Searchin’ for my lost shaker of salt.
Excuse me. Here’s today’s Wondering:
Personally, I’ve done A more times than I can count, lived in B and don’t desire to go back, have nothing interesting in C personally, but I’m torn between D and E. On one hand, it’s hard to top Fort Myers and Sanibel Island, and you’ve got the Everglades in there and West Palm and Miami.
But if I had to pick, I’d head back to E and just spend the two weeks in Key West.
Hemingway, historic downtown Key West, six toed cats, reliving Running Scared, living it up in Margaritaville proper. I think I could spend a proper two weeks there.
How about you? Where would you visit if you had the choice based on the Twix above?
A, as in 30A!
Spent lots of time in A as well. My dad’s two brothers and sister all retired down at Vero Beach and we have started going there every year for the Fourth. I like it a lot, but like you would choose between D and E.
Do the paid expenses include a 47′ Buddy Davis to fish off of for the duration on the trip? If so, I’d likely choose D for West Palm Beach during sailfish season. The Keys (E) during tarpon season would be a close second.
Any of them, please just get me the hell out of Atlanta and away from my job for two weeks, two years, two decades, whatever!!
If forced to pick, I’d say A I guess, but seriously, any of them would work!!
B or D depending on what’s included.
As some of you may know, my family are big theme park people. If my family could stay at the Four Seasons at WDW or one of the top end Disney resorts and we didn’t have to go in summer, I vote for B.
If this was just my wife and I get access to any golf course I want, give me the beach at the Four Seasons at Palm Beach with rounds at Seminole, PGA National, the Bear Club, Medalist, and others in the Jupiter/Boca area. I vote for D.
D also for the west coast with the Ritz at Naples, the golf at Tiberon and others, and the beautiful water of the Gulf.
A for 30A, Amelia/Fernandina, and Ponte Vedra.
C for the beaches of Sarasota, Anna Maria, and Clearwater.
E for the relaxation of the Keys and the stone crab and Cuban food of Miami.
You really can’t go wrong with any of them. Other than Hogtown, the state of Florida is pretty damn awesome for a visitor.
Anna Maria. +100
Living well in D on Singer Island most of the year. Closest access to the Gulfstream’s warm water fishing and diving. Great restaurants with mostly easy traffic.
I live down here in D. D stands for Damn Big Mosquitoes lately. Go to the Keys. Where there’s always a breeze and a buzz. The good kind of buzz.
All expenses paid probably D on the Gulf. Expect to be moving to A in the next 3-5 years Atlantic coast. Ugh…
E. Originally from Homestead, spent a lot of time in the Keys over the decades.
B for Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral, or E for the Keys.
Better make it E since the moon landing was fake.
Post of the day!
All expenses has me tempted to try E gulf but my favorite beaches are B or south A Atlantic. Also further south you are in FL further north you go. More of a packed sand fan than the gulf sugar sand
Grew up in C and the Tampa Bay Area is my wheelhouse.
E. Keys in a house on the water with my boat. In 2020 we spent 2 weeks in marathon with the boat. We lived on the water, snorkeling, fishing, sand bars and going to restaurants by boat. Loved it. Fresh dolphin, tuna or snapper every day.
Oh my God, you ate flipper? (Sorry, my phone doesn’t have a sarcasm font.)
I have lived in A the last forty years. Time to get away. I would go for E. I was born in Key West and would enjoy going back.
Favorite Key West bumper sticker.
If it’s tourist season why can’t I shoot them officer?
Just spent a few days in Key West. Maybe the only place in Florida I will ever return.
February — “B” (Daytona race week/bike week)
March — “D” (Ft Lauderdale Adult Spring Break)
All else — “A West” (FloraBama forever)
https://www.margaritavilleresorts.com/margaritaville-resort-orange-beach-the-wharf
You could take a saw from Amelia Island and cut to Alligator Point kick the rest off into the ocean and leave more than necessary.
The Keys would be the exception. New Orleans and Key West are two places I’ve been where you’re surprised that you didn’t need to go through Customs.
As far as Disney and the adults who go there:
https://youtu.be/jXow8M_8LJE?si=erEIxpcMtl8KKrzb
We owned property along 30A but it has become unbearably over crowed during spring break and tourist season. We spent Thanksgiving week on Sanibel for years but going back after the hurricane was heart breaking with so much property destroyed, particularly Bailey’s General Store. I would pick E.
Was born in A and still have a lot of family there. Haven’t been there for any reason since 2013, and honestly have no desire to go back. Or anywhere south of there. Key West seems magical, but I think getting there would take all the fun out of it.
Florida … America’s Wang!
If I won a 2 week vacation to Florida, I would gift/transfer to someone who I did not like.
I never need to set foot in that state again for the rest of my life and if I did it would only be to see a game of the football featuring our beloved boys in Red and Black. I have been to each section of the state and I just don’t see the appeal.
I have attended numerous WCOP and staying both in the Golden Isles and Jacksonville. Jacksonville is sketchier than your average coastal city and not in a good way.
Back in the day, I had to visit Tampa/St. Pete/Lakeland corridor a lot for work – it made Jacksonville seem charming.
My Mom and Dad owned a beach place at Cape San Blas for about 10 years but sold it years ago. Back then, I could tolerate it because you didn’t have to interact with a lot people (I like people though.) Indian Pass Raw Bar was close by and the oysters were good (R’s months only) and the beer cold – it was the best part of the Forgotten Coast. But when that damn paper mill was running the wind was especially strong from the west – you could still smell it.
When I was married and had young kids, the former’s most magical place on Earth for the former was frickin Disney in Orlando. We visited for Feb break it seemed like every year. Had to go Orlando quite a bit for work too. It might be the most fake city in all of the America.
Speaking of fake, we also spent time going to Watercolor and Seaside – I don’t understand why people love going there. If you love the beach, the water, the ocean, there are so many more interesting beach towns and so many more scenic places in the world than this. Give me 2 weeks with water, mountains, trees, a true golden hour and people with nary a “Florida man” in sight.
Ft Lauderdale/Boca/ Palm Beach – spent a spring break in college in Fort Lauderdale. Spent time for work in Boca and Palm Beach. My brother and SIL lived in Ft Lauderdale for about year. It sucks.
I will admit that my trip for about 4 days to Miami was interesting but it may have been the drugs and alcohol. I couldn’t do 2 weeks of that anymore. Key West has a good vibe and I love the Hemingway connection. But 2 weeks there would bore me.
Did I say that do not want to ever set foot in Florida again?
Orlando is an odd, odd place. Lived there for a year and wouldn’t recommend it. People think it’s gotta be great because of the entertainment industry of something, but if you aren’t a tourist there, you’re nothing.
I love 30A but for variety I would say Key West . Haven’t been there when I could legally buy booze.
I could fish all day and drink all night for 2 weeks straight .
Book me into the Key West Waldorf for 2 weeks & all would be fine.
Not only would I not leave A, I wouldn’t leave a 200 yard radius in PCB, east end of Thomas Dr. that includes Sea Side Villas & Patches Pub
C.
Pasco County, the ungroomed armpit of the state! Tattoos, Titty Bars, and a healthy (if aging) contingent of Silver Sneakers looking for a place in the sun.
In the early 90’s I had a little real estate money to spend and the town of Hudson seemed to my Jimmy Buffett-Carl Hiassen addled psyche the epitome of “Florida” and depending on which meme you pick? Not far off.
I haven’t been back since I sold my place in 2014, and wouldn’t go back without a place on the water and a boat, but I had a lot of fun there back in the day.
“Get that Packard running, let’s move…”
Fernandina is my sweet spot!