Cypress Gardens the best value for Entertainment

When folks come to Florida for a visit they want to take in an amusement park. Most want one of the big ones that cost an arm and a leg. The best value for your money is Cypress Gardens. Last year we took our 5th grade there for the spring trip and it was everything they wanted and more. Not only do they have the educational part of the part with the butterfly garden but they also have wonderful topiary to walk through that are in the shapes of animals and more.

If that is not enough they have a wonderful water ski show that will have you on your feet and applauding. What fun for all ages. There are lots of rides and roller coasters for the enthusiast and a water park to float in and just pass the day away.

What amazed me most is the level of entertainment that is included in the ticket. Where else can you have all of this and Willie Nelson too? Yes, I said Wille. The outdoor arena is great for concerts and there are no bad seats in the house. The fun part about this area is the Jazzy Chair section. They have a section for those old rockers who are unable to stand and wave their arms. This was entertainment enough besides the name acts of our youth.

When my grandchildren come this year this is my park of choice. The admission is half that of the big name parks but the rides and quality is much better. The food in the park is reasonable too. There is a great buffet, a bar-b-que place with wonderful platters, and the hot dog-hamburger places.

Check out the link to this park and see if you don't agree this is the park to attend.

http://www.cypressgardens.com

Want to Move to Florida

When the cold winds blow and the snow is falling a lot of you think about moving to the warmer climate and to Florida. Well, now is the time if you are ever going to make that move. There are more houses waiting for owners than you can ever imagine. On my street alone there are two repos and a new one that is at least a year and a half old that has never been lived in. When the housing boom came everybody and his brother became a speculator and they are now eating their investments. Several homes on the street in front of me are being rented because the builders/speculators could not sell them and could not make the payments.

The place to buy on the Gulf coast right now is North Port. It is inland but close to the water and here is where the homes are plentiful and available at a price that you can name. They are big, small, blue, green and many have the fronts of branch banks.

There is still plenty of land for sale. I walk my dog every night and look at the signs of the times-realtors. Sell your home up north , make a killing and come here where you can live like Kings and Queens on your new found wealth. You will be glad you did.

Merry Christmas from Florida

Last night my Aunt and I went on a ride to enjoy the Christmas lights. We don't have snow or evergreens in our yards but that does not mean we don't have great a Christmas season. People use lights and yard displays to announce the holiday. It is interesting to see the different ways to use those Wal-Mart blow up characters on the yards and roof tops. We had great fun going from one side of town to the other comparing the lights and displays.

Christmas in Florida means lots of cars with different tags who have come to escape the cold. The farther north they come from the less clothes they wear because they think it is summer here. I have even seen Canadians swimming in 70 degree weather and we locals were wearing sweaters. That is part of the fun of Christmas in Florida.

The Christmas dinner fare here also has seafood as part of the yummy spread. Most of the time it is shrimp fresh from the Gulf. That will beat turkey any day in my book. Instead of sitting around a table laden with mashed potatoes, gravy and the like, we might be standing around the grill watching the steaks, chicken and hamburgers cook. Some of us still do the northern traditions with turkey and ham but a lot don't.

Tons of people spend their Christmas at Disney World. This time of year Disney is dressed to the hilt for the season. The parades are more fabulous than ever and it becomes a wonderland that even Santa would envy. A Disney Christmas is everything any child or inner child could ever want to experience.

Then there are those fine people in Key West who are laid back at Margaritaville or one of the other bars sipping the libation of the day and singing Christmas songs. Those Westies know how to party. They end the day down on the Malory Street pier and have a great sunset celebration.

If you get tired of snow and turkey, try a Florida Christmas it will get you through until summer appears. May the joy of the season be with you and your family where ever you may find yourself this season. In all the commercialism of Christmas please don't forget the real reason we celebrate. It is all about the baby that was born in a place where they had no Disney or shrimp who came to save us all. Merry Chirstmas!

Antiques and Arcadia

The biggest part of the downtown economy in Arcadia is antiques. There are rows and rows of quaint shops full of years past treasures. You can find baby food warmers that are a half century old and furniture from the 1800s. The nice thing about the antiques here is the price. They are amazingly reasonable. Arcadia has been voted the best place for antiques in Florida.

Once a month the downtown association has a street fair-the fourth Saturday. The streets are jammed with people selling old linens, jewelry, and household items that were part of our grandmother's era. The prices are great and the selection is unbelievable. There is music and wonderful food cooked right there by local churches and others. This is a great way to spend a Saturday and drop out of the rat race.

I am including some links to view what is available-enjoy!

http://www.maddysantiques.com/ http://www.antiqueshoppefl.com/localshops/arcadia/home.htm

http://www.cherryhillantiques.com/

The Parker House Bed and Breakfast in Arcadia,Florida

If you are looking for a romantic get-away the Parker House B&B is the place to stay. It is nestled in a beautiful part of historic Arcadia just a short jaunt west of downtown. The rooms are very well appointed with a neat sitting area on one side of the second floor that used to be a sleeping porch. I had a chance this summer to tour the house with Kay Higley, and my cousin Gary. She was delightful and the house reflected her charming spirit.

The owners,Kay and Leonard Higleys, came from Ohio where they had a Teddy Bear shop and they have brought a bunch of those wonderful critters with them to enhance the Victorian decor.

The dinning room is breath taking and the wood floors are amazing. The meals they serve there are wonderful too according to my favorite Epicurean, Tom W. He has attended meetings there and raved about the food. The Higley's have a special treat for those who come and stay. You can get a wonderful meal for two served by candle light with a great bottle of wine. If you are interested in this feature you must call ahead and reserve.

The gardens there are beautiful and they even grow some of their own veggies. If you want a relaxing intimate experience I suggest The Historic Parker House. Check out their website:

http://www.historicparkerhouse.com/

Arcadia, Florida

This is the beginning of a group of posts about a neat little town in the middle of the state that has a lot of hidden treasures. It looks like a part of Mexico in some areas and in others you are in downtown American. If you are on a budget and want to stay close to a lot of major areas but not pay big city prices, Arcadia is the place to be. It is centrally located and you can be in a lot of large popular cities within an hour. You have Sarasota to the northwest, Ft. Myers to the south, Winter Haven to the north, and Punta Gorda to your west.

If you stayed in any of these above named cities you would pay at least 30% more for lodging and double for food. The gas prices are not the cheapest in the area but decent. So if you want a place to stay as a home base while you take in the attractions in the western part of Florida, here is a neat place to stay with lots of interesting places of its own to explore.

Watch for the next group of postings and find out where to eat, sleep, and what you want to see in beautiful Arcadia.

Hot Wings in Port Charlotte,Florida

One of the staples of the local diet is hot wings. I know there are places that people go for the "atmosphere" that comes with the wings but if you really want good wings that are tasty and the biggest wings you have ever seen check out Coyote's Bar & Grill
4300 Kings HwyPort Charlotte, FL 33980Phone: (941) 629-2114 in the School House Square Plaza.

Is it fine dining? No. It is your usual bar but during the day there are lots of people who go there for lunch. They have a large menu and the other items look good but they are known for their wings.

I have friends who went there once and had a bad experience but they have cleaned up and done some remodeling since then. Hey people this is a bar but oh my gosh you will thank me when you order the wings. They also have days when the wings are on special and you get a deal as well. When you try their wings let me know what you think.

Welcome to Florida

In 1989 I came to Florida from the mountains of Virgina and never looked back. This is truely paradise. For a long time I have been thinking about doing a blog for people who wanted to move or visit this wonderful place. Most think of Florida as a very expensive place to live or visit but by living here you find wonderful places that match the budget.

Come by often and see where to go, what to do, and most important what's to eat. We will visit secret places that only the locals know about.

Just remember when the snow is up to your knees and you have cabin fever, come visit me here and I will deliver your mind to paradise.