If you are lucky to see one consider yourself lucky. My husband and I got to be so lucky on the evening we got married. We got see the biggest owl I had ever seen in my life. It's a memory I'll never for get. The owl stood almost as tall as the front of are truck. The wing spanned was enormous.

There are many other animals out there such as: gators ,wild hogs,wild turkey,and turtles. You never know what you get to see. There are three small bridge to across. If you would like a quiet moment with your loved one . I recommend you go for the ride.

The enjoyment of it is one you'll remember fondly. There are wild plants to see as well. Its nature at its best. If you love nature it is something you will truly enjoy.

However, there is one thing you all need to be warned about. The long arm of the law does not play around down here. Listen to me cause I know from experience.

Yes, I was the village idiot one night in March of 2006, and believe me I'm not bragging about it. Yes I was drunk, and shouldn't have been driving. I actually figured that out after only driving for a couple miles, I was just pulling into a parking lot where I was going to sleep it off, but, here came Barney.

Now there wasn't a soul on the road cept for him and me, and I told good ole Barney, that I had been drinkin, and realized after just a few short miles that I should not be drivin. Well, I'm sure you've all heard the expression "you have the right to remain silent". This would have been a very good time for me to utilize that right, cause ole Barney had that camera goin in his car.

All I was asking was for him to let me sleep it off in my car in this parking lot, I said that I would close my eyes and he could throw my keys anywhere, and I would crawl into the back seat and sleep it off.

"Oh No" he says, I might get out of my car and wander into traffic and get run over. "I need to take you to the jail where you'll be safe" not to mention the 2 to 3000 dollars your going to rape me for, for fines, fees, court costs and of course probation.

I do want to say that I have come to the conclusion that this was a blessing in desguise, I drink probably one tenth of what I used to, and I won't even have one beer if I know that I am driving. I will walk from here to Alaska just to never have to be put in jail again. You only have to hit me on the head with a rock once.

If you come here from another state, and get arrested consider yourself lucky. Because you don't want to be on probation here. Its like they want you to fail, they want to keep you in the system for long as they can. I swear the police down here think they are Gods, if your not in law enforcement they are sitting there thinking to themselves,"I know this guy is a criminal, how can I prove it".

While I was in jail, there was a guy in there for stealing a disposable Bic lighter. He picked it up off a table and lit his cigarette with it and mistakenly put it in his pocket. He had been in jail for more than a week when I got there, cause he didn't have the money for bail.

There was also a stuntman from California, who was in for violation of probation because he refused to give his probation officer his fake guns that he used in the movies. So his probation officer lured him back to Florida to sign a paper and arrested him, 90 days.

So folks, this is it if you come down here to the sunshine state do yourselves a favor. Save the drinking for when you get back home. Because tourism is down right now and they have to make up for that lost revenue somehow. Don't start any fights and try to be on your best behavior.

Because Barney's watching you and he's trying to figure out how he can prove that you are criminal.

1. Eat breakfast before you go into the park. We found having a good, hearty breakfast before going into the park gave us energy to last until the afternoon, so while most people were in having their lunch, we were enjoying the rides!
2. Take bottles of water in with you. It is so important for adults and kids to keep hydrated in the heat but it can be expensive buying water in the parks. We bought a small cool bag from Wal-Mart, popped in an ice pack and we had cool water all day long, and we did not have to pay park prices.
3. You are not going to see everything in one visit, so don't even try. The Disney parks are massive, usually busy and usually hot so you will not make it round the whole park, seeing everything you want to see in one day. Make a list of what you want to see and find it on the map. Then you won't waste time wondering where things are.
4. Hire a stroller for the kids. Not just for the babies or toddlers either. This year, we had a 9 year old and a six year old in the double stroller (just don't tell their friends!). It was blisteringly hot and they were tired and grumpy. So we hired the stroller, gave them an ice-cream and they got to cool down and watch the park go by for while. It saved a whole lot of tension and stress and we were all happier for it.
5. Get the kids involved before you visit the parks. There is lots of information about the parks and the kids can plan what rides they want to go on, what characters they want to meet and what shows they want to see. That way, they can see in advance what rides are not appropriate for their age/height and no tantrums in the line for the ride itself. It's also great for a long plane ride to get the older kids to sit with their Disney maps and plan it all out. Keeps them busy and passes the time.

Tourism is the biggest part of the state economy because of the beaches and tropical climates. It is also home to many amusement parks including Walt Disney World. Oranges are the major crop of the states. Agriculture is the also a major part of the economy.

Florida is home to three NFL teams, which are the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Miami Dolphins, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They also have two NBA teams, which include the Miami Heat and the Orlando Magic. Florida also has two NHL teams that are the Florida Panthers and the Tampa Bay Lightning. There are two MLB teams in Florida that are the Florida Marlins and the Tampa Bay Rays. Sports also make up a major part of the economy.

Tallahassee and Live Oke and Lake City and I-10 turns right onto I-75 and the air, still thick and heavy, begins to smell of the sea but you cannot yet see the shore. You taste the hot and the stiff and the wet of the sand and the rot and the green of the kelp and you think over that rise of dunes, I'll see waves. But you don't. Not Yet. Already you remember when you swam in the sea and all in your ears and eyes and nose and mouth was the taste and feel of the rough sand and hot shells and the Ocean. And you had no skin between that silk and the raw naked bones of yourself.

This is the only taste known to my soul. This is no homecoming for me. There is never the separation from this that could contrast my return. This is my cradle. If to make a man God molded in his hand the clay of the earth than I am fashioned from the sand and the mud and the swamp water runs silent in my veins…my soul is the copper colored tinder of foxfire that children chase in the dark wet woods.

Forget the glossy brochures of pastel sand and sky and towering buildings for all this, Florida is a swamp, or if it is gentler to you, a bayou. Surely the refined defined their words “muck” and “back water” from this land. But I know, as children know by instinct, that it is a wonderful thing to have the ground yield beneath your feet and squish between you toes as you move, to be washed by the fat quite warm rain. And I can lay my hearts envy at the feet of the gray stone and the maple leaf but I cannot separate my self from this…

Let me tell you of the blunt crushing tooth of the alligator or the catfish slick and wriggling with barbs like spears set in there heavy jaws or of the roaring restless night and the great giant bird that raises his armed and armored head not so much to sing as to scream into that black air. Let me tell you there is logic in this economy of motion to coil oneself in the bright hot glare of the sun by day to be loosed like a spring in the violence of the night. To be eager forgiving slick and strong and smart, this is the very bones of me. The sound of this, the smell of it, the taste and the feel made me fearless.

When I tell people I was born and raised in Miami they treat it as a kind of illegitimacy. As if those glass and steal structures were not part of the earth itself but stolen from another planet. I say, Miami is Venice, a man made thing built atop a maze of waterways to channel the everglades back into the sea. People learned long ago that water is unstoppable. And also, all creatures of water. These things, water and those alive in it, pulse below every street, every inch of floating concrete, like blood through veins. There is something, undefeatable, untamable and eternally organic about this.

But it's the same…no matter where the story is set, there is disbelief when I tell them that the Appalachians are there own savage beauty. And there was a moment, one afternoon, when the light was the color of apricots, where each tree around me was perfectly framed by the twilight as if those trees were each, one at a time, stepping forward out of a crowd to be introduced. I was smelling the cold coming, still a long way off, but the scent was there, like the air had recently been scrubbed clean and bare by lightning. Forever after, in my memory, Moorseburg, Tennessee is crimson and orange and marigold colored mountains in the distance like mounds of oil paints on a painters pallet and a low hanging sky the solid color of a bright new dime. I lived on a houseboat there, suspended above that tea colored water and below that shiny sky.

Or I often say that New England is never so much itself as in the fall.

The white bark birch and black maple. Gray granite stone and gray granite sky.

Fat squat Adirondacks, lily of the valley and brownstone. The grand cemeteries, the cold cold marble stones in rows and rows like ripples in a slow little stream. The devotion of words carved on those stone. How reverently we hold the names in our mouths, how sacred the titles Father Mother Son. The statues marking at one time, there in New England, every person was a triumph or tragedy. Grand giant gentle angels and saints that towered over me, frozen in the sun. Huge vaults with stained glass inside to throw fractured colors across the smooth sealed lids behind the doors of iron bars. One stone twice my length and hight, a marker for a husband and wife and six children, all lived and died, laid low here, together. A tiny marble child looking up from an open book in her lap, her little finger pining her place, a word onto the page. Only a pause, it suggests, but the dates below span only six years. One person living today to one long dead is hard but when I looked across the whole span of it, where I couldn't even see the roads outside anymore all I could think is, Look! Look, how many! All of the many, many dead....

Washington and California, Northern and Southern, Vancouver, B.C…in my head live a thousand beautiful moments and if you ask me what of this place or that, you might be tugging the attached string and a story will unwind like a spool of thread thrown across the floor…

In every one there is a rent in the thread, a heartbreak,

and there is mending too, stitches of glorious gifts laid in my hands.

I can tell you those stories, if you like. If you like.

I could show you too, someday.

We'll get there, should you want to go.

But tell me - Why Florida?

We arrived on a Saturday evening around five o'clock. Outside, the restaurant is decently landscaped and there is generous parking. We were welcomed immediately by two friendly hostesses and were quickly seated. The inside consists of three separate rooms; one is a dining area; one looks to be an area for larger parties; and one consists of the bar area. The décor is nice by sparse in a country/western motif. We could see two plasma TVs from our booth. The room was laid out with square tables in the center surrounded by booths along the walls. This arrangement is not conducive to dining when a restaurant is filled with toddlers. Each shriek only lessened our dining experience. Now, on to the food.

Food

Our waitress came to us almost immediately. She was nice and efficient. We started with drinks. The waitress was very knowledgeable regarding beer and sodas. I had an Orange Fanta and my husband had a Yuengling. My husband took a taste of his beer and was unpleasantly surprised by its lack of carbonation. The beer was flat and tasteless. He put the beer down on the edge of the table and the waitress came over and asked what was wrong with the beer. My husband explained and she said it was probably due to the fact it was the first draw off the keg. She came back with another which was a little less flat but not much more tasteful.

We decided to order an appetizer. My husband wanted the Chip and Dip Trio so we could sample their three dips. This item comes with Queso Verde Dip, Thick Tomato Salsa, and Spinach and Artichoke Dip served on a platter of crisp tortilla chips and churritto wheels.

The appetizer came in a reasonable time. The waitress explained that some people do not like the churritto wheels, and if we wanted more chips instead, she would provide them. I rather liked them. They are kind of like Funyuns in consistency without the good Funyuns taste. But, I liked the crunchy corn consistency. The chips were too thick and seemed stale. The tomato salsa tasted like bland ketchup with a few spices. It was too thick for our tastes. The Queso Verdi dip was my favorite. It was very cheesy and spicy. The spinach and artichoke dip was average. This was an expensive appetizer coming in at around $8.99.

I asked the waitress what she would recommend and she suggested Buffalo's Mixed Grill (which is what I was leaning toward anyway). You get a choice of two items from a list. I chose the jumbo tiger shrimp with Caribbean jerk sauce and a grilled top sirloin (medium rare) topped with jalapeno butter and onion straws. You also get a side of vegetables. My meal came and the waitress said there was something missing. I told her it was the vegetables and she immediately came back with a small plate of veggies. I started on the veggies which were overdone and tasteless. The steak was cooked to my order; however, it was slightly stringy and grainy. I liked the onion straws. The rice was okay but kind of dry. The shrimp had a nice Caribbean jerk sauce on them. Too bad the shrimp were sub par. They had a slight fishy taste to them. Overall, I felt my meal was not worth $13.99.

My husband ordered the chicken Juanita's Fajitas. She must have been off that day. It comes with onions, peppers, Mexican rice, and black beans. It is served with tortillas, cheese, sour cream, lettuce, and tomato salsa. The fixings were fresh, although a helping of guacamole would have been appreciated. The chicken was well-cooked and moist but bland. The onions and peppers, which were grilled with the chicken, were flat, not caramelized, and did nothing to enhance the taste of the meal. There was no charred spicy flavor normally associated with fajitas. Normally, this would be an entrée for which one would expect to pay $6 to $7. This entrée cost $10.99 and came with very little chicken. When compared with other restaurants, the value of this restaurant's fare just isn't there. The entire bill came to $42 before tip including drinks.

We may return to try wings as a take-out item. To me, it seems there has to be some redeeming quality to this restaurant, but I wouldn't count on it.

Upon arrival, we were pleasantly surprised by the hotel's beautiful surroundings. Our room looked right over the quiet pool and the golf course. It was a very nice view.

We immediately parked ourselves in inner tubes and floated down the huge lazy river. This was just wonderful! The exact thing we were looking for. I had read that the quiet pool was for adults only. We tried it out and I was so happy to find that it was a chilled pool. Very refreshing. However, there were some children in the pool but it wasn't much of a distraction from our relaxation.

On our first evening, we decided not to eat at the hotel's restaurants and decided to venture outside the resort. I had read there was a good Chinese restaurant, so I called the concierge and he happily directed us there. It was really good for a strip mall restaurant. The second night we ate at the pizza place almost immediately next door to the Chinese Restaurant. Great pizza!

We did eat one meal (lunch) at the resort's pool side eatery, Croc's. The service was a bit slow but the food was excellent. We later got a few drinks at the bar there ($9 for a virgin piña colada) but it was the best piña colada I've ever had. We sat at the bar and I was amazed at how the staff was able to cheerfully serve so many customers at once. The pace was hectic for them but they never lost their smiles and were courteous to every customer. The epitome of service with a smile!

In summation, while the building and grounds are what bring you in, the staff makes you want to return. We were always greeted with a smile by everyone; luggage porters, spa personnel, towel personnel, and even the housekeepers.

We will definitely be coming back to this excellent Orlando resort.

We've planned this trip for a while now, and it was already time to make the move. My cousins' Ford Fusion, was perfect to go such distance. It was his brand-new car, red, and very sophisticated. We also had a police radar, because if we were getting there on scheduled time, we had to speed every now and then to make up for the awfully inevitable traffics that I-95 was famous for.

Now that we were ready, suitcases thrown in the trunk, and blankets and pillows in the back seats, my cousin flew in head first inside in the passenger seat. Delilah and Kate, the two women in my life, my girlfriend and my best friend were finally ready to jump in. Obviously, everyone was sleepy. But the driver, that would be me, had a very enormous disadvantage. I had to stay awake the whole time, or all of us would put an end to the press' silly season.

It was time to go now, but not quite in the direction we were supposed to. Feeling as drowsy as I was, I drove to Dunkin Donuts and got two cups of coffee so I'd keep awake. Looking in the rear-view mirror, the only thing I saw of those girls was their heads. They were all covered up in their blankets, sleeping as soundless. It was late winter, and still chilly in Florida. I looked over and so was George, his head cocked, leaning against he window, and was sleeping, but not as soundless as the girls. However, we had a schedule to keep, and I was ready to hit the road.

11:13AM

After making a couple of restroom stops, we finally made it to Georgia. Florida is not as scenic as the other states, nevertheless, some interesting things had caught our eyes here and there. For instance, it was kind of like tradition to count up all the accidents we'd see, and how many cars are pulled over by the cops. So far, the score was 4:7. Another things that caught our attention was the Fuller Warren Bridge, since we went over the Acosta bridge instead which was more parallel than perpendicular to the Fuller Warren. This is where we had stopped for our second bathroom break, in the heart of Jacksonville.

Lunch is a good place to start. Hit Tijuana Flats for fresh, zingy Tex-Mex. There are a variety of locations, but the one on SR 436 in Casselberry is nice and roomy. Enjoy the funky décor, watch some sports on the screens. Be sure to sample the Hot Sauce Bar! It ranges from mild and tasty to melt-your-face. Good prices on cervesa. The Ultimate Nachos will feed two as a meal, the burritos are awesome any way you like "em.

After lunch, head over to Harry P. Leu Gardens. This place is packed on nice weekends, so hitting it during the week is a must. It costs a couple of bucks but is worth it for a nice stroll. What sort of plants do you fancy? Roses? Got "em. Bamboo garden? Wetlands? Butterfly garden? They even have a vegetable garden and notes on Florida history. You may be able to catch an event on orchids or potted herbs. This place can take an hour or four, depending on your level of interest.

You are close to downtown, so you might as well head there next. Wander around the ViMi, that is, the Vietnamese District. Have a Bubble Tea. Check out the import stores. You will find the streets downtown a little confusing, once you turn down Orange Avenue. Fortunately, this is the only area in the city navigable by foot (aside from International Drive). So after ViMi, drive over a few blocks to Church Street Station.

Shell out for a decent parking garage, I'm keeping you here for a while. First, check out what is going on at the comedy club, Orlando Improv-see when the show is. But don't plan on eating there! If you want to check out the Church Street Station itself, excellent. Otherwise, there are loads of shops and restaurants off the side streets of downtown and you don't have to pay to access them. You have your options for dinner, Manuel's, White Wolf Café-it all depends on your price range! But avoid the chains in this part of town. No reason to go with familiar when there is all this local fare to choose from!

After a late dinner (or a normal dinner and a comedy show), you'll notice the atmosphere changing. Around 9 and 10, the clubs start to open up. And there are a lot of them! All the way up and down Orange Ave and near Church Street. But it's a Thursday, you say? Yes! The locals love a Thursday downtown, especially the young and the hip! Stay away from Paris Hilton's monstrosity. The kids love Bar-B-Q Bar, Independent Bar, and hanging around wherever has the best drink specials. The little dance floor at Independent Bar (formerly Barbarella's) heats up after midnight with the latest hipster music-poppy, fun stuff. Watch them shake and jerk, admire the hairstyles, or enjoy cheap drinks and awesome bartenders! An alternative to any of the clubs I mention throughout is Parliament House, if you are gay or very, very gay friendly. Additionally, Southern Nights is slightly lower key-both near the downtown area.

Day Two: Friday

After last night, might you be wanting a hangover breakfast? First Watch on 17/92 a.k.a Mills Ave, has great options but can involve a wait any day of the week. Back in Casselberry is a hole in the wall place called Bagel King. Eggs, bagels, pastries, and home-style potatoes for cheap. You'll notice the chatty wait-staff really knows their regulars and they'll treat you just the same!

After getting fueled up, take your coffee over to Park Avenue. On one end is Rollins College, the home of education for the rich and spoiled here, and on the other end the street fades into elegant residential areas once past the Morse Museum which is home of the world's largest Tiffany Glass collection. Park Avenue is shopping heaven! Cute locals stores, art, fashion, a few chains and a collection of eclectic restaurants and wine bars all set in a gorgeous landscape of roses and oak trees dripping with Spanish moss. You've got your work cut out for you. Someone wants to shop and the other doesn't? Plop yourself down somewhere and sample wine. Don't miss out on the specialty chocolate shops, and try something new like chocolate dipped potato chips or lavender truffles. No doubt you'll have to fight it out about where to eat lunch!

*All right, now, I know I said you wouldn't go near a Theme Park. And you're not, really. It just happens to be on the same I-4 exit. You are going, after you finish shopping, to Downtown Disney. From Park Ave, the drive can take a while. This place is a good way to spend the entire rest of your day. Wander the shops, get sucked in to the Virgin Megastore, enjoy the screaming children in the Disney Stores and then eat dinner. After dinner, you are going to make it ON TIME to a show at the Cirque Du Soleil. This is the most expensive thing you'll do all weekend (on this itinerary) and you must get tickets in advance. But it is worth every penny.

Afterward, have a snack. Walk back across and go to Ghirardelli Chocolate. All the ice cream here is fantastic, of course, but don't bother. What you want is a chocolate milk shake. And you will drink more of it than you think you will. Oh, and some McDonald's fries go great with that. Then, be a kid! Play with the Legos for goodness sake! Because we are going to be very adult and dance the night away at Pleasure Island, where a fee gets you in all the clubs and you mingle with people from all over the world.

Alternatively, you may choose to hit Universal Studio's CityWalk and catch the Blue Man Group. There are dining options and a variety of clubs to choose from here, as well.

Day Three: Saturday

I get it. You are exhausted today. But nowhere near as tired as if you had been schlepping around the Attractions all week. May I suggest a leisurely brunch at the Winter Park farmer's market? A small affair for the produce, but inside is a gourmet delight.

Afterward, another leisurely pursuit-high end shopping at the Mall at Millenia. A large mall, artistically decorated, with everything from an Apple store, to Urban Outfitters, to Tiffany's, to Neiman Marcus. You'll have no difficulty finding either a quick lunch or something more upscale at Blue Martini.

Endure that for as long as you can, and then prepare to enjoy some arts. The Orlando Museum of Art and the Science Center (if you have kids or have a little childlike wonder yourself) are a great way to spend some time. The OMA has unique exhibits, and notable traveling shows make their way there all the time. The Science Center is hands on fun for everyone.

Later you may like to check out what is playing at the Enzian, the art house theater of note, and enjoy some delightful dinner dining and wine. And since it is Saturday night, you could always head back downtown if you are up for more clubbing. Saturday is a good night for the nicer clubs. Young professionals, the pretty money, this is when they shine. Which clubs? Heck if I know, not my scene! But meander up and down Orange Avenue will again find you at the perfect spot for your style.

Day Four: Sunday

Today is a day of relaxation. You could head over to the Atlantic, about an hour away, and do a little body boarding. Cocoa Beach, Merritt Island, or for a quieter time, I prefer Canaveral National Seashore where there are fewer people.

Or, stay closer to town and head over to Wekiwa Springs in Apopka. Take your bathing suit, towels, and/or your hiking boots and bug spray! Stop at the Fresh Market or Whole Foods on your way and grab a few things for lunch. A small fee to park gives you access to a range of activities. Sun yourself by the hot springs. Swim in the crystal clear waters. You can rent a canoe (bring cash) for a run down the river-keep an eye out for gators and other wildlife! (Don't worry, the swimming area is protected.) There are also miles of trails. A shorter one is a boardwalk through wetlands and a much longer one leads through pine scrub and saw palmetto forests.

And finally, one last recommendation for dinner. If you like sushi, Fuji Sushi is the place to go for reasonable prices, excellent quality, and truly unique and interesting combinations of flavors. If sushi isn't your thing, Lemoncello is a wonderful Italian place. Or there is Blue Bistro. Reservations are necessary, and the food is to die for with just the right amount of adventurousness.

Further Recommendations for Successful Exploring

Hopefully I have given you a few ideas to get you away from the Theme Parks and into the community. This really is how the locals live! Orlando is filled with opportunities for exploration. Grab a copy of the free paper, the Orlando Weekly, to see what is going on. There are always great music shows, art openings, and new places to eat. Once you get away from Disney, Universal Studios, and International Drive, the real adventure begins! Never hesitate to ask the locals, from your first waitress at Tijuana Flats to the clerk at the boutique shoe store on Park Ave, we all have our favorite places and trust me-we are used to you asking! Enjoy!