Bill & Janet Eastman
Janet and Bill Eastman are savvy shoppers. Before buying anything they do their homework, compare what’s out there and then buy the best. So when they retired in April, bought their Class A motor home and headed for the warm weather south of their Nashville, Michigan home, they checked out a number of resorts before stopping at Tropical Palms.
“Everyone was so nice and helpful,” says Janet. “They showed us around and showed us all that was available. It was the nicest park we saw and it just seems to have an endless variety of activities.
“We’ve gotten friendly with a number of other folks. We enjoy going to the Bamboo Room for Monday, Wednesday and Friday game nights. We also get together with a group of about 12 to 14 people, go out to eat and explore different local restaurants. We enjoy that because we owned and operated a restaurant.”
And while the Eastmans are having a great time at Tropical, they also enjoy getting out and seeing all that’s nearby. “One of the best things for us is the proximity of Tropical Palms to all the local theme parks. We really enjoy Disney and have bought a seasonal pass so we can go whenever we want. Being so close makes that easy,” Janet explains.
The Eastmans are already taking an active part in the community, participating in last Christmas’ successful Toys for Tots program. They contributed Christmas candy for a class full of kids taught by one of our team members at a local school.
The Eastmans also like our team members. “Whenever I have a question or need help with something and I mention it to them, they’re right on it. We went on a cruise and needed a place to board our cat and dog while we were away. They had a great recommendation.”
So just how happy are the Eastmans with their decision to stay here? They’ve already booked their stay for next winter.
Carol & George Acker
You might think that after 38 years working as a teamster, George Acker had spent enough time behind the wheel. But as he says with a laugh, “I just can’t get enough of the diesel, so now I drive an RV.”
That RV brought him and wife Carol to Florida from their home near Albany, NY four years ago after they’d retired. They tried another RV park but didn’t think much of it. That changed as soon as they drove into Tropical. One look at the pool and the palms and they knew this was the place for them. They stayed three weeks that first year and have been back every year since, staying longer each time. Like the diesel, Tropical Palms has been getting addictive and they’ve already booked for six months next year.
‘It’s a beautiful setting,” George says and Carol concurs. “Lots of palms trees, well maintained, always clean. And every year when we come back they’ve upgraded, especially the last couple of years. This year it’s a bigger, better pool area.”
The other big attraction for the Ackers is all the nearby attractions. They’ve got a ten-day hopper pass to the Disney Parks, where their favorite is the Animal Kingdom. “We see the ‘Tree of Life’ movie every time we go and we always get a kick out of it.” And they enjoy spending time in Old Town, where George likes to watch the car parades while Carol visits the shops. “She’s been in everyone of them about a hundred times and has plans for another hundred.”
But the best part of Tropical Palms is the friends they’ve made. “Carol calls me the ‘Mayor’ because every day I walk Sassy, our Boxer, and stop and talk with everyone I run into. The people here are fantastic and we’ve made lots of friends and do a lot of socializing.’
George likes the parties Tropical throws for the “long term RVers,” those guests that stay for most of the season. “The food and drinks are always terrific. We really enjoy it.”
“Tropical reminds me of when we were kids and loved building forts and being inside them. My theory is that RVers are still like those little kids. Except now the RV is our fort – only this time it has all the conveniences.”
