Disney World, Florida

We left River Bend RV Resort on Wed, Jan 20^th, and headed to the Fort Wilderness campground at Disney World. It poured down rain and was cool on Thursday so we waited until Friday morning to go to Magic Kingdom. We walked from our campsite to the boat dock at Fort Wilderness and took a small passenger boat to Magic Kingdom. We finally figured out how to use the Disney FastPass+ system and scheduled times for three of the rides we wanted to go on. It’s free and saved us a lot of waiting in-line time, because the FastPass+ has a separate entrance for each attraction. We spent all day at the park, including watching the evening light parade.

 

We went out for lunch on Saturday and did some grocery shopping. On Sunday morning, we went to Epcot which we hadn’t been to since the early-80s. It had expanded but only a few of the rides and exhibits were the same as what we had remembered. We left at 2PM and headed back to the campground to watch the Broncos-Patriots AFC Championship football game. What an exciting game and we’re thrilled that the Broncos are Super Bowl bound.

 

On Monday we went to Disney’s Hollywood Studios park. We had only visited it once before and it too had greatly expanded with many new attractions as well as some long-time favorites. We enjoyed lunch at the “50s Prime Time Café” which was totally furnished and decorated like a home in the 1950s. Black & white TVs playing shows from the 50s, Formica countertops, ceramic poodles everywhere, and they served fried chicken, pot roast, and meatloaf, and upside down pineapple cake. 

After lunch, Julie talked me into going with her on her favorite ride, “The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror”, a haunted elevator in The Hollywood Tower Hotel. Yes, you wear seatbelts and are strapped in, but dropping about 12 stories in an elevator car, in pitch black darkness is very scary. Then you go up just as fast, stop at the top and drop again.

We also enjoyed a 40-minute extreme stunt show on a back lot. There was a grandstand that held 5,000 people and it was nearly full. The show was very good.

Julie and I went to Disney Springs (formerly Disney Downtown) after leaving Disney’s Hollywood Studios park to look around and have dinner. It has really grown since we were there last. Last Tues, Jan 26^th, we moved to Titusville and Willow Lakes RV Resort where we’re spending nine nights.        

Steve & Julie Cornelius

Tampa & LaBelle, Florida

We left Cedar Key last Wednesday morning, Jan 13^th, and stopped in the small town of Inglis, Florida, just north of Crystal River, for breakfast at the Shrimp Landing Restaurant. Julie and I both enjoyed our first-ever shrimp omelets. They were really, really good.

After breakfast we drove south another hour and half and arrived at the Florida State Fairgrounds for 4 nights of camping at the annual “Florida RV SuperShow”. We didn’t know it at the time, but the volunteer who led us to our camp site on the pavement (versus a nice grassy area) told us we’d be happy to be on pavement if it rains. She was absolutely right as it poured down rain twice while we were there. Those nice grassy sites were under water and several areas turned into mud pits.

My sister Marcia and husband Mike drove up to Tampa from the Fort Meyers area last Thursday and we spent all day walking through the RV show. The show had a huge collection of new motorhomes, 5^th wheels, travel trailers, truck campers, park models, etc. from all the major manufacturers. Additionally there were two large buildings with row after row of vendors.

We joined Mike, Marcia and two other couples from the RV resort they are staying at for dinner at the Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City, the historic area of Tampa. It is the oldest family-owned restaurant in Florida, established in 1905. We enjoyed sangria, prepared right at the table. Their “1905 salad” was exceptional, as well as their main entrees. It was our first time there and we really enjoyed the restaurant.

 

Julie and I visited the RV show again on Friday after the morning rain stopped. On Saturday we drove to Safety Harbor to see Julie’s Aunt Jo. We enjoyed lunch with her and had a nice visit.

Saturday night we drove to Bradenton to meet my cousin Sue, her husband Scott and my Aunt Barb. Mike and Marcia joined us, as well as my sister Cathy, son Benjamin, daughter Brittany and her boyfriend Tyler. We hadn’t seen my Aunt Barb, Sue and Scott since August 2012 and we thoroughly enjoyed our visit.

We left Tampa and drove to RiverBend Motorcoach Resort near LaBelle, FL on Sunday to visit Mike and Marcia for a few days. We all enjoyed watching the Denver Broncos beat the Pittsburg Steelers on Sunday night and eat chili with Fritos. On Monday we drove into Ft. Meyers to pick up some fresh squeezed orange juice and go by Costco.

Tuesday we rode with Mike and Marcia and went to Ave Maria, a new town about 35 miles south of LaBelle and east of Naples. The town was only established in 2007 as a new planned development, with a town center and several new housing areas, including a Del Webb community. We enjoyed lunch at a pub there and afterwards, looking through several model homes.

We had planned to head to Key West tomorrow for three weeks, but the military campground is completely full. We’re headed tomorrow to the Disney Fort Wilderness with visits to Disney and Universal.      

Steve & Julie Cornelius

Cedar Key, Florida

We left Destin and headed south through the “Big Bend” area of Florida. We overnighted at a small RV park in Carrabelle and arrived at Cedar Key on Mon, Jan 11^th. We’re staying at Low-Key Hideaway Motel & RV Resort. It is definitely “Old Florida”, very small with 5 motel rooms and only 3 RV sites. The décor is very eclectic and very unique. Best of all, they have a really cool tiki bar with great sunset views. Cedar Key is on the gulf, about 150 miles north of Tampa.

Today we drove down to Crystal River from Cedar Key to see the manatees. Every winter manatees migrate to these natural springs, named Three Sisters Springs. You can’t drive to the springs, but the Crystal River visitor’s center offers a trolley ride to the springs with a paid admission.

Tomorrow we drive to Tampa to camp at the Florida State Fairgrounds for the annual “Florida RV SuperShow”, one of the largest in the country. We’ll stay there for 4 nights and leave next Sunday.

Steve & Julie Cornelius

White Stuff

Julie’s mom left the hospital last week and moved back to Air Force Village to a skilled nursing and rehabilitation center. She was doing well so we decided to go ahead and continue our journey to Florida.

We left San Antonio on Tues, Jan 5^th, and arrived at Henderson Beach State Park in Destin, Florida on Thursday for a 3-night stay. We have stayed here once before and really love this state park. The campground is nice, but the beach is spectacular.

White Stuff

The white sand and clear, emerald-colored gulf coast water has made Henderson Beach State Park, with its 6,000 feet of pristine beach, a natural habitat, bookended by Destin vacation hotels and condos.

 

 

 

We leave tomorrow and head south along the Florida panhandle and gulf coast in search of friends, family and warmer weather.

Steve & Julie Cornelius

Donna, Texas

We left Castroville on Sunday, Dec 27^th and drove down to Donna, Texas (near McAllen) to spend some time visiting with Terry and Cindy. Terry manages the Victoria Palms Resort and it was filling up fast with “Winter Texans”, many from northern states and Canada.

We cut our Donna visit short and came back to Castroville yesterday, New Year’s Eve. Julie’s mom Bobbie was admitted to a local San Antonio hospital on Wednesday and had minor surgery yesterday. She’s doing better now, but we’ll spend a few more days here before we depart for Florida.

Happy New Year, and yes I'm fixing black-eyed peas today to bring us prosperity in the new year.

Steve & Julie Cornelius

Castroville, Texas

We drove back to Alsatian RV Resort in Castroville on Friday, December 18^th, to spend 10 days there through the Christmas holiday. The resort is close to where Julie’s mom lives at Blue Skies of Texas (formerly Air Force Village).

 

The week before Christmas we ran some errands and I repaired a couple of minor things on our motorhome.

On Christmas Eve day, Julie’s sister Cindy, brother-in-law Terry, and nephew Jeremy arrived at Alsatian with their motorhome. We enjoyed a Christmas Eve dinner of red king crab legs with Julie’s mom at her apartment. After dinner we returned to the RV resort and used the spa for the first time. The swimming pool water was a little too cool to enjoy though.

Christmas Day the six of us enjoyed a nice buffet at Blue Skies of Texas. After lunch, we all went to a movie at a nearby Alamo Drafthouse Cinema. 

 

We invited old friends Buzz, Ellen and Peggi over to Julie’s mom’s place on Boxing Day (December 26^th) for dinner. The nine of us enjoyed margaritas, tamales, Spanish rice and refried beans.

After dinner, Peggi, Terry, Cindy, Jeremy, Julie and I went to the Quihi Dance Hall to enjoy the band Billy Mata & The Texas Tradition. We saw them a month ago after Paul & Ying’s wedding.

 

Steve & Julie Cornelius