Snowbird Lifestyle, Cuisine, Entertainment and Travel
Florida features 1,146 miles of coastal shoreline and Texas has about 367 miles of shoreline. [Gulf Coast of Northwest Florida, Miramar Beach, Florida] Florida Vs. Texas A Comparison of Weather, Cost of Living Index and Ease of Travel by Vehicle This is the second of …
Florida Vs Arizona: Sun and heat are high in both states which makes each a great choice for outdoor activities [Maravilla Resort in Miramar Beach, Florida] Florida Vs. Arizona A Comparison of Weather, Cost of Living Index and Ease of Travel by Vehicle Let’s begin …
Many times I'm inspired to write about questions I receive seeking insight of the snowbird life. This time our repeat vacation rental guests asked about making the transition from a summer to winter stay. We recently hosted Jen, Steve and their senior dog for two weeks in August. They love it here and said they are now considering returning to the same unit in the winter of 2025. I feel the same way, it's nice to be accustomed to the flow of the set-up, the furniture, location and why change if it's not necessary?
Jen already researched that our unit isn't available for Jan/Feb, but she and Steve wondered about March dates. That's a tricky one. The weather is steadily improving and that means the rates are substantially increasing. Shoulder season rates are early to mid-March and then there's Spring Break rates. Typically the Spring Breakers drive the snowbirds out for two reasons: they pay higher rates for the better weather and the area's population density noticeably increases.
My husband, our Golden Retriever and I were in Northwest Florida during Spring break this year and it's a completely different perspective than the winter months. The college-aged Spring Break students we encountered were very polite, blending in as fellow beach goers having some fun. I didn't see anyone stumbling around or overly loud, but I did see young ladies beautifully dressed up for sunset selfies; students enthusiastically indulging in beach volleyball, enjoying the pools, strolling the sidewalks, enjoying food and beverages in the local establishments and congregating after dark in the sand. We never find snowbirds out on the beach after dark except for the occasional night fisherman.
I don't know anything about Jen and Steve's budget, but March is a viable option if they put their funds into a shorter stay. This could be just the thing they want and need. Summer and winter in the exact same location have some very big differences as I've experienced. Maybe the Jan/Feb weather in Northwest Florida is too drastically different than the hot, humid temps of a Florida summer. Always research the mean temps no matter where you are considering, don't rely on your hunches and intuition, it may or may not be accurate.
Jen asked me about North Florida vs. South Florida. I told her essentially the same information as I wrote about in this post.
Location, Location, Location: Peak Vs Off Peak
Other considerations for summer to winter snowbirds and vice versa include your tolerance for busy vs. off season population density. Summer is much busier on the beach, in the restaurants, stores and establishments, other activities, driving in traffic and travelling to/from your destination. You'll likely have construction delays everywhere and you'll probably not stay as long because lodging rates are much more expensive. Beach service is a summer and shoulder season luxury.
Summer in Florida and popular Southern states such as Texas and Arizona is very hot and humid. If you like walking or running to exercise outdoors, it's almost unbearable during the hottest months of the year. Summer options involve swimming pools, lakes and the ocean.
When children are not in school, they are in full force in the locations where families go for vacations. Therefore you can expect to have a lot more activity and noise on the beach, in the pools and in the general community.
Winter is slower in terms of population and much less busy at the restaurants and retail shops, it's a longer season, generally less expensive and a time to get better acquainted and connect with others in your immediate and greater community. Winter snowbirds are much more likely to greet each other and be sociable. There's fewer distractions than the summer crowd.
In the winter, the sun rises and sets for a much shorter day, the temps tend to be cooler, cloudier and/or rainier. Many restaurants and attractions close for the month of January while the staff and owners go on their own well deserved vacations. When dining out, lunchtime is the best option for beachfront dining. You won't see a thing for dinner hour other than complete darkness.
Unless you have access to a heated pool or jetted spa, it's not likely you'll be swimming in the off season. However, with children in school, you'll likely not be encountering toddlers, kids, teens and young adults in the area during the winter. Weekends and holidays are a draw and do bring families during the winter for a refreshing change.
Before committing to changing from summer, shoulder season or winter, think it through, do your research and make an informed decision. It can be drastically different in the exact same location of your summer or winter community. If you're like me, you come to appreciate each season for the changes and make the most of each time you're able to be in your happy place.
-- Anthony J D'Angelo, American Author, Speaker, Business Owner
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The small bite hors d’oeuvres are beautifully presented, everything is more sparkly and has an element of being that much better. Beef tenderloin blue cheese bites Butternut squash crostini with arugula hummus Parmesan crisps with Prosciutto and orange marmalade preserves COOKING CLASS Four Festive Small …
Five elegant hors d'oeuvres, perfect bite-sized presentations that appeal to every sense. One of the highlights of my year is taking community classes through our city's Parks and Recreation Department. Of all of the years of cooking classes, this class stood out as the very best! The hors d'oeuvres we learned to make are beautifully presented, tasty and there is a variety of ingredients and styles. For less stress, make some of the components a day or two in advance and of course commercially prepared ingredients such as pico de gallo and cream of chicken soup are perfectly fine short cuts if you prefer. The recipes shown here are written based on my notes from the class presented by professional chef, Patrick Whetstone. All five are delicious, easy and most definitely suitable for snowbird entertaining. Not only are these hors d'oeuvres festive for the upcoming holidays, they are great for any event year round. 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
6 slices thick cut applewood bacon, cut in thirds
1/4 cup BBQ dry rub* or to taste. A ratio of half brown or white sugar and half spice is preferred. If needed, add sugar to balance the ingredients.
12 medium sized shrimp, uncooked, cut in fourths
2 T. chives, minced
2 T. garlic, minced
1 T. extra virgin olive oil
*A commercially prepared dry rub is fine or use your own recipe
Preheat oven to 400 degrees
Dredge both sides of the bacon pieces into a bowl of barbecue spice rub, then lay flat on a cookie sheet. Bake for approximately 10 minutes or until the bacon is cooked and blackened. Remove from oven and let cool.
Simmer garlic and olive oil in a small frying pan over low heat until garlic is softened. Add shrimp and saute for about one minute or until no longer translucent. Do not overcook. Remove from heat.
Assemble garlic shrimp piled on bacon, then top with minced chives. Sprinkle with kosher salt. Serve at room temperature.
12 small purple potatoes, boiled and halved
2-3 hard boiled eggs, peeled
1/2 cup mustard aioli
2 pieces bacon, crumbled OR one 4 oz. package real bacon bits
1/4 cup celery leaves
1 t. Kosher salt
1/2 t. Fresh cracked pepper
Optional: 2 -3 green scallions, sliced
1 T. garlic, minced
2 T. Dijon mustard
1 t. honey
1 cup mayonnaise
1 t. minced dried onion
Blend all ingredients, then refrigerate a few hours to blend the flavors.
Place eggs in a small pan of salted water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer the eggs 15 minutes. Drain and immerse in cold ice water to chill. Peel eggs and set aside.
Boil potatoes in salted water until fork tender. Drain and let cool. Slice in half lengthwise, then use a melon ball tool or small spoon to hollow the centers. Discard the centers or save for another recipe.
Cut hard boiled eggs into fourths, lengthwise. Then cut each quarter into approximately 2-3 wedges.
Season hollowed potatoes with salt and fresh cracked pepper. For an additional pop of flavor, sprinkle a few scallion slices into each potato. Then fill the center with mustard aioli so it's almost level with the edge of the potato. Top with celery leaves, bacon crumbles and egg. Generously sprinkle with kosher salt.
Serve chilled or at room temperature.
24 pieces ciabatta bread, sliced thin
18 grape tomatoes, quartered lengthwise
5 - 6 fresh basil leaves, cut into chiffonade ribbons
1 cup frozen peas
1/2 cup vegetable stock
1 cup OR 1 bunch fresh mint leaves
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 T. garlic, minced
2 T. onion, diced
2 T. butter or margarine
2 T. white wine
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Slice grape tomatoes lengthwise into quarters. Place them in a container and add salt, pepper, basil leave chiffonade plus several tablespoons of olive oil to coat the tomatoes. Chill the marinade in the refrigerator for at least an hour or two to allow flavors to blend.
Place thinly sliced ciabatta bread onto baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil, salt and pepper. Bake approximately 3 or 4 minutes until toasted. Do not overcook. Remove from oven and let cool.
Boil peas in a small pan or microwave until cooked al dente. Drain and let cool.
Simmer onion in white wine, butter or margarine in a small frying pan over low heat until softened. Add garlic to onion and butter. Saute for about one minute more or until softened. Add approximately half of the vegetable stock and bring to a simmer. Remove from heat.
Place peas, mint leaves and sauteed onion mixture into a blender to puree. OR use an immersion blender. The desired consistency is wet sand. It should not be runny. Adjust vegetable stock if more is needed to obtain the proper thickness. Chill mixture in the refrigerator.
Assemble crostini with a thick slather of the pea-mint mixture. Top with marinaded tomatoes. Sprinkle with kosher salt.
Serve at room temperature.
24 small round gourmet tortilla chips*
6 ounces beef tenderloin
1/2 cup white cheddar cheese, shredded
2/3 cup pico de gallo
1/2 cup avocado mousse
2 T. garlic, minced
1 T. extra virgin olive oil
1/3 cup tomato, diced
1/3 cup red onion, diced
1 T. vegetable oil
1 T. jalapeno pepper, minced
1 T. fresh cilantro, minced
Dash ground cumin, kosher salt, pepper
Finely dice red onion and tomato. Add 1 T. minced jalapeno pepper and 1 T. fresh minced cilantro. Season with kosher salt, fresh cracked pepper and dash of ground cumin. Blend and chill.
One fresh avocado, pitted and skinned
1/4 cup sour cream
1 lime
1/4 t. Kosher salt
1/4 t. fresh cracked pepper OR white pepper
Puree avocado, approximately 1/4 t. lime zest, 2 T. fresh lime juice and sour cream with immersion blender. Chill in refrigerator.
*Make your own tortilla chips by using a round shape to cut corn enchiladas into silver-dollar sized pieces, then pan fry in hot canola oil until crispy, flipping one time. Remove, let drain on paper towels and sprinkle with Kosher salt.
Cut beef tenderloin into a lengthwise strip approximately the diameter of a fifty cent piece. Season with kosher salt and fresh cracked pepper.
Preheat frying pan over medium high temperature. When hot, add vegetable oil. Then brown beef tenderloin until an internal temperature of 165 degrees. Remove from heat and let rest for ten minutes.
Slice beef tenderloin into 24 silver dollar-sized pieces
Prepare avocado mousse and chill in refrigerator.
Prepare pico de gallo and chill in refrigerator.
Assemble beef tenderloin onto tortilla chips, sprinkle with kosher salt and fresh pepper, then heap with shredded cheddar cheese. Broil for a minute or two until cheese melts.
Top each tortilla chip with pico de gallo, sprinkle with kosher salt, then dollop avocado mousse on top.
Serve at room temperature.
1 package puff pastry sheets, cut into round shapes
1 cup chicken or vegetable stock
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 c. chicken breast, diced fine
1 standard carrot, peeled, chopped
1 celery stalk, chopped fine
1/4 cup peas
3 T. butter
2 oz white wine
1 T. onion, diced fine
1 T. flour
1 T garlic, minced
1/2 t. Kosher salt
1/4 t. fresh cracked pepper (or 1/8 t. white pepper)
1 sprig fresh thyme
1 sprig fresh rosemary
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Roll puff pastry onto flat surface. Use a glass or cutter slightly larger than the diameter of the shot glasses to cut the puff pastry into desired number of round shapes. Dock the puff pastry with a fork to reduce the puffiness when it bakes. Transfer to a lightly greased baking sheet and bake a few minutes until golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool.
Saute diced chicken and 1 T. butter in medium frying pan until meat is no longer translucent. Remove chicken and set aside.
Saute butter, carrots, celery and onion in a medium frying pan until carrots and onion soften. Transfer to a medium stock pot.
Add flour and salt to stock pot. Blend well. Then add white wine. Stir chicken or vegetable stock into pot in batches, stirring out any lumps.
Add cream, chicken, peas and the contents from the frying pan. Simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally. Add fresh thyme and rosemary to taste.
Pour soup into shot glasses, leaving space from the rim. Top with puff pastry. Serve warm with or without a small spoon.
-- Virginia Woolf, English Writer