Once you have lived in Florida everywhere else is 2nd best (Spring Hill: townhouse, subdivisions)

[beckycat]

Originally Posted by skyykell

Yes I totally agree that everything seems brighter and the clouds seem different in FL.. You just feel alive as soon as you see the Florida border

Well, that's why it can be your new vacation spot now. You can come here and enjoy it.

[boy3365]

When I was in Tallahassee for college, I thought that city was very well manicured compared to my hometown of Columbia, SC. Then last month, I took a detour through Tallahassee on US 90 while on an I-10 trip. I haven't been there in 3 years. Tallahassee looks run down compared to Orlando. I guess that shows how bad areas of my hometown look...

[brck51]

I agree that Orland is great. I've been to a lot of cities in this country and none compare to here. Orlando may not be perfect and the summers are brutal but it still beats just about anyplace else.

[kpasa]

I live in NE Fla. and I'm grateful for the appearances of this state. The live oaks, the palms, the tall pines, the savannahs, the rustic and the modern buildings, the diverse beaches and the diverse cultures. The highways are a priority for our govt, to be smooth and there are always good places for pit stops. Crossing causeways over the various Intercoastal ways all over the state. Having major league sports teams and being an international destination. I especially like to drive down 95, 4 or 75 and see the cars' tags from "up north" and think, "they have to go home soon.... but I am home"

[merriweather]

Originally Posted by kpasa

I live in NE Fla. and I'm grateful for the appearances of this state. The live oaks, the palms, the tall pines, the savannahs, the rustic and the modern buildings, the diverse beaches and the diverse cultures. The highways are a priority for our govt, to be smooth and there are always good places for pit stops. Crossing causeways over the various Intercoastal ways all over the state. Having major league sports teams and being an international destination. I especially like to drive down 95, 4 or 75 and see the cars' tags from "up north" and think, "they have to go home soon.... but I am home"

This post says it all & this is a GREAT THREAD! Hope to be one of the 'stayers' & not one of the 'leavers' soon! Oh! And I totally agree about how it feels just crossing the border & those BEAUTIFUL skies!!!

[Northbound81]

The highways are smooth because you don't get serious freezing weather like up north. Potholes are caused by freeze/thaw cycles. If you want to see an actual clean, nice area try southern Orange County, CA or Fairfax County, VA. FL is a humid, gator-infested dump!

[lovfl]

You won't believe it, but I felt that same way when I went to Hawaii! Orlando has a lot more flowers and beautiful foilage than there. I liked Orlano better all the way around. Yes, I went to three islands.

[Northbound81]

You're kidding? Hawaii has perpetually blooming flowers of all types, and dozens of native palm tree species, plus plenty of hardwood trees. Florida consists of sawgrass, palmettos, and pines.

[Alyzza]

>If you want to see an actual clean, nice area try southern Orange County, CA or Fairfax County, VA. FL is a humid, gator-infested dump!

I totally disagree about Fairfax County, VA. First, it isn't humid up there? It's humid here but at least you can breathe. If you think bulldozers, cranes, and orange cones are pretty… the construction never ever ends up there. Been through Annandale lately? Now it is a well-known MS13 area and not clean. It USED to be nice. And then there's Falls Church and all of route 7 from the beltway east. How about Columbia Pike? That's clean and pretty?

There isn't much open space left in Fairfax County, almost every road is lined with wall to wall stalag-looking townhouses wedged in any way they could cram them. Try finding a single story home up there with a yard, good luck. Most of the forests that used to be there are gone. Now the only foliage left is what people plant and they eternally moan about deer nibbling on their plants, as they kill or push out any remaining wildlife. There used to be lots of blue jays up there, no more.

The roads are in terrible shape. Full of potholes and poor line markings. Have fun figuring out if you're even on the road especially when it rains and if you miss it you'll end up in a ditch because there are no shoulders to speak of.

Ever see a blue sky and pretty white clouds up there? In the summer you can't even cut through the pink-green haze that coats the place. There is always a pinky smog on the horizon with the scent of car exhaust always in the air. Construction vows to take down every last tree to wedge in even more tiny ugly townhouses, parking lots, and strip malls.

[sp2007]

I miss Orlando a bit in the winter time, but every place has its pros/cons.

Orlando can be a great place for some ppl.