A Tropical Breeze Turns 15 and Gets a Face Lift!

We celebrated A Tropical Breeze's 15th birthday this year with numerous improvements and upgrades. The salt air is tough on a beach home and we constantly fight rust. Many of these improvements are to replace rusted areas or protect from future rust.

These updates included a new oven/stove, commercial hot water tank, all exterior white trim painted or replaced with white vinyl, replaced all screen porch materials which makes for a much nicer and clearer view of the beach, new chairs and all new cushions on the screen porch, regraded Blue Water Drive, added shelves in the laundry room, new canvas picture of A Tropical Breeze sunset over the master bath, wood look tile on the lower set of stairs, new propane tank buried to prevent rusting, new toaster, new coffee pot, new pots and pans and a few other items.

New stainless steel stove

View through new screen on porch, plus new rails

New cushions and chairs but old screen and rails, prior to replacement on porch

All freshly painted or replaced white trim

New wood look tile on lower stairs

New shelves in laundry room suggested by guest and a great addition.

Canvas sunset print of picture taken in front of A Tropical Breeze

It's Been 13 years and We Love A Tropical Breeze More than Ever!

Last week we were able to stay at A Tropical Breeze after an amazing summer rental season. We truly have some of the nicest guests in the world and celebrated 13 years of ownership on August 24th.

There's something about this place that is magical and some day we will get a chance to spend more than a week here, however with guest bookings, work and school schedules we've never had that opportunity. As of August 13, we became empty-nesters and plan to be here as much as possible, whenever it's not already booked with guests.

As always, we saw some amazing sunsets, a bobcat crossing CSB Road, deer, dolphins playing in the sunset and turtle nests. We did our best to see a turtle next hatch but it just didn't happen while we were there. We looked for nests that had been laid 2 or more months ago and carried our chairs out behind the nests. We were all settled in with our red lights and books when all of a sudden the wind shifted and the dark clouds to the south brought stinging rain our way. We ran back up the beach to Tropical Breeze laughing all the way. Who knew we could still run so fast. Our September guests should have several nests hatch while they are there, but to see it happen is a matter of patience and avoiding unexpected rain storms. LOL

Visiting isn't all beach time, after a summer of back to back guests, we usually have some additional maintenance projects. This year was no different and we had numerous service people in and out and did several DIY projects ourselves. Home ownership at the beach is a constant battle against sun, water and rust damage but we do our best to keep A Tropical Breeze is the best condition possible.

In the last year we added a new refrigerator, sleeper sofa, love seat, king mattress set and new lamps in the main master, new comforters on all 7 beds, new roof, new grill and painted all exterior trim. On our next visit we plan to re-cover the dining room chairs. Thanks again to all of our wonderful guests who take such good care of A Tropical Breeze during their stays. We are blessed to have you!!

Cape San Blas - Leave No Trace Ordinance Passed - No More Personal Belongings on Beach Overnight

Important Notice: Leave No Trace Ordinance passed - No more tents, chairs or personal belongings on beach overnight. Below are excerpts from the Port St. Joe Star Leave No Trace article by Tim Croft.

A standing-room-in-the-hallway-outside-the-meeting-room-only audience, which at times participated as if sitting at the podium with commissioners, roundly applauded as Leave No Trace passed with little discussion.

“Enforcement is the key to any ordinance we put in and we are going to do our best,” said Commissioner Warren Yeager in speaking about Leave No Trace.

A highlight of the Leave No Trace ordinance is that personal property left on the beach by non-residents one hour after sunset or one hour prior to sunrise would be considered abandoned.

The language of the ordinance permits county crews picking up such abandoned property and disposing of it.

This is great news for the nesting sea turtles and anyone who loves the beauty of the beach.  Most of the beach does not look like this but there are areas that are completely out of control.  This will be a bit inconvenient for some, but a huge improvement for the overall feel of this beautiful beach. A Tropical Breeze guests will benefit from this ordinance.

A Tropical Breeze - Always Making Improvements for our Guests

The salt air, sun and wind can be tough on your skin when you spend a week at the beach. Can you imagine what it does to a home's exterior after years of sun, salt water and strong winds.   When you own a home at the beach, you are constantly replacing or repairing something.  Rust is our enemy and through the years we have learned the hard way to replace any thing possible with stainless steel or plastic.  Last week we replaced the metal roof with one that is guaranteed for 30 years.  The last one started to rust after only 7 years.

 This week we are having all of the exterior white trim painted.  I can't wait to see how pretty everything looks with the new white paint and white roof.  A Tropical Breeze has been such a blessing to us and we want to do our best to keep it looking like new for our guests.

Tropical Breeze - Happy 12 Year Anniversary!

We have been so blessed to own this beautiful piece of paradise on Cape San Blas called A Tropical Breeze.  Today is our 12 year anniversary of moving into A Tropical Breeze. It's been a great 12 years with lots of wonderful family times for us and our guests. In that 12 years we have experienced weddings, engagements, graduations, silver and golden anniversaries, important birthdays and one Ohio State National Championship. There's been a few bad times too with hurricanes, oil spill worries and the frustration of the salt water air trying to rust every piece of metal in site.

We want to thank our wonderful guests who have treated A Tropical Breeze as their own, especially the guests that come back year after year.  You Bless us in so many ways!  Thank you!