Winter Garden Farmer's Market

Back in March, I didn't know if I was going to continue with this blog. Mostly because I was thinking of moving out Florida. But now, I'm moving out of Florida in September.  I haven't quite said "goodbye" to Florida, yet.

I've had some great traveling adventures this summer, so I think I'll go "retro" and start back logging my travel. It's not all Florida. There's some Mexico, California and Arizona in there. Also, I took  some great day trips in Florida. I don't think I'm done yet.

But back to Winter Garden......

My friend Sarah lives in Clermont, Florida which "blends" into Winter Park and Groveland (Urban Sprawl.. gotta love it.) Downtown Winter Garden isn't new to me.  In 2009, while I was training for the Camino de Santiago, I trained on the West Orange Trail.  The  West Orange Trail is 26 miles of wide bike path that might have a hint  of hills in an otherwise flat Florida.

The trail also goes through Plant Street of Downtown Winter Garden. On any given weekend, you'll find all manner of Spandex, yoga pants and sweaty exercisers enjoying a coffee at the coffee shops along Plant Street.

There's a lovely "Old Florida" feel through downtown. A little bit of Retro/Art Deco and small town charm. There's even an old time theater that shows movie classics.

On Saturdays, there's a lovely farmer's market that seems to be very popular with the locals.

 

I also have a thing for French Cafes and there's a cafe that serves up crepes and quiches and a huge variety of pastries.  Sweet Traditions is also on Park Avenue in Winter Park.

I have some other photographs taken around Plant Street.  I love the tile work on the fountain in the middle plaza.

Winter Garden on Dwellable

Florida Strawberry Festival

For the past decade, I've been saying "I should really go to the Florida Strawberry Festival." Finally, I made it to Plant City, Florida. Just a warning, I don't know if I can talk about the Strawberry Festival without comparing it to every Midwestern State Fair I've been to.

Of course, with every fair, there's animal shows. There was a Sea Lion show which is something I might have seen in Nebraska. But there were cattle shows and pig races.

I'll include several images from the day. 

The line to get strawberry short cake...

Do it yourself shortcake... it's more whipped cream than strawberries. But (in IMHO) is the best part.

 

The sign says "Try our Chocolate Dipt Bacon"   ... I love Florida and rural Floridian slang like turning "dipped" into "dipt" . I'm actually surprised it didn't have "fixin' to" crammed somewhere on that sign. 

As anyone can see, the main attraction, the must see of the Strawberry Festival is the swimming pig races.

Sunset on the midway...

The Sea Lion show.

At the end of the night... buying a pallet of strawberries to take home from the dozens of farmers along the road, selling their harvest.

Blue Spring State Park

I waited a bit too late in the "season" to go to Blue Spring State Park in Orange City, Florida. Too late, because the the park's main attraction -- the West Indies Manatees -- have moved back into the river instead of hanging out in their winter home of the springs (aka The Manatee Hot Tub.)

Just because the manatees are gone, doesn't mean people still can't walk the boardwalk and nature trails and using the campground facilities. There's also an older house museum called the Thursby House to explore.

Blue Spring State Park is located north of Orlando near Deland off of I-4 (exit 114) in Orange City. It takes about an hour from the Disney Area to get there. A little longer if you have to fight traffic through downtown Orlando.

Pin It

Hangin' at 'the studios'

What do you do when you've been someplace hundreds of times? How about thousands of times over the course of 16 years? You start developing "rituals", that's what. Not the animal sacrifice kind of rituals, oh no. I mean, there are certain things I *have to do* when I step into the Disney Hollywood Studios.

My first experience with then"MGM" now "Hollywood" studios was as a 19-year-old intern. I have been on every rooftop, almost every office, walked through every attraction, cleaned or used almost every restroom.. I know TMI.. I digress....

I actually want my body cremated and my ashes spread in two different places:one on my parents farm in Nebraska and the other ... spread in "Muppet courtyard" in the middle of the night. There's a few flaws with that plan.
1) it's illegal to dump bodies/ashes at the theme parks (many have tried.)
2) Catholics tend to frown on that.
3) The boyfriend whom promised me he would do that for me is now married to someone else and odds are he'll die before I do.

Don't pull the Rope! In Front of Indiana Jones Stunt Show

Mulch, Sweat, and Shears

In the Muppet Vision 3D, it the key under the mat

Queen of Hearts at AFI Showcase

Once Upon a Time aka "Carthey Circle"

Tower of Terror

Push play to hear the podcast.

Pin It

Disney / Orlando on Dwellable

Strolling along the Sassgoula

I don't want to be another "disney podcaster." There are so many Disney podcasts on itunes. I know,the host/hostess of these podcasts consider themselves experts. There was a time in my life that the only skill I thought I had was "Disney." I wasn't planning to do any Disney episodes for Lost in Florida. Well, not right away. Not with all the cool other places there are to visit in Central Florida.

But, going to Disney is something I do at least twice a month to "run errands". And, well, since I'm there, I might as well enjoy myself. That's what happened a few weeks ago. I had to go to Disney to take care of some business and decided I would talk about one of my favorite resorts -- Port Orleans.

While it's free to go to Disney Resorts to shop, walk around and sight-see, it can be expensive to eat there. I think I spent $15 for an order of Beignets and a po' boy. And then, the batteries on my ZoomH2 died and I had to buy some at the gift shop.


Free digital slideshow made with Smilebox

I wanted to prove that you can "go to Disney" without actually riding the tea cups 'til you puke. Or spending over a hundred dollars. Or actually being at one of the themeparks. In my humble opinion, going "resort hopping" is highly underrated.

Anyway, click on the alligator photo and listen to my short podcast.



Pin It

Disney / Orlando on Dwellable

The most wonderful time of the year

With great sadness I say goodbye to the most wonderful time of year in Florida.. citrus harvests Season. I figure I only have a month before all the groves shut up business until next Fall.

It wasn't until a few years ago that oranges and finding the most perfect form of that heavenly piece of sunshine became a highlight of my winter. I can't remember the exact reason why I was riding with my dad in his truck back to Nebraska, but we stopped a little roadside grove and bought a few bushel of the best oranges I've tasted. And for that hour he and I must have peeled and shared at least five oranges. The whole cab of the truck smelling of oranges and my hands sticky sweet. To this day, it was one of the fondest memories I have of my dad.

Starting in December, I start hunting for the best orange in Florida. Usually, in a pinch I'll get my Florida Oranges in Publix, but when I can, I go to a grove store. My favorite store in the middle of Orlando called "White's Hill Grove" or if I go to the East Coast/Melbourne Area, I like Harvey's Grove.

This year, I tried something new: "u-pick" citrus. Mostly, it's because the "The Showcase of Citrus" on Highway 27 in Clermont. There's something about the high plastic shark and alligator that screams "fun and amusing Florida pictures right here."

I took my friend Chris out to pick a bag of oranges a few weeks ago. For $10 a 1/4 bushel, it's a bit pricy for oranges. It's for the tourists, not the locals. In fact, the bag says "Here's the bag of oranges I promised you from Florida."The rows of citrus were marked with what kind they were and there were plenty of photo opportunities. I do have to admit, it was a good $10 of worth of entertainment.

How to get there from Disney go on Highway 192 West until it ends at Highway 27, go North about 7 miles.

Create a slideshow design

Pin It