoom meeting with his phone and then "invites" our laptop computer to attend (or you can set it up the other way around). We position the laptop to show as much of the room as possible. Remember, if you leave the TV on for white noise in the room, the monitor will also pick up all of that noise, so leave the TV off. Be sure to test your operations before leaving your hotel. If your dog starts barking, you can hear it through the monitor and speak to him through the computer's speakers and tell him to stop. Yes, we've done this and our boy typically listens. You can also monitor to see if the dog is sleeping by the door waiting for your return. If your dog is too stressed out in your absence, you know it's time to get back to the hotel, ASAP. Beware of losing your internet signal if you go to somewhere that happens to be out of range for cell service. Yes, this happened to us and it was stressful. Thankfully our dog behaved in our absence. I do not recommend leaving a dog, especially a puppy, unattended if at all possible, but a monitor is one option to check that everything is OK.
29. Being loyal to the same hotels helps you and your pet know the layout and the general vicinity of the area. Our dog is more comfortable of what to expect and we have our systems worked out of how the room is set up and where to walk him. Even though we only stay at our highway hotel twice a year, the staff knows us and our boy Bodie and welcome us back each time.
30. Practice makes perfect! Over the years, our Golden Retriever has improved dramatically when we stay in hotels both to and from our snowbird destination as well as for mini getaways all year round.
-- Charles M. Schwartz, American Cartoonist
Work From Wherever (WFW) Snowbirds How to Choose the Best Rental for Working Remotely In May of 2019, I published a blog post entitled “How to Be a Working Snowbird,” and in 2021 it remains quite relevant. In fact, How to Be a Working Snowbird …