Pages

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Roadrunner Reflections: First 20 Days in Florida

We are in Florida for the winter.  We crossed the border and have been in the state since December 2.  We love it here and some things have impressed me about the state:

  1. They are glad to see us.  Florida loves visitors.  At the first Welcome Center and everywhere else we have felt nothing but a friendly response.
  2. It is warm here.  Unseasonably warm at the moment.  Which is completely fine with us.  We hoped it would be nice and it is.
  3. The breezes are nice.  Everyday we have a little wind and the gentle breezes are great.  One of life's pleasures - a warm day and a gentle breeze.
  4. The oranges are cheap here.  Yeah - no surprise there but the oranges and grapefruit are great and they don't cost much.  At the Welcome Center, the OJ was free!
  5. They have good flea markets here.  We visited the one in Dade City and another a few days ago in Hialeah and thought they were both very good.
  6. The highways are great.  The roads we have traveled from Jacksonville to Tampa to Miami have been quite impressive.  They maintain them well.
  7. The mow the aprons along the highways.  This tells me that the state budget is holding up pretty well since they mow along the highways and dividers.  Some states we have visited in the last couple of years have quit doing that.
  8. Rest areas are nice.  In fact, in some stretches of highway, they are building huge, new, nice rest stops.  Again, the state is doing some things to attract more visitors.
  9. There are a lot of snow birds here.  Yeah - no surprise there.  It is crowded most every where so we will avoid Walmart at mid day and yesterday we got caught in commuter traffic from Miami.  
  10. The campgrounds have been good.  We are in Miami now at a City Park (Larry and Penny Thompson) and it is not yet full.  It is $32 a night and one that we definitely will come back to.
The kids flew in yesterday from BWI and we are going to spend a couple of days here before we head down to the Keys for Christmas.  Hope you all are enjoying friends and family and this time of the year.

Thanks for dropping us a note / comment.  And thanks for viewing the Roadrunner Chronicles!
Posted by at
Labels: , , ,

15 comments:

  1. Paul and Marsha Weaver OCT. 17, 2009December 21, 2011 at 9:08 AM

    Glad the kids got in safely! Sounds like you two have found paradise...at least for the winter. Enjoy your visit with the family. Merry Christmas.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Bill and CathyDecember 21, 2011 at 9:15 AM

    Enjoy the Keys! I look forward to your postings and pictures. We lived in Marathon for 12 years...a great place to be in the winter!

    ReplyDelete
  3. heyduke50December 21, 2011 at 9:15 AM

    wow nice rate this time of year... may have to call and see if they have availability for Jan 22nd for an extended stay... glad you are enjoying sunny Florida I know we are...

    ReplyDelete
  4. squawmamaDecember 21, 2011 at 9:20 AM

    Welcome to our home state ~ we definately love visitors and glad your havin' fun in the Sunshine State!!! Happy Holidays!!!
    Travel safe
    Donna

    ReplyDelete
  5. Sue and DougDecember 21, 2011 at 9:31 AM

    Happy Holidays to you, Randy and Pam!..may your Christmas season be filled with love and happiness!!..enjoy your time with Adam and Kelly!!..

    ReplyDelete
  6. RuthDecember 21, 2011 at 10:14 AM

    When you say 'BWI' do you mean British West Indies? Just wondering as I am very familiar with some of the islands.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Dennis and DonnaDecember 21, 2011 at 10:30 AM

    After the last couple cool winters in Texas, Florida is sounding better all the time..

    ReplyDelete
  8. Sue MaloneDecember 21, 2011 at 1:38 PM

    Sounds wonderful, Randy, especially with your kids joining you for Christmas. I keep saying, one of these years we are going to winter in Florida with the MoHo

    ReplyDelete
  9. Catherine, Jo Beth and GraceDecember 22, 2011 at 7:41 AM

    We lived in Florida 14 years and even if the budget is bad - those highways get mowed. Tourism is the biggest industry :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. our awesome travelsDecember 22, 2011 at 11:36 AM

    Looks like you are enjoying the lovely Florida temperatures and keys will be awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  11. SherryDecember 22, 2011 at 11:50 AM

    Happy Holiday from all the folks at Frying Pan Farm Park. Have a safe and wonderful New Year! We all enjoy checking in on your adventures.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Pam and RandyDecember 25, 2011 at 2:49 PM

    Just discovered your blog! How can I resist a blog by Randy & Pam?
    Randy & Pam Ryan
    http://worldcruise12.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  13. Sue MaloneDecember 30, 2011 at 12:42 AM

    I thought of you and this post again today after driving California's Highways 101 and I-5. Sure made me miss those sweet, glass smooth Florida highways. I would gladly pay the toll fees for roads like those.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Mark BensonJanuary 18, 2012 at 6:19 AM

    There is surely ample activities one can be part of in United States. Last time I went for a cheap flight to Miami; I also found the things in the above post interesting and definitely they tempt one to visit the destination again.

    ReplyDelete
  15. ktiyhNovember 2, 2019 at 10:39 AM

    plaese visit sufi travels for travel around the world we have reliable and trust worthy agents & company

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)