Finding the best RV routes, good campgrounds, friendly people, great local "Mom & Pop" restaurants and posting our RV route maps, reviews, tips, prices & photos both here and on our website – snowbirdrvtrails.com
The best Sand Sculpture Artists from around the World are invited to the Suncoast to spend a week doing their thing in the white sugar sand of Clearwater Beach creating masterpieces for the World to see. I – being part of said World – spent a wonderful morning, this past Friday, perusing their artwork. It’s difficult to believe it’s just sand, water and talent! The following photos are a few of my favorites and you can see more on our Pinterest page at This is Tampa Bay USA!
It’s the Annual Pier 60 SUGAR SAND FESTIVAL
This year’s theme – “FantaSea – a magical journey above and below the sea”
presented by St. Petersburg and Clearwater, Florida.
Spring has arrived in our Tampa Bay Area of Florida! Many think we only have one Season here in the Sunshine State – not true!
The first signs of Spring – for us – are with Niki’s first sighting of a Jacaranda tree beginning to bloom!
A Florida Jacaranda Tree in bloom
Their five-lobed blue to purple flowers are easy to spot on the large otherwise leafless trees. Beautiful to look at but it becomes a nuisance to the landowner when the “fruit” capsules fall holding numerous slender seeds. They all have to be raked and removed usually numerous times during a Season or they become serious projectiles for a lawnmower.
Orange Hibiscus bloom
Another harbinger of our Southern Spring are the Hibiscus which cover bushes in shades of bright red, yellow, and orange to pink and purple.
A Lavender Hibiscus bloom
Now did you ever stop to ponder where dates come from?
Orange fruit of the Palm Tree
Different types of palm trees produce different types of fruit. We found this one on the Sun Coast in Port Richey, Florida.
We hope all of our Internet friends and acquaintances had a nice Easter weekend? Niki and I did things a little differently this year. There are some favorite things at a traditional Easter dinner that we can no longer eat due to some medical restrictions so we decided to opt for Chinese on Easter Sunday and then have our Easter Dinner on Monday.
Surf & Turf at Catches Waterfront Grille
Mondays happen to be when one of our favorites – surf and turf – is the Monday special at a nearby restaurant just a ways up the road and riverside in Port Richey.
Catches in Port Richey, Florida
Catches Waterfront Grill and its Tiki themed sister establishment – Rum Runner – are located on the Cottee River just off US-19. The restaurant has great ambience and it is very relaxing watching the boats go by – going to and coming from the Gulf.
The food was delicious with the steaks done just the way we like them and the grilled shrimp skewers were very tasty. The only con would be we could not recommend the cole slaw again if you should happen to go there – though fresh there was really very little taste, however, there are many other sides to choose from. The young lady, Jen, tending our table, was a fairly new hire but very cheerful, personable and took good care of us.
The Rum Runner on the waterfront in Port Richey, Florida
We had visited the Tiki themed neighbor – The Rum Runner – recently with Cheryl and Ray, our two friends from Canada, for fish and chips. The Rum Runner also offers tables riverside as well as a large dining area inside with a nice open feel to it. Both restaurants are served from the same kitchen area between the two.
Blue skies and warm Gulf breezes make a near perfect day
The day was warm, sky was blue, with a light breeze from the Gulf, making for a most enjoyable Easter Dinner – though a day late.
Let’s talk about Restaurants and good food along the major East Coast RV Routes.
Alligator bites on Clearwater Beach
Niki and I find that the best way to feel – and yes, taste – the local flavor of an area is to seek out the locals’ favorite places to dine. You meet people and you get a better feeling for what it might be like living in an area. Of course, the other benefit is that you find some delicious local tummy fare along the way.
“Michigans” at the original Clare and Carl’s in Plattsburgh, NY
If you share our interest in RVing, exploring and good food – or I should say good food and good value – or maybe just looking for a good suggestion to grab a bite on your trip, we have broken down our lists three ways.
Dining along East Coast RV Routes
First we have a BIG list from our Snowbird RV Trails files – Restaurant Reviews by State – from Maine to Florida and from the Outer Banks of North Carolina to Arkansas and the Mississippi River.
Afternoon tea at Upper Canada Village
Secondly – Florida has been the home base in our travels and consequently we have visited more eateries here than any other State. Enough so that the Sunshine State Restaurants deserved a page or two of their own.
Desserts to die for on the Sponge Docks in Tarpon Springs, FL
Now as Florida residents, the Tampa Bay Area is the epicenter of our lives which includes Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater Beach along with all of the surrounding picturesque smaller Towns. We, of course, continue our “hobby” of finding good places to eat in this area.
Things to do and places to go in Tampa Bay
We publish online our local Tampa Bay Visitors Guide which we update constantly. It’s always a work in progress. On the website we have a section devoted to dining in this area with special emphasis on where to Find Cheap Eats in Tampa Bay for our out-of-town visitors – Snowbirds, Spring Breakers, family vacationers and all other beach goers and sun worshipers who want to see and do all there is in the area but still stay within their budget.
Waterfront dining in Hooters of New Port Richey
We hope you enjoy our “lists” and find them useful to you. If you would like to comment or maybe add a favorite of your own for us to visit, we’d like to hear from you. Send us an email to snowbirdrvtrails@gmail.com or tbsnowbirders@gmail.com.
Until we cross paths, we wish you safe travels and to always enjoy every journey. Jack and Niki
Lunch in Skene Manor – Whitehall’s “Castle on the Hill”
Andersen’s Oceanside Resort Is Looking For Work Campers At The Beach In Washington
Live at the Beach! Beautiful Area. Private RV park looking for Team/Couple for Spring/Summer: Immediate hire. Possibility to continue through Easy winter season Oct-April the right couples.Join us as park hosts at the Highest rated park in the northwest. Rated 10 on Woodall and 9.5 on Good SamStandard schedule- 3 days/6 hrs- Avg.18 hr/wk EACH. Even trade for site. No taxes. Canadians Welcome!Washington State – South West Coast.
Our Private 7 acre waterfront property can be Your home at the beach~ Included RV site with 20/30/50 amp power, sewer, water, digital TV, WI-FI and laundry allowance. Great area to be with plenty to do. Monthly staff Bonfire BBQs!
Work expected:
“Inside” Reception of guests, answering phones, taking reservations, payments, confirmations, emails, paperwork, check-ins, explanation of fees and policies, sales of in store merchandise, cash handling and change, cash drawer reporting at end of shift, light cleaning, and maintaining office equipment and supplies. Must be able to utilize computer programs such as: windows, Chrome, Google, Square, Word, REZ reservation system -similar to campground manager. Typing proficiency, multitasking and frequently standing up and walking around is necessary.
“Outside” Assistist with parking rigs, pumping propane, inspecting/ correcting sites, explaining (not enforcing) rules, picking up and delivering fire pits and wood, trash, bathrooms. Knowledge of and practical experience with: Landscaping, plumbing (septic), electrical, operating equipment and general maintenance. May require manual labor: heavy lifting, digging, raking, watering, walking and often being outside all shift. Golf Cart driving necessary.
Talent expected:Excellent customer service skills with a happy attitude and easy smile. Have pride in yourself and our park with Professional and Courteous behavior at all times. Gain knowledge of the area to answer inquiries and offer suggestions. Adept at maintaining composure while diffusing complaints- taking corrective actions to appease, or explaining rules and policy kindly and steadfastly. Be Reliable, and Honorable. You need a smartphone with data for texting- Windows OS is preferable. Uniforms may be required and would be provided.
Must have a completely operational and acceptable looking rig/vehicle with insurance. References required. Background check to hire.Submit CV or Resume WITH photos of *RV+vehicle and *Yourselves (Team/Couple only) along with your contact phone number.Do not call our office.Email ONLY 1ao.rvp@gmail.com Subject line: beach bum
Job Type: Part-time
Received 4/4/17 by J. Armstrong, snowbirdrvtrails@gmail.com
Andersen’s Oceanside Resort Is Looking For Work Campers At The Beach In Washington
Hop Aboard as we visit new places, find friendly faces & enjoy life along the Snowbird RV Routes 