[Agnes]

I've lived in Florida for 9 years, and my favorite memories (so far) are from Tallahassee, the first place I landed. Tallahassee is beautiful, friendly, and slow. It has real Southern charm and funky little spots to explore, if you like to explore. I love the sinkholes, the swamps, the little towns, the hilly roads, the Spanish moss.

My favorite: Out at night to see live blues bands at Dave's CC Club, a little run-down house in the sticks (now known as Bradfordville Blues Club). You had to drive a long, two-lane road, few if any streetlights, turn right where you saw a tiki torch, and bump along a long, dirt road full of potholes and tree roots. You thought you were lost. Then you'd come to a clearing, and there was Dave's, a little shack in the middle of a green field, with giant old oak trees nearby. Cars parked all around in the dirt, and a roaring bonfire under the oak tree. We'd go in, pay our cover, and enter this dark little place, where all the walls were painted red and blue, with small round black tables with handpainted faces of blues singers - looked like black velvet paintings. Nothing fancy. In one corner was the tiny little stage. There was a smoking "section" - i.e., signs hanging from the ceiling saying "smoking section" - in the same room as the nonsmoking section, lol! The place would be BOOMING with music, folks would be dancing, drinking beer, eating BBQ. Dave himself would be wandering around greeting everyone. It was the love of his life, he was always broke, and I doubt he made much money. It was like a family. You'd see the same people come every week. For air or a break you'd duck outside to sit on stumps around the bonfire.

We saw terrific independent singers and bands there, talked to them, bought their records, learned their stories, danced, met other people who enjoyed the blues and wanted to support music and places like this. On Sundays Dave hosted a "blues brunch" with eggs, sausage, grits, etc. and a band. Dave also threw a three-day blues fest every year to celebrate MLKing's birthday - picnic blankets all around in that field, day and night, multiple bands, barbeque smokers. Just wonderful.

That's where my husband and I used to go when we were friends - that's where we first kissed - those are the kinds of spots we enjoy.

Every place has a little spot like this, I think - maybe not music, or a club - but something unique, the passion of a creative person who is willing to take a risk. Even in FLORIDA and the concrete jungle, for all you pessimists. Those are my favorite memories of all the places I've been to, and this is what I will always remember about Tallahassee, and Florida.

[kelly3120]

my Dad and I use to take the catamaran out during the storms and hit the wind just right so we would scream across the water on on pontoon. It was so much fun!


my favorite thing to do in Florida is to visit my parents vineyard on weekends and let our dog run.
After a week in the city, nothing beats a country escape!!!!

[thepizzaguy]

10-12 years ago I went down to help my sister move up to Chicago. While there, my nephew and I saw a very bright meteor shoot across the sky leaving a smoke trail. I thought I had heard it hiss and smack a tree. Not the brightest meteors I've seen, but one I was able to share with my nephew.

[Nirvana-Guy]

Originally Posted by Floridabound09

Thinking positive thoughts I often wonder what others would consider their absolute favorite memory of Florida, whether you live their or not.

Loading up the truck and leaving the state. In more recent memory, that was my favorite memory of the "Sunshine State".

But back a few years back when I was starting college, I had quite wonderful memories in a safe, clean, affordable, and laid-back Orlando. Sadly these days are long gone and now drug dealers infest communities, people get kidnapped while going for a walk and there is trash everyhwre on the side of roads and parks. Jobs are hard to get and companies don't want to pay anyone anything, because it is so overpopulated and there are way too many workers willing to work for pocket change.

I rather forget "the new Orlando" forever and only hold on to the memories of a wonderful town called Orlando where people were friendly, people spoke English, I could go to a grocery store and not have to have a gun ready to go just so I can feel somewhat safe, and come back late at night and no one be worried about me not being back, because Orlando was so safe. My memories of Orlando was being a young men and getting jobs without experience and being paid livable wages and being offered health insurance. I remember trees on the side of Kirkman road (back then, a gorgerous area with low traffic, safe, and clean). I remember the days when you'd go to Publix and these hot young and pleasant girls worked there and not some angry, middle-aged non-English speaking lady with a pissed-off look on her face. I remember how I would strike casual conversations with mild-mannered folks while waiting at the check-out line. Everyone would laugh at silly jokes and commet on the silly tabloids. I recall how I-4 was busy, but traffic actually moved and no one was aggressive and rude. I remember going to Florida mall and everyone was speaking English around me. Girls would look at boys and giggle and boys would try to act tough and you just sat there eating your ice cream on a bench and laugh!!

I remember how easy it was to find an apt to live in, and how cheap too. I remember $130,000 would get you a 3/2 house with a pool and in a neighborhood that was not run by drug dealers, nor did I have Spanish music BLASTING at 3am every night. I cherished the days when I would say "I live in MetroWest" and poeple would say "that's nice" rather than "how come you have not been murdered or robbed yet". I cherished going to Pleasure Island and not having to see fights or going downtown Orlando to Church Street Station and not having to worry about my car being broken into or being jumped by thugs or being offered drugs on the way into a pool hall. I clearly remember stopping to help someone change a tire and not have to worry about the person trying to kill me for $10 worth of crack money. I remember when the local news were reporting on a principal who cheated on his wives and that was a "scandal" and notthe recent scandals when a principal in an Orlando middle school being arrested for smoking crack cocaine for use in his office during school hours! I remember my high school not being as crowded, kids of all races all spoke English and there were no racial tensions between blacks and hispanics in school, and there was a balance in schools of all races and not like now where my old high school is pretty much all balck and Hispanic. And I sure remember going to Daytona Beach at night and having a moonlight picnic and not have some cop come to me and ask me to be watchful as they have criminal predators on the beach.

Mind you, these are memories of a 28 year old.... not something from the 1970s or anything way back in the day. I can honestly remember a different Orlando a few years back.

These are wonderful memories. I am sad people now moving to Orlando will experience a town filled with criminal element, aggressive rude drivers, rude folks in general, expensive cost of living, and low paying jobs. I wish I could be Johnny Mnemonic and just erase the memroies I have from Orlando this last 3 years or so, but then I'd lose a happy part of my memories when I meet my lovely wife, how we started planning to move out of the state, as she was also bothered about the way things were going in Orlando and finally had that super happy (and tiresome) day when we loaded up the truck and left behind a town we knew to be safe, clean, affordable, and quite frankly...happy and friendly. But I have to be realistic and admit that these days in Orlando are gone. I have all my family in Orlando and their complaints have been the same. My aunt wants to come over and scope out my town now, as she is fed up with Orlando.

The day we left was like a sigh of relief. I rarely have to carry a gun anymore because I no longer see thugs or robbers just loitering parking lots. I sleep with my windows open and enjoy a cool breeze at night, something that is insanely dangerous in orlando. It was hard for us knowing we had to leave a place that has gotten so violent and aggressive and so completely different than what we had experienced growing up.

I need to stop typing as thinking of how Orlando has gone sooooooo downhill now.... the days of glory and beauty are gone from Orlando.... forever I fear. Now it's gangs and lousy lifestyles unless you are a sleezy trial lawyer or rich.... Just thinking of what happened to MY beautiful Orlando and how it has become something horrible.... It honestly makes me want to cry. Maybe not cry, but tear up.... oh my Orlando, what sad demise has come upon you.

[dreamofmonterey]

Originally Posted by Nirvana-Guy

Loading up the truck and leaving the state. In more recent memory, that was my favorite memory of the "Sunshine State".

But back a few years back when I was just out of high school, I had quite wonderful memories in a safe, clean, affordable, and laid-back Orlando. Sadly these days are long gone and now drug dealers infest communities, people get kidnapped while going for a walk and there is trash everyhwre on the side of roads and parks. Jobs are hard to get and companies don't want to pay anyone anything, because it is so overpopulated and there are way too many workers willing to work for pocket change.

I rather forget "the new Orlando" forever and only hold on to the memories of a wonderful town called Orlando where people were friendly, people spoke English, I could go to a grocery store and not have to have a gun ready to go just so I can feel somewhat safe, and come back late at night and no one be worried about me not being back, because Orlando was so safe. My memories of Orlando was being a young men and getting jobs without experience and being paid livable wages and being offered health insurance. I remember trees on the side of Kirkman road (back then, a gorgerous area with low traffic, safe, and clean). I remember the days when you'd go to Publix and these hot young college girls worked there and not some non-English speaker with a pissed-off look on her face. I would strike casual conversations with mild-mannered folks while waiting at the check-out line. Everyone would laugh at silly jokes and commet on the silly tabloids. I recall how I-4 was busy, but traffic actually moved and no one was aggressive and rude. I remember going to Florida mall and everyone was speaking English around me. Girls would look at boys and giggle and boys would try to act tough and you just sat there eating your ice cream on a bench and laugh!!

I remember how easy it was to find an apt to live in, and how cheap too. I remember $130,000 would get you a 3/2 house with a pool and in a neighborhood that was not run by drug dealers, nor did I have Spanish music BLASTING at 3am every night. I cherished the days when I would say "I live in MetroWest" and poeple would say "that's nice" rather than "how come you have not been murdered or robbed yet". I cherished going to Pleasure Island and not having to see fights or going downtown Orlando to Church Street Station and not having to worry about my car being broken into or being jumped by thugs or being offered drugs on the way into a pool hall. I clearly remember stopping to help someone change a tire and not have to worry about the person trying to kill me for $10 worth of crack money. I remember when the local news were reporting on principals who cheated on their wives and that was a "scandal" and not a principal in Orlando being arrested for smoking and brining crack cocaine for use in his office at school. I remember my high school not being as crowded, kids of all races all spoke English and there was no racial tensions between blacks and hispnaics in school. And I sure remember going to Daytona Beach at night and having a moonlight picnic and not have some cop come to me and ask me to be watchful as they have criminal predators on the beach.

These are wonderful memories. I am sad people now moving to Orlando will experience a town filled with criminal element, aggressive rude drivers, rude folks in general, expensive cost of living, and low paying jobs. I wish I could be Johnny Mnemonic and just erase the memroies I have from Orlando this last 3 years or so, but then I'd lose a happy part of my memories when I meet my lovely wife, how we started planning to move out of the state, as she was also bothered about the way things were going in Orlando and finally had that super happy (and tiresome) day when we loaded up the truck and left behind a town we knew to be safe, clean, affordable, and quite frankly...happy.

The day we left was like a sigh of relief. I rarely have to carry a gun anymore because I no longer see thugs or robbers just loitering parking lots. I sleep with my windows open and enjoy a cool breeze at night, something that is insanely dangerous in orlando. It was hard for us knowing we had to leave a place that has gotten so violent and aggressive and so completely different than what we had experienced growing up.

I need to stop typing as thinking of how Orlando has gone sooooooo downhill now.... the days of glory and beauty are gone from Orlando.... forever I fear. Now it's gangs and lousy lifestyles unless you are a sleezy trial lawyer or rich.... Just thinking of what happened to MY beautiful Orlando and how it has become something horrible.... It honestly makes me want to cry. Maybe not cry, but tear up....

Lol-- taking my 3 shar-pei and a U-haul and never waving good-bye. My best memory.

Sell while you can. Uneless you are retired Fl is NOT a land of milk and honey The 80's and 90's are long gone.

[Nirvana-Guy]

Originally Posted by sunnyhelena

Lol-- taking my 3 shar-pei and a U-haul and never waving good-bye. My best memory.

Sell while you can. Unless you are retired Fl is NOT a land of milk and honey The 80's and 90's are long gone.

Doesn't it make you want to cry, though?? What has happened my Orlando, the Orlando I grew up in??

I am serious, when we were leaving and driving our cars through the lovely rolling hills of Lake County on the Turnpike, we had to stop and CRY because of how much it hurt to see Orlando go to hell like this. It would be one thing if Orlando only became expensive and we moved because of that. It is heartbreaking when you have to move because it is too expensive and too dangerous and too crowded and too violent and too aggressive and too many rude folks. The dump known as Orlando today is NOT what it used to be. Growing up and seeing things deteriorate like that are so heartbreaking! Really, crying is the only thing we could do just thinking about it.

That is why I was overjoyed, really overjoyed, when we finally left. But a part of me (and the wife too) were sad to have to leave for not being able to take the crime, cost of living, and overall aggressiveness in Orlando.

Yes, I have to say my favorite memory in recent memory was loading up the truck and leaving. Bittersweet, I must say because of all the good memories in Orlando (the "old" Orlando) and happiness to leave a criminal dump (the "new" Orlando).

Folks, I say this with an open mind and a honest heart: Orlando is a "has been" city. Do not waste your time moving there. Try looking elsewhere. It will save you the heartbreak and the pain you will feel in this city, which is hyped up to be nice and great, but those are adjectives from years past.

[macguy]

Originally Posted by Nirvana-Guy

Doesn't it make you want to cry, though?? What has happened my Orlando, the Orlando I grew up in??

I am serious, when we were leaving and driving our cars through the lovely rolling hills of Lake County on the Turnpike, we had to stop and CRY because of how much it hurt to see Orlando go to hell like this. It would be one thing if Orlando only became expensive and we moved because of that. It is heartbreaking when you have to move because it is too expensive and too dangerous and too crowded and too violent and too aggressive and too many rude folks. The dump known as Orlando today is NOT what it used to be. Growing up and seeing things deteriorate like that are so heartbreaking! Really, crying is the only thing we could do just thinking about it.

That is why I was overjoyed, really overjoyed, when we finally left. But a part of me (and the wife too) were sad to have to leave for not being able to take the crime, cost of living, and overall aggressiveness in Orlando.

Yes, I have to say my favorite memory in recent memory was loading up the truck and leaving. Bittersweet, I must say because of all the good memories in Orlando (the "old" Orlando) and happiness to leave a criminal dump (the "new" Orlando).

Folks, I say this with an open mind and a honest heart: Orlando is a "has been" city. Do not waste your time moving there. Try looking elsewhere. It will save you the heartbreak and the pain you will feel in this city, which is hyped up to be nice and great, but those are adjectives from years past.

It is funny one's perspective. You talk about how great it was when you were growing up. I think you said are only in your late twenties, it was a dump back then as well.

[BlueWillowPlate]

Last weekend, my brother in law took us out on his boat.
The boat is nothing huge or fancy. But it was so cool and relaxing to be out on the water. We saw a pod of dolphins.
Earlier that morning, I had taken my dog to the beach for a sunrise walk along the shore.
I don't know that this is my *favorite* memory, but it was a nice way to spend the weekend.
BTW
We are not retired. The husband has been working all the 19 months we've been here, and I start my new job on Monday.

[PeteU]

Just about every summer vacation my family took before I moved here for good.

If you're asking for one specific instance, I would say floating down the Ichetucknee River. Beautiful.

[Nirvana-Guy]

Originally Posted by macguy

It is funny one's perspective. You talk about how great it was when you were growing up. I think you said are only in your late twenties, it was a dump back then as well.

I don't think Orlando was a dump back then as well. There were lots of good things about Ohlanduh back then, but now it's just downhill depressing, violent, and aggressive. I am talking less than 10 years ago, Orlando was definitely not the crime hub it is today and it certainly wasn't as expensive or jobs weren't as avilable.

Stubborn family members of mine who were "Orlando Worshippers" are ready to get the heck out, jump ship, abandon Orlando as it now stands. I think there is a consensus out there that most long-time Orlandoans know their town is going to hell and they are wanting to leave too.

Now if you were raised in NYC or Philly or Detroit, Orlando will be a major improvement in many aspects, but for people who have enjoyed decent, safe, and plesant lives elsewhere, Orlando will be a total disapointment. And of course, most Orlando residents agree on one thing: Orlando is not what it used to be and it is sadly much worse.