Snowbirds who are sports fans have plenty of great options to keep them entertained in the Sunshine State. Not only is Florida home to pro basketball, hockey, baseball and football teams, the state also plays host to the Major League Baseball’s spring training Grapefruit League, a major draw for snowbirds.
Florida is also home to a number of other professional and college sporting events including auto racing, golf and tennis.
Depending where you are in Florida, you can often travel to two or three parks to watch different teams play during spring training, which runs from late February to the beginning of April.
Spring training tickets cost a fraction of what you’ll pay to see a game during the regular season and offer a friendly, more intimate feel that you’ll find at most regular season games.
The stadiums are smaller, you’re closer to the action and players are often willing to sign autographs if you bring the grandkids. It’s best to check each team’s website to find their spring training schedule.
Florida also has two MLB teams – the Miami Marlins and the Tampa Bay Rays. Both usually have their regular season home openers in late March or early April.
The state also has two NHL teams for snowbirds who miss their hockey fix – the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning.
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The Nao Santa Maria, one of the most famous ships known to mankind, will be among the tall ships dropping anchor in Sarnia during the Tall Ships Festival slated for Aug. 9-11.
On Oct. 12, 1492, led by Christopher Columbus, the vessel played the main role in one the discovery of America.
To celebrate the 525th anniversary of the discovery a replica of the ship was built. Over the past two years it has travelled across the Atlantic, around the Gulf of Mexico, the east coast and into the Great Lakes and will be featured in Sarnia during the tall ship celebration along with several other well-known tall ships from ports around the world.
The event is expected to attract tall ship fans from every corner of the globe putting Sarnia on the international map.
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The Rolling Stones are gearing up for their one and only Canadian concert June 29 in a farm field north of Barrie.
The Burl’s Creek event is expected to attract thousands of fans from around the world.
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A sunset paddle through the marsh at Point Pelee National Park is scheduled for June 7 starting at 8:30 p.m. Enjoy a warm summer evening and a full moon paddling through the marsh. Bring your own canoe or kayak, rent a canoe from the park or reserve a spot on a freighter canoe.
Meet at the marsh boardwalk.
Pre-registration is required atpelee.info@pc.gc.ca or 519-322-2365.
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The fourth annual Famous Canadian Beer Run and Festival returns to Toronto on Sept. 14. More than 3,000 runners will lace up for a scenic five-kilometre loop through Ontario Place, crossing the finish line into the heart of a craft beer and food festival.
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Family Fun Days are underway Saturday and Sunday in Petrolia. Today’s program features a heritage days open house an Sunday will feature a fireman’s open house.
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Sarnia VegFest 2019 is slated for July 7 at Canatara Park. It’s a celebration of vegan food and culture along the shores of Lake Huron.
Admission is free and the public is invited to come and check out a large number of food vendors, guest speakers, live music and film screenings.
Pack a bathing suit and enjoy the beach and take a walk in the foresty trails around the park.
A vegan sunset cruise is scheduled for July 8.
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Collingwood’s historic Gayety Theatre will be host to three productions of Soul Sisters Nov. 20-22.
The production tells the story of the birth of soul music and R&B for women.
Start times are Nov. 20, 21 and 22 at 8 p.m.
The 350-seat historic Gayety Theatre has been entertaining patrons since 1911.
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William Franklyn Leathers in Concert will be featured Feb. 23 at the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto. The 17-year-old Leathers is being featured in celebration of Black History Month. He is a young trumpet and piano virtuoso performer and studied with legendary trumpeter Wynton Marsalis.
The Aga Khan Museum is located on Wynford Drive in northeast Toronto.
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There is a time limit for how long you can be away from Ontario without being at risk of losing your health coverage.
According to Jill Wykes of Snowbird Advisor, Ontario residents are generally allowed to spend up to 212 days outside the province in any 12-month period and still maintain their provincial health care coverage.
If you plan to spend more time outside the province you should check with Service Ontario and explain your situation.
Canadian snowbirds should also be aware of the limits for how long they can spend in the U.S. without violating U.S. tax and immigration rules.
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Toronto’s biggest indoor beer festival is back and promises to be bigger and better.
The fourth annual Toronto Winter Brewfest will take place March 1 and 2 at Evergreen Brick Works. More than 40 breweries featuring over 150 beers will be on hand.
The venue is located at 550 Bayview Ave.
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Fans of Ellen DeGeneres will be thrilled to know she is planning to come to Canada for two shows this spring. She will by in Montreal March 1 and Toronto on March 3 for two shows – one at 2 p.m. and another at 6 p.m.
For Toronto tickets call Ticketmaster or 10855-985-5000.
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The Woodstock Experience will take center stage at the Aeoline in London on May 10.
In 1969, the now-historic music festival rolled out on a farm near Woodstock, New York.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Woodstock, and the public is invited to experience that incredible time in music history.
The audience is even encouraged to dress the day for the London event.
The show will feature performances by Cheryl Lescom, Rick Taylor, Chuckee Zehr, Steve Toman, Grant Heywood and Marc Shickluna. Tickets are $35.
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The five-day Caribbean SXM Festival is slated for March 13-17 on St Maarten Island.
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Fine dining doesn’t always need to come at a supreme cost. Enjoy some of Niagara’s best food and wine offerings for a great price during Fabulicious 2019 in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
From Feb. 21 to 28, you can visit Vintage Hotel’s Niagara-on-the-Lake restaurants including Tiara, Noble and Cannery and experience the very best dining.
Fabulicious is one of the most talked about dining events in the area.
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Readers are invited to submit their questions or suggestions on travel close to home or far away to travel writer Bob Boughner at bobgboughner@gmail.com
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