Snowbird Lifestyle, Cuisine, Entertainment and Travel
An example of prime beachfront property, the units are directly accessible to the sand at ground level. Miramar Beach, Northwest Florida. Beachfront, Ocean Front, Ocean View What to Know About the Nuances of Beach Rental Terminology Snowbirds looking for a place with “beachfront” in the …
Beautiful and simple butternut squash pasta with freshly grated parmesan cheese Cook Like a Pro The basics of cooking like a professional chef When it comes to cooking, I’ve found that snowbirds fall into two groups: the non-cooks and the foodies. I consider myself a …
Recently I was contacted by a reader who is planning her first snowbird stay this winter. She has vacationed in NW Florida for many years, but never for an extended time and is looking for suggestions to find group activities. Her concern is becoming bored staying in the condo for a month and she asked if I could offer some ideas to help. She said she enjoys "food-related activities, walking/hiking and biking" as well as any other recommendations.
Ironically, I can absolutely relate to this. We purchased our first vacation rental condo in the winter of 2021 and stayed in it for the first time for Thanksgiving. Although we have rented a unit nearby for six seasons, we have no network of friends at the new place for a late Autumn stay and it is basically starting over again. Not just meeting new people, but adjusting to a new environment, which is more complicated than it might seem. So I began researching ideas of where to begin to meet like-minded individuals, not only for the reader who contacted me, but for myself as well. This is what I came up and it's a spring board to build upon not just your first snowbird season, but every season thereafter. Make a plan and stay the course.
Meeting new people in a community outside your primary area can be daunting. In fact, it can create anxiety and feelings of apprehension, but with a plan and goals, it will be much easier to accomplish.
Where to start? I recommend the best place is the neighborhood where you are staying while in your snowbird community. If it is a condo complex, high rise or park model community, there will probably be many neighbors around who you will encounter while walking to and from the parking lot, riding on the elevator or while at any of the resort's amenities such as the pool, fitness center, tennis courts, hiking trails, community center, etc.
If you are staying in a residential neighborhood of traditional homes, it may take longer to meet your neighbors, so make an effort to be outgoing and say hello as you are jogging, walking your dog or spending time outside your residence.
Wherever people are congregating, look for that place and join them. As an example, there are private beach access points with seating all along our southern community. Many residents gather there daily for watching the sunrise and sunset and it's easy to strike up a conversation. Just the basics, "Where are you from?" is enough to lead to more conversation.
Snowbirds tend to be very outgoing and get acquainted fairly quickly. Networking with neighbors has been my go-to method to make new friends and once that happens, new plans will pop up. We've hosted and attended food-themed parties, watch parties for sports events, Valentine's and Galentine's dinners, Mardi Gras, traditional pot lucks and more. No one plans for the long term, it's much more spur-of-the-moment social invitations.
-- Michelle Tillis Lederman, American author, keynote speaker
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 …
HARNESS THE POWER OF SOCIAL MEDIA GROUPS Timely recommendations for everything in your community Country music star Luke Bryan’s Shore Thing cigar bar on 30A is a fun place to spend time if you don’t mind cigar fumes Social media groups that hone in on …
Ruskin Place Park in Seaside Florida, former site of scenes from The Truman Show, filmed in scenic Seaside
Ruskin Place park is a wonderful destination for anyone touring the Seaside, Florida community in South Walton County of Northwest Florida. It is a community within a community that was designed for quieter moments away from the more crowded areas.
Originally conceptualized as a live/work concept for an artists' colony with shopkeepers residing above their storefronts, Ruskin Place has evolved into a multi-use neighborhood within Seaside. It is set up to be a purposefully less-trafficked business district away from the busier, more touristy areas of Seaside with permanent residences and vacation rentals located on the second and third floor townhomes lining the park, some of which have rooftop terraces. The center of the park serves as an event center for live entertainment and special occasions such as weddings.
Ruskin Place was the site of the fictional town of Seahaven's business district when the movie "The Truman Show" starring Jim Carrey was filmed on location in 1998. The entire town of Seaside was featured in The Truman Show and Ruskin Park scenes include a set-created fictional Seahaven Insurance, where Jim Carrey's character walked to walk. The town of Seaside allocated funds from the proceeds of their production/location fees to fund The Seaside School as well as make improvements to Ruskin Place park.
"Emerald Coast" magazine featured Ruskin Place and an online article was published March 20, 2013.
Ruskin Park is a hidden gem in the Seaside community. Take a closer look around your own community to find the special parks and places that may be lesser known than the more obvious attractions. You may be surprised at what you find.
The photos are from February, 2021, I hope you enjoy the photo gallery.
-- John Muir, Scottish-American "Father of the National Parks"
Architecture Tour of Stunning Alys Beach, Florida Renowned for Iconic Architecture, New Urbanism Movement If you’ve never experienced Alys Beach on the Gulf Coast of Northwest Florida’s panhandle in-between Panama City and Destin, I highly recommend it as a must-see while in the vicinity. Renowned …
Snowbird hobbies can be simple, creative and distinctly unique, such as constructing sand castles on the beach. SNOWBIRD HOBBIES 125 Ideas For Snowbirds A hobby is defined by Wikipedia as, “An activity, interest, enthusiasm, or pastime that is undertaken for pleasure or relaxation, done during …