Discovering these wonderful products is a savory experience but the fun does not stop here. Just across the parking lot is Casa di Mazzaro which opened in 2013.  Casa di Mazzaro is an exclusive kitchenware store. The store displays an extensive selection of kitchen items, including gourmet specialty items, gifts and more than 40 flavors of loose teas. They also stock numerous high-end brands of cookware and kitchen supplies that you will not find anywhere else in the Tampa area. Whether you love to cook, are a casual cook, or a professional chef, Casa di Mazzaro’s has everything for your kitchen. Another perfect shopping opportunity! https://casadimazzaro.com.

Enchant Christmas:

We will make a 10-minute drive to Enchant Christmas and arrive when it opens for the evening at4:30pm. This magical wonderland is housed at the Tropicana- Field, a dazzling exhibit of illuminated lights all intertwined in a holiday village.

Last year on our December trip we skipped the beach mostly because the temperature can be a bit chilly. Instead we chose to indulge in food and shopping, two of our favorite things. Shopping at Mazzaro’s Italian Market, located in St. Petersburg, is a world-class event.  Also, again this year to get us all in the Christmas spirit we are offering the option to spend some time at “Enchant Christmas,” an illuminated winter wonderland.  For those who want to walk a little less and avoid the maze of amazing lights at Enchant, dinner at the beautiful St. Pete Pier awaits.

So, let's skip the beach and treat ourselves to some fantastic food, shopping, lights, and Christmas magic.  Bring your appetite for scrumptious Italian delicacies and bring a child-like imagination in order to fully embrace a winter wonderland all in St. Petersburg.  In only a two hour bus ride you will enjoy all that “Mazzaro’s Italian Market” and “Enchant Christmas,” have to share.

As beachlovers we are geared for exploring. Mazzaro’s is an Italian cuisine fine food market. Why not search for your perfect cheese, olives, deli sandwich, bakery items, bread, handmade pasta, wine, or a pre-made dinner delight? Almost everything at Mazzaro’s will make a perfect Christmas gift.  If you want a preview peek: www.mazzarosmarket.com/tour-mazzaros.  If you’ve never been there, you simply must go once.  And once you’ve visited, you’ll be planning your next trip back.

Return Trip Home:

Before heading back to The Villages, we will round all of the beach elves up from the Pier and Enchant and make our merry way home.

Mazzaro’s market began as a wholesale business in 1993.  They sold fresh roasted coffee, brewed from a 1918 roster that was purchased in Orlando.  In 1996 they acquired Fridella sausage and the building along 22nd avenue. From there, with lots of hard work and a passion to succeed, Mazzaro's built a special place where you can now find delicious, fresh, imported and local ingredients. 

You could also pre-order Christmas gifts to pick up on 12/18 via their website.  We will be sure to have plenty of ice in our BBC coolers on the bus to keep all of our purchases cold.

​

https://www.mazzarosmarket.com/

Mazzaro's Italian Market

& Enchant Christmas

or St. Pete Pier

on Monday, December  18^th

10:00am until 9:30pm

​IT'S THE MOST WONDERFUL TRIP OF THE YEAR!​

This year at Enchant Christmas there is an all-new light maze called, “Reindeer Games,” where the forest animal friends of Santa’s reindeer thought it would be fun to fly Santa’s sleigh for a mischievous moment. This captivating, larger-than-life, light maze is the cornerstone to the Enchant Christmas experience.  It really is a must-see on many holiday lists.  For a preview:  https://enchantchristmas.com/st-petersburg-fl-tropicana-field/

There are festive treats and irresistibly delightful drinks at “The Enchant Village!” but be warned that they are not economical.  

Discounted Group Ticket Prices: $29 + 7% tax, or $31.03 per person

Optional Ice skating $15

(Hard to imagine, but these prices are LESS than last year!)

We are collecting the ticket price in advance to secure the best price for you and so that we can pre-pay your entry and avoid a wait at the entrance.  Tickets can be transferred to another person but will not be refundable.

To print a copy of this invitation, click on the Blue Button. 

The PASTRY counter at Mazzaro's. 

​Doc Ford's Rum Bar & Grill;  http://www.docfords.com/menu/  They offer a seafood based menu which is quite extensive and is reasonably priced.

Driftwood Cafe; https://driftwoodcafestpete.com/ Serves sandwiches, pizza, breads, muffins & pastries with mochas, lattes, teas, and 20 flavors of shaved ice.

Fresco’s Waterfront Bistro; https://www.frescoswaterfront.com/food-menu Lots of seafood but also pasta dishes, steaks, and handhelds.

Pier Teaki; https://pierteaki.com/ Rooftop bar that overlooks the water . A full service high-end bar with light appetizer fare that you might be able to turn into dinner.

Spa Beach Bistro; https://www.spabeachbistro.com/menus No spa in sight, so no foot rub while you dine. This is an outdoor cafe in the middle of the pier serving pizza, specialty fries, salads, and desserts.

Teak; https://teakstpete.com/dinner/ Located on the 4th floor at the end of the Pier, elevated casual dining.

Or you can wander across the street but no more than a couple of blocks from the Pier and find these spots;

Bella Brava;  bellabrava.com/cena They serve pizza and fine Italian meals. Do not look at this menu if you are hungry…it has pop up photos of the entrees!

Parkshore Grill;   parkshoregrill.com A bit more upscale in menu and pricing.

Stillwaters Tavern; stillwaterstavern.com Dinner fare and 20 brews on tap.

Tryst Gastro Lounge;  dinetryst.com Mediterranean fare; farm to table philosophy, prime beef sliders….the menu is making me very very hungry.

The extensive wine cellar

We do need to mention that Mazzaro’s management has told us that the week of Christmas is their ABSOLUTE BUSIEST TIME. It will be crowded; we may have to wait in line just to get into the market, and it will be slow-going once inside. But like all good things, it will be worth the wait.

We will plan to spend close to four hours at Mazzaro’s and Casa di Mazzaro. If you plan to have lunch at Mazzaro’s we encourage you to pre-order your meal for patio pick-up on the morning of the trip. The specials of the day are NOT on the menu until morning.  Those of you going to Enchant may wish to have an early dinner on Mazzaro’s patio. We do anticipate that the food prices at Enchant Christmas will be on the high side, so you may wish to enjoy a deli meal from Mazzaro’s instead and just treat yourself to dessert at Enchant Christmas.

Handmade fresh pasta of all varieties

Barefoot Beachcombers Club (‘BBC’ will also suffice)
333 Colony Blvd. #110 *
The Villages, FL 32162

* Be sure to include the mailbox number #110 because there are two BBC's at this Safe Ship Location.

You could instead hand your addressed envelope to a person at the counter at Safe Ship in Colony Plaza, saving you the stamp and ensure its timely arrival.

.... Coquina beach offers a  a casual cafe called, none other than, “The Coquina Beach Cafe.” This lovely low-key waterfront spot offers seafood platters, sandwiches plus frozen drinks, beer and wine. However, be aware that NO ALCOHOL IS PERMITTED ON THE BEACH.

https://www.coquinabeachcafe.com/menus.

St. Pete Pier Dinner Option:

Once we have dropped the Enchant folks off at Tropicana Field, we will take those guests who do not care to go to Enchant Christmas to the St. Pete’s Pier for dinner.

Freshly baked breads

I/we would like to go to Mazzaro’s Italian Market & Enchant Christmas with the BBC on December 18th.  Enclosed is my $30.00 check (pp). 

Print your name(s):   ______________________________________________________________________________

I/we wish to be on the bus with these friends (name up to four) _________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________


I/we want to go to Enchant Christmas and have included $31.03 per person to my check. ________

 

I/we still have a credit with the BBC and I would like to use that credit. ________

 

I/we live in the Village of ________________________________

 

During the trip, I can be reached at this phone number: ______________

Enchant Christmas is the world’s largest indoor Christmas light spectacular featuring over 4 million dazzling lights and a 100 foot tall holiday tree will definitely get you into the Christmas spirit.

At Enchant Christmas, you will experience the glittery walk thru maze, an ice skating trail, live entertainment, Santa visits, Enchant also features a holiday shopping marketplace with crafts, gifts, and culinary treats.  The backstory of how Enchant started is also heart-warming.  https://www.enchantmagic.com/story.

To get in on the fun, print the reservation form by clicking on the green button above.  On December 4th, we will conduct our lottery and you will be notified shortly thereafter of your seat confirmation or waitlist status. (This means your reservation & check must be at SafeShip by close of business at 2 pm on November 2nd.)  Mail or drop the reservation form, along with your check (made out to the BBC) for $30.00 per person to: ​

 Copyright. Barefoot Beachcombers Club.  All rights reserved

2024 Beach Trips

If this is your FIRST EVER BBC trip:  The BBC has a Liability Waiver specific to our club.  Please follow the link:  http://www.bbc32162.com/liability-waiver-1.html; click on the Blue Button to print the Liability Waiver and submit it with your reservation form.  If this is not your first trip,  please skip this step.