I Need to Apologize.........

First I apologize for neglecting my Blog and not keeping you up to date on the happenings around Kings Point and Sun City Center. Secondly, I need to apologize for referring to Sun City Center as Sun City. I honestly did not realize that they were two different cities in Florida. It won’t happen again. In fact I had to do a little clean up on my website too.

It has also been brought to my attention that Golf Carts can no longer gain access to the Wal-Mart. It turns out that they would have to cross a marked highway to get to the new Wal-Mart and that would be illegal.

Thank you to the person who wrote me a very nice note and straightened me up on the mistakes I had made on my Blog.

Most of the “Snowbirds” arrived on January 2 or a few days later, so it is hopping around Kings Point these days. The clubhouses are buzzing, the golf courses full, and you can hear laughter coming from all the other various courts.

If you haven't checked out Pickleball yet, make sure to mark Februay 9, 2008 on your calendar. The Kings Point Pickleball League is hosting a "Winter in Paradise Wingding". For more information check out their website at http://www.gotpickleball.com.

I picked up the “Kings Point Pointer” when I was at the clubhouse on Monday. There are some really great events coming up that you won’t want to miss out on. Tickets are available for Kings Point residents ONLY beginning the second Monday of the month at the Box Office. However, Kings Point residents may purchase up to a maximum 4 Guest tickets.

The Kings Point North Clubhouse Borini Theatre will host entertainment such as Lynda Carter (aka Wonder Woman), The Temptations , “Red, Hot and Blue” a group of talented performers who sing and dance their way through a century’s worth of music, Xavier Cugat Orchestra, and the “Dukes of Dixieland”.

The Kings Point South Club has a “Rockin’ Rendezvous” with rowdy music and dance every Thursday from 4:00pm to 8:00pm. I heard it did get pretty rowdy last week. On Fridays they have a Cook Out on the Pool Deck from 11:00am to 2:00pm. There is also going to be a Super Bowl Party on Feb 3. (Go Pats!! My neighbor told me to say that…..I’m staying neutral)

They have some great Special Bus Trips planned too. Trips coming up are quite a few dinner theatre shows, shopping trips, cruises, shopping trips, restaurant lunches and dinners, and some local festivals.

I would love to hear your comments on this and previous Blogs. Tell me what you want to learn about Sun City Center, Florida. Or better yet, please be my guest and write up an article that I can post. I promise I will give you full credit.

Don’t forget to check out our website at http://www.snowbirdnests.com/

Who is Snowbird?

They call me the Crazy Canadian down here. I moved to Lake Mary, Florida seven years ago from Alberta, Canada for a three year contract and just haven’t left. I fell in love with Florida and the thought of moving back to the icy north was not appealing at all.

My husband and I have introduced a whole new culture and language to our neighborhood. “How’s it goin, eh?” , “Toques”(headwear worn in Canada) , “Canadian Fire Extinguishers” for the Bar-B-Q (a spray bottle full of water), “Grog” ..you pick fruit off the trees in your backyard and mix it with IceBerg Vodka (made in Canada), and a whole bunch of holidays that they had never heard of (Family Day, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Heritage Day, Thanksgiving in October, and the best of all Boxing Day.

I worked for a Software Development company for seven years and when I was offered an Executive Layoff two years ago, I grabbed it. After a month or so I was looking for something to do. I had been to Sun City several times to visit my parents who camped a few miles south at Little Manatee River State Park every winter, so I decided to take a closer look at Sun City for investment purposes. I fell in love with the City and all it had to offer. I had no idea that they even built communities specifically for those 55 years young and up.

It wasn’t long before I had purchased my first two units in Kings Point and began renovating. I could write a book on all the things that went wrong, but after two months of blood, sweat and tears, they were completed and ready to rent out. The first year all the neighbors in Kings Point helped me fill them up since I didn’t have time to even think about marketing them.

I have since added a website and this fall started my Blog. I wanted to tell people about all the things that get me fired up about life in Sun City. I hope you enjoy and will someday visit us.

I would love to hear your comments on my Blog. Tell me what you want to learn about Sun City, Florida

Don’t forget to check out our website at http://www.snowbirdnests.com

Are you looking for a place to retire?

I just found out that Sun City, Florida has been designated as one of America’s Best Master-Planned Communities by the “Where to Retire Magazine”. It’s written up in their July/August 2007 magazine.

What’s the key attraction, you say? For starters, the average year-round temperature is 72 degrees. I have noticed that it is 5 to 10 degrees warmer in Sun City in the winter than it is in Orlando and points north.

Most importantly, the people who planned this community thought of everything. They have police, fire and ambulance services. A 1500 member volunteer patrol that supplements the Hillsborough Sheriff’s Department. A 112 bed hospital and 90 bed lodge are also located in the city. There are 20 churches in the vicinity with 7 of them right in Sun City.

Four comprehensive recreation facilities cover more than 41 acres. There are four shopping centers with services that include major banks, supermarkets, medical clinics, pharmacies, restaurants, variety and specialty stores, beauty salons, barber shops, a post office an many business and professional offices. Home Depot is at one end of the city and a huge Wal-Mart Supercenter is at the other end.

If you are a golfer, you’ll think you are in heaven. There are 8 courses in Sun City and another 13 in the vicinity. I found out that there are 3500 privately owned golf carts. No wonder I was blown away when I first drove down the main drag.

Tennis anyone? There are 19 courts available for residents’ use.

If you are a boater , it’s only 8 miles away to Bahia Beach Marina which offers saltwater beaches, marina facilities for boat launching, docking and maintenance. It will also give you access to the Gulf of Mexico.

If you get tired of the 200 plus activities offered in Sun City you can venture out to local theatre presentations, art festivals, concerts, museums, and even some professional sports games. Disney World, Sea World, and Universal Studios are within 90 miles. Busch Gardens is 25 miles away.

But wait…..there’s more! You’ll just have to wait until next week to find out.

If you want to check out our website go to http://www.snowbirdnests.com/